HTPC - TV Tuner Reviews
by Jarred Walton on December 7, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
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More MyHD MDP-130
Once the card is properly configured, you can get around to actually using it. The setup is a bit tedious - both in waiting for the channel scan to complete as well as in properly configuring analog capture settings - but the card works well once configured.
The quality of the HD reception is great, and in the HD/bypass mode, it is impossible to tell the difference between the output of the Comcast box and the output of the MyHD card. Those with decent OTA DTV reception will find more to like with the MyHD. TitanTV works properly with no need to configure your channels manually, and you can even use antenna 1 for OTA HD and antenna 2 for analog/digital cable, with the card switching between the two inputs as necessary.
Speaking of TitanTV, MyHD includes a utility called "TitanTVHelperApp.exe" to allow you to schedule recordings within TitanTV. While it would be nice not to have to go through the training process, it's better than nothing. The way you "train" MyHD and TitanTV to work together is another somewhat complex interface. You have to select the "record" link within TitanTV, which brings up the top dialog shown above. You also need to know the virtual channel maps to the desired program. In the example image, NBC HD shows up as channel 105-1 in TitanTV, but the real channel is 83-1. Once you select the new channel and press OK, you're greeted with the MyHD update confirmation dialog (the lower image). If you choose "Yes," MyHD will remember your change for the future. Once this is done for each digital channel you want to watch, you can then forget about remembering sub-channels.
There are still some items to address, though. While watching digital channels works very well, the analog reception is clearly worse than the other two cards. Besides the performance issues, image quality at best is perhaps a tie or slightly better than the Fusion5, and clearly inferior to the Theater 550. Timeshifting (pause/play of live TV) works fine, but only for digital channels. Given the issues with recording analog channels, that's not too surprising, and the FusionHDTV software has the same problem. Still, people used to TiVo or the Windows MCE interface will find this to be a less-than-perfect solution, and unlike the other cards in this article, Windows MCE is not supported with the MyHD.
Something else that we felt was lacking was the overlay/preview window. This apparently shows 720x480 content, scaled to however large you make the window. We wish that an option for the full content was available, but even if the preview window only shows a 480p version of the content, the ability to simply maximize the overlay window would be a good addition. (Completely eliminating the overscan of the Toshiba HDTV is pretty cool and can be done with the FusionHDTV software, for example.) This is really a minor complaint, though.
Another slightly confusing interface issue comes up with the video output and aspect ratios. As mentioned before, the HDTV is a 1080i device. We have the computer set to output a 720p (actually 1152x648) signal, so that text remains legible in Windows. Switching to HD mode bypasses the PC output and goes straight from the MyHD card, so a separate output setting takes precedence (and unfortunately, we get overscan from the TV). There are quite a few resolutions available, but the most useful are 1920x1080i, 1280x720p, and Native. Since most HD broadcasts are in either 720p or 1080i, selecting "Native" seems like it should provide the optimal result. However, this actually causes all of the analog channels to end up stretched or zoomed, and sometimes the digital channels get skewed as well.
Selecting a specific widescreen resolution solves these problems, but this isn't immediately clear and you might also wonder how to proceed. The FusionHDTV software has an option for aspect ratio called "Original", and it works properly for all HD and analog channels. The "Native" AR in MyHD tries to accomplish that, but it doesn't work out as well (and you would end up with your TV often changing resolutions every time that you change the channel). The UI on the MyHD card has options for video resolution, screen ratio, and screen format on the AV page. We feel the best result comes from choosing a standard resolution for your display (1920x1080i or 1280x720p most likely), and then check the "Auto" box in the aspect ratio. It may not get every AR correct, but that's probably due to the lack of tight standards in the US market more than anything. You can also set up the overlay size on the VGA dialog tab, and we selected "Fixed Aspect Ratio" and "16:9 Display".
