HDTV Wonder Discussion

It's in the ATI MMC directory, but it's a hidden file. If you show hidden files in Control Panel > Folder Options > View, you'll see it.

ATI's DTV file format is not ATSC .TS format. The MMC Library applet can save it out as a standard MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 file.
 
ACTUALLY they're SYSTEM files and have to be UN-HIDDEN with their own checkbox along with the 'hidden' file-types. Then, you'll see a whole onslaught of .vcr files. If you use DATE for the sort you can SEE there is one index file for the series of 5-minute raw files that make up the program. Actually, you can edit the index and get the stream's filenames.

In fact, sometimes the MLibrary will hickup and not allow you to view a program. Then the only way you CAN view the file IS from this directory -- by playing the index .vcr file
 
yukit said:
BTW, I only get about 3 channels from HDTV tuner that are useful.
I may go back to ATI Wonder Pro, & get rid of HDTV Wonder.
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I guess I should have tried to scan during prime time when there is more programming available. I have about 10 useful channels NOW.
Now that I got WatchHDTV & graphedit working, I may write my own viewer.
 
Using Tripod with ATI HDTV WONDER Antenna

Using Tripod with ATI HDTV WONDER Antenna



I have my antenna back in the basement again.
I was able to get around the reception problem by adding my camera tripod which actually works wonderfully.

Adjustments are easy and very controlled.

Greg
 
grog said:
I have my antenna back in the basement again.
I was able to get around the reception problem by adding my camera tripod which actually works wonderfully.

Adjustments are easy and very controlled.

Greg
Click to expand...

That's a very interesting result. I never would have thought a small antenna like the Silver Sensor would work behind walls and below or at ground level but you've shown otherwise.

Does the HDTV Wonder and Silver Sensor combination ever have problems with dropouts or occasional lost channels? Or do you find OTA to be like cable TV, always on?
 
This method is by no means perfect.. But... I am able to get the antenna level with the windows in the basement which allows me to pull in stations that I could not otherwise get. The problem is the windows are not the best direction for some of the stations so some of the stations where I point the antenna forward are not as strong as I would like.

Still I am able to get all the locals in my basement. This is better than when I had the antenna outside since I could only move the antenna when I went up the ladder.

No dropouts here on the strong stations. I do have a couple of stations that do come in better with good weather. PBS is always solid for example!

The tripod method would be pefect if I had the system upstairs.

Greg


weblurker said:
That's a very interesting result. I never would have thought a small antenna like the Silver Sensor would work behind walls and below or at ground level but you've shown otherwise.

Does the HDTV Wonder and Silver Sensor combination ever have problems with dropouts or occasional lost channels? Or do you find OTA to be like cable TV, always on?
Click to expand...
 
grog said:
Still I am able to get all the locals in my basement. This is better than when I had the antenna outside since I could only move the antenna when I went up the ladder.

No dropouts here on the strong stations. I do have a couple of stations that do come in better with good weather. PBS is always solid for example!

Greg
Click to expand...

I've been following a number of threads about the HDTVW and Silver Sensor(SS). I live in Toronto and I've seen a number of posts from HDTVW+SS users about successful reception of stations in Buffalo, about 90+ miles away. But they're all above ground, 2nd floor and above. One person lived on the 15 floor of a condo building and the SS pulled in all the Buffalo signals. That's the same as mounting a SS on a 200+ foot tower, which wouldn't hurt. :->

Other HDTVW users still have problems though and AFAIK, they upgraded to a larger antenna like the Channel Master 4228 or 4221 or a AntennasDirect DB2 or DB8.

One person used an interesting solution, he added a Radio Shack 10db VHF/UHF amplifier (they sell for C$24.95 here in Toronto) to the Silver Sensor and found that he was able to receive many more channels.

That result confused me, you'd think all an amplifier would do is amplify an already poor signal. Maybe the unamplified incoming signal was below the HDTVW's minimum threshold but still above the noise floor, so the amplifier just brought a still usable signal up into the HDTVW's voltage range. But I'm not a RF engineer, I'm just guessing.

Have you ever considered trying a larger antenna or adding a video amplifier to solve the occasional dropout problem?
 
