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Media Center, Windows 7 and a Xbox360

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Ottawa’s Code Camp ran April 17th this year. I was lucky enough to be selected to make a presentation on Windows 7 Media Center, recording TV using an antenna and using the Xbox as a media extender. It is probably one of my favourite presentations so far to date.

Why? Even though it was probably one of the least technical session I have done to date ; I find it very interesting and something I have been tinkering with since Christmas.

I’ll post more details in future posts but in a nutshell here is what I have.

  • USB TV tuner that records ATSC digital
  • Windows 7 PC with Media Center and a 1.5TB hard drive
  • Xbox360 connected to the TV
  • Xbox360 remote control

The computer records TV from the antenna using the ATSC tuner. ATSC is completely digital, making the picture look great, no snow or ghosting. Files are big, 5gb per hour when recorded in HD. From there they sit on my computer. When I want to watch my show, I turn on the Xbox, hit the green button on the remote and then head to recorded TV. I then select what I want to watch and presto, I can watch my show. I can pause, fast forward and rewind, no problem.

The best part about it is that it is easy for Tracey to operate. She can setup shows to record and watch her shows with relative ease.

She said last night to me as she was watching a recorded show from the weekend, “I love the Xbox”.

For me, I love how easy it was to get everything setup. There is a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes, that once setup, that she doesn’t have to know or care about for her to watch her favourite shows.

Digital Television Transition Delayed

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Static TelevisionIt looks like the change to digital television is going to be delayed. I can’t blame the new administration for wanting to hold off. There is a huge backlog of people waiting for coupons for the converter boxes. One of the deals in the new deadline is an exception that will allow stations to change sooner than the new June deadline.

So, some might cutover on February 17th, some might wait.

I personally thought having the change in the middle of winter was stupid in the first place. If a person needs to make changes to their outdoor antenna, winter is a bad time to be doing that. Canada is planning its cutover for August 31st, 2011 which I am looking forward to as the picture quality is much better than analog.  And while I wish the changeover was sooner for us up here, having a summer time change makes it better to do work on the antenna, if you need to make corrections.

So far, I don’t have any indication what my local Watertown stations are planning on doing. I am thinking WWNY might change early as they plan on using their existing DTV transmitter to launch WNYF digitally in HD, but that could wait until June and might work out better weather wise. WWTI and WPBS are remaining on their existing digital allocations, so all they have to do is turn off their analog transmissions whenever they chose to do so.

No matter what happens, the extension helps add confusion to the changeover but will help with safety if people need to make corrections to outdoor antennas and the such.

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Digital TV Transition in Canada

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The Industry Canada plan for the transition to Digital Television in Canada has been released. You can download the plan at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf/$file/DTV_PLAN_Dec08-e.pdf

Nothing major crazy in the plan, but some stations are moving which will affect the type of antenna you have. If you are looking for an antenna, check out the antenna chart at Digital Home. It is a really good guide for selecting the proper antenna for your needs. Its is based on real life experience, not theory.

I had a Channel Master 4221 clone for a while here at my apartment for my flat screen LCD and I was very happy with the results for UHF and even VHF-Hi, which it is not supposed to be good. The antenna is now at my girlfriend’s parents place working as a their main antenna and they have been happy with the results for their analog reception. Once Tracey and I get a house, my plan is to get a Channel Master 4228 as well as a good VHF only antenna and a FM antenna for the stereo.

If you want more information on Digital television available Over The Air, checkout of the knowledge base and forums over at Digital Home