The MyHD card ends up being the reverse of the Fusion5. It has issues with analog video, but the digital quality is better (and uses fewer system resources) and there are few major bugs/problems. The card lists the minimum system requirements as a Pentium II 400 MHz, and while that might work for DTV content where the hardware decoding is a factor, watching and recording the analog channels requires an excessive amount of CPU power. Of course, most people are going to be interested in the HD aspects of this card, and the analog is only a fringe benefit.
With a fast system and once configured properly, the MyHD worked very well and didn't give us any cause for complaint. The cost is substantially higher, but right now, it would definitely be our pick out of these two HD-capable cards. It's better to spend an extra $100 for a device that works well more often than not than to save the money and end up fighting with a problematic interface. Considering the cost of equipment used in many entertainment centers, $270 for the MyHD + DVI really isn't that much - you can even throw in a dual core processor for $330 and you're still only up to the price of a good set of speakers, and nowhere near what some people pay for high-end speakers. If you enjoy checking out the latest home theater equipment, the MyHD card isn't likely to disappoint.
Once the card is properly configured, you can get around to actually using it. The setup is a bit tedious - both in waiting for the channel scan to complete as well as in properly configuring analog capture settings - but the card works well once configured.
The quality of the HD reception is great, and in the HD/bypass mode, it is impossible to tell the difference between the output of the Comcast box and the output of the MyHD card. Those with decent OTA DTV reception will find more to like with the MyHD. TitanTV works properly with no need to configure your channels manually, and you can even use antenna 1 for OTA HD and antenna 2 for analog/digital cable, with the card switching between the two inputs as necessary.
Speaking of TitanTV, MyHD includes a utility called "TitanTVHelperApp.exe" to allow you to schedule recordings within TitanTV. While it would be nice not to have to go through the training process, it's better than nothing. The way you "train" MyHD and TitanTV to work together is another somewhat complex interface. You have to select the "record" link within TitanTV, which brings up the top dialog shown above. You also need to know the virtual channel maps to the desired program. In the example image, NBC HD shows up as channel 105-1 in TitanTV, but the real channel is 83-1. Once you select the new channel and press OK, you're greeted with the MyHD update confirmation dialog (the lower image). If you choose "Yes," MyHD will remember your change for the future. Once this is done for each digital channel you want to watch, you can then forget about remembering sub-channels.
There are still some items to address, though. While watching digital channels works very well, the analog reception is clearly worse than the other two cards. Besides the performance issues, image quality at best is perhaps a tie or slightly better than the Fusion5, and clearly inferior to the Theater 550. Timeshifting (pause/play of live TV) works fine, but only for digital channels. Given the issues with recording analog channels, that's not too surprising, and the FusionHDTV software has the same problem. Still, people used to TiVo or the Windows MCE interface will find this to be a less-than-perfect solution, and unlike the other cards in this article, Windows MCE is not supported with the MyHD.
Something else that we felt was lacking was the overlay/preview window. This apparently shows 720x480 content, scaled to however large you make the window. We wish that an option for the full content was available, but even if the preview window only shows a 480p version of the content, the ability to simply maximize the overlay window would be a good addition. (Completely eliminating the overscan of the Toshiba HDTV is pretty cool and can be done with the FusionHDTV software, for example.) This is really a minor complaint, though.
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Another slightly confusing interface issue comes up with the video output and aspect ratios. As mentioned before, the HDTV is a 1080i device. We have the computer set to output a 720p (actually 1152x648) signal, so that text remains legible in Windows. Switching to HD mode bypasses the PC output and goes straight from the MyHD card, so a separate output setting takes precedence (and unfortunately, we get overscan from the TV). There are quite a few resolutions available, but the most useful are 1920x1080i, 1280x720p, and Native. Since most HD broadcasts are in either 720p or 1080i, selecting "Native" seems like it should provide the optimal result. However, this actually causes all of the analog channels to end up stretched or zoomed, and sometimes the digital channels get skewed as well.
