Hacking Windows7 MediaCenter

Not all High Definition content is created equal. We all know that an upscaled DVD can’t match the image clarity of a BluRay disc. Definition, also known as resolution, can even change between movies on BluRay format. You should also know that not all television HD content is created equal. Even if the channel your watching is clearQAM and marked “HD” you may still be receiving content on par with regular analog.

Despite the fact that clearQAM signals from your cable company are digital signals that doesn’t mean they are HD quality. A quick check of your area on the SiliconDust website will show you that not all clearQAM channels are even close to true High Definition Resolutions. In fact a quick look at the Columbus, OH area shows that the majority of stations are being sent out at 480i/p, which is basically analog resolution in a digital wrapper.

To add insult to injury, your cable company’s compression methods can produce image artifacts and other distortions of the original image lessening the image quality even further. Many enthusiasts will be quick to tell you that antenna based digital reception is by far the superior method of bringing HDTV into your home. Content broadcast over the air is uncompressed and so doesn’t include these artifacts and distortions introduces by cable and satellite providers.

However, not all over the air content is sent out in the highest possible format either. Digital over the air is typically broadcast in either 720p or 1080i. Both formats have their advantages, 720p gives smoother motion packing twice the frames but half the resolution of 1080i which provides twice the pixel at half the frames per second. Typically 720p is the preferred resolution for fast action events such as sports, while 1080i would be preferred for most movie and TV series’.

This is where the problem with how American providers have chosen to implement digital distribution comes in. In the United States providers have chosen to distribute all content in a single resolution instead of choosing the appropriate mode for a particular show. Fox and ABC have chosen 720p while most other networks are broadcasting in 1080i. As a side note, this single resolution ideal is also present on the cable/satellite side of things with a listing of resolutions for each channel found on CNET’s HDTV World page.

So remember that not all digital is created equal and even if it says “HD” it may very well not be a High Definition at all. While over the air is certainly the best method for getting a clear HD signal it has it’s own pitfalls, including being limited to only the local stations. In my opinion, the best way to get all your HD is to try out all the options available to you and select the best combination of methods.

For even more information visit hdtvprimer.com.

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Tagged As: atsc, clearqam

As important as the digital media era is in bringing us the best of television over the internet there’s something to be said for the old school as well. The ability to bring in free high definition content via the digital air waves is also an enticing option. With the right antenna, free digital television can be had as far as 60 miles from the source.

The best resource for not only locating the sources nearest you but also helping to decide which antenna is best for you is found at Antennaweb.org. Entering you address into Antennaweb will return a list of stations broadcasting near you along with a color coded guide. The color guide is an estimate of the type of antenna you will need to pick up that particular station. Clicking on the guide color will also bring up a chart and description of the antenna needed.

As you can see it will also provide you with exact compass headings and distances to each station. This can be helpful for those who own a rotating antenna. For those of us who don’t have rotation equipment, Antennaweb will also provide you with a map by click the “View street level map”. Though it certainly isn’t Google Earth quality it can give you a general idea of which way to point your antenna.

Once you’ve got your antenna setup, getting it to work in Media Center isn’t terribly hard. From the “Tasks > Settings > TV > TV Signal > Set Up TV Signal” you can setup your tuner to accept ATSC signals which is what you’ll need to get digital channels over the air. In some cases you may need to use manual setup if Media Center doesn’t detect ATSC signals automatically. Your tuner may or may not support ATSC, you’ll need to refer to the manual or manufacturer’s website for details.

Once your tuner is setup for ATSC, the TV Signal menu will now show an option for checking Antenna Signal Strength. This will go through the list of channels one by one checking the signal strength of each station then cycling back through the list. This can also help you fine to your antenna’s position along with the Antennaweb map.

Getting your local channels live with digital over the air can prove to be the perfect supplement to content delivered over the internet. Being able to not only catch your local news live but also broadcast network shows in full HD can prove the last thing to take care of before turning off that cable for good.

You can even find directions to create a home-made antenna at tvantennaplans.com. The results of this do it yourself hack are actually surprisingly good, allowing me to pick up digital stations over 40 miles away with nothing more than some coat hangers and tinfoil. Of course results will depend on your location and the signal strength in your area.

Hopefully, this guide as well as the previous two on replacing your cable company bills with free alternatives have you well on your way to enjoying your favorite content for less. Unfortunately, at this time Antennaweb and 7MC don’t support ATSC in some countries including Canada. Be sure to check back often to find the best ways to save even more with your Media Center setup.

If you haven’t already be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the Canceling Your Cable series on Hack7MC!

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Tagged As: atsc, streaming tv, tv guide

Peter Near's blog has a post on adding ATSC support to your Media Center box:

First, some background. Like the United States, Canada has decided to transition all television broadcasts from analog to digital. These new digital signals have greater effective range, provide a crystal-clear high definition picture, and as with all over the air network TV broadcasts are free and legal to access. It's worth noting that over the air signals represent the best high-definition picture quality you can get for network television - better than cable and much better than satellite. While high definition is available for a fee via cable and satellite, those high definition channels are subject to ever-increasing compression and picture quality degradation as they try to squeeze more and more content into your subscription. And unlike cable and satellite, over the air broadcasts are not encrypted and can be easily incorporated into a Media Center setup, copied over to your iPod, and are generally easy to use. The United States has nearly completed their digital transition, and will be shutting down the analog broadcasts in February 2009. Canada is well into its transition, with most major markets now broadcasting in digital and 100% of the country switching over to digital by 2011 before we shut down our analog transmitters. Here in Toronto, I can get access to every major US and Canadian network in full high-definition glory using a $40 antenna that I put in my attic.

You can find the rest of the post where you'll be taken through adding ATSC to 7MC using a SiliconDust HDHomerun (a popular clearQAM and ATSC tuner) over on his blog at The Green Button.

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Tagged As: atsc, clearqam, edit channel, listing, tv guide