How to interconnect all these bits ?

dealgan

Right,
What seems like a very simple question has me stumped. I need a pointer here
(hope this is the right section to post in)

Currently, without a htpc, I have 2 sources (Sky+, DVD/hdd recorder) feeding an amp which in turn feeds the TV with the video signal & speakers with the audio.
The dvd/hdd is used for dvd playback & some (very little) analog recording/playback.

I have the amp doing the source switching so I always have the aduio through that, never directly from the TV.

I am hoping to add in an htpc, but can figure out in my head how I will interconnect them to get best functionality.

Simplest way I guess is to feed the video & audio from the htpc to the amp and keep using the amp as the source control ? - Just use the amp to select whether I get video & audio from sky+ or from the htpc ?

Also, I currently feed another 2 TV's, in other rooms, via the RF out on sky+ box. Can I tag on another RF output from the htpc so that it becomes available as another analogue channel on the other tv's ? (are these cards even available with a UHF RF out ?)
(I am using the magic eye thing on one of those tvs for remote control of sky box, so there is DC out on the Sky+ RF)

I have a spare connection from the LNB & it might be handy to have that available from the htpc ?

Last question, is there a combo DVB-S & Analogue capture card available so that I could record some analogue or DVB-S ?
EDIT : I did find this hauppauge card ? wintv-hvr-3000


I must be missing something simple !

311

If I was you I'd run the htpc through the recorder you have ,with an RCA to Scart lead like this one http://www.amabilidade2002.com/scart3.htm
You would of course need a couple of RCA to 3.5mm leads aswell.http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=48366&doy=22m9

You could actually view the recorder on the pc aswell ,if you had any editing to do. If your using the TV only for viewing ,you could always plug in pc as a second source.

dealgan

OK, thanks for the input.

Since it needs to be pretty simple/straightforward to use, (for WAF) I'll probably just use it as another source through the amp & keep the amp doing the source selection/switching.

really looking forward to getting this up & running

Is it easy to find an rf modulator to try & get the htpc audio/video onto my RF distribution ?
i.e. Tag it onto the SKY+ RF output which feeds the other rooms ?

I'm sure there must be some sort of modulator available, but I;m not familiar with what happens when there's the DC output from the Sky box on the same feed ?

Any ideas ?

Stoner

what sort of outputs are on your htpc and what inputs are on your TV and AMP.
Your Amp and htpc may facilitate an audio optical connection

And your TV may have either an HDMI or DVI input that your htpc could connect to to give a better quality picture, if you are really lucky your AMP may be able to switch DVI or HDMI siganls reducing the need to switch input sources on your TV ( a Logitech harmony remote can do all this but i dont think it will work on TVs where input selection is just one button that cycles through the inputs, it needs a TV that has a direct signal/button for every input).

I guess it all depends on your TV , AMP and htpc, you could get everything switching through your amp, but it may not be the best picture and sound option for all your viewing options.

dealgan

OK, more info.
htpc has s-video or dvi or vga outputs, and optical audio
Amp is quite good- can switch hdmi, s-video, or composite and will take analog or digital audio.
My TV is a 100Hz crt, and will take scart, s-video, composite or component

I did buy a couple of adapters for VGA to component, and DVI to component, but havent got the machine up & running yet to fiddle with those.

I guess the component video would be the best for video quality to the TV, but I don't think my amp will switch component

Currently, my connections (without the htpc) are :

Sky+ to amp : S-Video, and Optical audio (also analogue audio connected)
Sky+ to DVD : Scart-Scart
DVD to amp : Scart to Composite, optical audio.
Amp to TV : Composite to Scart. (I did try this on S-video, but didn't see any difference in picture quality)

I do have a nevoSL remote, so can program that to take care of any switching I need to do. (i.e. when I select the source, i can run a macro to also select the component input on the TV)

Would the hdmi output from the amp be better, with an adapter to component video in on the TV ?

Cheers.

Stoner

dealgan wrote:

Would the hdmi output from the amp be better, with an adapter to component video in on the TV ?

no it will still be component video really IMO.

It's a pity you have no HDMI or DVI input on your TV as you are very well set up apart from that, your TV is the weekest link.

Once again I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but the component video out (red green blue) of your amp to the component video in on your TV (red green blue) is your best option regarding TV to AMP video connection, you will need to get sound from your TV down to your amp too, by the sounds of it standard red white phono leads will do this/be your best/only option.

Your DVD player will have component out to the amp too (it might have HDMI too, but that wont be any use unless your TV has it) I'd use an optical lead from the DVD recorder to the AMP for audio.

Now regarding the input from your PC to your AMP, IMO the optical sound connection should be used for audio.

Your PC has no RGB component out, but I think that VGA is digital RGB, and this may connect into your AMP with the aid of a VGA to component lead. I'd try that before I looked at the S-Video option as S video is better than composite but not as good as VGA.

Maybe your AMP has a VGA input too (buy the sounds of it you might very well be in luck)
I'm not sure if the component to VGA lead I am talking about will do as I dont know if the signal needs some sort of conditioning that a simple lead can't provide, someone else will have to answer that, sorry.

But I'd check your amp again to see if it will take a VGA connection from your PC.

For Christmas if I was you I'd ask santy for a HD ready TV.

dealgan

Stoner wrote: »

For Christmas if I was you I'd ask santy for a HD ready TV.

Santy says no.
Unfortunately this tv will have to do for another while.

It is very good for the SD stuff. Best crt I've ever seen.
Loewe Aconda 38"

Thanks for the info.

MAJJ

Hi Dealgan,

Would you mind posting the make/model of your amp as I am about to take the plunge and purchase one to hook up to my HTPC.

Best of luck with your setup.

Thanks,
MAJJ