I have U-verse whole house DVR and the DIRECTV2PC software the same capability is now available to Directv users.  For more information check out the Directv page: DIRECTV2PC

The page on the Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR Video Capture device is located here:

Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR Video Capture device

i’m trying to figure out some of the abbreviations you used on your http://www.highdefinitionblog.com/?page_id=24 URL… HOA being one of them…

i’m considering the possibility of making a vertical omni-directional antenna to pick up the HD signals available in my area… we have had, for many years, a directional antenna with a signal amplifier… in recent discussions, thoughts, and conversations, the first thing that came to my mind was to simply mount an omni-antenna made from RG6 and connected to the amplifier… this way, we don’t need to worry about rotating the antenna that feeds the six in-house televisions and we also don’t need to worry about getting a HDTV “convertor” for each set… to be honest, we are currently using 3 sets as “base units” and then using some (radio shack) transmitters to put those signals out to the other TVs in the house… no more than three sets are in use at any one time and none of the “dupes” are in use at the same time… if they are, that’s because someone doesn’t want to watch in the same room as another…

sure, we have directTV but, contrary to the /lies/ they (the satellite companies) tell, satellite signals DO get blocked by clouds and heavy rainfall… during those times, we may switch to OTA signals… our interest is in being able to pull as many OTA signals as possible without hampering others watching their shows from the same antenna… thus, my idea of an omni-directional antenna connected to the existing amplifier…

can you help?

thanks for your time and attention…

waldo

HOA means Home Owners Association.

There is a reason why antennas are directional. It is to reduce the amplitude of signals that are reflected from objects from the side or rear of the antenna. Without doing that a fairly strong signal can arrive at the antenna slightly later than the primary signal and effectively scramble the primary signal. That is why most antennas for TV use are directional. The omni-directional antennas generally only work within a few (less than 5) miles of the transmitters. If omni-directional antennas would work for general use, there would be no need for directional antennas.

I understand the issue of multiple rooms and such and in some instances that issue can be solved with multiple antennas, each tuned to a particular station. This can require the use of special combiners tuned for a single channel insertion and multiple preamps to make up for the losses of the combiners. This can be a pretty complicated and should involve someone that has done this before.

Otherwise, you can just give an omni a try and see what happens.

Sorry I don’t have a magic bullet for you.

High-Definition Quality Recordings on Your Schedule
At long last, a personal video recorder, or PVR, that offers high quality recordings of high-definition television shows. Now you can start building a personal archive of your favorite high definition TV programs without losing the broadcast quality.

Why, you ask? Well, even though most of the HD receivers/DVRs have A/V (s-video/yellow-red-white) outputs for composite or s-video, most will be disabled when the receiver/DVR is set to output a HD format, either 720p or 1080i. That means in order to record anything from the receiver/DVR to a VCR or DVD recorder, the receiver/DVR must have its output reset to the 480i output. Some HD receivers/DVRs (like the U-verse units) even go so far as to disable all analog outputs when a HDMI cable is plugged in.

Not only can this device used to connect a VCR/DVD recorder, but often people wish to slave a SD TV in a kitchen or some other room and a SD output is needed. If this was accomplished with a coax using the RF output of the previous SD receiver/DVR, with the addition of a RF modulator, this device will accomodate that hookup as well.

Right now the unit is on pre-order so if this is something you will need in the future, get one on order today!

I don’t know what is going on with amazon not showing the product. Maybe it was pulled due to delivery issues.

Here is the factory link:
GefenTV HDMI to Composite Scaler

With the analog cut off date fast approaching, I began a search for what the solution may be for cable and satellite providers if the 4:3 SD feed should disappear.

One way to get rid of the letterboxing is how Uverse displays the local channels for their SD feeds. They take the HD feed and crop the sides. Many Uverse customers complain about that as they would rather see the entire picture.

This issue will be revisited by cable and satellite providers when the analog cut off occurs next year and by everybody with the new converters, which may not be all that many people, but also everybody who watches the SD channels of local stations on cable and satellite systems. There seems to be a question unanswered as to whether the stations will continue to provide the 4:3 feeds or if only the 16:9 feed will be available. I have looked for an answer to this, but so far have not found one and maybe it will be a station by station call.

The problem the station has now is they are actually operating multiple TV stations. At least the analog station and the digital station, and many have additional sub-channels. Every feed requires some degree of manpower (or woman power) to provide the programming. I would think the stations would be looking forward to eliminate the 4:3 feed to reduce the labor when the cut off no longer has the need for the SD 4:3 feed.

If a station should cut the 4:3 feed then the cable and satellite will have to deal with only the 16:9 feed. Their choices will be to either show all of the programming in letterbox or crop the edges like Uverse does. If the letterbox approach is taken, then when a 4:3 program is shown it will have both the black letterbox bars and the black pillarbox bars leaving an extremely small picture on 4:3 sets. Sets that probably will not have any zoom settings to restore the picture to full screen. If the cropping method is used, then on shows that are widescreen, much of the original picture will be lost.

What the stations do now is essentially switch from 4:3 full screen to letterbox for the 4:3 feed and switch from 16:9 widescreen to 4:3 pillarbox for the HDTV feed. Will they continue the two feeds? My guess at this point is no they won’t and the providers will have a choice to make.

There is additional evidence that the stations will only be giving the HD feed to the other providers. It is the location of the network bugs. A few months ago the CBS bug was in the lower right hand area of the HD frame as shown here from a screen capture I recorded a few months ago:

Now here is a screen capture after the bug was moved toward the center to allow cropping the frame for 4:3 SD:

Yep it seems clearer that they will be taking to center portion of HD frames to send out the SD channels on cable and satellite in the future.

Now that laptop you use to watch HD videos can easily be connected to your big screen HDTV.

Need A HDMI/DVI/VGA Port On Your Laptop?

Got HDCP Connection Problems?
Got HDCP Connection Problems?

Got HDCP Connection Problems? Are you having issues with HDMI or DVI connecting. This little device may be just what the HDTV doctor oredered. Connect this between the source and the display that is giving you fits not connecting due to a EDID failure and hopefully you will be good to go.

Got HDCP Connection Problems?

From the amazon page:
The DVI Detective is a new device that reads and stores a computer’s digital video information (EDID) in order to simplify the installation process for users who are extending a digital projector or plasma display away from the computer. Once installed and connected, the DVI Detective continually transmits the EDID to the computer, essentially “tricking” the computer into thinking that the video is present, even when it is not connected. The user can then disconnect the display, place it in a remote location and reconnect it, without rebooting the operating system. The entire installation process benefits from the DVI Detective, which utilizes a much smaller cable that requires fewer connections; it makes life easier for those extending digital displays or projectors. An inconspicuous device that weighs less than three pounds, the DVI Detective connects to the ADC or DVI port on one side, and to a DVI extension module or cable on the other. It works with all digital displays (DVI) as well as Apple’s line of flat panel displays (ADC)..

This could solve a lot of HDCP issues especially with HTPCs where every time you select the PC input it fails to connect.

Note: You will need DVI to HDMI cables or adapters for HDMI devices and you will need to hook up the audio separately with analog red-white cables. The sound won’t suffer because the speakers in TVs are stereo anyway. Now for those people that are connecting a surround receiver I would put the box between the surround receiver and the HDTV. Also hook up the audio from the source with the optical audio connection to the surround receiver if your surround receiver is just a HDMI pass through type.

Got HDCP Connection Problems?