ATI HDTV wonder, is it worth it?

[maxpower2078]

I have a gift certificate to Frys and I want to get an HDTV or DTV capture card for North America. The only one they would have there is the ATI one. I just have some questions, I believe from what I have read about it in here is that you have to have a ATI 9500 or above to even use it and I have an Nvidia 5700LE, so do you have to have an ATI card?

I would like to get the myhd 120 or something, but I don't think they will have it.

I see that the HDTV wonder is not compatible with ProgDVB, I am wanting to get the raw .ts files and do some archiving. Is this even possible with the ATI HDTV wonder?

Basically do you think it will work well with my system.


Athlon 2500
1GB ram
200GB of HD
128mb Gefore 5700LE

[edDV]

The ATI HD Wonder as you seem to know is for DTV only. It has had major issues but they may or may not be solved by now. To watch on the computer you need only a basic video card. To export HDTV over component analog, you need a upper end Radeon that will work with the ATI HDTV adapter or have one built in.

Go here and read, then ask
http://www.rage3d.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=24

[maxpower2078]

Yes, I understand it is for DTV only which does included HD when programs are broadcasted in either 720p or 1080i. I am just getting mixed feeling about this card from all that I am reading. I see a lot of people saying to like it and it works great, but I have not had good experience with my last ATI card (AIW 128 Pro) but maybe it is time to give them another shot. Am I able to get the raw .ts files from this and then how would I be able to take out the commercials and stuff, what programs? Currently I use mpeg video wizard from the mpeg2's I get from my PVR-250 card. Would that be useful at all?

[edDV]

Yes it does 1080i and 720p plus SDTV. I'm not sure if the RAW *.ts streams are available. It will save the *.ts streams into various forms of MPeg.

That forum I gave you has all the history and experts on that card. Better answers there than ATI tech support.

[maxpower2078]

This makes me feel a little better.

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33800936

all MMC+HDTV does is saves the raw HD stream to your drive while it simultaneously plays it back. and it uses a plain overlay for the video window. and while it may use some hardware acceleration I don't see why it would require a 9600 or higher.

Now I am just wondering if the MMC software has the ability to record while you are not manually doing it or something like favorites to record whenever they are on.

[Safesurfer]

This makes me feel a little better.

Now I am just wondering if the MMC software has the ability to record while you are not manually doing it or something like favorites to record whenever they are on.

Have you looked at the description on ATIs site?

http://www.ati.com/products/multimediacenter/features.html

[edDV]

It doesn't exactly come with MMC. It has a tuner and limited dvr.
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvwonder/features.html

[sohr]

I have the ATI HDTV wonder, and it works well for what I want it to do...

You don't have the ability to save the transport files..., but it does save your clips in MPEG2 format (with ATI's VCR file header).

As far as performance goes, I think what you have is fine... however, try to dedicate a drive for use for the HDTV card only... even if you are not recording something, ATI automatically enables it's TIVO-like functionality which chews through your hard drive like crazy. As of yet, noone has found a way to turn it off.

[maxpower2078]

are those mpg that is transfer it into lossless? Keeping the AC3 audio and the same resolution and bitrate at the original? I mean, that is fine with me if they put it into an mpeg file that a program such as mpeg wizard can read, while still keeping the same specs.

[Soopafresh]

I use MPEG Video Wizard to edit commercials from the HD Transport Stream files I get from the MYHD MD-120 (an excellent piece of hardware, btw).

[maxpower2078]

I know, that is one I would probably like to have but I have credit at Frys electronics and they have the ATI one, I will give it a shot, it can't be that bad...

[Soopafresh]

Completely understood. Try it out and please post your results and experiences with the ATI card.

Have a look at some HD screen captures taken yesterday -

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=259852&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

[redwudz]

I use the DVICO HDTV PCI card (About $150US) to pick up over-the-air HDTV and a Sapphire Radeon 9550 video card with a ATI chipset for the video. The computer is just a entertainment center, so I didn't need high end graphics.

I output the video through the video card's DVI port and use a ATI DVI-Component adapter to feed the video to a HDTV projector. The video card was about $60US and the adapter about $20. Works fine with my video projector.

Unfortunately, the only station that transmits true HDTV around here is the local public broadcast station. The networks have very little HDTV content locally so far, but this should improve soon. It's great for football games or auto racing. The component is much better video quality than the Svideo signal.

[maxpower2078]

Is that Divco a dvb-t or -s, from what I saw searching really quick I don't think it will work in the US, but maybe I didn't dig deep enough and the prices I saw weren't that cheap. It does seem to be one of the most popular, up there with the myHD 120 which I can't find for less than $275 USD or so. Maybe if I could sell my gift certif and find one of these cards for $150, then pick up an antenna for $50, I will be better off. So where can I find these cards for $150?

[redwudz]

Sorry, I mispelled it. It's DVICO. I got it from here. http://www.copperbox.com/lite/fusion3.php?PHPSESSID=f386ad16b550307e87e3a1afb8391313

[maxpower2078]

Ok, one more question, I see this hdtv wonder also has a video in, does this mean that video in has the capability of capturing hd content as well, so if you were able to go from video out on a cable box that was pumping out a HD signal would the ati capture that HD content with all its glory?

