Pci(e?) TV card with HDMI input?

cavemanoc

cavemanoc

cavemanoc

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Is there such a thing as a TV card - either pci or pci-e - that accepts hdmi input from a V+ box?

I have been trying to get my panasonic Plasma to accept HDMI fron my V+ box and it seems like I am doomed to failure as (I suspect) the Virgin output is at 50Hz and the TV only accepts 60Hz :rolleyes: Hence if I could find a tv card that accepts hdmi input, I could run the signal through my PC and convert it (as I have been doing for the SD signal as my TV only has an NTSC tuner!)
 
Just a repeat of my rant over at AVForums...

I can't believe the PC TV-Card market has not moved on... it seems odd that we've been able to watch analogue and digital TV on our PCs and laptops for years, but to date there doesn't appear to be a HD solution out there. I don't even want to record the signal - I simply want to be able to pass the signal from the V+ box to my PC so I can watch it on my TV/Monitors.

The closest thing I have been able to find is the Hauppauge HD PVR - but that seem a tad overkill. I know there are plenty of Card/cam options out there - but again - huge overkill - I just want to be able to watch the signal from my V+ box on my PC via either the HDMI or Component outputs (I'd even settle for 720p )
 
Can't you not just use a HDMI->DVI convertor and plug it in that way? Might need a gender changer. And your monitor to support PIP. Nit really through your PC, but might suffice?
 
whitecrook said:
Can't you not just use a HDMI->DVI convertor and plug it in that way? Might need a gender changer. And your monitor to support PIP. Nit really through your PC, but might suffice?
Click to expand...

Would that allow him to watch the HD signal on his TV though? I thought that was his ultimate aim?
 
I did think that a capture card was perhaps the answer - the 'tuner' is a bit of a red herring as I'm only interested in the HD signal coming through the HDMI port. It just seems a little odd that there is no 'simple' card that allows you to display a digital signal from an HDMI cable on the PC. I suppose in real temrs all I am achieving is a conversion of the signal from 720p 50Hz to 720p 60Hz, so maybe a simple signal converter would be easier in the short term and just run the V+ box through that and straight into the TV?
 
TV cards are actually very advanced, it's the UK that's the problem.

Every other TV package provider in the world supply official CAMs, in the UK they don't, so it's a massive problem trying to make it work on a PC.

Otherwise it's easy to get DVB-T/C/S(2) cards which do HD and on subscription services.
 
Anychance of getting hold of some EU firmware for the TV?

It really should work, there is no 'tuning' involved over HDMI (so the lack of a PAL tuner makes no difference, infact theres no such thing. Just DVB-T or ATSC) and the electronics are certainly capable of it.

Have you tried a PC/Laptop into the TV to see what refresh the EDID specifies, or tried forcing 50hz from the PC.
Is there no way to change the V+ output to 60hz?

EDIT: Have you tried 1080i? TV might support 1080i50?
 
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Hadn't thought about a firmware update - will look into it.

I had a play with the various resolutions to see if there was one that supported 50Hz via the Pc, but no joy unfortunately. It had an option for 720p @ 50Hz, but when I select it the screen goes blank (just as it does when the V+ is plugged in) - unsurprisingly, when I click the 'only display compatible modes' button - anything at 50Hz disappears :rolleyes: It seems that my TV really can't do 50Hz :(
 
I think I may have found a potential solution for this. Does anyone have any experience with the Blackmagic Design BINTSPRO Intensity Pro HDMI Capture Card?

It looks like it will do exactly what I need for everything up to 1080i (tbh I'd be happy with 720p with my setup) Just a bit expensive to experiment with - would consider it if I knew it was what I needed.

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My mate has that card and I helped him test it.

From what I remember - it worked with an input from a Camcorder and Xbox - but not from a Blu Ray player... as it was HDCP encrypted.

I also remember that you needed seriously fast hard drive or raid array to be able to record in - in HD.
 
Thanks for that - I don't suppose anyone knows if the V+ box are HDCP encrypted? I'm not interested in recording the signal, I just need to route it through the computer to watch it live (long story - american TV - effectively have to use the computer to convert from 50Hz to 60Hz so the TV will recognise the signal :rolleyes:)
 
Virdi said:
I also remember that you needed seriously fast hard drive or raid array to be able to record in - in HD.
Click to expand...

Nah its fine i use a HD PVR to record 13Mb/s on a 5.4k hard drive so speed is not an issue

cavemanoc said:
Thanks for that - I don't suppose anyone knows if the V+ box are HDCP encrypted?
Click to expand...

I dont know about the V+ box but if its anything like the sky HD box then free to air channels will not be encrypted but the others will
 
hmmm... that's a shame - don't want to have to fork out for a stripper as well - are there any software fixes available yet? It is going into a PC after all ;)
 
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