4 channel Freeview HD pci-e card

[3D Jed]

Info for UK Freeview users -

Just treated myself to this 4 channel Freeview HD card

BGT3650 - BlackGold

Currently in x16 pci-e slot on Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R with i7-930 + Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

Had it a few days and ain't seen one bad pixel (macroblocking) not even on SD mux's that had previously given me problems with older cards.

It's not cheap - 170 GBP - but I am impressed.

>> put the following words together to make a well known phrase -

* sense * money * than * more *



most editors fail with UK HD content, but SUPER from eRightsoft can convert.

 

[seavixen32]

How about sense more than money? Money sense than more? Oh, you mean more money than sense!

Seriously though, I take it the 4 channels are BBC1, ITV1, Channel 4 and BBC HD?

Do you get the non-HD channels as well?

I might just splurge out on one as I use a 24-inch display that would do justice to HD resolution.

 

[3D Jed]

Seavixen32 - yep 4 HD plus all the SD channels.

Jed, Manchester

 

[seavixen32]

Cheers Jed. Like an idiot I never thought to click the link you posted, which had loads of information.

I'm seriously considering buying one now, so thanks for the info.

 

[3D Jed]

see pic



got my card from Scan

http://www.scan.co.uk/

 

[seavixen32]

OK, thanks for that.

 

[100thIdiot]

**Due to unprecidented demand, the current shipment date of this product may take up to 10 days from confirmation of payment.**

Bummed!

 

[3D Jed]

I am quite happy with these tuner cards, but a few words of advice -

I have used both the 2 and 4 tuner cards from Blackgold and they exhibit the same occasional problem of losing a tuner. On the quad - when recording say 3 channels and then going to watch a 4th, the media center message 'no tuner available' might appear (note - this does not always happen). Sometimes this can be fixed by selecting another channel, then re-selecting the channel you want to watch and everything is o.k. Sometimes this does not work.

There is a 'fix' on the website, but this only works up to a point. Re-tuning media center sorts it til next time, but as I said, the problem comes and goes

Having said that, the cards work very well in the UK with SD + HD. Other pci-e cards I have used (e.g. Compro) have shown random pixelation but all channels are good with the BG cards.

I can put up with a few niggles with these cards because the picture is excellent.

 

[100thIdiot]

I hope it doesn't give me too much trouble. I'm quite new to this MC malarkey, but am really impressed with it so far. I cant believe Microsoft are actually killing it. Having actually used it, its a really impressive bit of software. Instead of killing it off they should be putting some effect into making people aware of it and what it can do. I'm sure most people would be as impressed as I am if they actually knew what it can do.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to receiving my BG card so I can receive the HD channels and eliminate the bottleneck of only having a single tuner. 4 tuners might be overkill but it'll be nice knowing I'll always be able to watch or record everything I like.

 

[3D Jed]

If your spec is correct and you have old CRT's, I'd suggest upgrading to a widescreen 1920 x 1080 px monitor to get the full benefit of the BG HD card (and a remote !)

 

[Brynster]

I wish you the best of luck with that card, I used to without issue for over 12 months, then rebuilt my system and had nothing but video artifacting and channels going blank. Aslo tuners would go into deep sleep and not record things, the only way to sort was a reboot. I moved to a TBS 6280, never had a problem since. The Blackgold is a good card its just too unstable in my opinion sadly.

 

[jimmyabc123]

Sorry to revive the post, but i have a question about the card you are speaking of.
I also have this card and i can access all the SD and HD channels using Windows Media Centre.

I want to be able to do the same with my own application. I can access the SD channels using a Directshow graph like this (graphstudio/graphedt):
BDA Network Provider -> Tuner, Capture -> MPeg2 demux -> TIF
-> Video decoder -> Renderer

And i input the carrier frequency and Sid manually.
I cannot however get the HD channels to work like this.
Does anyone know how to manually access the HD channels with a similar Directshow graph?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Brynster]

Not sure you'll be able to do that. If memory serves the HD content is encrypted. Without the decryption key you not receive the pictures/register the signal. However it is was a while ago I read this (during initial testing phase in London). So it may have changed since then

 

[3D Jed]

jimmyabc123 - in UK the HD channels are h264, if that's any help.

 

[jimmyabc123]

Thank you Brynster and 3D Jed.

It does require the conversion from h264. Using ffdshow raw video filter i have been able to watch HD channels.

-> Video decoder -> ffdshow raw video -> Renderer

conversions from H264 -> NV12 -> YV12

IN FACT upon further investigation, the ffdshow filter is not required. Lodge the HD tuning request before connecting the video decoder and renderer. It will work. the renderer will recieve interlaced video and VIH2.

I provide this information for anyone else who looks for this solution, the information is simply NOT available on the net anywhere!

btw, to clarify Brynster, what you say about encryption may only be true for HD content from BluRay disks with their hdcp encryption.

Thanks for your help