HD TV converter for computers?

[rosco6912]

Is there a converter/tuner of somekind out there that will allow me to hook up my monitor to an HD tv tuner? How about giving it composite inputs? I'm moving to college soon and want to consolodate everything onto my 17" flatscreen... Console systems, DVD movies, and Digital Cable.

Thanks!

edit: 11/14/02 AM
Can someone tell me the difference between DTV and Digital Cable? Is HD only on the latter? Thanks, in reading reviews and stuff I'm totalyl confused now. It seems DTV can be picked up using an antenna (?) ... if so ... will cable be eliminated in the future? or will it remain to provide stations like comedy central? (I love CC )

 

[Boogak]

I think Hauppage makes a HD compatible TV Tuner card.

 

[skatertech]

That depends, do you want your computer involved? There is an HDTV tuner by Hauppauge, it will allow for all of your video inputs to be processed (and displayed) by the PC.

Viewsonic makes a product for standalone conversion to your monitor, the site is down right now so I can't provide you with a link.

 

[Chadder007]

Sort of off topic but....is Digital Cable HDTV formatted??

 

[BigFatCow]

Originally posted by: Chadder007
Sort of off topic but....is Digital Cable HDTV formatted??

no...

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: Chadder007
Sort of off topic but....is Digital Cable HDTV formatted??

No

Some cities have it as an option though.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Originally posted by: Chadder007
Sort of off topic but....is Digital Cable HDTV formatted??

No

Some cities have it as an option though.

So is HDTV still mostly only avail with an antenna??

 

[skatertech]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

So is HDTV still mostly only avail with an antenna??

Yeah, and if you go cable you will probably have to use your provider's box.

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: Chadder007

So is HDTV still mostly only avail with an antenna??

antenna, satellite, and cable are the three possibilities. almost every large city has HD from antenna, you can get HD sports and movies almost everywhere from satellite also you may be able to get HD CBS off the sat. if you are in the right areas, and HD cable is just started to be rolled out/tested in a few (less than 10 cities)

 

[rosco6912]

ORLANDO, FL --> TWC offers an HD digital cable box. So it's special, not everyone has it.
the reason I'm gonna have it is b/c my place already has a 65" mitsubishi hd and i can get the hd box for my room cheep...

that or i want the 32" wega hd sony tv. the thing is BEAUTIFUL for 1600 =/

 

[ElFenix]

HD is awesome, was watching saving private ryan in hd on a 42 inch plasma last weekend, OMG!

i definitely want a converter if i can use my monitor as an HDTV... soo much cheaper

 

[rosco6912]

Can someone tell me the difference between DTV and Digital Cable? Is HD only on the latter? Thanks, in reading reviews and stuff I'm totalyl confused now. It seems DTV can be picked up using an antenna (?) ... if so ... will cable be eliminated in the future? or will it remain to provide stations like comedy central? (I love CC )

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
HD is awesome, was watching saving private ryan in hd on a 42 inch plasma last weekend, OMG!

and plasma screens are nowhere clost to full resolution either....
that picture quality and dolby digital 5.1 off from an antenna is just amazing

 

[Boogak]

Originally posted by: rosco6912
Can someone tell me the difference between DTV and Digital Cable? Is HD only on the latter? Thanks, in reading reviews and stuff I'm totalyl confused now. It seems DTV can be picked up using an antenna (?) ... if so ... will cable be eliminated in the future? or will it remain to provide stations like comedy central? (I love CC )

HD (High Definition) is really just a new resolution standard for tv's (I'm oversimplifying it I think). I think satellite TV and even Digital Cable still run on the NTSC standard, which I think have 480 lines of resolution interlaced (meaning every other line is drawn with each screen refresh). DVD's have 720 lines of resolution, but can be interlaced or progressive scan (meaning the entire screen is redrawn each refresh). HD can have 480 progressive, 720 progressive, or a whopping 1080 lines interlaced for better clarity.

A HD signal can be carried either by satellite (DirecTV has some HD channels), digital cable (I believe some cable networks have HD channels), or through over the air antenna if you have a special HD tuner (I know here in Dallas most of the channels here have a HD signal going out as well).

So really, HD is here just to replace NTSC, which is our current TV standard. In the future, all broadcasts (be it satellite, cable, or over the air) will be in HD format.

Anyway that's how I understand how HD works and I'm probably oversimplifying things or just got some things flat out wrong. I'm sure someone more knowledgable will correct me.

