Ceton InfiniTV Network Device

[Crash2009]

I saw PRTG Network monitor for the first time in one of Venom's posts. Recently I got it working so that I can monitor the in's and out's of a managed switch. As an added bonus PRTG monitors my internal Ceton card too. I see now why the Cableco charges more for HD. On my system non HD runs at about 3000 kbit/sec. HD runs at about 13,000 kbit/sec. Watch and record HD at the same time appears to be about 26,000 kbit/sec. Also these numbers show me why our hardware has to be right on, or the TV cards are not going to work good.

Pic Ceton004 illistrates watching a HD channel and recording a couple HD movies at the same time.
Pic Ceton003 illistrates watching a HD channel and towards the right, changing the channel to non HD.

I just thought I would share this, feel free to share your numbers.

[erkotz]

SD channels will typically be 2-5mbps. HD will typically be 9-15mbps. The numbers you see are pretty typical. I don't personally believe that's justification to charge more for HD - if it were, they should be charging a fortune for analog - 70 analog channels use about as much bandwidth as all digital channels + cable modem service on a typical plant combined.

[Crash2009]

Well, that blows a hole in my theory. Why do they charge more for HD?

[richard1980]

Simply put, because people will pay.

[STC]

^^ I would pay more for a faster, better looking vehicle then a slower dented one.

[Crash2009]

Yea, I suppose it's worth 10 bucks for paint,wax, buff. It just seems like a lot of extra work to put those dents in it, so someone will pay less for it.

Anybody have any luck converting the signal from SD to HD (with a stand alone device)?

[richard1980]

A 640x480 image contains 307,200 pixels. A 1280x720 image contains 614,400 more pixels than the 640x480 image. 1920x1080 image contains 1,766,400 more pixels than the 640x480 image. It is impossible to know what those extra pixels should look like, so it is impossible to add the extra pixels to the image.

That said, you can easily scale a 640x480 image to 960x720 or 1440x1080 by dividing each of the original pixels into smaller pieces, which is what every HDTV I've ever seen does. Technically that would be considered converting SD to HD.

[Venom51]

They are charging more for HD because they can get away with it for now. Just as they will do when they feel 4k needs to be in your home. HD becomes the new SD and 4k becomes the new super HD. THe only other reason for charging more is it cost them money to build out head ends and networks to support HD.

The service providers also get charged more by the content providers for their HD. Those costs are always passed on to us.

[STC]

^^ That's a nice analogy I like it.

Simply put, will YOU get more enjoyment watching a HD feed compared to the same material over an SD feed on your spanky widescreen TV in all it's crispness (compressed crapness)? I think you would. Therefore I am going to charge you a fortune for the privalidge.

[Crash2009]

Thanks for your responces. I am trying to better understand HD so that I can figure out a problem which, most likely, is inside a RNG-110. The Ceton Infini4, (visually) is uneffected. I started working on this digital migration project back in March/April of this year. The first addition was a new Samsung 32". Hooked up a $20/mo., less than basic, basic package, straight in to the tv. Tv scans it, and gives me a perfect picture. A few of the channels appear to be HD. They really "pop out at ya". Right about the same time, I started building a computer around a Ceton InfiniTV4 pcie. Somehow, with a lot of help, and some luck, I got the Ceton to work without a cableCARD. Visually everything is working great.

So then I get this (financially motivated) bright idea, let's dump DSL. Since we are paying $80/mo for 20 channels, local phone, and slow internet, why not spend $100/mo., and get 10 times more services for an additional $20/mo.

They asked if I wanted to add HD. I said no.

In marches the Comcast army, and about an hour later, I'm all hooked up with a Type M cableCARD for the InfiniTV4, a Pace RNG-110 for the Samsung, and an Arris TM-722 for the phone and internet.

Everything tested great except for the Samsung with the Pace RNG-110. What I first noticed was that the Guide was blurry and everyones jaw had a 1/2" "glow". Further reading revealed that you video pro's call it ghosting. I am posting a jpg to describe what I saw while reading the guide. All the letters had a diminishing repeat, down and to the left. I bypassed the RNG-110 and the ghosting disapeared.

They sent a tech over. He tested all 3 outputs, Cable, Componet, and HDMI. His diagnosis was that I need to order HD Services. The only way to get a free trial was to order the DVR Service which includes the Motorola DCX-3400. So I ordered all that too. The ghosting problem has disapeared. Everything is great again.

I am not a big fan of "rented equipment". Don't need, or want a DVR with it's hands tied behind it's back, can't have a look under the hood, etc.

I am OK with paying a little more for the HD Service, (if I have to). I am mostly interested in what you might recomend for a receiver that would eliminate the need to pay extra for the HD Service. Would the Ceton Q be able to eliminate the service charge? Or, some other hardware?

Thanks for taking the time to read this long-winded tale of my digital migration.

[barnabas1969]

Crash,

If you have an InfiniTV connected to (or in) a working HTPC, you don't need a cable box unless you want to use the cable company's VOD services. So, if you don't care about their VOD services, return their cable box and just use your PC as a DVR.

[Crash2009]

Barnabus, that is one idea that we have kicked around a little. I was planning to keep the PC for myself, in the hobby room. And get something else for the wife in the TV room.

[barnabas1969]

Barnabus, that is one idea that we have kicked around a little. I was planning to keep the PC for myself, in the hobby room. And get something else for the wife in the TV room.

Get a Media Center extender for the wife. Return the cable company's DVR. The savings on rental fees will pay for the extender in less than a year.

[STC]

The only caveat with that is tinker time will be limited to in between non stop recording and viewing of total drivel!

[Crash2009]

Thanks for the heads up STC. I will convieniantly forget to include recording instructions in the manual. Is there a spellchecker here? Had a hell of a time with convienia#$%ly.

[barnabas1969]

The only caveat with that is tinker time will be limited to in between non stop recording and viewing of total drivel!

Very true. Once the wife realizes that she can record EVERYTHING, she will.