Re: [Fwd: Who needs an HDTV?]

["Jarod Wilson" <user=74@nabble.blu.org>]

 On Fri, 2008-05-09 at 09:45 -0400, Bill Horne wrote: 
> I got this submission to the Telecom Digest, and I'd like to know who's 
> used these on a Linux machine, or what other cards you've used. 

The digital side of the HVR-950Q is supported in the dvb-v4l mercurial 
tip, will be included in kernel 2.6.26. Works quite well. Don't know 
anyone with the Pinnacle stick, or if it supposed to work or not. I've 
also used these cards w/o a problem: 

1) Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1500 (expresscard, digital and analog) 
2) Technisat AirStar HD-5000 (pci, digital only) 
3) pcHDTV HD-3000 (pci, digital and analog) 
4) pcHDTV HD-5500 (pci, digital and analog) 
5) KWorld ATSC-110 (pci, digital and analog) 
6) KWorld ATSC-110 (pci, digital and analog) 
7) Silicon Dust HDHomeRun (networked dual tuner, digital only) 
8) Hauppauge WinTV PVR-{1,2,3}50 (pci, analog only) 
9) Hauppauge WinTV PVR-500 (pci, dual tuners, analog only) 

All of the above work just peachy with MythTV. For more info on 
supported devices, see: 

http://linuxtv.org/wiki/index.php/ATSC_Devices


> I'm also curious about resolution: Bray says computer monitors are "not 
> up there with a true HDTV set", and I want to know why. 

Most computer monitors smaller than 24", no. My HDTV set is 1920x1080 
resolution, progressive scan. You'd typically need at least a 1920x1200 
resolution computer monitor to have as much resolution as a full 1080p 
HDTV. Most LCD panels 24" or above fit the bill though. 

Aside from resolution though, there's also hardware deinterlacing chips, 
such as the venerable Faroudja, which you won't find in a monitor, but 
will usually find in a solid HDTV. A good thing to have for 1080i 
programming (and can also help make analog 480i stuff look less crappy, 
though there's only so much you can do to make crap look less like 
crap). 


> -------- Original Message -------- 
> Subject: Who needs an HDTV? 
> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 01:52:08 -0400 (EDT) 
> From: Monty Solomon <[hidden email]> 
> Organization: The Telecom Digest 
> Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom 
> 
> 
> TECH LAB 
> Who needs an HDTV? 
> 
> By Hiawatha Bray  |  May 8, 2008 
> 
> Given the feeble state of the economy, many of you are in no mood to 
> blow $1,000 or more on a high-definition TV set. But then, you 
> probably own one already. 
> 
> It's called a computer monitor. The typical monitor can display HD 
> video of respectable quality - not up there with a true HDTV set, but 
> not bad. All you need now is a fairly robust personal computer, and a 
> digital TV tuner that plugs into a USB port and captures the video 
> signals. 
> 
> We've been trying out a couple of these tuners - the $99 Hauppauge 
> WinTV-HVR-950Q from Hauppauge Computer Works Inc. and the $129 PCTV 
> HD Ultimate Stick from Pinnacle Systems, a division of Avid 
> Technology Inc. in Tewksbury. These are list prices, by the way; shop 
> around and you'll likely find them for less. 
> 
> Each gadget comes with a simple antenna that'll capture both analog 
> and digital TV signals being broadcast over the airwaves. Both 
> devices are made for computers running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 
> operating system. But Hauppauge and Pinnacle offer similar tuners for 
> Apple Inc.'s Macintosh machines. 
> 
> ... 
> 
> http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2008/05/08/who_needs_an_hdtv/
> 
> 
> -- 
> E. William Horne 
> William Warren Consulting 
> Computer &amp; Network Installations and Service 
> 781-784-7287 
> 
>