[mythtv-users] Beginner Question

[Gerald S]

JAC,  awesome info...it is really helping.  But theoretically, a solution
that used an analog HD capture solution would get around the encrypted
channel issue, correct?  I know the firewire connection would have better
quality, reamaining digital, but likely be encrypted.

I would think that as HD PVR gets more popular, more cable companies will
start encyrpting the signal.  So the work around would be using the analog
HD signal to do the recording, right?  Most people talk about firewire
coming out (digital), and not component video (analog), what direction do
you think it is heading?  Being with Time Warner, I know that they probably
have (or will have) every channel encypted (and only unencrypt the
commercials:) so the hope of using firewire for me will be small.

Thanks again!
Gerald

-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Joseph Caputo
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2004 2:29 PM
To: Discussion about mythtv
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Beginner Question

Gerald S wrote:
> Thanks JAC,
> 
> One more question:   Since the component video coming out of my cable box
is
> raw video, requiring a regular capture card, how does HD impact this?  
> Is this signal HD and can it be captured as HD, though it is analog?  
> I know this I a lot of converting (digital -> analog -> back to 
> digital), but it seems it would be the most compatible scenario.

If you have a cable box with HD component outputs, then the (analog)
component signal would be HD resolution (if the broadcast content was HD).
However, I don't know of any analog HD capture cards or capture cards that
accept component input (at least, not at the consumer level... maybe some
commercial/professional grade cards?).  So, in order for you to capture
analog output from your cable box, you'd have to use RF (coax), composite
(RCA cable), or S-Video, all of which will have been converted by the cable
box to a standard NTSC-resolution signal. 
There just really is no viable solution right now for getting access to
encrypted digital cable HD content in HD resolution, either analog or
digital format.  You can (may) eventually get the digital stream over
FireWire, but only in SD resolution (and not with Myth yet), or you can
access the decoded raw analog video stream, in NTSC resolution.  Either way
you're not getting HD.  Right now, the only HD you can get in Myth is OTA
broadcast HD, and soon possibly digital cable (QAM) HD content *if not
encrypted*.

-JAC
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