Digital tuner PCI Cards

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#817143 14-May-2013 06:28

Digital tuners, regardless of the brand and whetyer they're network or PCI / PCIe don't do any transocding of the transport stream. What you get delivered to your PC by the tuner is what is broadcast over the air, the tuner merely splits the TS MUX into the channel you want or sends the whole TS MUX to the PC if you want to record or view multiple channels at the same time.

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mm1352000

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#817381 14-May-2013 13:13

sbiddle: Digital tuners, regardless of the brand and whetyer they're network or PCI / PCIe don't do any transocding of the transport stream. What you get delivered to your PC by the tuner is what is broadcast over the air, the tuner merely splits the TS MUX into the channel you want or sends the whole TS MUX to the PC if you want to record or view multiple channels at the same time.

For now that is true... however AIUI, the next gen HDHomeRun (HDHR4) which are scheduled for release sometime soon will have transcoding capabilities:
http://thedigitalmediazone.com/2013/01/16/ces-interview-with-silicondust-ceo/
http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4108

(Note: there is a bit of a US/North American skew to the above info, but I think this applies for the DVB versions too.)

[edit: here we go...
-->link<--
Our next gen version will have two DVB-T/T2 tuners with transcoding.]

ADKM

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#817402 14-May-2013 13:50

LOL you mean I didn't get it delivered before its obsolete!?

How's this "transcoding of the transport stream" relate to whether it'll record or not ?

Cheers - Kirk

kiwijunglist

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#817427 14-May-2013 14:10

it's fine.

the tuner doesn't do the recording, the program does.

The 1080i refers to the video in, if your using a set top box connected to the tuner.

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mm1352000

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#817428 14-May-2013 14:10

ADKM: LOL you mean I didn't get it delivered before its obsolete!?

The above info is for an unreleased product... and personally I'd happily take today's HDHR3 even if the newer version were available (I have no need for transcoding or DVB-T2 at this stage).

How's this "transcoding of the transport stream" relate to whether it'll record or not ?

My comment was directed more at sbiddle... but since you asked...
An HDHR itself does not record; it only streams. This is because it has no built in storage.
To record, you use the recording function of software/apps that are compatible with the HDHR... like WMC, N-PVR, MediaPortal etc..

Your original question was:

Will this allow recordings in the 1080i resolution, or just stream them for viewing in 1080i ?

The current HDHR streams whatever it receives. For NZ TV that could be 1080i HD or 576i SD, depending on the channel.
The future HDHR can do the same as the current one... however it can also [optionally] allow you to transcode.
Transcoding to lower resolution/quality could be used to save storage space or allow playback on phones, tablets etc.
Transcoding to higher resolution/quality... well, not sure how useful that would be unless the upscaling processor is really good.

Will need another switch to let me connect the HDHomeRun... is this likely to present any problems?

It will probably be a case of "try and see".

surfisup1000

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#817432 14-May-2013 14:16

sbiddle:
traderstu: You might like to take a look at this.
http://www.kaiserbaas.com/tv-radio-category/network-tv-tuner

It's just a rebadged HDHomeRun

Can you stream the kaiser to an ipad though? It is unclear.

You would think so if it is just rebadged hdhomerun, but the kaiser website does not mention this as a feature.

sbiddle

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#817466 14-May-2013 15:18

surfisup1000:
sbiddle:
traderstu: You might like to take a look at this.
http://www.kaiserbaas.com/tv-radio-category/network-tv-tuner

It's just a rebadged HDHomeRun

Can you stream the kaiser to an ipad though? It is unclear.

You would think so if it is just rebadged hdhomerun, but the kaiser website does not mention this as a feature.

You can't stream to an iPad because they choke on H.264 1080i content and infact hardly managaed with 576i content. THe only exception may be the iPad3 as I haven't tried one.

ADKM

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#817485 14-May-2013 15:53

Thanks for the extra info - much appreciated. Mines the Kaiserbass model now due any day. They confirmed it's identical to HDHomeRun but no mention of a model number. Guess its the current one (3).

Cheers - Kirk

mcraenz

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#817508 14-May-2013 16:30

What are the channel change speeds like on the HD homeruns? And do they just appear as a BDA device to windows?

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mm1352000

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#817519 14-May-2013 16:42

mcraenz: What are the channel change speeds like on the HD homeruns?

Pass. I only have simulators for MP development/testing.

And do they just appear as a BDA device to windows?

Yes.

ADKM

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#817588 14-May-2013 18:28

My one has just arrived... tiny wee thing! Can anyone confirm it will (or won't) work with XP SP3? Specs say Vista, Win7 or later.

I have got Win 7 still boxed up, but didn't want to instill it just yet.

Thanks.

Cheers - Kirk

mm1352000

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#817610 14-May-2013 18:57

ADKM: Can anyone confirm it will (or won't) work with XP SP3?

Well, I'm running XP SP3 and I have their software and drivers installed.
Of course the simulator I use is not the same as real hardware.
I'd say it will work but I make no guarantee.

ADKM

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#817660 14-May-2013 20:09

mm1352000:
ADKM: Can anyone confirm it will (or won't) work with XP SP3?

Well, I'm running XP SP3 and I have their software and drivers installed.
Of course the simulator I use is not the same as real hardware.
I'd say it will work but I make no guarantee.

Sorry you've lost me a bit here, you have XP and installed their drivers, but use a simulator instead of the HDHR itself ?

I'll try it and see what happens.

Cheers - Kirk

mm1352000

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#817746 14-May-2013 21:43

ADKM:
mm1352000:
ADKM: Can anyone confirm it will (or won't) work with XP SP3?

Well, I'm running XP SP3 and I have their software and drivers installed.
Of course the simulator I use is not the same as real hardware.
I'd say it will work but I make no guarantee.

Sorry you've lost me a bit here, you have XP and installed their drivers, but use a simulator instead of the HDHR itself ?

You got it.
I'm a developer.
I work on the MediaPortal TV Server.
As an alternative to buying our own HDHR or Silicondust shipping us samples, Silicondust gave us simulator software. The simulators - basically virtual tuners - allow us to test HDHR compatibility without the hardware. Basically they're meant to be exactly like an HDHR... except there is no physical box.

ADKM

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#820802 16-May-2013 20:35

I'm not off to a very good start, but hoping someone can suggest something I can try before contacting the supplier.

Software loaded. all plugged in, Power/Network light (4) green light is on - Green and not flashing.
Both Tuner LEDS off.

PC says

HDHomeRun not detected.
Please check that it is plugged in and retry

I did buy a switch, and it was first connected to that, but when nothing found I bypassed that
and connected it directly to the router. No change. Router is DLinkG604T. It's working OK and so it
everything else (except HDHR).

The instructions don't help to go any further, if I run HDHomerun Config (GUI) there's just
a blank, grey screen and 'Rescan' button, which doesn't appear to do anything.

LOL Major anti-climax! Any thoughts.... Thank you.

Cheers - Kirk

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