Selecting a specific widescreen resolution solves these problems, but this isn't immediately clear and you might also wonder how to proceed. The FusionHDTV software has an option for aspect ratio called "Original", and it works properly for all HD and analog channels. The "Native" AR in MyHD tries to accomplish that, but it doesn't work out as well (and you would end up with your TV often changing resolutions every time that you change the channel). The UI on the MyHD card has options for video resolution, screen ratio, and screen format on the AV page. We feel the best result comes from choosing a standard resolution for your display (1920x1080i or 1280x720p most likely), and then check the "Auto" box in the aspect ratio. It may not get every AR correct, but that's probably due to the lack of tight standards in the US market more than anything. You can also set up the overlay size on the VGA dialog tab, and we selected "Fixed Aspect Ratio" and "16:9 Display".
The MyHD card ends up being the reverse of the Fusion5. It has issues with analog video, but the digital quality is better (and uses fewer system resources) and there are few major bugs/problems. The card lists the minimum system requirements as a Pentium II 400 MHz, and while that might work for DTV content where the hardware decoding is a factor, watching and recording the analog channels requires an excessive amount of CPU power. Of course, most people are going to be interested in the HD aspects of this card, and the analog is only a fringe benefit.
With a fast system and once configured properly, the MyHD worked very well and didn't give us any cause for complaint. The cost is substantially higher, but right now, it would definitely be our pick out of these two HD-capable cards. It's better to spend an extra $100 for a device that works well more often than not than to save the money and end up fighting with a problematic interface. Considering the cost of equipment used in many entertainment centers, $270 for the MyHD + DVI really isn't that much - you can even throw in a dual core processor for $330 and you're still only up to the price of a good set of speakers, and nowhere near what some people pay for high-end speakers. If you enjoy checking out the latest home theater equipment, the MyHD card isn't likely to disappoint.
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8steve8 - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
bottom line:if i want to watch/record hdtv channels like HBO and/or discover via a PC...
im out of luck?
those channels are not ota... are provided through a cable provider....
i can do this once cable card finally comes around?
JarredWalton - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
HBO and most other movie channels are encrypted. Funny enough, some of the on demand channels seem to be picked up. For instance channels 101-1, 101-2, 102-1, 102-2, and several subchannels on the physical channels 93 and 94 all showed what amounts to random content. Movies, cartoons, and yes, even porn. If you tuned in to one of the channels, sometimes you would see it going to fast-forward mode, like the person watching the content was skipping ahead.Cable card is supposed to allow you to view encrypted content on TVs as well as computers without a set-top box. Until I see it in actual use, though, I'm not exactly sure how it's going to work. I would assume it will just store an encrypted TP file, and the cable card will contain the decryption logic.
nullpointerus - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cablecard">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CablecardI've been waiting for decent HTPC CableCard products for ~2 years now. They'll probably come out very late in 2006, achieve their intended interoperability sometime between the second and third generation of products, and become practically flawless around the same time that they become obsolete. That's just a guess, mind you...
Tujan - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
It was intriging because nobody has really compared the use of DIY HTPCs. With what limited parts are available.I wouldn't use a non-multicore processor for something dealing with HDPCs. Just the shear amount of graphics and screen space,the relative newcomer to its display of screen space,. The notorious 'switching between apps,and those running in the background,- much less using the PCI bus to do so.
What I did miss out of this story,was a shot of a connected MYHD130 to its screen display. Kind of lost me there. With the connect ups to utilizing a screen,and the computers video card. See Im reading imagining toggling between user interface,remote,and what this means to the rigging of separate devices outside the computer itself.Caveat Emptor for/from them along side. And you mentioned that ATI was 'out-of-the-picture , for HDTV unless the components where hooked up. So to share that ATI graphics cards are not useful for the MYHD130.
Would certainly make a wish list to the MYHD130 to put it onto the PCI-e lane.Get it off the PCI bus.
As for those encrypted channels.Are you sure they would stay that way ? Think you could pick out your PPV (Pay-Per-view) channel from that list ? [ ]
You mentioned your Monitor,that they have in common Overscan.I simply have the question included to involve just how a HTPC will correctly recognize a monitor (consider a 32 to 40" LCD TV) ,when most this involves the PNP feature Ive known for doing so.? [ ]
ATI cards aren't any good with the DTV if using the DVI for/from them for the HD screens ? Think 32" to 42" LCD TVs here.[ ]
- glad your doing the experimenting here.Good article.
