HDTV cards and the MAC

[rotuts]

this forum has been so helpfull to me I thought Id update what Ive learned about broadcast HDTV for the Mac

go here:

http://www.defyne.org/dvb/

http://www.defyne.org/forums and

http://www.dvico.com/products_mul_hd3.html

for about $150 and a PCI powermac you can view HDTV if you live in an area where it is transmitted.

I plan on ordering a card next week

rotut

[mhar4]

Well, thanks for this research and links. This is, huh, quite a revelation. Here I was thinking the expensive ElGato devices were the only alternative to my ADS Instant DVD for Mac (with all its software limitations) for MPEG-2 recording on a Mac (which of course requires a step through analogue stage). It seems many USB and PCI video devices will work, even with the old G3 iBook I have set up as my "media" computer.

http://www.defyne.org/forums/

[Ladd]

http://www.dvico.com/products_mul_hd3.html

I remember looking at this card a month or two ago, and leaving disappointed because the specifications state Windows ME/ 2000/ XP compatibility -- no mention of Macs.

I knew that just because a PCI card doesn't include Mac compatibility in its specs doesn't mean it wouldn't work, but since I couldn't find any references on the net that said it would work, I didn't feel like risking $150 to find out for myself.

I guess I didn't look hard enough if you have found somewhere that says it works fine!

[AntnyMD]

I'm not interested in PCI cards (I own a PowerBook) but the only downside I see with this is you're limited to broadcast signals -- cable roughly doubles the amount od high def content in large markets. Also I think the programming on cable is just better.

Hard drive space is going to run out pretty fast if you plan to keep the content in high def MPEG2. Storage is more practical, dollar for dollar, if you get a refurbed high def VHS recorder and the compatible cassettes.

[rotuts]

I plan to order today or tomorrow. as I have an alchemyPVR card, Im sure I can't record both at the same time. the alchemy on my G4dual takes 110% cpu. i initially use sorensen3 for 320 x 240. that creates a file 2 GB for 30 min of analog ( now digital) TV. these are QT files. I edit out the comercials, do a second compression to 3ivx and have a 25 min file thats 120MB these I save if they interest me ( cooking shows I save if worthwile, as cooking is a hobby).

I learned abot 3ivx later so have not changed from sorensen3 to 3ivx first out of habit. if I record full sized initially to sorenen, the sound is out of siych with video as a G4dual can't handle the compression in real time.

I kn0w its only broadcast, but the company has other cards that handle cable. Im not interested in all the $$$$ for lots of cable. I may go down to 'broadcast' cable ( $6.50 New England, $10 SF bay area) and HDTV broadcast alone. thats enough for me.

Ill let you know how it works. Of curse this may move up my interest in a G5.

rotut

[mhar4]

I'm not interested in PCI cards (I own a PowerBook) but the only downside I see with this is you're limited to broadcast signals -- cable roughly doubles the amount od high def content in large markets. Also I think the programming on cable is just better.

The guy doing the work on the drivers in in Australia, where the cable market is famously under-developed. Australian telcos spent billions rolling out cable infrastructure in the 90s and watched and waited in horror as no-one took it up. No-one knows why, but we just weren't interested. Digital free-to-air is a different story, though, because the analogue signal is due to be switched off in 2007, so there is a lot of interest in DVB-T, mainly SD, but the broadcasters have been trialling HD. Compared to the US, it's still very limited. The market is small and controlled by very few media operators who pressure the government to keep broadcasting regulations in their favour.

Where I am now, in the UK, there is a well-developed and very popular free-to-air DVB-T system, so a cheaper alternative to the EyeTV 400 is a great prospect.

[rotuts]

I also think that the DIVCO card handles unencrypted cable digital, but thats not my area.

I may have the card friday, or monday and have a desk top anatenna ready to go pointing north to SF!!

will report

rotut

[rotuts]

just thought Id let the readers know that the DIVCO card works fine and I can see and record HDTV on my G4Dual

I now need to see about a program for MPEG2 editing, which Ill ask in a different thread.

rotut

[mhar4]

I got a Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T USB, a terrestrial digital sd-tv receiver, which also works a treat with the drivers which DVB-T Mac project has developed. I am running it on an old G3 iBook, too.

[Falcon500]

@Rotuts

Does the USB remote work or would that just be wishful thinking?

[rotuts]

have not tried the USB remote. don't really need it, but the booklet seems to indicate that there is a lot of PC code you have to put in your computer to run it. so I doubt it.

should I update how everything is working here in this thread or start a new one because its quite interesting.

rotut

[NancyS]

should I update how everything is working here in this thread or start a new one because its quite interesting.

This thread is a good location - how could you improve on the title?

I'm very interested in your updates; thanks for reporting. Who provides your digital tv?