[Coop]

Hauppauge introduces the Colossus HD-PVR, the beauty of this new version is it's an internal card. And I just bought the original.

http://www.missingremote.com/news/2010-12-02/hauppauge-colossus-hd-pvr-unveiled

Specs:

Chipset List
ViXS XCode-3111
Analog Device ADV7441A
hynix H5PS5162FFR 512MB DDR2

Video Codecs:
AVC/MPEG2 HD encoding video codec up to 1080i

Audio Codecs:
AAC
AC3

Transcoding:
AVC, MPEG2
HD to HD/SD

A/V RCA Jacks:
HDMI input (Non-Encrypted HDMI signals up to 1080i)
Component, Left audio, Right audio
Toslink Digital Optical audio input
Loop through output for Component, Left audio, Right audio
Toslink Digital Optical audio output
IR
IR Blaster

Bus Interface:
1x PCIe

 

[Wayne]

This appears to be an internal version of the HD-PVR device that Hauppauge has been selling for two and a half years. It has the added benefit of encoding files to MPEG-2 in addition to H.264 and it will take an unencrypted HDMI signal but I don't know if that is of much practical use since pretty much all HDMI outputs from devices like cable/sat boxes are encrypted.

The problem with this device is that it may be hard to find a suitable mobo for your HTPC server as you may now need lots of PCIe x1 slots, especially if you want a couple of these and other tuners as well. Those mobos are getting harder to find as you see far more microATX these days and they usually do not have lots of slots.

 

[classicsat]

Two practical uses are gaming, and if/when HDMI crackers come out.

 

[Wayne]

and if/when HDMI crackers come out.

Isn't that what an HD Fury is?

 

[classicsat]

The HD-Fury is VGA out. It is a sort of cracker though.

What I am talking of is a box that does nothing but strip HDCP off of HDMI.

 

[Tikker]

I think the big deal with this, is that it sits on the pcie bus rather than usb

vast majority of issues i've seen people complain about have been resolved by making sure the hd-pvr was on it's own usb bus.

 

[danbcman]

I just installed the Hauppauge Colossus HD-PVR
The results are great but it does need to use the add on software from ArcSoft (ShowBiz)
to record the audio in 5.1 the Win7 software uses the anolog sounds good on tv and run throught the Onkyo but is way better as 5.1.
Easy to use I have not setup the Ir for it at this time and I may even not use that feature as I just like to record while watching.

 

[Costa]

Depends on the box, appears Dish and DirecTV don't do HDCP, at least not on non-PPV channels.

SOURCE

Apparently, it should work on Bell TV receivers. But who knows if Bell has it set up differently, aside from the asthetics on screen menus and guide.

Also; did a little googling, and Hauppauge seems to be working on a whole new set of capture hardware.

Edit: lol

HDMI input (Note: for use with un-encrypted HDMI video sources)

SOURCE = doesnt say it won't work with HDCP sources either.

 

[Goosey]

I'm considering picking this up to go along with my Bell 6131. I currently do not have an EHD setup. If I just get the colossus can I schedule a time whereby the colossus would record a show to my htpc? The simplest option would be to get an EHD but I would like the option of burning shows onto a disc for playback on another system so I'm thinking of skipping the EHD option and getting the colossus.

 

[Fonceur]

To schedule recordings, you would probably want to use something like SageTV (might require the current beta version), as generally the bundled software are not that great...

 

[ScaryBob]

Has anyone have extensive experience with the Colossus? How does it compare to the HD PVR in everyday use?

The problem with this device is that it may be hard to find a suitable mobo for your HTPC server as you may now need lots of PCIe x1 slots

Some newer motherboards are shipping with all PCIe slots and no PCI slots so that should not be an issue with new builds. PCIe x1 boards will work in PCIe slots up to x16 so that isn't an issue either.

The results are great but it does need to use the add on software from ArcSoft (ShowBiz)

Someone is working on adding support in MediaPortal. I wouldn't be surprised if SageTV adds support as well.