JarredWalton - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
LCD TVs shouldn't have a problem with overscan. Any rear projection displays will have overscan, and I believe all DLP have overscan as well. There are some good DLP displays that only have 1% overscan, though -- too bad they're really expensive.If you want a picture of what the MyHD looks like when connected, let me see about uploading one and I'll provide a link. This is with the DVI daughter card:
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/multimedia/tvt...">DVI Passthru Image
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/multimedia/tvt...">VGA Passthru Image
Hopefully that's clear - there's a lot of cable clutter, so I labeled the pertinent connections.
Tujan - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
Thanks for reply. Even though I know a lot,Im still a novice. Know a lot of the acronymns,but dealing with things marketed off the top just keeps me on to them for a limited span.The picture there,the top card is the video card,with the lower cards being the TV tuners then.Im thinkin that somehow your giving up a controlled connection to your display from the computer by using the MyHD130 ? Or it limits the 'out of your video card when you only would have a single hook up on the Display.[ ]
- I will go to there site to look for more.
Encryption ? [ ] Mean if you subscribe to HBO via your home cable line,HBO will not be able to be seen if utilizing the HTPC with the QAM/HD TV cards ?
Certainly the situation would be averted for the configuration of the cable to Display(cable box to default display) - since (T,F) the Display has an encryption chip within it to do so,(1),or (2) Encryption is handled via the cable box. With everything else dealing with something of the HDCP,HDMI type scenarios.... The encryption mechanism has got to work somewhere in the final render at the Display. Certainly the Cable Company isn't selling me the Display.....
Of course this is a whole nother anchalotta.
I pretty much just look for the configuration compatibility in the input,output for the hookups.And if the software will work/..how difficult to navigate them.
Thinking everythings hunky dory after a large investment ...Again thanks for reply.
JarredWalton - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
Decryption of the encrypted channels is handled by the cable box. The cable card standard will allow other devices to do that decryption -- basically, the key/algorithm will be stored on the cable card. Of course, that means you need to have a TV and or computer that has a cable card slot. Hopefully they'll make a USB adapter.mariush - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
I'm a bit dissapointed that you have used Divx to test the analog recording. XViD would have probably been much faster, at least that's how it is on my computer.Also, I would probably either use XViD set to record with quantizer 1 (max quality) which takes about 6-10 MB/s at 768x576 25fps or I would use a lossless encoder such as HuffYUV (~12 MB/s at 768x576 25fps)
JarredWalton - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
The DivX codec is officially supported by the MyHD software. Xvid was far slower, and that holds in general, unless there is a special setting to get it to encode faster. All the real-time encoding has to be done through a VFW codec, and I couldn't find a fast codec to handle that. The DivX codec is also the only codec that allows you to resize the video content, at least as far as I could tell. Otherwise you end up with an incorrect aspect ratio, as seen on the top left picture on page 15.If you download the videos, you might feel that the DivX codec results in a loss of quality, even on the X2 system. That video sample is actually very close to what you see when watching live analog content with the MyHD card. At best, it's decent analog video. Just about any analog-only TV tuner will produce equal or better output.
Back to the codecs, if you really want to get a decent compression, while not losing a lot of quality, I would recommend using a second PC or re-encoding the videos while your computer is sitting idle. You could do the same thing with the TP files, re-encoding them using the Xvid codec with a data rate of around 1 GB per hour and the target, resolution of 720 x 480 -- or perhaps go for 2/3 GB per hour and target a 1280x1024 resolution.
One of the benefits of the DivX codec is that quite a few consumer-electronics devices now support it as well. I'm not aware of any DVD players that can handle Xvid.
xtknight - Wednesday, December 7, 2005 - link
Sorry for the double post, but by the way, the program AVI.NET can encode xvid and divx for standalone players. That's the whole purpose of it: to use only the features standalone players support. I recommend you try it out.