HDTV on my PC?

[Wonko the Sane]

To the tech-heads of ENWorld:

I am presently looking at buying a projector to hook up to my PC. The model of projector I have selected accepts HDMI input, and the video card I have now (ATi X800) has an HDMI output.

The question I have is: Can I buy a card that will a) accept a co-ax connection for input, b) decode the HD signals from my cable provider, and c) work with my present setup to send the HD signal to my projector?

I expect that the main impediment to this goal will be point (b) above. I know I can get the HD decoder from my cable provider, but that will have an HDMI output - which means cable-swapping every time I want to switch from playing a game on my PC to watching a NASCAR race in HD. This isn't entirely unacceptable, but it's definitely the less desirable option.

For what it's worth, the ability to record/playback, etc. is not too high on my list. I'll be happy if I can watch the race on a 90" screen in HD without having to swap cables every time.

Any ideas?

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'm a little slow -- I just had a *huge* lunch -- so correct me if I'm wrong.

You want to be able to do HDMI from your computer or your cable box to the same projector without swapping cables? Get an HDMI switch. My dad got one for hooking up the dish, computer, and HDMI-out DVD player, and it works great.

EDIT: Here's the link I started with.

Oh, wait. Are you talking about feeding the HD signal to your PC and then outputting from the PC to the projector? ATI showed a card that could do that at CES, but it's (so far as I know) not out yet, and when it is its going to be OEM-sales only, so you won't be able to buy it retail. Conceivable that you could finesse that, but getting it to work in generic hardware might be tough. Also, you'd need a cable-card (it's performs the yes-you-paid-for-cable check that your normal cable box does) and most cable companies charge $10+ a month for them.

 

[Pyrex]

The question I have is: Can I buy a card that will a) accept a co-ax connection for input, b) decode the HD signals from my cable provider, and c) work with my present setup to send the HD signal to my projector?

a) Yes, there are several. The HDHomerun is the current favorite among my coworkers.

b) Sort of. There are several tuners available (such as the HDHomerun above) that will decode SD/HD digital cable signals, but all of the currently available devices only work with *unencrypted* channels; which for most regions means all you'll get is ABC/NBC/CBS/PBS and possibly some local public-access channels.

b.2) If you want to view *encrypted* digital cable channels (Say DiscoveryHD, HBO-HD, etc)on your PC, the *only* way to do that is to buy a brand new Vista Media Center with an "ocur" device which has a card-slot for a CableCard (decryption card) that you can get from your cable operator. AFAIK, the only one actually shipping today is this beast: Niveus DCR, which not only costs $1500, but you need to buy their $3500 system to plug it in to.

Over the next couple of months Sony, Dell & HP should begin shipping more moderatly priced systems with the correct hardware.

c) Yes, once you're viewing digital cable on your PC it'll output to your projector just fine.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

Thanks for the replies...that switch is looking like the best bet.

I was wrong about my video card...the output is not HDMI. Rather, it's DVI-I. It looks like I can get an adapter to convert to an HDMI cable, so the switch will work.

Thanks again.

WtS

 

[Omro Gamer]

The cable company I work for charges $1.50 per month for them, and I think that most cable companies have a similar price

 

[Pyrex]

I was wrong about my video card...the output is not HDMI. Rather, it's DVI-I. It looks like I can get an adapter to convert to an HDMI cable, so the switch will work.

For the most part that'll work fine; I do the same with my PC (using a DVI->HDMI cable) and it works great.

The part where it may break down in the future is if/when you try to view HDCP-protected content you'll have to replace your video card with one that supports HDMI & HDCP

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

For the most part that'll work fine; I do the same with my PC (using a DVI->HDMI cable) and it works great.

The part where it may break down in the future is if/when you try to view HDCP-protected content you'll have to replace your video card with one that supports HDMI & HDCP

True, but that will most likely be years off.

 

[Pyrex]

We can only hope.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

The cable company I work for charges $1.50 per month for them, and I think that most cable companies have a similar price

Last time I checked for someone, their cable company charged $9.95 (and that was on top of the cable-box fee that you still had to pay). That was probably a year ago, though, so hopefully things have gotten more reasonable.

 

[GlassJaw]

For the most part that'll work fine; I do the same with my PC (using a DVI->HDMI cable) and it works great.

The part where it may break down in the future is if/when you try to view HDCP-protected content you'll have to replace your video card with one that supports HDMI & HDCP

And your monitor...and your DVD drive...and your...