Re: Building MCE 2005 system and have questions

From: Jason Tsang (jason-onlineDEL_at_ETEmvps.org)
Date: 11/03/04 

Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2004 00:28:35 -0500

For MCE 2005, you can only use the OTA channels with the HDTV Wonder. 

-- 
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP
Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx
"Mike Z" <MikeZ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:9B584215-B80A-4034-B685-5D0645C89DAB@microsoft.com...
> Would the ATI HDTV Wonder card accomplish what I'm describing?  You 
> mentioned
> a couple of times the OTA digital tuner card.  And could I use that card 
> for
> all of my DirecTV channels too, or only OTA channels?  I've heard mixed
> reviews of this card.  It sounds like those that get it working love it, 
> but
> some have problems getting it set up.
>
> I know my way around a computer and can set up hardware, but I'm just new 
> to
> the whole MCE world and TV cards.  Thanks for answering my questions.  I
> haven't purchased the hardware yet and am getting a feel for what I'll 
> need
> to buy.
>
> "Jeff Griffin" wrote:
>
>> Unfortunately at this point there is no way to pass through 5.1 sound. 
>> The
>> sound and the video must both be captured by the tuner card to avoid 
>> having
>> the audio 2 seconds ahead of the video. At this point this can be chalked 
>> up
>> to a failing of the capture cards since MCE can capture and replay 5.1 
>> when
>> using an Over The Air digital tuner card.
>>
>> As for DVD's you are correct, MCE computers are perfectly capable of
>> outputting 480p to TV's that can handle this resolution. In addition thay
>> can output 720p or 1080i (depending on the content of the show) when 
>> using
>> an Over The Air HDTV tuner. There is nothing else that would be required
>> except for the dongle if you are using an ATI video card. Alternatively 
>> you
>> could achieve these outputs by using straight a straight DVI connection
>> (sounds like you dont want to go that routh but that is for anyone else
>> following along)
>>
>> Jeff Griffin
>> Windows XP Media Center Edition MVP
>> www.thegreenbutton.com
>>
>>
>>
>> "Mike Z" <MikeZ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:7A9D78D3-8A4C-4D70-B697-4956A86BC31C@microsoft.com...
>> > Thank you Jeff.  That was very helpful.
>> >
>> > Even if it can't capture in 5.1 audio, I'd hate to lose the 5.1 audio 
>> > in
>> > live TV.  Will it pass through 5.1 audio to my receiver for live TV? 
>> > What
>> > audio card would be capable of that?
>> >
>> > Also, since that component output works, will I essentially be able to 
>> > get
>> > rid of my DVD player and just play DVDs in progressive scan directly 
>> > from
>> > the
>> > MCE 2005 computer DVD drive?  Anything special I would need to get to
>> > accomplish that aside from that dongle?
>> >
>> > -Mike
>> >
>> > "Jeff Griffin" wrote:
>> >
>> >> MCE will not currently capture 5.1 audio except when using an Over The
>> >> Air
>> >> capture card such as the HDTV Wonder.
>> >>
>> >> MCE will definately be able to output via component (using the ATI 
>> >> dongle
>> >> you mentioned, which I use) or DVI, or s-vid or composite. It can only
>> >> capture off coax, s-vid or through an OTA tuner card.
>> >>
>> >> Jeff Griffin
>> >> Windows XP Media Center Edition MVP
>> >> www.thegreenbutton.com
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Mike Z" <MikeZ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:25F1D1B5-384E-43DC-AB6B-951040755D0C@microsoft.com...
>> >> > I'm building an MCE 2005 system and have a couple questions about 
>> >> > video
>> >> > and
>> >> > audio output.
>> >> >
>> >> > Audio:  I want to output digital audio (5.1 surround sound
>> >> > specifically).
>> >> > Currently, I have my DirecTV HDTV receiver set up to output the 
>> >> > audio
>> >> > via
>> >> > an
>> >> > optical cable to my receiver so I get 5.1 sound on shows that 
>> >> > broadcast
>> >> > it.
>> >> > As I understand how an MCE system works (correct me if I'm wrong) is
>> >> > that
>> >> > the
>> >> > audio and video get sent from my DirecTV receiver to the computer 
>> >> > and
>> >> > then
>> >> > output to the receiver and TV.  What sound card would I need to
>> >> > accomplish
>> >> > this?
>> >> >
>> >> > Video:  As I mentioned, I have a DirecTV HDTV receiver (Samsung). 
>> >> > How
>> >> > would
>> >> > I go about passing this signal through my computer and output via
>> >> > component
>> >> > cables to the TV?  I saw that ATI has a converter cable available at
>> >> > http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/index.html.  Would this 
>> >> > allow
>> >> > me
>> >> > to
>> >> > accomplish my goal?  I'm trying to avoid having to set up a separate
>> >> > DirecTV
>> >> > receiver just to hook up to MCE, but don't want to lose any of the
>> >> > benefits
>> >> > of my DirecTV HDTV receiver.  I would like to eventually be able to
>> >> > record
>> >> > HDTV content, but that's a whole different story that I've been 
>> >> > reading
>> >> > up
>> >> > on
>> >> > in other threads.
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks,
>> >> > Mike
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
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