Any ideas on how to fix this dam MMC software? Ive had 9.08 working up until about a month ago where it up and just quit working. WatchJDTV 1.5 works fine yet mmc DTV craps out with the dreaded fail to init. message. Believe me I have tried the reinstall, Tried it ATI's way, Nothing works anymore for this dam thing, I guess short of redoing my system I dont see how I can get it working again. I guess the next release of mmc might fix it but Im not holding my breath. Since it worked before I doubt a new mmc install will work, Im waiting on the Beyond TV 4 release so I can get some software on this card that really works.
 
I have found that a signal amp has helped the reception on my HDTV Wonder when used in conjunction with the included antenna. Obviously, proper antenna placement is still key however. Before the amp install it would get a little choppy from time to time (for some channels) but with the amp,….now either it comes in or it doesn’t. Its more of an either or type of situation. Usually it works just fine and I am now getting stations that were problematic before.

I live in a rather tall building in NYC and most of the digital stations can be received by pointing the antenna in one direction. Unfortunately, my building isn’t the tallest one around. I have noticed that I can receive WNJN (PBS) digital channel/sub-channels with the amp whereas I couldn’t before. The best reception for WNJN requires an antenna adjustment however. I noticed that when WNJN is coming clearly (all or most sub-channels) the antenna is pointed between a gap that exist between two very tall apartment buildings. My guess is that I might not have to do this if the buildings were not there,…

Anyway, since it would be wrong to bring down the buildings,…..LOL,….does anyone know if I can use two antennas connected to the amp so that I don’t have to get off my lazy butt to adjust the antenna,…??? :evil:
 
Agustus said:
does anyone know if I can use two antennas connected to the amp so that I don’t have to get off my lazy butt to adjust the antenna,…??? :evil:
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SURE you can! You can use a simple splitter/combiner, or a more specialized combiner that will only pass the frequency you need... thry the cheap route first; but beware of multi-cast -- getting reflected signals (off buildings, etc) from the other antenna. Try it -- if it works you're fine! In fact, don't assume the obvious and point it ONLY in the right direction -- sometimes pointing in another direction will create a more robust antenna SYSTEM than you may have first assumed.
 
arch. the analog portion of the latest mmc can be moved from monitor to monitor in a dual monitor config.(however older mmcs it can not) the hdtv portion can not and must be put on the primary.

this may be able to be modified using the stretch option in the catalyst control panel.(i don't use this. instead i use ultramon.)
Arch Stanton said:
Does the HDTV Wonder support dual monitors?
Click to expand...
 
it has to do with video overlays. you may actually be able to get around it using a third party hdtv program and some sort of overlay hack.(or perhaps the stretch option in ccc) as to whether it will ever get fixed, very doubtful. however i also thought the same about the analog tv component of mmc and i can now watch analog tv on my secondary monitor without overlay problems. you may also be able to get it to work by using a theatre mode in the drivers and control panel.

Arch Stanton said:
Any idea why they wouldn't enable this? And will it be enabled in future versions?
Click to expand...
 
grog said:


I have my antenna back in the basement again.
I was able to get around the reception problem by adding my camera tripod which actually works wonderfully.

Adjustments are easy and very controlled.

Greg
Click to expand...

Hey I made that wallpaper :P (someone actually likes something I made :eek: )

Anywho, I was thinkin of buying one of these but not sure of the signal in NJ.
 
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Damn stright!

Very cool wallpaper. Looks great on my 24" monitor and I think you for creating it! :)

Greg

JayX said:
Hey I made that wallpaper :P (someone actually likes something I made :eek: )

Anywho, I was thinkin of buying one of these but not sure of the signal in NJ.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the info "rbV5" and thanks to "Andrew 1961" for the dual antenna info.

I just bought a VisionTek Xtasy Theater 550 Pro MCE bundle and was considering installing it on my MCE PC for a dual T550P + HDTV Wonder setup. I already had the SDTV component of the HDTV Wonder setup but was thinking the additional T550P would prevent the known issues with such a configuration.

However, I already installed the VisionTek Xtasy Theater 550 Pro in my Wife’s work PC along with the included Beyond TV SE and Beyond-Media OEM bundle. Beyond TV dosnt seem to much like the dual LCD monitor setup though.
 
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