Need help to realise DVB-T (Freeview HD) possibility

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Need help to realise DVB-T (Freeview HD) possibility

Batman

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#20687 3-Apr-2008 05:35

Hi all - i am trying to set up a PC that receives FreeviewHD and view it on my 720p only- HDTV. Assuming that i have an aerial, a capable CPU, and video card ya, and am running Vista Ultimate x64 -

this is my plan - does anyone know/think if it will work.
i must first mention i do NOT plan to watch dvb-s or analog tv, ONLY dvb-t

1) would you buy
nova 500 t - twin dig tuners :), not a pci-e :(, no mpeg2 hardware encoder :(
hvr 1700 - has hardware mpeg2 encoder :) but only 1 digital tuner :(
hvr 2200 - twin dig tuners :) mpeg2 hardware encoder :), no remote - ultimate no no for me
is either card known to be superior in terms of performance and compatibilty alone?

2) does dvbviewer do 720p?

3) even better set it up to run under Vista MCE (i believe these guys here are attempting the feat? http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=18907).

4) my only other question is - will i be able to watch tv3 as it's broadcast in 1080i? will my computer just downcovert to 720p or is it not as simple as that?

sorry i'm so lost! wanted to just get a stb but so expensive! if not possible then may just have to wait huh ...

thanks everyone!

geekiegeek

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#120653 3-Apr-2008 06:29

If you only want DVB-T then you dont need a MPEG2 encoder as FreeviewHD uses h.264 codec.

You cant use Windows MCE as it does not support h.264 for TV viewing/recording. You can use DVBViewer, MythTV, GBPVR or Mediaportal.

All of the media player/pvr apps will work with a 720p display. TV3 which is 1080i will just be downscaled.

I suggest you check out this thread for all you need to know about getting DVB-T working.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=83&TopicId=19328

sbiddle

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#120655 3-Apr-2008 06:53

TV3 won't be downscaled - if you want to view TV3 you need a machine that is capable of decoding it's 1080i broadcast which is the most CPU intensive broadcast. This requires a lot more processing that 720p due to the deinterlacing that is required.

If you read a few of the other threads in here pretty much everything is covered incl the requirements for a H.264 capable video card.

To be completely honest DVBViewer, GB-PVR and Media Portal all seem to have issues in one form or another at present, IMHO there isn't a rock solid HTPC solution available yet.

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#120814 3-Apr-2008 19:04

thanks guys, just found out from ati website my video card's h.264 capable yay! so i guess nova t 500 then ... and then ride the bugs!

btw i thought you need the mpeg2 hardware encoder to record the video?

sbiddle

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#120877 3-Apr-2008 21:05

joker97: thanks guys, just found out from ati website my video card's h.264 capable yay! so i guess nova t 500 then ... and then ride the bugs!

btw i thought you need the mpeg2 hardware encoder to record the video?

MPEG2 decoders are only used on analogue devices to convert the signal to a format that can then easily be recorded and decoded by the PC. Since DVB-T and DVB-S are in a digital format already (MPEG2 or MPEG4) no encoder is required, just a decoder.

geekiegeek

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#120904 3-Apr-2008 22:19

sbiddle: TV3 won't be downscaled

You cant play 1080 on a screen that only supports 720 so it has to downscale. I run my HTPC at 720p and I watch TV3 HD 1080i it just gets downscaled when output to the TV. You dont have to have a 1080 capable TV to watch 1080 streams.

lchiu7

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#120914 3-Apr-2008 22:43

I used to run my HTPC at 720p also going to a 1366x768 TV. Worked okay but actually found it was better going 1080i to the set. Got a better Windows desktop and the picture from video files seemed to be clearer (this is over HDMI)

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