I'm thinking of skipping the EHD option and getting the colossus.

I would add an EHD first and use the Colossus for archival purposes.

 

[danbcman]

I use it to record from a Shaw HD box I find it flawless using arcsoftware. My recordings are done while I actually watch the program. I am not to interested in setting up the Ir interface. Compared to my OTA HD recordings there is very little difference to my eye. It does exactly what I wanted it to do. I have made a HD DVD disc from the file it creates and that too was as good as the file itself but I use Hard drive for storage. VideoRedo slams through the file easily when I want to remove commercials.
I am going to have to uprade my MoBo as more PCIe 1x slots is better traded the slot from 1250 and had to go to 1600 PCI ( Humming Bird season captures ) and saddly for OTA and a seperate box for the 1250 for quality OTA capture

 

[ScaryBob]

Thanks for the feedback. I am most interested in day to day stability and I think you answered that. I will be using it for automated recordings and it needs to work well on resume from S3. That is a problem with some hardware and drivers. I am also interested in how well the blaster works. Anyone else?

 

[pipette]

I have bought the Colossus, works fine, however it is not that easy to interface with the HTPC....

I don't like the connector ( I always feel like i'm braking something when I plug it in)).

Also, on videotron and seemingly on other boxes you can either use the RGB + audio output OR the hdmi output. Not both at the same time... I had my tv plugged in with the HDMI output, and I had to disconnect it. All I was getting is a blank signal... Took some time until I found the info.. I'll have to pass through something else if I just want to look at the tv directly.... I'll try to plug the cable into the tv tonight, and we'll see... At least I'll save on HDMI cables, whcih are not cheap.

Not Colossus's fault, of course.

I heard it was pretty difficult to interface the IRblaster for videotron, I haven't tried that one yet. I'm still in the beta mode... And I don't like their software, so I'll be looking at alternatives... I'll report when I get to know the beast better.

 

[Wayne]

What kind of box do you have pipette - an SA/Cisco box? I don't have a Colossus but I have been using a couple of HD-PVRs for over two years and don't have problems - the other option for channel change is firewire as long as you are running a 32 bit version of Windows.

 

[Wayne]

Someone is working on adding support in MediaPortal. I wouldn't be surprised if SageTV adds support as well.

SageTV released a beta version that supports the Colossus a few weeks ago.

 

[pipette]

Not sure which box I have ( I'm at work now) but I jsut bought it a month ago ( it is their old stock, I only paid 100$ or something like that, as it doesn't have a HD).

Like I said, the problem I had was not Colossus or Hauppauge's fault, but was videotron-related. Still don't like their connector, though. I guess they have to put it that way, due to the size of the card, and it is solid once it is in.

I am tempted to buy a HD-PVR BOx for my second tv, though. THey are on sale at 100$ in Dumoulin.... Had I seen this before, this is what I would have bought, and not the Colossus card, due to the additional connectors the box probably has ( didn't check) that the card simply doesn't have any place to put.

 

[danbcman]

An update since my last post here I removed my video card and place my tuner in the 16x slot turned on the onboard video and all is working great together. I don't use the system for viewing the results so it gives me all recording cards in on box great until I decide to add another PCIe card. Glad I dropped in on this post it motivated me to solve the slot problem.

Of all the reading I did on the two PVR's Hauppauge has I never read in any on the many forums I visited ever hearing of problems with the Ir setups.

 

[Wayne]

Not sure which box I have ( I'm at work now) but I jsut bought it a month ago ( it is their old stock, I only paid 100$ or something like that, as it doesn't have a HD).

The IR blaster essentially just acts like a remote control. As long as the IR blaster can send the correct remote commands then you should be good. I would be surprised if Videotron uses unique codes and I think that Videotron uses the same Cisco (formerly know as Scientific Atlanta) boxes used by Rogers and in Ontario.

 

[ScaryBob]

Some people have reported problems when using the IR blaster in the HD PVR. That's why I am interested in how it works for the Colossus.