connect UVerse box to my PC

[mzimmers]

Hi -

I hope this is the right forum for this.

I have a new PC that I'd like to watch TV on (among other things). It's in the same room as my 2Wire modem, and I can put one of my decoder boxes in here.

Does anyone know of a page with instructions for how to do this?

Thanks.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

mzimmers - You will need a box to accept one of the outputs of the STB to be an input to the PC.

You can get some very inexpensive ones and use the microsoft media center to manage. OR, you can get more elaborate ones that include media storage and management.

You can use coax, composite or s-video connection for SD and component for HD.

Check out hauppage for high grade stuff. Looks like their Colossus box has an HDMI connection which may work or may have copyright protection blocking.

Also, check out this link for complete info - http://sewelldirect.com/articles/PCtoTV.aspx

Be alert for difference between PC to TV and STB to PC even though they look the same on the surface they provide different functionality.

[mzimmers]

Hi, aviewer. Thanks for the answer. So, do I probably need an input card to make this happen? My motherboard has USB 3.0 inputs; maybe I can find something that will match that. It also had DVI and HDMI, but I think those are probably output only.

I'll look at those sites you mentioned. Thanks again.

EDIT: I didn't see anything on Sewell that looks like what you're describing. I did find this on Hauppage:

HVR 850

Does that look like it would work?

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

mzimmers - Yes, the 850 provides minimum support (SD, no channel change), but not for minimum price ($50). You can capture HD Over the Air with it.

To get U-verse with it you would connect it to the STB via coax & tune it to analog channel 3. You would change channels on the U-verse STB with the U-verse remote or play recordings into it.

You can do just SD from u-verse for half the price. Here is an example from Sewell - although this one says currently sold out. Search for USB to composite or composite to USB. Just be careful to select one for input to the PC, not output.
http://sewelldirect.com/CablesandAdapters/Data/-DataInterface-USB-AudioVideoInterface-RCACompositeAu...

[mzimmers]

OK, thanks for that link. I'd like to ask a few questions:

1. if you were doing this (with my existing PC and UVerse, what would you choose?

2. what is "HD Over The Air?" I am not currently an HD customer, by the way.

3. if I were to go with something like that thing you linked to, what s/w would I need to get? I'm running Windows 7 Pro and I have the media center software already?

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

1. Too many variables. It does not matter. I think you should start with an inexpensive composite connection because you do not have HD. I will look for one.
2. HD over the air is the new digital broadcast. What is your zip code? go to antennaweb.org to see what you can get. If you want to do OTA the 850 looks good.
3. I do not have experience with the mediacenter software. I believe there were previous posts. Perhaps someone could post their experience.

[mzimmers]

OK, so if I understand you, the connection chain would look like this:

1. UVerse modem to STB via Ethernet cable

2. STB to computer via "magic adapter" (component video --> USB)

3. use STB remote to tune channels

4. use software (perhaps Windows Media Center) to decode whatever is coming out of STB and display it in a window on PC.

That about right?

If so, my only missing ingredient is #2. So far, google hasn't turned up much (most seem to go the other direction, and/or have female RCA adapters). I'll keep looking.

And (newbie question here): the component video is the Pb, Y and Pr jacks, right?

I could live with this configuration. Do you know whehter I'll use the remote supplied with the STB, or the one that came with my motherboard for use with Media Center? Anyway, this is a secondary concern for now.

I'll keep looking for one of those adapters, and will return when I find one. So far, though, they don't appear to be very common.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

mzimmers -
I was not finding anything either, so, I gave Sewell another try. Check this out - Read the 22 reviews.

http://sewelldirect.com/USBVideoCaptureAdapter.asp

Your description is correct with a couple clarifications -

Component is what you say, but is for HD. If you do not have HD use composite for SD. Composite is yellow RCA for video and Red/white for audio.

To use the Media Center remote - Maybe it supports the u-verse STB directly - search for related posts. If you want comprehensive use of the remote then you need a box to read the IR signal into your PC and an IR blaster to have the PC change channels on the STB.

If you want to go this route look at the more expensive Hauppage equipment (e.g collosus).

Another interesting twist is the slingbox. Hook it up to an STB and the internet & watch TV from any PC that is connected to the internet anywhere

[mzimmers]

Thanks, aviewer. I noticed in the user questions (and answers) that this adapter doesn't work with Vista 64-bit. I left them a question about Windows 7 64-bit, but based on the answer about Vista, I'm not too hopeful.

I'm guessing that I couldn't use the HDMI output on the STB, since that brings in issues when introducing a non-protected component downstream.

Anyway, I'll wait for an answer from Sewell and report back. Thanks again for all the help and clarification.

[oufanindallas]

---

mzimmers wrote:

Thanks, aviewer. I noticed in the user questions (and answers) that this adapter doesn't work with Vista 64-bit. I left them a question about Windows 7 64-bit, but based on the answer about Vista, I'm not too hopeful.

I'm guessing that I couldn't use the HDMI output on the STB, since that brings in issues when introducing a non-protected component downstream.

Anyway, I'll wait for an answer from Sewell and report back. Thanks again for all the help and clarification.

---

If it doesn't work with Vista 64-bit then more than likely it's not going to be supported with Win7 64bit since Win7 is Vista Fixed and based on the same core.

[mzimmers]

Sewell got back to me. They claim to have nothing that will work. I got a warning about recording copyrighted material. Odd, since I didn't mention (and have no interest in) recording.

So...I guess they're out.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

mzimmers - Did you look at the slingbox? It may have the advantage of not needing another STB.

[mzimmers]

I briefly looked at it, but that's not really an advantage to me. I have three STBs and am only using one currently.

I just spoke with the Hauppage people; it sounds like the most headache-free way to go is their 950Q. About $65 at Amazon, which isn't dirt-cheap, but...if it works and I don't have to hassle with it, might be the way to go.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

mzimmers - What did they say about the 950 over your original selection (the 850). They look similar to me except price.

I looked at the web site and happened to see the USB-live2. This is the type of device I favor for U-verse - composite connection.

I think the tuner connection is superior only if you want to use it for Over the Air in addition to U-verse. (or you have a "regular" cable system). DId you get the impression that the Hauppage rep understood the nature of U-verse?

If you just want to watch TV from the STB on your monintor (i.e. not archiving any shows in the computer) you can just directly connect the monitor to the STB. There are "computer" equivalents of both componet and HDMI. Does the monitor have more than one input. If not you would also need an a/b switch to switch between inputs (PC/STB)

[mzimmers]

Hi, aviewer –

No, I'm not sure the sales lady knew the ins and outs of UVerse. I did tell her that I had composite as well as coax coming out of my STB, but that was about it.

I don't want to consume the monitor with TV; I want it in a window, so I need something that an app can grab onto.

Regarding the 850 vs. the 950: I can't remember all the details of our conversation. She did say the 950 was complete and would be all I needed to buy, whereas I'd have to buy some kind of adapter or converter or something for the 850. I think the 850 is analog-only; maybe that's it. Also, the 950 comes with their viewing software in case I want something other than WMC.

[oufanindallas]

I have an internal card, WinTV-HVR-1600 on my pc at home, works great, I use s-video and component audio and watch using Hauppage's WinTV 7 application to view. It has a record function built in so I can also record shows.

[mzimmers]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not sure an internal card will work for me -- my system is a mini-ITX with limited space, and the brackets are an odd length (about 4"). Otherwise I'd give that some consideration, but I think I'm stuck with an external device.