Cable HDTV on a G5 (software)?

[hotwire132002]

OK, I've read all about the HDTV over Firewire dealio:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040426151111599

My question is--is there any more user-friendly way to do this? I'd give up the capability to record, If I could just watch live. Any ideas?

BTW--The reason I want to do this is that I can't afford an HD set right now, so I'd like to just subscribe to Charter HD, and use it with my Mac.

 

[LeeTom]

Have you seen this PCI card?
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/site/decklinkhd.htm

Lee Tom

 

[jsw]

Have you seen this PCI card?
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/site/decklinkhd.htm

Lee Tom

I must be missing something, but how does this $600 card help someone watch HDTV broadcasts from a cable box?

 

[hotwire132002]

I must be missing something, but how does this $600 card help someone watch HDTV broadcasts from a cable box?

You're not missing anything--that's not quite what I'm looking for. Any other ideas?

 

[crazzyeddie]

How's this look?

Edit: Nevermind, thats just for terrestrial HDTV, which isn't widely offered in the US yet.

 

[LeeTom]

You're not missing anything--that's not quite what I'm looking for. Any other ideas?

Well, it has an HDTV input via BNC. I'm sure you could get an adapter from your cable box, and then see live HDTV from the cable box on your screen.

Lee Tom

 

[jsw]

How's this look?

Edit: Nevermind, thats just for terrestrial HDTV, which isn't widely offered in the US yet.

Actually, there are a fair number of people who can get the signal (see here), and that number's increasing. For people in a broadcast area with a Mac and decent monitor, that $349 isn't too bad.

 

[hotwire132002]

Actually, there are a fair number of people who can get the signal (see here), and that number's increasing. For people in a broadcast area with a Mac and decent monitor, that $349 isn't too bad.

That was my backup plan--but cable would be nice

 

[ftaok]

That was my backup plan--but cable would be nice

Wouldn't you still need an HDTV tuner if you're going to use off-air HDTV signals?

 

[jsw]

Wouldn't you still need an HDTV tuner if you're going to use off-air HDTV signals?

That's what the EyeTV 500 does (which crazzyeddie linked to above).

 

[ftaok]

That's what the EyeTV 500 does (which crazzyeddie linked to above).

Oh, OK. I got lost in the direction of the thread. (Must be some sort of record on a 7 post thread)

I was thinking that the original poster was looking soley for a software option.

 

[hotwire132002]

Oh, OK. I got lost in the direction of the thread. (Must be some sort of record on a 7 post thread)

I was thinking that the original poster was looking soley for a software option.

You're not lost--I'd prefer a software only option. (Not including the HDTV Cable box) I know there's a way to RECORD HDTV with a Mac, then watch it. I'd like to watch it live through the Mac, I don't care so much about recording. I'm looking for a better program than VirtualDVHS to do this.