Using computer as HD tv redux
 

Thumper wrote:

I can't imagine sitting in front of a computer watching DVDs.

why not?

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 08:36:03 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir wrote:

I wonder if you would "spec out" a system like that. I don't mean with
prices, or even actual components, just what type of component to look
for. For example, I have an Athlon computer that isn't being used now
(2600+ @ 1.91 GHz, 512 MB RAM, tower box with capacity for several
hard drives on Promise controller and ECS MB controller)... I'd lke to
add the components that would enable me to use it for an HDTV PDR
system... but have no idea what kind of tuner to start looking for, or
what "version" of Linux I'd need (this computer is presently set up
for dual boot, Win XP Home and Win 98SE... I use it for running all of
my "old" apps that I kept around after putting together my present
computer).

Like I said, I used a Duron 1600, so your system should be more than fine,
but you really need a video card that supports XvMC (Helps decode mep2).
All you need is one or more tuner cards and the software. I use the old
Air2PC cards that you can buy on ebay fror $25 or less (last one I got for
$22). These work great for OTA, but won't do QAM (for clear cable/sat). If
you want/need QAM, then you'll have to look for the cheapest that'll work.
One that works is the Dvico HDTV models. Whatever you get, make sure
it's supported by linux. So get however many you want and install them.
Then get one of the Linux distros that auto configures the box for an HTPC
with MythTV. Knoppmyth and Mythdora are a couple I've used. You can
download these for free and burn the installation CD. Then boot them and
use the auto install. If you decide to do this, use the MythTV newsgroup
(alt.video.ptv.mythtv). There's also lots and lots of info in the links
below.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

wrote:
Thumper wrote:

I can't imagine sitting in front of a computer watching DVDs.

why not?

I did precisely that last weekend with Cinderella Man. The
up-conversion in the computer appears to be quite good when displayed
on the Samsung DLP which is that computers 'monitor'. DVI-D interface.

I need to do check out that Oppo DVD I'm reading about but I have a
hard time believing it will be noticeably better than the PC.

As for TV listings without internet acces on the HTPC, I spend a couple
of minutes at work during lunch checking out that nights fare. When I
get home, I set up the recording(s) if needed. No internet access on
the TV computer. No possibility of virus.

GG

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 11:48:47 -0400, Thumper
wrote:

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 10:01:35 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

If you buy a computer and don't hook it to the net and set it up once,
where's the worry about viruses and things changing?

How would it gets it programming info if not hooked to
the Net?

You can watch TV without a programming guide.

You can also watch DVDs without a programming guide.


I can't imagine sitting in front of a computer watching DVDs.
Thumper

You might imagine that if you had a wife who wanted to watch
your TV receiver when you wanted to watch a DVD.

Your computer's stereo audio system may be superior to the one
in your TV receiver.

This is a reason to have your computer and TV receiver
in separate rooms.

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

I can't imagine sitting in front of a computer watching DVDs.

Sorry, but there's no other way to watch a DVD. You can use
either a dedicated computer (AKA "DVD player") or a
general-purpose computer. Both do the job -- though with
somewhat different feature sets.

I occasionally watch DVDs on my laptop. The 1400x1000 LCD display
is absolutely gorgeous, and the upscaling is perfect. DVDs
also look damned nice played through that same laptop upscaled
to 1024x768 and fed to a DLP projector.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! .. the HIGHWAY is
at made out of LIME JELLO and
visi.com my HONDA is a barbequed
OYSTER! Yum!

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 16:11:35 GMT, Wes Newell
wrote:

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 08:36:03 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir wrote:

I wonder if you would "spec out" a system like that. I don't mean with
prices, or even actual components, just what type of component to look
for. For example, I have an Athlon computer that isn't being used now
(2600+ @ 1.91 GHz, 512 MB RAM, tower box with capacity for several
hard drives on Promise controller and ECS MB controller)... I'd lke to
add the components that would enable me to use it for an HDTV PDR
system... but have no idea what kind of tuner to start looking for, or
what "version" of Linux I'd need (this computer is presently set up
for dual boot, Win XP Home and Win 98SE... I use it for running all of
my "old" apps that I kept around after putting together my present
computer).

Like I said, I used a Duron 1600, so your system should be more than fine,
but you really need a video card that supports XvMC (Helps decode mep2).
All you need is one or more tuner cards and the software. I use the old
Air2PC cards that you can buy on ebay fror $25 or less (last one I got for
$22). These work great for OTA, but won't do QAM (for clear cable/sat). If
you want/need QAM, then you'll have to look for the cheapest that'll work.
One that works is the Dvico HDTV models. Whatever you get, make sure
it's supported by linux. So get however many you want and install them.
Then get one of the Linux distros that auto configures the box for an HTPC
with MythTV. Knoppmyth and Mythdora are a couple I've used. You can
download these for free and burn the installation CD. Then boot them and
use the auto install. If you decide to do this, use the MythTV newsgroup
(alt.video.ptv.mythtv). There's also lots and lots of info in the links
below.

Great... that's just the kind of information I was looking for. (I
don't need/want QAM, I just want to record OTA locals here in the
Houston area.I'm marginal on OTA to my new HDTV with an old
multichannel Yagi antenna in the attic, so when I put this together
I'll probably add a small antenna on the roof).

Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 11:48:47 -0400, Thumper wrote:

I can't imagine sitting in front of a computer watching DVDs.
Thumper

If you've ever watched a DVD, you've done exactly that. What do you thinks
inside a dvd player? It's just another limited access computer.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

On Sat, 05 Aug 2006 12:32:06 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir wrote:

Great... that's just the kind of information I was looking for. (I
don't need/want QAM, I just want to record OTA locals here in the
Houston area.I'm marginal on OTA to my new HDTV with an old
multichannel Yagi antenna in the attic, so when I put this together
I'll probably add a small antenna on the roof).

For OTA digital, the antenna is the most important part. The old uhf/vhf
antenna I had in the attic wouldn't pick up some of the digital stations
when I first went digital. The antenna was probably rated for 30 miles and
I'm 45 miles from the towers. One digital station was on vhf 9 and I got
it ok but some of the UHF stations wouldn't come in, I just added a 8 bay
UHF antenna to the mix and everything comes in great now. I went ahead and
moved it to the roof too. If it weren't for that one station I could have
completely removed the vhf/uhf combo antenna. You've got a couple of
those in your area too. Houston PBS is on 9 and i in Conroe is on 5.

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php
HD Tivo S3 compared http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

"G-squared" wrote:

As for TV listings without internet acces on the HTPC, I spend a couple
of minutes at work during lunch checking out that nights fare. When I
get home, I set up the recording(s) if needed. No internet access on
the TV computer. No possibility of virus.

Ahh.....Ok didn't know you could do that!

I assumed that Myth "needed" Net access to work at all

If it doesn't.... that's even better as with no
connection to the Net there is no chance for virus
infection. Yes?

Using computer as HD tv redux
 

wrote:
"G-squared" wrote:

As for TV listings without internet acces on the HTPC, I spend a
couple
of minutes at work during lunch checking out that nights fare. When
I
get home, I set up the recording(s) if needed. No internet access
on
the TV computer. No possibility of virus.

Ahh.....Ok didn't know you could do that!

I assumed that Myth "needed" Net access to work at all

If it doesn't.... that's even better as with no
connection to the Net there is no chance for virus
infection. Yes?

I am not a MythTV user but use the ATI software from their website for
the HDTV Wonder. As Wes pointed out, MythTV requires a Linux system
which has virtually no problems with viruses.

Hey Wes, can you manually program MythTV with no internet access? (I
expect the answer is yes)

GG