HDTV question: hooking up my home theatre computer

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I just purchased a Windows Media Center computer, and when it arrives I will
want to hook it up to my home theatre. I have an older television, the Sony
KP-61HS10, and it has only component video input. My objective is to watch
windows media high definition DVD content on my TV. What's the best way of
getting the video from my computer to my TV? The computer has USB2,
Firewire and video out. Can the USB or Firewire ports be used with an
adapter? Or, should I use a VGA-> component video adapater? In either case,
which one do you recommend?

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95B398D6215A3nntprogerscom@140.99.99.130...
> "Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in news:r%Jrd.9465$_E3.2247@trndny06:
>
> > I just purchased a Windows Media Center computer, and when it arrives
> > I will want to hook it up to my home theatre. I have an older
> > television, the Sony KP-61HS10, and it has only component video input.
> > My objective is to watch windows media high definition DVD content on
> > my TV. What's the best way of getting the video from my computer to
> > my TV? The computer has USB2, Firewire and video out. Can the USB or
> > Firewire ports be used with an adapter? Or, should I use a VGA->
> > component video adapater? In either case, which one do you recommend?
>
>
> Which video card do you have? Some video cards have component out. ATI
> makes several video cards with an optional component out adapter.

The computer is an HP M1090N. According to the specs:

Radeon X600 Pro AGP
a.. 256MB DDR memory
a.. PCI-E x 16 (Express) interface
a.. TV-Out and DVI support

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:r%Jrd.9465$_E3.2247@trndny06...
> I just purchased a Windows Media Center computer, and when it arrives I
will
> want to hook it up to my home theatre. I have an older television, the
Sony
> KP-61HS10, and it has only component video input. My objective is to watch
> windows media high definition DVD content on my TV. What's the best way of
> getting the video from my computer to my TV? The computer has USB2,
> Firewire and video out. Can the USB or Firewire ports be used with an
> adapter? Or, should I use a VGA-> component video adapater? In either
case,
> which one do you recommend?
> RCA used to make a VGA>COMPONET adapter but I dont know if they still do
Your bets bet is to get one of the players that play WMA hi-def. Theres
still a lot to work out with the HTPC>HT interface, IMHO
>

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I've just connected the ATI 9600 Pro videocard in my Media Center PC (a
homebrew affair) to my Sony 34XBR960 HDTV via ATI's DVI-to Component
'dongle' (AKA 'adapter'). I have not yet managed to get DVI-to-HDMI
working, although I have the "correct" cable.

Using Windows Media Player 10, along with some Divx codecs, I have been
able to play most everything I've so far thrown at it, with very nice
results. I intend to soon switch to a more sophisticated player
program, though--using WMP 10 was just an experiment to verify that
everything was working.

I have not (yet) installed any special drivers for the videocard--I'm
using just what Windows MCE installed for it. The TV is configured as
my secondary monitor, with a cheapie VGA-only LCD computer monitor
connected to the videocard's VGA output as the primary display. (ATI
suggests their VGA-to-Component dongle for connecting a TV to the 9600,
presumably so that a hi-res LCD monitor can be connected to the DVI
output. But I had no trouble reversing the arrangement.)

In the display setup, I clicked the checkbox to extend the Windows
desktop onto the secondary display (TV). I set the resolution to
1920x1080, and the refresh to 30 Hz interlaced (I tried the other
possibilities--fortunately not destroying the TV in the process--but
this one looked best).

The only funkiness was that Windows would not expand the desktop
background image to 1920x1080, so at first I thought it wasn't working
because I got a rather small image of field & sky in the center of the
TV screen. But as soon as I dragged something else across the screen I
realized that I was seeing the full resolution.

I haven't yet tried adjusting things to eliminate overscan, though it
doesn't appear to be much of a problem.

An AVI encode of a high-definition TV show (an episode of Enterprise)
played on this setup looks just about as good as the original OTA HD
broadcasts I get--excellent, and much better than what I used to get
using a similar setup on a Toshiba SDTV which also had component
inputs. Still, I think the HTPC-SDTV combination is nothing to be
sneered at, for those not yet ready to buy an HDTV set. I'd bet the
original writer would get reasonably good results using the component
inputs on his KP-61HS10, just as I did with my Toshiba. He didn't
mention which videocard his new computer has, but I'd hazard a guess
that ATI's VGA-to-Component dongle (similar to the DVI one I'm using)
would work with it, even if the display setup doesn't recognize that a
TV is connected (which, in my case, it does). The dongle can be bought
(only) from ATI's website (www.atitech.com) for around $30.

As for the standalone players suggested as an alternative, I have a
Phillips DVD player that handles some AVIs. I thought that would be
more convenient than playing them through the computer, but it's
actually a pain in the butt because the Phillips doesn't handle all the
common codecs and resolutions (it *certainly* won't play AVI files that
have HD-like resolutions). It also doesn't handle subtitle files well
either--very hit or miss. So, I'd recommend against the standalone
player route, since connecting a computer can be just as inexpensive
and it has the advantage that it can be more easily upgraded (I've
installed the one Phillips update that has been released, but it's way
behind the state of the art in video files). SInce you'll therefore
need the computer connection to play lots of file formats anyway, a
standalone player is a perhaps a waste of money.

