I am having a digital media center built, but am not sure what the best
solution is for receiving and viewing HD programs.

1. I called Comcast and there is a cable card available for $16.00, but
they must install it into the unit. What type of module do I need for the
cable card to plug into? Is this the wisest option?

2. Is a worst case scenario being the use of the STB in conjunction with
the Digital Media Center? Can the digital cable "out" from the STB be
connected to the 'in' position, cable card, on the digital media center then
out to the A/V receiver?

3. If the above is 'doable,' will this get around the current issue of
viewing HD, On-Demand, and require the use of the Media Center Remote as well
as the STB remote?

Please advise.

Many thanks in advance,

Troy
--
Troy Brady

There are curently no PC Tuners that support Cable Cards or MCE support for
them.
MS has announced that the verions of MCE that will come with the Vista OS
release in about a year year will have one-way cable card support.
You can not send HD video from a HD STB to an MCE system unless you
downscale it to 480i SD and send it via S-Video or RF.
"pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:36B72AC8-F6D6-41BC-8346-CAE0D6066F87@microsoft.com...
>I am having a digital media center built, but am not sure what the best
> solution is for receiving and viewing HD programs.
>
> 1. I called Comcast and there is a cable card available for $16.00, but
> they must install it into the unit. What type of module do I need for the
> cable card to plug into? Is this the wisest option?
>
> 2. Is a worst case scenario being the use of the STB in conjunction with
> the Digital Media Center? Can the digital cable "out" from the STB be
> connected to the 'in' position, cable card, on the digital media center
> then
> out to the A/V receiver?
>
> 3. If the above is 'doable,' will this get around the current issue of
> viewing HD, On-Demand, and require the use of the Media Center Remote as
> well
> as the STB remote?
>
> Please advise.
>
> Many thanks in advance,
>
> Troy
> --
> Troy Brady

Thanks JW,

it what you are saying is true, then what is this equipment sold by HP:

HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
Specifically designed for your HP MDTV, the HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
allows you to receive digital cable TV without a set-top box.


• Enjoy a direct connection to digital cable
• Integrates seamlessly with your HP MDTV
• Access digital cable services where supported by your local cable company
• Compatiblity: L1735A and L1736A



--
Troy Brady


"JW" wrote:

> There are curently no PC Tuners that support Cable Cards or MCE support for
> them.
> MS has announced that the verions of MCE that will come with the Vista OS
> release in about a year year will have one-way cable card support.
> You can not send HD video from a HD STB to an MCE system unless you
> downscale it to 480i SD and send it via S-Video or RF.
> "pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:36B72AC8-F6D6-41BC-8346-CAE0D6066F87@microsoft.com...
> >I am having a digital media center built, but am not sure what the best
> > solution is for receiving and viewing HD programs.
> >
> > 1. I called Comcast and there is a cable card available for $16.00, but
> > they must install it into the unit. What type of module do I need for the
> > cable card to plug into? Is this the wisest option?
> >
> > 2. Is a worst case scenario being the use of the STB in conjunction with
> > the Digital Media Center? Can the digital cable "out" from the STB be
> > connected to the 'in' position, cable card, on the digital media center
> > then
> > out to the A/V receiver?
> >
> > 3. If the above is 'doable,' will this get around the current issue of
> > viewing HD, On-Demand, and require the use of the Media Center Remote as
> > well
> > as the STB remote?
> >
> > Please advise.
> >
> > Many thanks in advance,
> >
> > Troy
> > --
> > Troy Brady
>
>
>

The HP MDTV is a TV set not a PC see

http://www.hp.ca/portal/hho/dee/thea..._lcd_mdtv6.php

"pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news4002EA5-1252-43D9-AC9F-FD8C5818CF7F@microsoft.com...
> Thanks JW,
>
> it what you are saying is true, then what is this equipment sold by HP:
>
> HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
> Specifically designed for your HP MDTV, the HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
> allows you to receive digital cable TV without a set-top box.
>
>
> . Enjoy a direct connection to digital cable
> . Integrates seamlessly with your HP MDTV
> . Access digital cable services where supported by your local cable
> company
> . Compatiblity: L1735A and L1736A
>
>
>
> --
> Troy Brady
>
>
> "JW" wrote:
>
>> There are curently no PC Tuners that support Cable Cards or MCE support
>> for
>> them.
>> MS has announced that the verions of MCE that will come with the Vista
>> OS
>> release in about a year year will have one-way cable card support.
>> You can not send HD video from a HD STB to an MCE system unless you
>> downscale it to 480i SD and send it via S-Video or RF.
>> "pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:36B72AC8-F6D6-41BC-8346-CAE0D6066F87@microsoft.com...
>> >I am having a digital media center built, but am not sure what the best
>> > solution is for receiving and viewing HD programs.
>> >
>> > 1. I called Comcast and there is a cable card available for $16.00,
>> > but
>> > they must install it into the unit. What type of module do I need for
>> > the
>> > cable card to plug into? Is this the wisest option?
>> >
>> > 2. Is a worst case scenario being the use of the STB in conjunction
>> > with
>> > the Digital Media Center? Can the digital cable "out" from the STB be
>> > connected to the 'in' position, cable card, on the digital media center
>> > then
>> > out to the A/V receiver?
>> >
>> > 3. If the above is 'doable,' will this get around the current issue of
>> > viewing HD, On-Demand, and require the use of the Media Center Remote
>> > as
>> > well
>> > as the STB remote?
>> >
>> > Please advise.
>> >
>> > Many thanks in advance,
>> >
>> > Troy
>> > --
>> > Troy Brady
>>
>>
>>

