New UPC digiboxes and Vista MCE - which TV card?

soSolid

I've just got two of the new UPC/Pace digiboxes (jayz, but they're big beasts!). Up to now, I had analog into a Hauppauge PVR-500 dual analog tuner, so I need to get two new cards to handle the outputs from the digiboxes.

I'm looking at the HVR-1300 cards, as they seem to be the only Hauppauge hybrid cards with hardware MPEG-2 encoder.

Am I looking at the best option here? And should I use the composite-in or the SVHS-in on the cards for better quality, or is there any difference?

Any comments or suggestions gratefully accepted!

RuggieBear

what are the outputs?

soSolid

Outputs: SCART (TV), SCART (video), RCA audio x 2, optical audio

RuggieBear

well i ouput out of my present little ntl pace box via a scart adaptor to RCA cables into a PVR500MCE

are you sure you need a new card?

soSolid

Well I now have two ntl boxes so that I can watch 1 while the other is recording, or record 2 shows at once. As far as I remember, the 500 can't handle two seperate input sources on composite.

subway

it can, you need the breakout bar that came with it http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/images/av_cable_big.gif

remember not to put the digiboxes anywhere near each other.

RuggieBear

ah...understand you now. Hmm....I'm not sure what the best option would be

I got mine oem and never got that bar....that would be cool. Can you get tehm seperately?

SouperComputer

RuggieBear wrote: »

ah...understand you now. Hmm....I'm not sure what the best option would be

SVideo is going to be the best as it separates the luminace signal from chrominace. In english that means a better picture, and better, more vibrant colours.

Only problem is that a lot of the PACE boxen dont output SVideo on the SCART cable, they only output RGB and Composite. Ideally, you would take the RGB signal from the SCART socket and put it through an RGB to Svideo converter.

I say converter rather than adaptor as it is an electronic device that actually converts the signal. This will give you the best picture possible from your PACE boxen.

Can someone else help him out with a link to an RGB to SVideo converter?

subway

SouperComputer wrote: »

SVideo is going to be the best as it separates the luminace signal from chrominace. In english that means a better picture, and better, more vibrant colours.

Only problem is that a lot of the PACE boxen dont output SVideo on the SCART cable, they only output RGB and Composite. Ideally, you would take the RGB signal from the SCART socket and put it through an RGB to Svideo converter.

I say converter rather than adaptor as it is an electronic device that actually converts the signal. This will give you the best picture possible from your PACE boxen.

Can someone else help him out with a link to an RGB to SVideo converter?

i think youve missed the point,
he doesnt mean the best cable to connect the box to the card, he means the best way to connect 2 boxes to a card with one set of inputs.

my earlier post links to what the OP needs, but i dont know where he can buy one.
if he cant find that he would need a new card with dual inputs, or with the breakout card incluided

subway

RuggieBear wrote: »

I got mine oem and never got that bar....that would be cool. Can you get tehm seperately?

i know it comes with the MCE version of the card, and presumably the retail too,
im searching about now to see if i can find how to get a replacement

soSolid

The 500 card I have is OEM, and I vaguely remember the plate you're talking about - I suspect that I might have to spend some time tonight in the attic a.k.a. spare cable city.

soSolid

Now that I think about it, if I can't find the extension panel, I have a spare PVR500 and a spare slot. I assume that would work too...

SouperComputer

subway wrote:

i think youve missed the point,
he doesnt mean the best cable to connect the box to the card, he means the best way to connect 2 boxes to a card with one set of inputs.

No, I nailed the points and choose to answer one of them. I guess you and I interpreted this line differently:

soSolid wrote:

And should I use the composite-in or the SVHS-in on the cards for better quality, or is there any difference?

I searched froogle.ie and got these two hits for the bracket:

http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/products_id/228
http://store.snapstreamstore.com/avcables.html

Both in the US for some reason, but cheaper than buying a new card! You could also DIY it: http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=10253&highlight=bracket

subway

SouperComputer wrote: »

No, I nailed the points and choose to answer one of them. I guess you and I interpreted this line differently:

ok, i see your point, but thats not what i was referring to, the previous posts all relate to using the second tuner on a PVR 500 with a composite input.
you quoted a post that refers to multiple inputs and said the best way is to use an svideo converter and then asked someone to provide a link for the OP.

i was clearing up that an svideo converter has nothing to with using the second tuner with a composite input.

soSolid

Of course, if I did go with the HVR-1300's, then I could take the toslink output from each of the digiboxes into each of the HVRs optical in

SouperComputer

soSolid wrote: »

Of course, if I did go with the HVR-1300's, then I could take the toslink output from each of the digiboxes into each of the HVRs optical in

I didnt think they had optical/digital audio in.......are you sure? Maybe only US models are missing it.

subway wrote:

i was clearing up that an svideo converter has nothing to with using the second tuner with a composite input.

Fair enough, I think it was clear to most, including the OP though TBH.