The latest on the PC Cable CARD Tuner

Well the CableCard tuner for a PC has finally arrived. Unfortunately the restrictions and cost make it a poor choice for most. Let’s see why.

1. You CAN NOT buy a CableCard tuner, put it into an existing PC and get it to work. Why? First you need special BIOS. Second you need a special version of Vista, available only the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who have a PC that has passed certain testing by the cable company’s oversight group, CableLabs.

2. You can’t have a CableCARD tuner and analog tuner in the same PC. Vista uses the same tuning information space for analog and cable, so it’s one or the other.

3. You can’t save any HD recordings made via a CableCARD tuner to a High Definition DVD. All recordings are specially encoded in such a way that they cannot be accessed by any DVD software.

4. They are expensive. A CableCARD ready PC will cost $1200+, probably more. The high end of the HP Pavilion Elite M9100t Customizable TV PC (under the recommended configuration select the "ATI TV Wonder external digital cable tuner + internal TV tuner" in the TV & Entertainment Experience options) is probably the cheapest right now.

If that isn’t enough then throw in poor support, a flaky CableCARD activation process, no electronic program guide in Vista for the cable digital subchannels, and no access to on demand or special program channels.

If you think that maybe the cable companies and the movie industry really don’t want PC’s to have access to HD content, you just may have something. There is still hope that a less restrictive DirecTV HD tuner for PC’s will be available someday.

resources : .http://www.hdtvtunerinfo.com/

The Best HDTV Tuner for Your PC

What is the best HDTV tuner?
Best All Around Tuner

1.OnAir USB HDTV GT

Tunes HD/digital both over the air and cable (QAM64 & 256)
Works w/MCE as Digital tuner(MCE/Kram Driver Install Routine here )
Includes Nvidia Purevideo decoders w/Dolby Digital 5.1
The first tuner to work with digital cable/QAM and third party software ( SageTV 6.0 beta & GB-PVR v0.98.13 )
Includes remote control
Best vendor support
Best weak signal and multi-path tuner
Works with TitanTV for record scheduling
Has active Forum discussion group (here) hosted by AutumnWave/OnAir customer support

2.Best Tuner for older computers and older or no video card,

MyHD MDP-130 Tuner Card
No special graphics card required – HDTV output from card
Tunes both over the air and cable (QAM64 & 256) at the same time
Works with TitanTV for record scheduling
Includes remote
Most stable application software
Excellent Forum discussion group
Runs on older computers

COMMENTS

Easy to setup and run. Great for that old Pentium III that’s gathering dust in the spare bedroom. One of the most expensive tuners, but no graphics card to buy, install or interface with. Stable application software. Not the best analog TV reception. Software not intuitive, but easy to learn and use. There is a great add-on application called the Cliff Watson EPG which gives the MyHD a much more Tivo-like functionality. Get more info on the EPG software here. For more information on the MYHD MDP-130 check out the AVS Forum thread here.

A Few Things Worth Knowing About The HDTV Tuner

As everyone knows for a fact, today HDTV or high definition television has taken over from DTV or digital television and is the latest in television technology thus requiring programs to be in widescreen format so that you can view the high resolution pictures as well as listen to surround sound and thus get superior ambience and a more theater-like experience right there in your home, which is what HDTV is all about. So, if you have a HDTV at home and need to receive as well as output HDTV signals, you just cannot do so without first having a HDTV tuner.

Receives Signals As ATSC And Converts To HDTV Signals

A HDTV tuner is also referred to as a receiver, decoder and even a set-top box, and it is usual for the HDTV tuner to receive signals in ATSC format which are decoded in HDTV signals so that they are fit to be displayed on a HDTV screen, and it also means that the HDTV tuner will provide your HDTV with aspect ratio of 16:9 as well as picture quality in the range between 720p to 1080i.

In addition, it is also normal that the HDTV tuner is able to receive all HDTV signals which include cable and satellite as well as over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts, and it must also be suitable for receiving any kind of digital VHS recordings. In most instances, the HDTV tuner is used as an external box or it can even is integrated with the HDTV itself and even with a HDTV receiver, and it is generally connected between the television and the antenna. However, should you buy a HDTV that already has a HDTV tuner, then there is no need to use an external HDTV tuner for receiving regular cable channels.

The HDTV tuner is also very handy should you need to view HDTV programs as it can perform the necessary conversion for use even when using an analog television as well as with digital televisions. These tuners are readily available though they come in different prices while an average one would cost you between hundred and four hundred dollars, though the price really will vary from one maker to the other. And, some of the leading makers of such tuners include Sharp and Panasonic, Mitsubishi and Thomson as well as Samsung, and, in addition, it is also possible for you to get your HDTV tuner from any local dealer as too from online stores.

