Sage TV4 and DirecTV HDTV

[ikarus79m]

Now that Sage 4 is out i am actually tempted to switch over to HDTV. However, I'm confused about all the new cards supported.

What would i need in my computer to a) Record HDTV from a DirecTV HDTV receiver, and b) to output the recorded video to my HDMI HDTV Television set.

Also, is there ANY way to make use of the AC3 Dolby Digital Stream? Or would I still record in Stereo?

Currently I'm recording off my 350/250 combo and outputting through my 350 card.

I'm looking forward to the one shining some light on this subject for me :-)

[stanger89]

The only way to record HD from satellite is to get your sat box modded (see R5000 or 169Time), unfortunately, I don't think either work natively with Sage.

[msmith8228]

The 169Time Firewire upgrades for Sat receivers (DirectTV) works perfectly with SageTV -- check out the Firewire recording thread in the hardware section.

MJS

[dagar]

That is until you have to migrate to MPEG4 HD feeds for D*

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by msmith8228

The 169Time Firewire upgrades for Sat receivers (DirectTV) works perfectly with SageTV -- check out the Firewire recording thread in the hardware section.

MJS

Woops

[ikarus79m]

What will happen when DirecTV changes to Mpeg-4? Firewire won't work anymore than?

[stanger89]

It's kind of hard to say, in principal, nothing need happen because the firewire port is just a data sink, it just pipes data from box to PC, doesn't care if it's MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. However I think the biggest issue is probably that the MPEG-4 conversion will require new boxen, and I don't think anyone is quite sure if the new boxen will be as modable.

[ikarus79m]

So this 169Time Firewire upgrade, can I do it myself or is that something really expansive some company has to do for you?

And really, isn't HDTV support kinda useless if you won't be able to record it from your DirecTV and Cable company? I mean OTA is fine, but there are other HDTV stations.

I'm so lost on this topic hehehe ;-)

[ikarus79m]

and also, what car are people using to output HDTV picture from their machines to the TV? IS there something like the PVR-350 for HDTV?

[stanger89]

Re the mods, you may be able to buy a kit, but yes they are expensive.

Re output, yes there are a few options like the 350, eg the MyHD MDP-1x0 and AccessDTV. However I use my Geforce 6800 via DVI/HDMI to my projector, and IMO, it gives a better picture than the MyHD.

[ikarus79m]

Hey Stranger,

thank you so much for all your help!!! So if you use your DVI output on ur graphic card, do you need a DVI to HDMI adapter? Also, don't you see quite a bit of your windows xp background when you do it that way?

In my case SageTV is in a full window but i still see windows icons and the desktop around it. How do you do that?

Thank you!!!

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by ikarus79m

Hey Stranger,

thank you so much for all your help!!! So if you use your DVI output on ur graphic card, do you need a DVI to HDMI adapter?

I have a DVI-HDMI cable. But most of the newer cards (save the 6800's) offer Component output as well.

Also, don't you see quite a bit of your windows xp background when you do it that way?

In my case SageTV is in a full window but i still see windows icons and the desktop around it. How do you do that?

I run fullscreen. When Sage is running it's all I see.

[ikarus79m]

In my setup I have "Load at Windows Startup" set to "Full Screen". However, that displays the sage TV window in 720x480 box so i can see the desktop in my 800x600 resolution when i use it through my grahpic card.

Also, wouldnt the DVI to HDMI cable be better than component? I think my BGM Geforce 6200 came with a component HDTV cable and I was actually wondering how that could be good quality.

[stanger89]

Ah, you've got a 350 with the 350 OSD enabled don't you? That will force Sage into a 720x480 window. If you disable it you can run Sage fullscreen.

Component or DVI will basically depend on your set. On a digital TV (DLP/LCD/etc) DVI is almost always better, on an analog one (CRT) it will depend on how the various inputs are implimented.

[ikarus79m]

Oh ok that's why!

What resolution do you run your computer on? If you watch a show in 720p and than one in 1080i, wouldnt u need to change the resolution on your graphic card as well? Or otherwise see black all around it?

[stanger89]

I run 1280x720 to my 720p DLP. The video card will scale everthing to that resolutions (else DVDs would be in little boxes)

[ikarus79m]

and the qulaity of that is good? Do you get OTA HDTV?

[stanger89]

Yup and yup.

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by ikarus79m

and the qulaity of that is good? Do you get OTA HDTV?

I don't get OTA HDTV yet but I also use a desktop res of 1280x720 via DVI to my 720p DLP (from an ATI 9600 Pro). The Video card upscales both SDTV and DVD's so well that there is hardly any noticable difference from real 720p HDTV. (It is noticable, just not very)

I have been quite amazed and see little need for buying an OTA HDTV card but for the geek in me. I'm sure the geek in me will eventually win once I am convinced that the OTA HDTV cards are stable and working well in Sage 4.

[ikarus79m]

It's good to know that the two of you are happy with the quality. For me, coming from a PVR-350 background, it is hard to believe that the quality will actually be good from a graphic card as well.

Don't you have to install certain Nvidia decoders though? I always hear all this talk about good decoders on here and i never had to care about it with my 350. what is all that about?