In order to get a progressive signal on your TV (480p) when playing a DVD, does the PC DVD player need to be a (special) progressive DVD player? or Is there a software / graphics card feature that allows a progressive display?

I currently have a RealMagic Holloywood plus card with a run of the mill PC DVD player but I'm not sure whether I am watching a progressive signal or not.

Can anybody help shed some light?

in order to display a progressive scan signal (480p) on a tv, the tv must be able to handle a 480p signal through component inputs. most analog sets cannot process 480p, only 480i, even though they pass through component cables. most hdtv that can display 1080i also display 480p, and sometimes even 720p, it varies. the dvdrom in ur computer is played in progressive scan, because thats how your crt monitor draws. if you want to get it on your tv @ 480p, u NEED a digital tv capable of processing 480p via component cables or vga input. if your trying to setup a htpc and you have an hdtv set, you may consider getting a transcoder to adapt vga to component signal at 480p. with ur hollywood card, the best you can output is 480i with an svideo cable, not the best, but thats what ur card can do. the new XCARD that came out by sigma designs can output 480p via component cables, but, it must be hooked upto a 480p input, again, an input youll find on a digital tv, not analog.

hope this helps

Thanks for the reply, I should have stated that I do have an HDTV ready set. As a matter of fact it has a VGA input which my Real Majic Hollywood card is connected directly to.

So, if I have interpreted your reply correctly then I must already be viewing a progressive signal via my RealMajic Hollywood plus card. Correct?

well, lets say u dont have a real magic card. the vga cable out of ur box goes str8 to ur crt monitor. when u watch a dvd player from ur box, u see it on ur monitor in progressive scan. if u use the hollywood card now, and link an rca cable or svideo cable out of it to ur tv, it is not progressive, its interlaced (480i).
what kind of tv do you have would better help me out. most sets do not have a vga input, espically analog sets.

I have a Philips 60pp9601 (which comes with a VGA input). It is an HDTV ready set.

I use a pass through cable from my video card to my Real Majic Hollywood card and run the Real Majic card directly to my set via a VGA cable. So, in effect I am using my TV as a computer monitor.

From what I gather from your previous messages, I can assume that when I am in VGA mode on my television that I am viewing a progressive signal. Sound right?

good question, and the answer is, im not a 100% sure. i believe the signal is progressive because in vga, as vga is a progressive signal. you main video card outputs progressive, and the hollywood card should passthrough progressive though vga. that is, ur setup is vga from main video card, to vga in on hollywood, to vga out of hollywood into vga in of hdtv...right? another question i want to ask is what do u on ur computer that makes you want to hook to up to ur hdtv? just a bigger screen for whatever, or a bigger screen for dvd movies? if ur main goal is to watch movies, let me know, theres a better way about going about this. i mentioned a transcoder in a previouw msg, which is a better solution. vga ia fixed resolution, vga signal through a transcoder into component inputs is not
let me know

To answer your first question, I used the vga out from the hollywood card directly to my tv simply because I had a vga input on my tv (convenience factor I guess).

On your second question, I like the idea of moving to a complete htpc solution. With the right HDTV tuner card I will be able to eliminate several components (i.e. cable box, VCR, and DVD player) and have the added benefit of surfing the net, playing games, and listening to music (mp3 files) all through one component (my PC).

When you refer to a transcoder are you referring to a box that takes vga in and outputs to YPbPr. If so, I happen to have one. I run the vga out from my DVDO line doubler into the converter box (vga to YPbPr) and go from there to my receiver (component in).

What additional resolution would I get over vga by using the transcoder?

Peter

well, your not locked in at 640x480, every time has different timings and work best at X resolution, its trial and error. but ive done a fair amount of research, and u can get some a sweet picture going on with the right hardware and software combination. i wish i could get an hdtv myself and mess around with this, but i dont have the bucks to do it. if your looking for more nfo on setting a htpc and what stuff u need, check out http://www.avsforum.com/, by far the best resource ive seen on a/v gear. sign up for a free account, and check out the htpc section, its got alot of great nfo by some knowledgeable folks. lemme know if u need more nfo

Thanks for all the info. I'll be sure to check out avsforum.com.

Peter

The component input for 480p/1080i is ANALOG. The "D" in HDTV is Definition, NOT digital.

Calling the hardware (the TV set) a digital TV is a load of marketing BS just like the digial speakers and headphones.

