ATI Wonder Digital Cable Tuner ? - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

theplum · 2009-12-16, 08:27 PM

I bought a computer and it came with two of these products...

http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdigital/index.html

problem with them is that there is no HDMI insert, only CABLECARD....

From my understanding, I will not be able to record in HD with the ATI Wonders that I have, only record with S-Video...

Am I correct?

Should I then be purchasing two other tuners that can accept an HDMI input?

Or is it possible to just run the a USB from my Bell 6131 to the Sony PC?

Thank you,

hugh · 2009-12-16, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Am I correct?

You won't be able to record HD signals from cable or satellite but you can record OTA HD signals.

Quote:

Or is it possible to just run the a USB from my Bell 6131 to the Sony PC?

No that won't do anything.

pnear · 2009-12-16, 08:39 PM

HD in Canada is a challenge unfortunately, as all the cable and satellite HD signals are scrambled by the providers and can only be unscrambled with their hardware.

Here are your options:
1. Depending on where you live, over the air high definition is excellent for broadcast networks. Those tuners connected to a $40 antenna will bring in quite a bit.
2. You can connect the component out from your Bell box to a device called the Hauppauge HD-PVR. From the people who I know that use it, they say the picture quality is good but it's not the most stable piece of hardware.

Cheers,
Pete

theplum · 2009-12-16, 08:41 PM

So my only option is to take the 6131, run a usb to an External hard drive?

This should allow me to record ?

Could I then configure this somehow with my Windows media centre PC?

pnear · 2009-12-16, 08:49 PM

No, connecting a hard drive to the 6131 will only allow you to record for use with the Bell PVR. The contents of that hard drive will be encrypted and not usable on your Media Center.

Pete

theplum · 2009-12-16, 08:57 PM

Essentially then... I can hook my 6131 to the existing tuners, and record, but not in HD.

There are no USB tv tuners that can complete such a task as recording HD content from my Bell Expressvu 6131.

I can record HD content onto a External Hardrive, but consolodating this with my media PC will not work.

Am I on the right track?

recneps77 · 2009-12-16, 09:08 PM

There's one, the hauppauge hd-pvr.
It records through component, but it's also like $200. Not worth it for most people.
(at that price, I'd be looking for some kind of HDCP stripper / hdmi recording setup so I'm not limited to component)

theplum · 2009-12-17, 11:59 PM

Hmm - I will take a look into that.

The two ATI Tuners I should be able to hook up to the 6131 and record in standard def?

recneps77 · 2009-12-18, 02:26 PM

SD/analog recording should be no issue.
AMD says that product records cablecard (not in Canada, unfortunately), ATSC (digital antenna/HD), and NTSC (analog/SD)

theplum · 2009-12-19, 12:41 AM

recneps...

Agreed

I think it is going to be a bit of trial and error. I have just had the 6131 installed.. went to set up with Window's Media Centre though had an error code, something about needing an IR receiver.

Will purchase and then test the 6131 with the dual tuners - see if it allows me to record while watching another program as stated.

recneps77 · 2009-12-19, 12:33 PM

an IR blaster lets WMC change the channel on the box to record (otherwise it's stuck just recording whatever channel you set it as)
I don't have one myself (antenna only currently), so hopefully someone else can help on that one

(I'm sure there are threads on IR blasters too, somewhere)

2009-12-16, 08:27 PM	#1
theplum Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14	ATI Wonder Digital Cable Tuner ? I bought a computer and it came with two of these products... http://ati.amd.com/products/tvwonderdigital/index.html problem with them is that there is no HDMI insert, only CABLECARD.... From my understanding, I will not be able to record in HD with the ATI Wonders that I have, only record with S-Video... Am I correct? Should I then be purchasing two other tuners that can accept an HDMI input? Or is it possible to just run the a USB from my Bell 6131 to the Sony PC? Thank you,

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2009-12-16, 08:39 PM	#3
pnear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Milton, ON Posts: 662	HD in Canada is a challenge unfortunately, as all the cable and satellite HD signals are scrambled by the providers and can only be unscrambled with their hardware. Here are your options: 1. Depending on where you live, over the air high definition is excellent for broadcast networks. Those tuners connected to a $40 antenna will bring in quite a bit. 2. You can connect the component out from your Bell box to a device called the Hauppauge HD-PVR. From the people who I know that use it, they say the picture quality is good but it's not the most stable piece of hardware. Cheers, Pete

2009-12-16, 08:41 PM	#4
theplum Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14	So my only option is to take the 6131, run a usb to an External hard drive? This should allow me to record ? Could I then configure this somehow with my Windows media centre PC?

2009-12-16, 08:49 PM	#5
pnear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Milton, ON Posts: 662	No, connecting a hard drive to the 6131 will only allow you to record for use with the Bell PVR. The contents of that hard drive will be encrypted and not usable on your Media Center. Pete

2009-12-16, 08:57 PM	#6
theplum Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14	Essentially then... I can hook my 6131 to the existing tuners, and record, but not in HD. There are no USB tv tuners that can complete such a task as recording HD content from my Bell Expressvu 6131. I can record HD content onto a External Hardrive, but consolodating this with my media PC will not work. Am I on the right track?

2009-12-16, 09:08 PM	#7
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	There's one, the hauppauge hd-pvr. It records through component, but it's also like $200. Not worth it for most people. (at that price, I'd be looking for some kind of HDCP stripper / hdmi recording setup so I'm not limited to component)

2009-12-17, 11:59 PM	#8
theplum Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14	Hmm - I will take a look into that. The two ATI Tuners I should be able to hook up to the 6131 and record in standard def?

2009-12-18, 02:26 PM	#9
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	SD/analog recording should be no issue. AMD says that product records cablecard (not in Canada, unfortunately), ATSC (digital antenna/HD), and NTSC (analog/SD)

2009-12-19, 12:41 AM	#10
theplum Rookie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14	recneps... Agreed I think it is going to be a bit of trial and error. I have just had the 6131 installed.. went to set up with Window's Media Centre though had an error code, something about needing an IR receiver. Will purchase and then test the 6131 with the dual tuners - see if it allows me to record while watching another program as stated.

2009-12-19, 12:33 PM	#11
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	an IR blaster lets WMC change the channel on the box to record (otherwise it's stuck just recording whatever channel you set it as) I don't have one myself (antenna only currently), so hopefully someone else can help on that one (I'm sure there are threads on IR blasters too, somewhere)