Is there any way to capture OTA digital signal and play via MVP?

[InvisiblePin]

The media MVPs picture quality is outstanding, but only as good as your capture. I currently capture SD cable TV, with satisfactory results.

I wonder if I were to capture an OTA digital signal if 1) the capture would be better than the capture I get now for SD cable, 2) and if I could play back the resulting file via my MVP.

Thanks for any comments.

FYI: I've ripped a couple DVDs that I own and converted them to MPEG. When I play back the MPEG via my MVP, through Sage Imported Videos, the picture quality is fantastic, noticably better than normal TV (even better than normal TV watched directly through the TV). This makes me think what's really holding back my picture quality is the capture, and not the playback through the MVP.

[AndyS]

You can capture the OTA signal using a Hi-Def capable capture card or box(Fusion, MyHD, HDHomeRun and so-on).

The MVP is only capable of displaying an SD signal so Sage will transcode the HD show to SD so that it can be streamed to the MVP.

I don't know how good the quality of the transcoding process is, but as you're converting to SD I'd suggest that a good original SD signal may be better than a transcoded HD signal. YMMV of course....

Andy.

[Opus4]

If the video format can be played natively by the MVP's hardware decoder, it is played that way. Otherwise, SageTV will transcode it to mpeg2 format and send that to the MVP for playback. You'll need a powerful enough cpu on the server to transcode video like that.

- Andy

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by InvisiblePin

I wonder if I were to capture an OTA digital signal if 1) the capture would be better than the capture I get now for SD cable, 2) and if I could play back the resulting file via my MVP.

1) Yes, definitely.

2) Depends on what the signal is like an where you are. If you're in the UK and can get it into a DVB-C card, you'll get a far better picture and it will play on the MVP perfectly. If you're in the US I don't know if you get DVB-C...

[InvisiblePin]

Several of the hd tv tuner cards say that they can produce a MPEG-2 file. Are there any MPEG-2 files that the Media MVP wouldn't be able to play? (Rick, thanks for you reply, I live in the USA)

I suppose if I don't hear anything to make me think the HD OTA capture won't play through the MVP, I'll just see what I can get at a local store where I could test it out and return it if it doesn't work. I'm also a bit concerned about the reception I'll get for the ota signal. Any hints on this one? (oops I actuall worked in two last questions, but what the heck, asking is free).

Thanks, and have a great day.
Steve

[rickgillyon]

It might be worth asking this question in the hardware forum, to see if anyone there is using a tuner card with your cable system. Someone might even have a sample mpg they could send you...

[matt91]

I have a somewhat similiar question, which I think was answered by Andy, but I'll ask anyway:

I record SD (analog cable) and watch via my MVP(s) on SDTV(s). The TVs seem decent, but are about 5 years old each.

If I were to drop in a HDTV in place of the SDTV, leaving everything else the same, would you expect that there would be an improvement in picture quality? Or are my current sets capable of showing everything that the MVP is capable of - and therefore the MVP is the rate-limiting step?

thanks
Matt


PS I realize this is really a hardware question, but I thought I'd tag along here first.

[rickgillyon]

If you're talking about about replacing the TV sets rather than the feed, I don't believe HDTVs are any better at showing SDTV than standard TVs - probably a waste of money unless the new sets are just better quality all round. The limiter isn't the MVP, it's the input to the MVP i.e. the analogue cable.

[AndyS]

That's right. In fact some HDTV sets show an inferior picture to some of the better SDTV sets.

To improve the picture above SD you need an HD-capable tuner, an HD-capable client (ie SageClient not an extender or placeshifter) and an HD-capable display device.

Good luck!

Andy.

[AndyS]

Originally Posted by rickgillyon

The limiter isn't the MVP, it's the input to the MVP i.e. the analogue cable.

AFAIK the MVP is a limiting factor. I don't believe that it is capable of displaying anything better than an SD picture.

Andy.

[matt91]

Originally Posted by AndyS

To improve the picture above SD you need an HD-capable tuner, an HD-capable client (ie SageClient not an extender or placeshifter) and an HD-capable display device.

Thanks, that's what I was afraid of.

I was considering getting a HDTV set w/ tuner (to replace a SD set as mentioned above). This would allow the viewing of all SD sage recordings, as now, but would also allow OTA HD - but not through Sage.

I don't know if the wife and I can get used to watching TV live (ie OTA).....and, gasp, with commericals - even if it is in HD.

I'm not sure I'm ready for the cost & hassle of a HD capture device + client comptuer + HDTV unit.

Thanks
Matt

[rickgillyon]

Originally Posted by AndyS

AFAIK the MVP is a limiting factor. I don't believe that it is capable of displaying anything better than an SD picture.

My point was that in this case, with analogue SD input, the MVP is not a limiting factor. If all it is receiving is analogue or digital SD feeds, it's not a limitation, the feed is.