Tom.

wow, all these years i thought it was HIGH DIGITAL TV, and not HIGH DEFINITION TV. you just saved me man, i might have embarrased myself further.

yes, ur correct, 480p and 1080i inputs are ANALOG, but its called a digital tv becuase it has the capability to recieve a digital signal, display the signal in high definition (ie much better than standard definition on an analog set), and do so with all necessary hardware built in (ie hd tuner and decoder built in). whether u like the terminology or not, thats what it is, and please, if you have beneficial and pertinent information to the conversation, plz post it, otherwise keep it to yourself.

mind flux,

I just wanted to let you know that I visited AVS forum. Wow! What an incredible source for HTPC solutions. A lot of questions I had are now answered. Thanks so much for the info. Much appreciated.

Peter

np
enjoy

<i>HDTV -</i>
High-Definition TV in digitized formats that will eventually replace present analog formats in 16:9 wide-screen TV.
The Japanese version of HDTV is not truly the fully-digitized version broadcast system intended for the US.

<i>Terms-Federal Standard 1037C - HDTV -</i>
Television that has approximately twice the horizontal & twice the vertical emitted resolution specified by the NTSC standard.
In HDTV, the total number of pixels is therefore approximately 4 times that of the NTSC standard.
HDTV may include any or all improved-definition television (IDTV) & extended-television (EDTV) improvements.
HDTV employs a wide aspect ratio.



if <b>you know</b> <font color=white>you don't know<i><font color=black>, the way could be more easy ...<font color=red>

Once and for all:

HDTV is an ANALOG display format. It is not even a TV standard - it is a standard for the "monitor" (or display/screen) that is used and the signal driving the monitor. Think of it like VGA/SVGA/XGA, etc. There are NO consumer televisions available that receive a digital signal. The only consumer screens I know of that accept a digital signal are high-end LCD panels.

To clarify:
1) The signal travelling down your VGA cable to your PC monitor is ANALOG.
2) The signal travelling down your VGA cable to your HDTV is ANALOG.
3) The signal travelling down your Composite/S-Video/Component Video Cable is ANALOG.

Digital TV (DTV), on the other hand, is a standard(s) for delivering broadcast signals over the airwaves to a "standard" TV antenna that are then delivered to your Digital TV tuner. This signal is no different in its content (except its modulation, etc.) than the digital cable or digital satelite signal received by millions already, except that the signal is free (unless you live in the UK). That signal is then decoded into *gasp* an ANALOG signal to be delivered to your NTSC/PAL/SECAM or HDTV "monitor." This is the case whether you have an HDTV "ready" set or an HDTV set with the DTV tuner already installed.

i/p480, i/p720, i/p1080, etc. are ALL analog formats. If you have a satelite or cable tuner (or PC) that can output one of these signals (853x480, 1280x720, 1920x1080, etc.) using VGA or Component Video outputs, you already have an HDTV output.

The only reason that HDTV and DTV are often confused is that legally they are tied together - the broadcast stations in the US are required to broadcast in the HDTV formats if they want to keep their DTV bandwidth. They originally wanted to keep broadcasting in NTSC, etc. which would have given them ~8x the bandwidth for channels, but the FCC told them it would yank the extra bandwidth back if they went forward with that plan. They now have until ~2008, IIRC, to get all signals converted to HDTV display format over DTV broadcast signals.

I thought a thought, but the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I had thought.

- is HDTV a format ? -
The 1125-, 1080-, 1035-line interlace & 720 & 1080-line progressive formats in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Officially a format is high definition if it has at least twice the horizontal & vertical resolution of the standard signal being used.
There is a debate as to whether 480-line progressive is also high definition. It is the opinion of the editors that 480-line progressive is not an HDTV format, but does provide better resolution than 480-line interlace, making it enhanced definition format.

Because of the larger picture size (16:9 display ratio for HDTV vs 4:3 for regular TV) & more horizontal picture lines, HDTV has a higher quality display than conventional TV. Also, HDTV has cd-quality sound & involves digital transmission instead of analog.
<A HREF="http://www.wral.com/wralinfo/623644/detail.html" target="_new">WRAL-TV 5</A> in Raleigh, NC, is the first television station in the nation to apply for an HDTV license.


if <b>you know</b> <font color=white>you don't know<i><font color=black>, the way could be more easy ...<font color=red><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Labdog on 04/16/02 06:21 PM.</EM></FONT></P>