Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, Feb 21, 2005 at 10:06:22PM -0800, Poul Petersen wrote: Very interesting. But you're not getting these thru mythtv right? That's the part I'm still not clear on. And since I'm not even sure if the signal is going to be there, I'm trying to get a clear idea of what I need to do to make it work, so I'll know if it is failing for lack of signal rather than PEBKAC. Should I just set up datadirect with the comcast digital channels? Is it that easy? I don't know how datadirect works on this. The channels come in on strange frequencies but of course advertise their VHF numbers. Ie. NBC-11 comes in on 33.2 here I think, but advertises itself as 11-1, though it is channel 3 on the analog cable systems! Anyway, find a local HDTV store that sells TVs with QAM tuners (most new tvs have them, if they have a cablecard slot they have a qam tuner.) If they are a decent store they will know what you can get on the local cable companies. I know this from my TV, but there is no reason a qam tuner card could not get the stations my TV is getting. ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:34:28 -0800, Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Monday 21 February 2005 20:21, Garry Cook wrote: [snip] Also, I have not been following too closely, since I didn't think HD was possible for me yet, but if I understand correctly the Air2PC will give me HD from cable (if available on the cable), whereas the HD3000 will not. Is this correct as well? Actually, both have that ability. I just bought an Air2PC myself. -- Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Does anyone know where to pick these up other than from http://cyberestore.com or http://mythic.tv? Are they still the only ones carrying them? A quick Google turned up nothing but these two sites, and they both seem to be out of stock. I suppose I could backorder one or two of them... Garry ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
I am almost positive that cable HDTV is encrypted. On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 17:32:28 -0800 (PST), Poul Petersen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: After seeing these two threads: http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/110179?search_string=air2pc%20cable;#110179 http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/109915?#109915 I decied to see if I could get HDTV content on my existing analog cable connection, provided by Comcast, with an air2pc card. I've got the card working by following the relevant portions of: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/personal/angel/mythtv/air2pc-howto.html I'm currently running FC3 with 2.6.11-rc4 and the DVB drivers. The step I'm curious about in the above link is the channel setup. It would seem that the make_atsc_chanconf.pl tool is going to select frequencies for OTA. Will these necessarily be the same frequencies? I went ahead and tried running the azap utility, but it couldn't lock on any channels - does this mean that none are available? I did try asking Comcast, but they were very *very* confused by my question, so I'm not sure if their answer is correct. They seem to think that I would need a set top box ($5/mo) regardless of any equipment I might have. Does anyone have a working setup this way? I'm perfectly happy to just get the local broadcast stations, i.e. major networks. Should I just forge on and see what mythtv can find, if anything? Is there anyway to just scan the channels available? I suppose I can always climb a tree and try putting an antenna up there :) (I live in basically a tiny valley with lots of tall trees on the hillside.) Thanks ahead of time, -poul ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users -- I have one Gmail invite left, email me to grab it! ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 17:32:28 -0800 (PST), Poul Petersen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: After seeing these two threads: http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/110179?search_string=air2pc%20cable;#110179 http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/109915?#109915 I decied to see if I could get HDTV content on my existing analog cable connection, provided by Comcast, with an air2pc card. I've got the card working by following the relevant portions of: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/personal/angel/mythtv/air2pc-howto.html I'm currently running FC3 with 2.6.11-rc4 and the DVB drivers. The step I'm curious about in the above link is the channel setup. It would seem that the make_atsc_chanconf.pl tool is going to select frequencies for OTA. Will these necessarily be the same frequencies? I went ahead and tried running the azap utility, but it couldn't lock on any channels - does this mean that none are available? I did try asking Comcast, but they were very *very* confused by my question, so I'm not sure if their answer is correct. They seem to think that I would need a set top box ($5/mo) regardless of any equipment I might have. Does anyone have a working setup this way? I'm perfectly happy to just get the local broadcast stations, i.e. major networks. Should I just forge on and see what mythtv can find, if anything? Is there anyway to just scan the channels available? I suppose I can