High Def Recording

[FeedingFrenzy]

Currenty have D* standard package with one TV on Tivo.  I get my locals in high def with antenna.  Not ready to go with high def DVR through D*.  Is there a simple cost effective means of recording my locals in high def?

[Mark Strube]

You could get an HDTV tuner card for your PC ($50) : http://cgi.ebay.com/Air2PC-ATSC-Digital-HDTV-Tuner-PCI-Card_W0QQitemZ8759368561QQcategoryZ3761QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But then you'd either have to watch your HD recordings on your computer or figure out a good way to hook it to your HDTV (every HDTV is different when it comes to this).

[FeedingFrenzy]

Thx for the reply Mark!

What are my options for hooking back to TV.  I thought HDMI would be my only option for carrying high def content.  No pc input to tv either.

[Mark Strube]

I'm no expert on this, but if your video card has a DVI output, you can get a DVI or DVI -> HDMI cable. Also, I THINK there's a way to convert VGA to component or DVI... not sure. Can someone else go into more detail?

[kevbeck122]

I'm pretty sure only certain versions of the ATI Radeon series of cards can output component.  Some have a DVI-I to component dongle, and the newer ones have a seperate mini-plug to component output.  The newer NVIDIA cards (6600 and up) also have a mini-plug to component output.  I don't think any of the NVIDIA cards can use the DVI to component out.  Otherwise a DVI to HDMI cable should work.

[FeedingFrenzy]

Ok and then I would also need to run audio as well correct?  The DVI/HDMI is video only right?

[Gregg Lengling]

Ok and then I would also need to run audio as well correct?  The DVI/HDMI is video only right?

Yes DVI is video only (digital video interface), HDMI is both (high definition multimedia interface).

[Mark Strube]

Keep in mind that at this point HDMI, for whatever reason, only supports 2.0 audio... so I'd recommend getting a sound card that has an optical audio output.

[CrashCamomilli]

I run the Signal and audio into my radeon AIW 800XT, the X800 and newer radeons can do HD, so if your a computer nut like me, you might want to look into it, they function really well,

As long as your not trying to do anything with the computer and have a lot of storage space.

there are various sound cards avaliable with digital inputs and outputs to assist with the sound

[mhz40]

Tuner card + dedicated pc + 250 gig drive + high-priced video card + HDMI cable > $1000.  Keep D* and go with a HD-DVR from cable for a lot less headache.  You could record all the network off-air you want... and everyone in the house can use it.

[CrashCamomilli]

mhz40 is entirely correct, unless your REALLY, REALLY into computers already the easiest and most cost effective plan, is to go with a HD-DVR from the cable company.

[Joseph S]

the easiest and most cost effective plan, is to go with a HD-DVR from the cable company.

Unless you're doing this for only a few months, Cable is definitely not cost effective. You'll pay for service, plus taxes, plus rental fees every month. OTA PVR is much cheaper.

[Mark Strube]

Unless of course you want cable channels, free hardware upgrades, and no huge up-front purchase... then cable sounds pretty good.

[mhz40]

Unless you're doing this for only a few months, Cable is definitely not cost effective. You'll pay for service, plus taxes, plus rental fees every month. OTA PVR is much cheaper.

Don't just lay your comment out there with nothing to back it up!  Give us some numbers so we can compare! :p
Along with the miracle $60 ATSC tuner; please build us a whole system; including an antenna (properly grounded), the aformetioned tuner card, motherboard, power supply, OS, software, memory, hard drive and video card w/HDMI or component out.
$50 antenna
$60 tuner
$75 MB
$200 memory
$200 hard drive
$74 case & ps
$100 OS
$20 software? (not sure)
$200 video card
$979 total
Now teach anyone but yourself how to use it and add some sort of remote control.  Hopefully it will last a few years...and assume you do this all on your own.

Oh yeah, add an antenna mount, processor and HDMI cable.

[Joseph S]

You can go as low as G4 systems or P3s with MyHD/Hipix/DVICO for much cheaper, but...

Here's a nice new system that a chimp could run:
MacMini Core Duo - $799 (Remote Included) (Core Solo $599)
EyeTV 500 Refurb - $199 (Addl Remote and FW Cable Included) or $60 ATSC tuner (Add up to 3 EyeTVs or as many tuners as you wish)
ZHDTV1Z Antenna - $20
DVI Cable - Bluejeans or Ebay (Same situation with Cable)

Add addl HD storage via USB2/FW/Gigabit Ethernet as you please. All can be transferred to other HD or D-VHS. Plus, you own it and can sell it and upgrade as you please.

or

D-VHS for $400 or less and ST-182 BQ S-Video tapes from Tapewarehouse.com.