Finally, you can expect different HDTV tuners to come with various features meant to suit different user needs including having program guide displays for each and every channel, self-guided setup as well as interactive program guides. Some of these tuners even come with a hard drive which can record standard TV programs - both digital as well as HDTV, and the many features available in these tuners make it possible for you to enjoy a true home theater experience.

This site has many well-written articles on HDTV. Feel free to browse! There are other interesting topics at http://www.TechNewsNetwork.org/sitemap/index.html
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New Technology Provides Alternatives To HDTV DVD's

A lot of people are hesitant to make an investment in high definition DVD technology and for good reason. Any new technology needs some time to be debugged so that it can function smoothly and deliver the performance that mainstream consumers expect, but since HDTV DVD technology has been out for over a year, that shouldn't really be a concern. The thing that is a concern for many consumers though is that there are two formats of high def DVD's that can't be played with each other's players. This hearkens back to the days when VHS and Betamax were dueling for supremacy over the video cassette market. When the dust settled after that format war, many people were left with useless Betamax players an no source of new video cassettes to play on them. Now there's widespread fear that the same could happen to anyone who invests in the high def DVD format that doesn't win the present format war.

There are some things that consumers can do in order to enjoy many of the benefits of HDTV movies without actually buying a Blu-ray player or an HD-DVD player. The most cost effective thing to do would probably be to buy an upconverting DVD player. This device plays standard definition DVD's and upconverts the video that comes from them so that it resembles HDTV resolutions. While an upconverted picture isn't as good as a real HDTV picture, it's significantly better than standard definition. This will also provide a way for you to breath new life into older DVD's.

Another option is to download movies in HDTV format. This can be accomplished through Microsoft's Xbox 360, the Apple TV, and several other devices. While the option of downloading High Def movies does circumvent having to use high def DVD's, it's not without its problems. In the case of the Apple TV, it can only get movies from iTunes, it only handles video with a resolution of up to 720p, and the picture that it produces at that resolution is quite grainy. The Xbox 360 doesn't really have problems with the quality of the picture, but the downloads can take extremely long times- sometimes upwards of an hour.

Another option comes in the form of the Vudu. The Vudu is a set top box that downloads video from the Internet and then upconverts the video to HDTV resolutions before displaying it on your TV. While this does eliminate the need for any kind of DVD, like upconverting DVD players, it produces a picture that's less than ideal because of the upconversion.

Another option still, is to get a high def DVD player that's part of another devices that you want anyway. For example, if you want the latest version of Sony's Play Station video game system, you'll get the built in Blu-ray disc player. In fact, there's no way not to get a Blu-ray disc player. If you already have Microsoft's Xbox 360, you can get an optional drive that will play HD-DVD's. If you want the video game system anyway, either of these two alternatives will probably cost you less than getting the video gaming system and a stand alone high def DVD player.

Whatever you decide, hopefully it should be helpful to know that there are alternatives to investing directly in high def DVD technology before you're ready.

E. Sanderson writes articles about the latest developments in technology, electronics, and satellite TV. She'd like to inform you about the latest Dish TV services and how you can find the best Dishnet HD Promotions.

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What is HDCP and Why Are HDTV Manufacturers Using It?

Many people are buying expensive TVs and High Definition Video players, but are not able to get a signal, or are getting a low resoultion image. The problem is probably non-HDCP compliance. But what is HDCP?

HDCP stands for High Definition Content Protection. It was implemented by Intel Corporation and their subsidiary Digital Content Protection, LLC. Essentially, manufacturers and digital content producers agree to terms and conditions and pay a fee so that their content can be protected on the digital level.

The encryption is quite involved, employing 40 keys that each contain a 56-bit code. It's kind of like having a pin number that is 2240 characters long. Failure for manufacturers to keep this code a secret results in expulsion from the HDCP program. This HDCP code allows content to be more effectively protected from piracy using unauthorized digital equipment. For example, high-definition digital video sources can't transmit protected content to non-HDCP compliant receivers.

What this means for consumers, is they must make sure all of their video equipment is HDCP compliant, from the digital player, to the HDTV, to the connectivity equipment involved, like HDMI switches or splitters. The manufacturer of the equipment essentially has to buy a license from Digital Content Protection, LLC which will allow them to use an encryption decoding tool built into the firmware of the equipment, decoding the HDCP encryption. If the encryption is not encoded, the user will probably just see static, or a reduced resolution to 480p.