BTW, I realize that extending the Windows desktop onto the TV isn't the
ideal setup, so I'll be looking for a player program that can output to
the secondary display without my doing this. Any suggestions, anyone?

Tom

In article <PuXsd.121$n23.74@fe10.lga>, Z Man <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote:

> <steve99@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:emCsd.40156$Ch2.21574@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
> >
> > "Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:r%Jrd.9465$_E3.2247@trndny06...
> >> I just purchased a Windows Media Center computer, and when it arrives I
> > will
> >> want to hook it up to my home theatre. I have an older television, the
> > Sony
> >> KP-61HS10, and it has only component video input. My objective is to
> >> watch
> >> windows media high definition DVD content on my TV. What's the best way
> >> of
> >> getting the video from my computer to my TV? The computer has USB2,
> >> Firewire and video out. Can the USB or Firewire ports be used with an
> >> adapter? Or, should I use a VGA-> component video adapater? In either
> > case,
> >> which one do you recommend?
> >> RCA used to make a VGA>COMPONET adapter but I dont know if they still do
> > Your bets bet is to get one of the players that play WMA hi-def. Theres
> > still a lot to work out with the HTPC>HT interface, IMHO
>
> There aren't any such players, at least, not yet.

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in newsuXsd.121$n23.74@fe10.lga:

>> Your bets bet is to get one of the players that play WMA hi-def. Theres
>> still a lot to work out with the HTPC>HT interface, IMHO
>
> There aren't any such players, at least, not yet.

Yes there is:

http://www.iodata.com/usa/

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

"Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95B7DED4DC4D2nntprogerscom@140.99.99.130...
> "Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in newsuXsd.121$n23.74@fe10.lga:
>
>>> Your bets bet is to get one of the players that play WMA hi-def. Theres
>>> still a lot to work out with the HTPC>HT interface, IMHO
>>
>> There aren't any such players, at least, not yet.
>
> Yes there is:
>
> http://www.iodata.com/usa/

Looks like you're right. I missed this one, which looks VERY interesting.

Archived from groups: alt.home-theater.misc,alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

42 <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in
news:MPG.1c1edfb84f6194c4989903@shawnews:

>
> "LinkPlayer is compatible with Windows Media Video® Video (WMV9) and
> DivX® HD. HD mode allows you to enjoy pictures and movies in High-
> Definition (Video Up to 1080i / Photo Up to 2048x1532)."
>
> 1080i not 1080p.
>
> Very interesting even so. But it would have been nice to see support
> for 1080p.


True, but how many people have a 1080p display? How many 1080p displays are
there out there?

I really wonder if one can really see the difference between 1080i and
1080p.



--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I agree on the retail purchase of a "midea PC" you are getting hyped
into buying something WAY over priced for what is truely in the box.
Send it back.


--
charper1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message was posted via http://www.satelliteguys.us by charper1

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:58:57 GMT, "Hugh Candlin" <no@spam.com> wrote:

>
>Lucas Tam <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
>news:Xns95B8FF09786Enntprogerscom@140.99.99.130...
>> 42 <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in
>> news:MPG.1c1edfb84f6194c4989903@shawnews:
>>
>> >
>> > "LinkPlayer is compatible with Windows Media Video® Video (WMV9) and
>> > DivX® HD. HD mode allows you to enjoy pictures and movies in High-
>> > Definition (Video Up to 1080i / Photo Up to 2048x1532)."
>> >
>> > 1080i not 1080p.
>> >
>> > Very interesting even so. But it would have been nice to see support
>> > for 1080p.
>>
>>
>> True, but how many people have a 1080p display? How many 1080p displays
>are
>> there out there?
>>
>There is supposed to be a flood of 1080P sets introduced next year,
>along with a drop in price of extended definition plasma sets,
>from the current level of around $2000 to the $1200-$1500 range.
>
>> I really wonder if one can really see the difference between 1080i and
>1080p.
>>
>I know a couple of people that claim that VHS, DVD, LD and regular TV
>all look the same to them. There's no way to survey the whole planet,
>but I'd venture a guess that most people don't care all that much
>about a 10-20-30 percent increase in picture quality.
It may look the same to them if they're watching movies but there's
no way a live sporting event could look the same as a DVD.
Thumper
>That's probably why the cable companies are so eager to squash
>as many channels as they can into the available bandwidth.
>>
>> --
>> Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
>> Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
>> http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/
>

To reply drop XYZ in address

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

I recently purchased the ATI, DVI to Component adapter for my Radeon
9700 Pro, hooked my PC up to my Mitsubishi 55" HD RPTV.
My PC is a Pentium 2.4 ghz, 533 FSB with 1gig DDR 333 Memory.

After downloading the latest drivers and all of the sample 720P, IMAX
HD WMV clips off of the microsoft website and checked them out on the
big screen...It is awesome...Looks just as good as anything I've seen
on HD-Net if not better... I just kept playing them over and
over...Like a kid in a candy store... The gaming suffered a bit since
the card cant handle the high 1080i resolution like it can at
1024x768...But none the less it was killer...

Im tempted to purchase one of these flicks for 20 bucks just to have a
full movie in true HD.. Anyway, just thought Id post my experience..


--
nytevizion, Posted this message at http://www.SatelliteGuys.US