always climb a tree and try putting an antenna up there :) (I live in basically a tiny valley with lots of tall trees on the hillside.) Thanks ahead of time, -poul I asked Comcast about getting HDTV and if it was available with my Basic Analog cable. They told me that I would need to upgrade to Digital Cable, and then pay an additional monthly fee if I also wanted HDTV. I don't even have an HDTV yet, but I pushed them on it a bit anyway, asking why I would have to upgrade AND pay a fee if the FCC requires that they provide me with my local OTA HD channels. They told me that this requirement will not be in effect until 2006, and they were not sure how it would be handled at that time. Even if I had an HDTV and an Air2PC card, I doubt that I would get any HD channels. They successfully blocked my expanded basic a few weeks ago, even though I was getting it at no charge for many months, due to having Cable Internet. Are you using Expanded Basic or just Basic (the latter is about $14.00/month, as opposed to $42.00/month for the former). I would be interested to see if you can get anything with the Expanded Basic service, but I won't hold my breath. -Garry ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, Feb 21, 2005 at 08:45:30PM -0700, Garry Cook wrote: I asked Comcast about getting HDTV and if it was available with my Basic Analog cable. They told me that I would need to upgrade to Digital Cable, and then pay an additional monthly fee if I also wanted HDTV. I don't even have an HDTV yet, but I pushed them on it a bit anyway, asking why I would have to upgrade AND pay a fee if the FCC requires that they provide me with my local OTA HD channels. They told me that this requirement will not be in effect until 2006, and they were not sure how it would be handled at that time. Even if I had an HDTV and an Air2PC card, I doubt that I would get any HD channels. They successfully blocked my expanded basic a few weeks ago, even though I was getting it at no charge for many months, due to having Cable Internet. Are you using Expanded Basic or just Basic (the latter is about $14.00/month, as opposed to $42.00/month for the former). I would be interested to see if you can get anything with the Expanded Basic service, but I won't hold my breath. While there are many forms of Comcast here is one data point in the Bay Area. I have analog, expanded basic cable service. No set top boxes. I also receive a variety of digital channels on the cable with QAM.Most of them are encrypted. QAM does about 38 megabits (ATSC is around half that) as I recall. However, a number are not encrypted including: a) Most, but not all of the HD locals -- in HD. I think UPN-HD and WB-HD are missing. In theory we could call them up and force them to carry those. But I do get abc, nbc, cbs, fox, pbs HD. b) ESPN-HD is available, unencrypted. Also some home channel, not sure which, but it's in HD. c) TVLand, History channel are SDTV, unencrypted. May be a few others. d) All the digital music channels are available, unencrypted. They are low bandwidth, so there can be 20 or so of them on a channel along with TV stations. I see these on my QAM tv tuner, I have not yet modified my pchdtv 3000 to use the dvb/qam drivers, but I probably will if they put in UPN-HD. I would not be surprised to see this elsewhere, but perhaps they will start changing their system to block the digital channels from customers who don't pay for digital cable. The FCC regs require that they offer you a cablecard intead of a set top box for your QAM enabled TV. That card will decrypt the digital channels. Obviously, you must pay for digital cable to get this, I don't know if you need to pay the HD surcharge. I probably will move from my UHF antenna to QAM. More reliable signal, and in theory (down the road) an ability to also tune the analog channels with the pc-hdtv card giving me an extra analog tuner when there is no HD recording to do. ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
Garry Cook wrote: I asked Comcast about getting HDTV and if it was available with my Basic Analog cable. They told me that I would need to upgrade to Digital Cable, and then pay an additional monthly fee if I also wanted HDTV. I don't even have an HDTV yet, but I pushed them on it a bit anyway, asking why I would have to upgrade AND pay a fee if the FCC requires that they provide me with my local OTA HD channels. They told me that this requirement will not be in effect until 2006, and they were not sure how it would be handled at that time. Do you have a link to the FCC ruling stating that cable cos must carry local OTA HD channels? I havent seen any difinitive proof that they MUST do so. Tom ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 23:18:41 -0500, Tom E. Craddock, Jr. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Garry Cook wrote: I asked Comcast about getting HDTV and if it was available with my Basic Analog cable. They told me that I would need to upgrade to Digital Cable, and then pay an additional monthly fee if I also wanted HDTV. I don't even have an HDTV yet, but I pushed them on it a bit anyway, asking why I would have to upgrade AND pay a fee if the FCC requires that they provide me with my local OTA HD channels. They told me that this requirement will not be in effect until 2006, and they were not sure how it would be handled at that time. Do you have a link to the FCC ruling stating that cable cos must carry local OTA HD channels? I havent seen any difinitive proof that they MUST do so. Tom No. Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I knew what the hell I was talking about, I just figured that the phone jockey at Comcast would be able to provide me with some more information. As for whether or not the FCC has really stated this, I think I read it on the Internet, so it must be true. Garry ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Monday 21 February 2005 20:21, Garry Cook wrote: I probably will move from my UHF antenna to QAM. More reliable signal, and in theory (down the road) an ability to also tune the analog channels with the pc-hdtv card giving me an extra analog tuner when there is no HD recording to do. So, if I want to check this out, I'll first need to get an HDTV Tuner card. No problem, the wife wants me to get one or two before the BF anyway. However, I'm not allowed to have a big screen (or any other) HDTV until I finish the basement. So, the $64,000 question is Can I watch HDTV on my 27 analog TV? If the answer is yes, then I think I'll get a card or two and try this out. If it doesn't work, I'll spring for the Expanded Basic (we miss Animal Planet and TLC anyway). The answer is yes. Where's my $64k? ;-) Also, I have not been following too closely, since I didn't think HD was possible for me yet, but if I understand correctly the Air2PC will give me HD from cable (if available on the cable), whereas the HD3000 will not. Is this correct as well? Actually, both have that ability. I just bought an Air2PC myself. -- Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Got a question? Read this first... http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html MythTV, Fedora Core ATrpms documentation: http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/ MythTV Searchable Mailing List Archive http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/ pgpY5yE3szd3S.pgp Description: PGP signature ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, Feb 21, 2005 at 09:21:12PM -0700, Garry Cook wrote: On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:10:40 -0800, Brad Templeton HDTV until I finish the basement. So, the $64,000 question is Can I watch HDTV on my 27 analog TV? The answer is yes and no. Yes: With the right video card you can display it on your old TV using an svideo or composite cable. No: It will not be HDTV, it will be regular TV. It will be letterboxed. It will look a fair bit better than the regular TV for a variety of reasons (you're downsizing a much higher quality signal) but it will still be the best that SDTV can do, it won't be HDTV. Yes: You can watch it on your computer monitor, in fact probably in higher def than the big screen display you plan to buy. Just smaller. ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:34:59 -0800, Brad Templeton [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Mon, Feb 21, 2005 at 09:21:12PM -0700, Garry Cook wrote: On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:10:40 -0800, Brad Templeton HDTV until I finish the basement. So, the $64,000 question is Can I watch HDTV on my 27 analog TV? The answer is yes and no. Yes: With the right video card you can display it on your old TV using an svideo or composite cable. No: It will not be HDTV, it will be regular TV. It will be letterboxed. It will look a fair bit better than the regular TV for a variety of reasons (you're downsizing a much higher quality signal) but it will still be the best that SDTV can do, it won't be HDTV. Yes: You can watch it on your computer monitor, in fact probably in higher def than the big screen display you plan to buy. Just smaller. I'm going to forget the monitor. I carried the PC back and forth twice, and the monitor once. I'm done with that now. I don't really care how it looks, I just want to test it out. When I make it work, then I've got incentive to finish the basement and build out a theatre with an HDTV. Garry ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 20:34:28 -0800, Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Monday 21 February 2005 20:21, Garry Cook wrote: I probably will move from my UHF antenna to QAM. More reliable signal, and in theory (down the road) an ability to also tune the analog channels with the pc-hdtv card giving me an extra analog tuner when there is no HD recording to do. So, if I want to check this out, I'll first need to get an HDTV Tuner card. No problem, the wife wants me to get one or two before the BF anyway. However, I'm not allowed to have a big screen (or any other) HDTV until I finish the basement. So, the $64,000 question is Can I watch HDTV on my 27 analog TV? If the answer is yes, then I think I'll get a card or two and try this out. If it doesn't work, I'll spring for the Expanded Basic (we miss Animal Planet and TLC anyway). The answer is yes. Where's my $64k? ;-) Err.. Did I say $64k? I meant $20US. Also, I have not been following too closely, since I didn't think HD was possible for me yet, but if I understand correctly the Air2PC will give me HD from cable (if available on the cable), whereas the HD3000 will not. Is this correct as well? Actually, both have that ability. I just bought an Air2PC myself. -- Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] So they both can do it? Huh, didn't realize that. Thought I read somewhere that only the A2P would. H... Need to dig through the archives again I guess. So, I guess the answer to the next question is going to be I don't know yet, I just bought the A2P., but which one should I buy and why? Answer that one and I'll send you the $20 via the paypal link on your site. OK, I'm gonna send it anyway, the guide was mucho helpful in setting everything up... Thanx again! Garry ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