[edDV]

Ok, one more question, I see this hdtv wonder also has a video in, does this mean that video in has the capability of capturing hd content as well, so if you were able to go from video out on a cable box that was pumping out a HD signal would the ati capture that HD content with all its glory?

No that is for Analog NTSC (S-Video) only. You can use that input to capture normal NTSC cable channels.

There is no consumer level card that will that will accept analog HD outputs from a cable box.

[maxpower2078]

I am back, Ok I have figured out that I can get cash for my gift certificate and I am going to go for the dvico card for $150, that seems pretty reasonable. Now my problem is an antenna, the same website that redwudz suggested for the card has this one http://www.copperbox.com/lite/popinfo.php?lc_code=HDTVi&uneek=2914803

, but does anyone have suggestions, I am in seattle and have quite a selection of channels but will be moving soon where there are quite a few less and will want a strong anntenna.

[edDV]

Go to http://www.antennaweb.org/ to find your local DTV stations and the direction and distance.

That site will make antenna recommendations based on your actual street address and stations you want. Sometimes an internal antenna is good enough, sometimes you need multiple large rooftop antennas. Sometimes hills prevent any reception.

Keep in mind that many DTV stations are not yet transmitting at full power. The AVS local HDTV forums are good to access the local conditions and antenna requirements.

[Soopafresh]

I have an unpowered indoor antenna from Magnavox that cost me less than $12.00 from Target. Works great. Just try a cheap one initially - if you have something lying around, so much the better.

Funny thing is, the analoig channels all come in as snow, but the digital channels come in as glorious 1080 and 720 HDTV.

[edDV]

It all depends where you are relative to the transmitters. Digital signals will either come in well or not at all. Some stations locate their Digital tranamitters separately from their analog channels.

Antennaweb.org will locate them.

[maxpower2078]

ahh, I didn't realize they just used regular UHF antenna, I don't think it will take much to get the stations where I am at currently, . But when I move I know it will be.

[edDV]

You should be able to get the Yellow and Green stations with an indoor antenna. The lower ones are predicted to be more difficult because of distance, transmitter power or obstructions.

[maxpower2078]

that is good to know, so this card http://www.copperbox.com/lite/popinfo.php?lc_code=Fusion-HDTV3-T&uneek=16355846

will work in north america? Just want to be absolutly certain and everything, I forget about all the -t and -s stuff.

[edDV]

QAM-64/256 is for digital cable not over the air.
Cable channels may be encrypted. In that case you need a cable box or "cable smart card" decrypter using a QAM-64/256 tuner inside a DTV. So this card could only get the unencrpted channels

8VSB is the over air tuner. Make sure it does both. it's not clear from the product description.

Other cards also tune analog TV, this one doesn't

Added> down below it does say "Using Conexant CX23881 and Thompson 8VSB tuner". Make sure you read reviews before you buy.

[maxpower2078]

is this a better description http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Video/fusion3qt.asp

seems like this is what you are talking about QAM "ATSC 18 formats and un-encrypted QAM compliant " are the encrypted channels included in the ATSC 18 formats

[redwudz]

I have the DVICO Fusion-HDTV3-T and it works fine for analog and HDTV. Probably the only downside is that it really needs an external antenna unless you have a strong signal. If the HDTV signal is below 60% it has a hard time locking and just blanks out.

I use a indoor antenna and I get 4 of the 5 local stations. If I play with the antenna I can sometimes get the 5th station. When it does receive a station, the video is very good. Much better than the analog. The card only has one antenna input, makes it a little hard to receive the analog stations with a HDTV antenna, as HDTV is basically UHF.

Apparently, cable HDTV is mostly encrypted. The card used to be recommended by the company for cable, but because of testing problems with cable in the US, they dropped their certification that it worked for cable. The card is for over the air HDTV.

Over all, I'm happy with it. Good quality HDTV. Make sure you DL the latest software from the DVICO site.

[edDV]

This card seems focused on decoding digital cable w/o a cable box. The main target is the "unencrypyted" local DTV stations that are available through the cable system. My Comcast system currently has 4 of those channels (NBC,ABC,FOX,PBS). I'm fairly sure everything else is encrypted and would require a HDTV cable box. There are 7 additional encrypted HDTV channels on my Comcast.

If I could use an OTA antenna, there would be 9-15 DTV stations available.

Key paragraph: Note QAM is the method of tuning digital cable channels.

"QAM decoding is under development due to the variations in Cable service providers. QAM256 generally has been reported to work, although QAM64 still poses problems with the decoding software. FusionHDTV QAM decoding is limited to only the non-encrypted channels available (generally the OTA local stations)."

The card seems to have some 8VSB tuning capability for over the air channels as well. Be sure to get user feedback on how well it works.

[maxpower2078]

Thanks guys for all your help, I will be ordering it tomorrow and reporting back soon how it goes. I am pretty sure I will have a strong signal even with an indoor antenna seemings how I am less than 5 miles line of site from the towers of the major stations. Here goes nothing though.......

[maxpower2078]

Well, I am posting back with a few results, I went with the Fusion card and so far so good. I havn't got the antenna I ordered yet, but hooked up an old pair of rabbit ears and get quite a few stations even with that. The only thing I am having trouble is, is finding a good way to convert the files (.tp) over to divx/xvid keeping the HD resolution.