*laughing*

Okay, JW, thanks again, but what about this option: I found this forum
discussion where lots of people, seem to be finding ways around the HD issue,
but with minor problems:

I'm running the exact same video card (Radeon 9600) and dongle. People who
want to use this method need to make sure they're buying the correct dongle.
ATI makes 2 different models of dongle, and they're actually different (and
color-coded). Make sure you do a Google search before you buy one.

Second, I get awful overscan on my TV, so the 1776x1000 helps a little.
Still missing some of the screen due to overscan, but it's not as bad as it
would be if I were running true 1080 resolution. To make this work well, you
should use the Windows Extra Large themes, or just scale up your Windows
fonts quite a bit. That's for programs outside of Meedio. In Meedio, I've
used the Menagerie, HDTeeVee, and Chameleon themes. From the menus I modified
the font size and took it up to the max. In the places the font text was
still too small, I modified the default.resources to increase the size even
more.

Remember that if you run an interlaced resolution (1080i), you'll get screen
flicker. That's just the way it is. Avoid theme backgrounds with lots of
horizontal lines to minimize the effect.
--
Troy Brady


"JW" wrote:

> The HP MDTV is a TV set not a PC see
>
> http://www.hp.ca/portal/hho/dee/thea..._lcd_mdtv6.php
>
> "pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news4002EA5-1252-43D9-AC9F-FD8C5818CF7F@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks JW,
> >
> > it what you are saying is true, then what is this equipment sold by HP:
> >
> > HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
> > Specifically designed for your HP MDTV, the HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
> > allows you to receive digital cable TV without a set-top box.
> >
> >
> > . Enjoy a direct connection to digital cable
> > . Integrates seamlessly with your HP MDTV
> > . Access digital cable services where supported by your local cable
> > company
> > . Compatiblity: L1735A and L1736A
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Troy Brady
> >
> >
> > "JW" wrote:
> >
> >> There are curently no PC Tuners that support Cable Cards or MCE support
> >> for
> >> them.
> >> MS has announced that the verions of MCE that will come with the Vista
> >> OS
> >> release in about a year year will have one-way cable card support.
> >> You can not send HD video from a HD STB to an MCE system unless you
> >> downscale it to 480i SD and send it via S-Video or RF.
> >> "pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:36B72AC8-F6D6-41BC-8346-CAE0D6066F87@microsoft.com...
> >> >I am having a digital media center built, but am not sure what the best
> >> > solution is for receiving and viewing HD programs.
> >> >
> >> > 1. I called Comcast and there is a cable card available for $16.00,
> >> > but
> >> > they must install it into the unit. What type of module do I need for
> >> > the
> >> > cable card to plug into? Is this the wisest option?
> >> >
> >> > 2. Is a worst case scenario being the use of the STB in conjunction
> >> > with
> >> > the Digital Media Center? Can the digital cable "out" from the STB be
> >> > connected to the 'in' position, cable card, on the digital media center
> >> > then
> >> > out to the A/V receiver?
> >> >
> >> > 3. If the above is 'doable,' will this get around the current issue of
> >> > viewing HD, On-Demand, and require the use of the Media Center Remote
> >> > as
> >> > well
> >> > as the STB remote?
> >> >
> >> > Please advise.
> >> >
> >> > Many thanks in advance,
> >> >
> >> > Troy
> >> > --
> >> > Troy Brady
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

I have not seen any complaints of flicker with 1080i output. It might be
true if you are sending it to a PC monitor at 1080p/60 and not at a higher
frequency. But since you have overscan you are using a TV so you shuold not
have flicker.
You should be able apply more overscan compensation with your ATI Catalyst
drivers or Catalyst Control Center
I am not sure why you want to use 1080i output if you are not receiving
1080i programs from an HDTV tuner card. If you are using an HDTV tuner I
would expect you to be also having problems using a standard 9600 graphics
card and not a 9600Pro or 9600GT.

"pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:208D2FB4-ECA1-4C93-90A8-56477AD60284@microsoft.com...
> *laughing*
>
> Okay, JW, thanks again, but what about this option: I found this forum
> discussion where lots of people, seem to be finding ways around the HD
> issue,
> but with minor problems:
>
> I'm running the exact same video card (Radeon 9600) and dongle. People who
> want to use this method need to make sure they're buying the correct
> dongle.
> ATI makes 2 different models of dongle, and they're actually different
> (and
> color-coded). Make sure you do a Google search before you buy one.
>
> Second, I get awful overscan on my TV, so the 1776x1000 helps a little.
> Still missing some of the screen due to overscan, but it's not as bad as
> it
> would be if I were running true 1080 resolution. To make this work well,
> you
> should use the Windows Extra Large themes, or just scale up your Windows
> fonts quite a bit. That's for programs outside of Meedio. In Meedio, I've
> used the Menagerie, HDTeeVee, and Chameleon themes. From the menus I
> modified
> the font size and took it up to the max. In the places the font text was
> still too small, I modified the default.resources to increase the size
> even
> more.
>
> Remember that if you run an interlaced resolution (1080i), you'll get
> screen
> flicker. That's just the way it is. Avoid theme backgrounds with lots of
> horizontal lines to minimize the effect.
> --
> Troy Brady
>
>
> "JW" wrote:
>
>> The HP MDTV is a TV set not a PC see
>>
>> http://www.hp.ca/portal/hho/dee/thea..._lcd_mdtv6.php
>>
>> "pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news4002EA5-1252-43D9-AC9F-FD8C5818CF7F@microsoft.com...
>> > Thanks JW,
>> >
>> > it what you are saying is true, then what is this equipment sold by HP:
>> >
>> > HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module
>> > Specifically designed for your HP MDTV, the HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card
>> > Module
>> > allows you to receive digital cable TV without a set-top box.
>> >
>> >
>> > . Enjoy a direct connection to digital cable
>> > . Integrates seamlessly with your HP MDTV
>> > . Access digital cable services where supported by your local cable
>> > company
>> > . Compatiblity: L1735A and L1736A
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Troy Brady
>> >
>> >
>> > "JW" wrote:
>> >
>> >> There are curently no PC Tuners that support Cable Cards or MCE
>> >> support
>> >> for
>> >> them.
>> >> MS has announced that the verions of MCE that will come with the
>> >> Vista
>> >> OS
>> >> release in about a year year will have one-way cable card support.
>> >> You can not send HD video from a HD STB to an MCE system unless you
>> >> downscale it to 480i SD and send it via S-Video or RF.
>> >> "pseudocajun" <pseudocajun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:36B72AC8-F6D6-41BC-8346-CAE0D6066F87@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I am having a digital media center built, but am not sure what the
>> >> >best
>> >> > solution is for receiving and viewing HD programs.
>> >> >
>> >> > 1. I called Comcast and there is a cable card available for $16.00,
>> >> > but
>> >> > they must install it into the unit. What type of module do I need
>> >> > for
>> >> > the
>> >> > cable card to plug into? Is this the wisest option?
>> >> >
>> >> > 2. Is a worst case scenario being the use of the STB in conjunction
>> >> > with
>> >> > the Digital Media Center? Can the digital cable "out" from the STB
>> >> > be
>> >> > connected to the 'in' position, cable card, on the digital media
>> >> > center
>> >> > then
>> >> > out to the A/V receiver?
>> >> >
>> >> > 3. If the above is 'doable,' will this get around the current issue
>> >> > of
>> >> > viewing HD, On-Demand, and require the use of the Media Center
>> >> > Remote
>> >> > as
>> >> > well
>> >> > as the STB remote?
>> >> >
>> >> > Please advise.
>> >> >
>> >> > Many thanks in advance,
>> >> >
>> >> > Troy
>> >> > --
>> >> > Troy Brady
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Troy:

I have an HP TV and DEC. I had a FREE Comcast cable card in the TV (they're
supposed to be required to give them to you for free so ask about that). We
paid only for limited basic ($12/mo). I got all the broadcast HD stuff on my
TV and could record anything on the media center albeit in SD. Then we moved
and got a month free premium and the troubles began. The cable card balked a
lot of the time (dropped channels). Comcast doesn't like supporting the
cable card and pushes the fact that it's one-way (ie: can't do PPV or get
the channel guide, etc). So I got them to bring an HD STB and give me
another month of free premium! We're still trying to get ANYthing to record
on our MCE now. I have an HP warrenty tech coming out with a new tuner card.
Hopefully that's the issue.

Anyhow, there are supposedly some ways to record HD using firewire. I don't
recall the details but there's a lot about it over at
www.thegreenbutton.com.

Good luck,
Sheila in Seattle

I have never heard of any requirement that a Cable Card be provided for
free. Maybe what you are thinikng of is that Cable companies are not
supposed to encrypt any local network channels that they normally provide
in your location (Zip code) that can also be received with an OTA digital
tuner.
How is your STB connected to your system? The best quality connection is
normally with an S-Video connection to your Tuner card and with your MCE
system setup to recieve via S-Video.

"Sheila" <Sheila@HoffmanNOSPAMgraphics.com> wrote in message
news:EKednUYbQ9NwKo3ZnZ2dnUVZ_sKdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..

Yes, that's probably what I was thinking about. But ours was in fact free.
We have our system funtionally correctly, finally.

sheila