 

[rosco6912]

thanks for replying - but i'm still confused...

if HD is to be the new standard... then what the heck is DTV? what is its standard resolution? is it antenna only?

 

[scorpioLP]

DTV = DirectTV ???

I'm not 100% sure if that's what DTV refers to, I think it may just be an online abbreviation for DirectTV though.

DirectTV is just satellite TV. As mentioned before, it can receive High Definition (HD) signals.

I am in a condo in Northern VA, and haven't been able to get a satellite. Fortunately, Comcast Cable has rolled out HD cable boxes in my area and now I watch alot of primetime stuff on HD (didn't cost me anything either, since I already had digital cable, they just gave me a new cable box). I get ABC, CBS, NBC, Showtime, HBO, PBS..... all in High Definition. But, not necessarily every show that is on these channels is HD. But alot of primetime stuff, especially on CBS is. I will be watching CSI in HD tonight

I think HD will be standard, but not for probably another 10 years or so. It was supposed to be within the next 5 years, but from everything I've read, noone thinks that's a reality.

Standard resolution ??? Not sure. I do know that everything is moving to a widescreen aspect ration (16:9), but not sure what the signal quality is.

Antenna only.... no. You can get the signal via Satellite or Digital cable (not widespread).

 

[teesdale48]

This site might help clarify: Sound and Vision Article

 

[kazamobah]

How Digital Television Works

A few companies make HDTV cards. I picked up a MyHD card a few weeks ago. It works really well. The biggest problem I am having is receiving a good OTA signal(dorm=indoor antenna only).

Here are some good links

AVS Forum: HTPC section
Antennaweb

I uploaded a sample image of what hdtv looks like here. Anyone who has watched regular/ntsc television on their computer will realize what a huge leap this is.

 

[skatertech]

DTV = Digital TV

It is digitally transmited over the cable system to provide a better picture and better audio. Current cable systems transmit analog signals that lose quality quickly, and do not have the clarity of dTV. Almost all cable providers offer dTV now, with many more channels and features.

dTV is not HDTV. HDTV is the new broadcast format, currently availible off air and in a select few cable systems. (See the above posts about HDTV)

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: scorpioLP
DTV = DirectTV ???

I'm not 100% sure if that's what DTV refers to, I think it may just be an online abbreviation for DirectTV though.

Antenna only.... no. You can get the signal via Satellite or Digital cable (not widespread).

the different types of DTV

EDTV sux.. stupid fox

what do you mean by "antenna only.... no." we recieve HDTV CBS, ABC, NBC, WB, (is that what they call it?), FOX, PBS, etc. just fine with our antenna.

and Boogak, dvds have 480 lines of resolution.

 

[scorpioLP]

what do you mean by "antenna only.... no."

I meant that HD is not restricted to antenna only. There are several ways to get the HD signal as has been said

I did not mean that you can't get the signal via antenna.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[rosco6912]

so you're saying to get the AIRWAVE HD signals (ABC, CBS, etc -- assuming they're available) I would buy some kind of antenna to digital converter box? whereas since digital cable may provide these in their own service using their own hd box (like what i will use) it is through CABLE.

i guess i'm confused, i thought digital tv was not digital cable, and i didn't realize HD signals were "free" i thought they were a premium (ala digital cable charges xtra for HD channels)

any comments are welcomed

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: rosco6912
i guess i'm confused, i thought digital tv was not digital cable, and i didn't realize HD signals were "free" i thought they were a premium (ala digital cable charges xtra for HD channels)

yup, you got it. digital cable is nowhere close to digital tv (HD). and the signals are free if you are in range of the transmission tower(s). if you can pick up the channels for regular tv off the air, you will be able to do the same for HDTV (assuming that the tower is broadcasting it)

 

[rosco6912]

so you're saying DIGITAL TV = HIGH DEF TV?

gosh i remember a circut city guy telling me they were different a few yrs back...

thanks!

 

[kazamobah]

Cable companies are beginning to offer true digital(HD) content with their digital cable service. You'll have to call up to see if it is available in your area.

whereas since digital cable may provide these in their own service using their own hd box (like what i will use) it is through CABLE.

You might be able to use something like this to use your computer monitor as a HDTV display. Keep in mind the the results might not be too pretty since your monitor is probably 4:3 plus if you have an LCD it might not be capable of displaying a high enough resolution.