On Monday 21 February 2005 20:44, Garry Cook wrote: So, if I want to check this out, I'll first need to get an HDTV Tuner card. No problem, the wife wants me to get one or two before the BF anyway. However, I'm not allowed to have a big screen (or any other) HDTV until I finish the basement. So, the $64,000 question is Can I watch HDTV on my 27 analog TV? If the answer is yes, then I think I'll get a card or two and try this out. If it doesn't work, I'll spring for the Expanded Basic (we miss Animal Planet and TLC anyway). The answer is yes. Where's my $64k? ;-) Err.. Did I say $64k? I meant $20US. I'll take what I can get. :-) I'll expand on my above statement just a tad also. My primary Myth viewing system is an Athlon XP 3200, hooked to a 47 HDTV, but I've also got an Athlon XP 1800 box with a GeForce 4 MX feeding SVideo to a 27 analog TV, which can indeed display my pcHDTV HD-2000-created recordings, albeit scaled down into 1024x768 and shoved out to an interlaced display. It actually looks really good though. The cpu is definitely getting taxed though. 720p streams play smoothly if nothing else is going on, but can't handle OSD fade, and 1080i streams sometimes play perfectly for a while, but usually hiccup on a regular basis, dropping frames. That's all without XvMC. With XvMC enabled, the processor is only 50% busy on the 1080i streams, but it doesn't look as good, and the frontend locks up from time to time. :-\ Also, I have not been following too closely, since I didn't think HD was possible for me yet, but if I understand correctly the Air2PC will give me HD from cable (if available on the cable), whereas the HD3000 will not. Is this correct as well? Actually, both have that ability. I just bought an Air2PC myself. So they both can do it? Huh, didn't realize that. Thought I read somewhere that only the A2P would. H... Need to dig through the archives again I guess. The HD-3000 just got the ability within the past few days or so, IIRC, using the DVB driver rather than the pcHDTV driver (though the pcHDTV driver was going to add QAM support shortly also). So, I guess the answer to the next question is going to be I don't know yet, I just bought the A2P., but which one should I buy and why? I actually debated that myself. Based on feedback from users owning both cards though, the Air2PC is a bit better card -- newer generation stream demodulator, handles weaker signals better, and costs less. Answer that one and I'll send you the $20 via the paypal link on your site. OK, I'm gonna send it anyway, the guide was mucho helpful in setting everything up... Thanx again! :-) -- Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Got a question? Read this first... http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html MythTV, Fedora Core ATrpms documentation: http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/ MythTV Searchable Mailing List Archive http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/ pgpQK2c2APOVC.pgp Description: PGP signature ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
Are you using Expanded Basic or just Basic (the latter is about $14.00/month, as opposed to $42.00/month for the former). I would be interested to see if you can get anything with the Expanded Basic service, but I won't hold my breath. Just the basic - I'm too cheap to pay for anything else :) Frankly, if I can't get HDTV over the air of for no additional charge, I won't bother. HDTV is great, but realistically the analog is good enough for most shows. I just thought I would try it... -poul ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
However, a number are not encrypted including: a) Most, but not all of the HD locals -- in HD. I think UPN-HD and WB-HD are missing. In theory we could call them up and force them to carry those. But I do get abc, nbc, cbs, fox, pbs HD. Very interesting. But you're not getting these thru mythtv right? That's the part I'm still not clear on. And since I'm not even sure if the signal is going to be there, I'm trying to get a clear idea of what I need to do to make it work, so I'll know if it is failing for lack of signal rather than PEBKAC. Should I just set up datadirect with the comcast digital channels? Is it that easy? -poul ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Re: [mythtv-users] cable HDTV frequencies?
Do you have a link to the FCC ruling stating that cable cos must carry local OTA HD channels? I havent seen any difinitive proof that they MUST do so. This was the only discussion I've come across: http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/109915?#109915 -poul ___ mythtv-users mailing list mythtv-users@mythtv.org http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
