Foxtel isn't really an option if you quality pic's???

[BellasDad]

This is what I have been advised which is putting off building a MCE... cause I don't wanna give up Foxtel and if I build a MCE I want to run my TV through it...

"The tuner card has to re-digitize the signal for input into the Media Center.

So you end up with Digital to Analogue (within the Foxtel STB) then we come into the Media Center and have to convert anlogue to digital. Sure, it's then a pure digital path to the TV (HDMI), but by this stage the analogue to digital conversion has already screwed with the quality.

When you record a free to air DVB-T signal, you actually record the raw MPEG stream. There's no digitizing and the only compression is what happens at the TV Station itself. Makes a huge difference."

Now I'm not saying this is correct but I'm just struggling to get someone to say outright that Foxtel to MCE then to TV works and works well...

[tyronne27]

Yes it is correct, but.

1.) output from the foxtel stb to your tv is analog regardless (Composite/Svideo/SCART). because in australia stb's with HDMI/DVI are non-existant.

2.) I dont notice any difference in quality from my austar box to my lcd. some people have mixed results.

[logifuse]

Biggest problem is that you're stuck with s-video as the best Foxtel to MCE connection. There are some new reasonably priced component in cards, but they're not yet working natively with MCE for component (you can get them to work through MCE, but as soon as youy restart, you need to tweak them up again).

Justin

[BellasDad]

That was my thought as well re the analoge output anyway... also I wasn't sure you needed to try and convert back to digital in MC before going to the TV?

So what you guys are saying is if I'm ok with Foxtel to TV Svideo TV then I should be able to get the same results with my MC in the middle of that?

[adri3an]

I've got a 1080p LCD, with foxtel recording through VMC, its not fantastic as said above the quaility is the same as if the fox STB was hooked up directly with Svideo.

However anything is better than watching FTA.

And again as said above, wait for cheaper reliable component in versions of analogue capture cards.

Foxtel is also <supposed> to be upgrading <some> of its channels to HD soon.

[DDH]

Originally Posted by BellasDad

That was my thought as well re the analoge output anyway... also I wasn't sure you needed to try and convert back to digital in MC before going to the TV?

So what you guys are saying is if I'm ok with Foxtel to TV Svideo TV then I should be able to get the same results with my MC in the middle of that?

Yes. If you are happy with the current quality of Foxtel on your TV, then redigitising it in your MCE will produce equivalent results. I do this with a Haugpauge 150 and get good results (given SVideo quality). I understand that there are analogue cards with AV / SVideo inputs, and there are analogue cards with AV / SVideo inputs. In other words all are not equal in redigitising. Perhaps I made a lucky choice (or good research), not sure, but you may want to check out what people say about different analogue cards too.

[kelvinc]

I originally set up MCE basically because the video recorder went south for the winter - IQ I was ideologically oppossed to on the grounds that you never own the box. Also I think I needed to torture myself on weekends screaming fruitlessly at the God of all computers. Setting foxtel to run through MCE was a bit of a fiddle - installing patches to stop the guide crashing - programs in for the free EPG etc.

Now you have to compromise and have foxtel come through an analogue tuner and the geeky stuff on the signal is right - however the big relevation is that most of the stuff down foxtel is crap anyway - or the more technical terms is hardly anything is in true standard digital let alone high definition.

The exceptions are showtime and some box office movies. I say some, because you will find although they are broadcast in widscreen - its low standard picture and 2 channel stereo - not 5.1. I grilled a friend that use to work in the technical section of foxtel - who said that Foxtel are constrained by the distributors who are concerned about the unguarded replication of the movies. So to counter - they only release movies to Foxtel in this low quality for broadcast.

Further he said that Foxtel would not now or in the near future being doing HD broadcasts as people don't have the equipment to notice the quality is not up to standard - huh.

So if you are puting MCE off because of a possible drop in quality - I wouldn't bother as the losses to the average watcher would be neglible. I found the biggest difference was updating the grahics card to an ASUS 8600T - cleaned the picture incredibly to an LCD television. I run a HDMI from the VMC and set it the Sony Bravia to 720P as the 1080P was giving me a few issues. It is a dramatic improvement from the Foxtel straight into the Sony as the pace box cannot output a HDMI signal.

Finally a few words on video components out - my limited understanding is that you have standard video out - then to s-video which splits you video up the to component B Y G - I think. HDMI out is a whole new kettle of fish. To me, the gain from S-Video to component was not that great so S-video into VMC was not that bad.

I like the functionality of VMC as an integrated PVR. I put the pioneer blu ray in for under 400 so as cost effective unit it is great. My only dissapointed was seeing how crappy the Foxtel signal was once it was all hooked up - not from VMC but from foxtel itself realising to the Pace box - it is not true digital. Hope that helps.

[BellasDad]

This is great thanks to you all I finally feel like something is making sense...

So here's the rub...

1. I currently have Foxtel running via a vcr on coax - lowest grade right

2. I've ordered a Samsung M series true HD 1080p 40" LCD

3. My first question was to a friendly I'm not mentioning his name tech on the outsourced Foxtel tech helpdesk who suggested, Svideo from Foxtel STB to VMC and HDMI output from VMC to the (how sweet it is) new LCD is going to far outweigh what I experience today

4. I'm still going to connect coax direct to the TV for FTA HD broadcasting

So from what I've heard here is if I get the right analog capture card with Svideo input and HDMI out put I should be okay?

Am I on the right path?

[DDH]

Originally Posted by BellasDad

This is great thanks to you all I finally feel like something is making sense...

So here's the rub...

1. I currently have Foxtel running via a vcr on coax - lowest grade right

2. I've ordered a Samsung M series true HD 1080p 40" LCD

3. My first question was to a friendly I'm not mentioning his name tech on the outsourced Foxtel tech helpdesk who suggested, Svideo from Foxtel STB to VMC and HDMI output from VMC to the (how sweet it is) new LCD is going to far outweigh what I experience today

4. I'm still going to connect coax direct to the TV for FTA HD broadcasting

So from what I've heard here is if I get the right analog capture card with Svideo input and HDMI out put I should be okay?

Am I on the right path?

Glad to hear its coming together. In answer to your questions

1. Yep
2.
3. Technically I think RGB is higher quality than SVideo, so perhaps it can get 0.05% better, but the reality is SVideo capture is more common than RGB capture.
4. Hmmm, have you thought about Coax to the TV for FTA direct and composite (yellow connection) plus audio L+R (red and white connections) through an AV input for Foxtel direct? You will get a better result with AV since the picture is not turned back into an RF signal by the STB then back again in the TV.

I believe you understand. Now its just a matter of finalising equipment and setting it up.

[adri3an]

The M81 sammies are awesome tellies. 1:1 pixel mapping at 1080p over both HDMI and VGA.

Just do yourself a favor, if you are using DVI/HDMI DON'T get a "crest" home theater cable. It didn't support 1080p. Any problems there is an awesome thread at

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?s...=samsung+1080p

Its 80 or so pages, but it helped me out heaps.