HDMI isn't the only video format that HDCP was formed to protect. If you are using DisplayPort, DVI (Digital Video Interface, GVIF (Gigabit Video Interface), or UDI (Unified Digital Interface) and you are experiencing the above problems, it could be that your equipment is not HDCP compliant.

Cameron Postelwait is the Content Manager of Sewell Direct, proud retailers of HDCP compliant video components, such as Gefen's EXT-HDMI-142 HDMI splitter

More info.
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection - Wikipedia, the free ...
The specification is proprietary, and implementing HDCP requires a license. ... Each HDCP-capable device has a unique set of keys; there are 40 keys, ..
.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP -

Dvico Fusion Dual HDTV DVB-T Tuner Review

This is a PCI card which I purchased from The Glow Lounge to complete my Windows Media Center PC (for which I shall be writing a 'how to' at a later date) to place in my living room to take over from my dvd player, VCR, standard definition freeview tuner and hi-fi. It cost around £105 which you may think is a bit expensive but I shall explain the reasons for my choice later.

What's In The Box?
PCI Card x1
Drivers CD x1
MCE Remote control x1
Infra Red Cable x1 Small Form Factor Bracket x1
Instructions x1
Analogue Input Cable x1
Video Studio 8 x1
USB Cable x1
Audio Cable x1

Installation

Installation, as with most PCI cards, is a relativley painless process providing you follow the instructions provided. One thing to consider in the placement of the card in your computer is that it can become quite hot, bearing this in mind I placed the card at the bottom of my system so that it was away form the graphics card because I didn't want the graphics card and tuner to mutually exchange heat and potentially damage each other.

One thing that I do, and it is only my preference, is ignore the driver CD that comes with any card such as this and download the latest drivers from the manufacturers website for 2 reasons; 1) sometimes the card or whatever has been sat on the shelf for months and in that time the manufacturer has already released several updates. 2) when downloading the software from the manufacturer's website you choose only the software you need as opposed to all the junk that is usually installed with the drivers CD, I'm talking about things like infuriating toolbars or adware that comes bundle with software that helps to slow down your PC. Like I said this is only my preference.

This is by no means the cheapest DVBT (Digital Video Broadcast Terrestrial) tuner card out there I but chose it because it had certain functions which I thought were essential to merit the move from a standalone digital terrestrial tuner to a Windows Media Center based television. The first requirement is that it had to be a dual tuner so that I could watch one program while recording another. The second requirement is that it had to be a HD (High Definition) card, so that it would still work when HD television starts to be broadcast in the UK, and of course when I upgrade to a huge HD television or projector!

One thing that surprised me about this card is the quality of the remote control that comes with it. Usually with things like this the design of the remote control seems to be an afterthought and is adequate at best, this is definitley not the case with the Dvico card. The remote control is chunky, well built, and actually feels like a proper remote! I have to confess I don't use the remote that comes with the card, I use the remote that comes with Logitech S510 Cordless Desktop purelybecause the scroll wheel on the remote makes it quicker to navigate menus. If I hadn't already bought this cordless desktop then I would definitley be happy with the remte that Dvico supplies.

I have used the TV software that came with the card briefly but did not find it as good or as intuitive to use as Windows Media Center 2005, whilst I think that in the absence of Windows Media center the supplied software would do the job. One thing I have yet to try out is the analogue capture functions of the card but if the performance of the other features of the card are anything to go by then i'm sure it'll do precisely as it says on the tin!

I've been using this card with Windows Media Center 2005 for about 3 months now and I can say that this card has performed without a hitch.

Key Features

Watch One Channel While Recording Another
Watch DVB-T Digital TV Programs on Your PC
Picture in Picture (PIP) & Multi-view Function
Record TV programs to hard drive as DVD/ MPEG2 format
Scheduled recording from Hibernation/Stand-by/PC-off mode
Pause and replay live TV shows (Time-shifting function)
Analog video capture and recording in digital
High-resolution still image capture
Compatible with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Low CPU consumption with DxVA SW decoder
EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
Supports digital Teletext & Subtitle (excluding U.K.)
Low profile form factor for slim PC
Supports HD-to-DVD or Divx format conversion
Supports power up as PME
Supports logical channel number
Full function infrared remote contro
l

Specifications

I/O Connections 1 x Antenna Input
1 x USB Port
1 x SVHS/ 1 x Composite Video Input
1 x Internal Stereo Sound Port
1 x IR Remote Control Port
Minimum System Requirements Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows 2000
1 x USB2.0 Port and 1 x PCI Slot
DxVA based VGA Cards
Pentium3 800MHz ( ATI Radeon Series )
Non-DxVA based VGA Cards
Pentium4 1.6GHz with 128M memory
Drivers Cypress FX2 drivers
Conexant CX2388x drivers
DViCO's own tuner/BDA driver
DViCO's own dual HDTV decoder( full s/w mode & DxVA mode)


Conclusion

Not the cheapest digital Tv tuner card on the market, but if you're serious about building a decent Home Theater PC (HTPC) with a lot of features, then this card is well worth the consideration. The only thing letting this card down is the bundled TV software, but if you're planning to use Windows Media Center 2005 then you won't have a problem.

I did have a slight problem installing the infrared cable that came with this card, this is due to the fact that the rear slot openings on my case (thermaltake armor) are slightly smaller than usual, meaning that installation of the infrared jack plug was rather tricky. Once installed the infrared function worked perfectly.

johnsreviews rating: 9/10

For more reviews or technical help go to www.johnsreviews.com

Watch HD Television Programming On Your PC With An HDTV Tuner

Save Yourself a Bundle of Cash by Using Your PC Monitor to Watch High Definition Cable and Broadcast Channels

Although prices for high definition television sets have dropped dramatically, they still aren't cheap. If you want to watch high definition television without laying out for a new television set, you can easily watch HDTV on your computer monitor. Most monitors with a resolution of 1024x768 or higher can handle 720p content (which will still look very nice), and the majority of newer widescreen LCD monitors above 24" can display 1080p high definition content, which is the best format today. To watch this beautiful programming on your computer monitor, you'll need a HDTV tuner.

USB Makes it as Easy as Hooking Up a Mouse

Most people avoid messing around with the insides of their computers for fear of harming it or, at the very least, voiding the warranty. Fortunately, most HDTV tuners hook up to your computer through the USB port, like most mice and keyboards, making it easy for everyone to watch high definition programming right on their computers. The latest versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista and MacOS X can play high definition content right out of the box. All you'll need to do is install a driver (a small program that allows the HDTV tuner to communicate with the computer); in many cases your operating system will do this automatically as soon as you plug in the HDTV tuner. The majority of tuners will also include their own software for viewing and recording HDTV programming, but installation of this software should be optional for most tuners.

High Definition Providers

There wouldn't be much point in buying a HDTV tuner if there wasn't any content available to watch on it. Fortunately, many local television stations broadcast HDTV over the air for free and can be picked up just be plugging in an antenna. Most HDTV tuners come with an antenna, but the included antennas are generally only of passable quality and you will probably want to buy a better quality antenna to improve your reception.

All cable and satellite providers now provide high definition programming, and will often loan or rent a HDTV tuner to you. Some include HD content in their basic packages while others charge a premium for it. The majority provide HD programming from local television stations for free, and charge for access to HD specialty channels (TLC, Discovery, ESPN, etc.) even if the channel's standard definition programming is part of their basic cable package. It can be rather confusing, so the best way to find out is to call your cable provider or visit their website.

What About Blu-ray and HD-DVD?

HD-DVD and Blu-ray are quickly becoming popular options for watching high definition movies on DVD. It would be great to be able to watch high definition DVDs on your computer along with high definition television programming. Unfortunately, copyright concerns have prompted the manufacturers of both Blu-ray and HD-DVD to impose strict restrictions on playing high definition DVDs on computers. The short version is that you cannot install a Blu-ray of HD-DVD drive in your computer and watch high definition DVDs, nor can you hook up a stand-alone DVD player to a HDTV tuner. Your existing computer monitor may have HDMI inputs, which would allow you to plug a DVD player directly into the monitor, bypassing the computer itself. Otherwise, the only way to watch these DVDs on your computer is to purchase a new system from a major manufacturer (such as Dell or HP) which has been certified to play Blu-ray or HD-DVD. If you're in the market for a new computer, then purchasing one of these systems makes sense; otherwise, you're better off with a new HDTV television and a stand-alone Blu-ray or HD-DVD player.

The most important thing to do before purchasing any HDTV equipment is to figure out what you want to watch. If you only want to watch over-the-air HDTV broadcasts and don't want to spend a lot of money, a HDTV tuner will be the ideal purchase, at least until you can buy a HD television set. If you're a cable or satellite subscriber you may not need to buy anything, as your provider may loan or rent a HDTV tuner to you. And if you plan to watch high definition DVDs, you're going to need either a new computer or monitor, or a stand-alone DVD player and HD television set.

R James Cook is an HDTV aficionado, and contributes regularly to the Best HDTV Reviews website. Visit BestHDTVReviews.com for HDTV products, reviews, and information.
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