I won't get into the why, but "someone" set up a meeting for me early Monday morning in New York, which meant flying east from San Francisco Sunday. And that also meant no watching the Super Bowl with my buddies on my flat screen.
But I was mollified, somewhat, by the prospect of watching the big game on our 58" HP DLP in PC Magazine Labs. We've got an HD Dishplayer set up to it, so at least I could watch the game in glorious big-screen HD, while silently cursing my fate.
So after being wedged into a cigar case and hurtling cross country for six hours, you can imagine my dismay when I arrived in the labs and the Dishplayer was out of commission. It lost its connection to the satellite dishes on the roof, and my dreams of a big-screen Super Bowl were fading away faster than an errant Grossman pass.
Then I remembered our HP Touchsmart PC . With a built in ATSC receiver, it could easily suck in CBS' HD broadcast. And when I found it in the labs, it was already plugged into an antenna, displaying beautiful HDTV. The only hitch - the pregame show looked great on the built-in 19" screen but there appeared to be no way to shunt that output off to an external monitor. The back of the Touchsmart includes an HDMI-like interface, but it's for some odd proprietary VGA dongle, which was nowhere to be found.
Well, I thought, 19" of HDTV is better than nothing, right? Wrong! There had to be a way to get output from the Vista-based Touch Smart to that huge TV. Think, Jim, think...
And then I spied my savior. Microsoft's Xbox 360, plugged into Component Port 1 on the big TV. The 360 doubles as an HD media extender, I recalled, which theoretically meant I could record the game on the TouchSmart, and stream it to the 360.
But kick-off was approaching. Could I get it to work? Sure I could! I quickly set up the TouchSmart next to the big screen, plugged it and the Xbox 360 into the same Ethernet hub, and began configuring. It was surprisingly easy. The Xbox 360's media panel makes it simple to connect to a media center device, offering up an 8-digit code to feed into the PC to identify it.
On the TouchSmart side, since it was running Vista, the XBox 360 connectivity software was already loaded. Unfortunately, my new Ethernet network was configured as "public", which meant folder sharing wouldn't work. Vista's networking restrictions are maddening, but luckily I knew just where to go to change the network to "private", and enable folder sharing. After that it was simple, I just went into Tasks in Media Center, added a new media extender, and that was it.
Two minutes later, I had the familiar Vista Media Center interface on the Xbox. I selected the game, and just as it started streaming onto the big screen, Devin Hester grabbed the kick-off and sprinted forward for a touchdown. All systems go!
The connection stayed live and robust for the entire four hours. I easily figured out how to control the stream using the Xbox game controller. And I enjoyed the entire spectacle in 58 inches of HD splendor. There were occasional, brief audio drop-outs, but those could have been due to the OTA antenna perched atop the large screen TV.
Even better, the Colts won, so now all those Peyton Manning apologists can stop whining, and we can stop hearing about how he's the best quarterback never to win a Super Bowl. If you ask me, he looked pretty average last night, but as a Patriots fan, I might be biased.
I'll never be able to throw a touchdown in the NFL, that's for sure, but chances are, Peyton would be able to connect a 360 to his TouchSmart. Heck, even Grossman should be able to figure that one out.
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February 5, 2007 1:21 PM
That's got to be the best story I've read all morning. :D Seriously! There was doubt, triumph, indignation, cunning, and perseverance!
In all seriousness though, how cool is it that the "wired living room" saved your Super Bowl? And how cool was it that it all actually worked so seamlessly that I'd dare try it myself?
Now this is the same HP TouchSmart PC that you were all goo-goo over in an episode of DL.TV from CES, wasn't it? The one with the stylus? I have to admit, I didn't care for it much then, but with a built in ATSC reciever, that bumps it up a few notches of respect in my mind. How was that 58" HP DLP, by the way? Worth buying? :D
February 5, 2007 4:26 PM
Yeah, this is the same TouchSmart PC from CES. It's pretty cool, especially for a kitchen PC. But it really came through with the Media Center connection.
The HP DLP is a nice set, and it has great connectivity options. But I think HP discontinued it -- at one point you could get it for around $1,500 which is an awesome price. You have to look at it straight on, the angled view isn't that great. But for a living room, it is pretty good.
These days, with plasma prices dropping, I'd probably opt for a 50" flat panel for $2k or so.. But you might be able to get a bargain!
jim
February 6, 2007 7:16 AM
So any particular reason you didn't just plug the antenna into the TV, since according to the specs it has an ATSC receiver?
February 6, 2007 8:01 AM
None of this would have been a problem if your organization supported open technologies rather than bowing to DRM. Vote with your dollars, and don't settle for downgrades like Vista or HD/BR-DVD.
February 6, 2007 8:06 AM
Owned! Haha!
Don't the dish receivers have atsc also? Couldn't you have reconnected the dish feed?
February 6, 2007 12:12 PM
Yeah, man. Talk about over-engineering. Plug the OTA antenna into the back of the TV, and BAM: Instant hi-def, no PC or Xbox required.
February 6, 2007 12:13 PM
@rebuilder: If I'm reading him right, the touchsmart PC has the ATSC tuner, not the 58" HP DLP....
@randomGeek: Whut?
I still think this is the some of the awesomest quick geek thinking I've read in a while, I have to spread the word. :D
February 6, 2007 5:00 PM
Nope, the DLP also has a tuner, according to their review.
February 6, 2007 5:14 PM
I was stuck at olivegarden and still haven't seen it. Does anyone know when a rebroadcast is?
Mark Mason
February 6, 2007 5:51 PM
Plug in to the TV, What Geek would take the easy way out and then lose a column.
February 6, 2007 8:17 PM
Guys, guys, guys. Mr MAn said it best, "...the easy way out...". No, Sir, never plug directly into a monitor when one has the option of controlling the feed! Had he plugged the antenna directly in, he would have lost his ability to rewind live TV, to pause to refresh beverages and continue on. That's the whole POINT to having a DVR. To have live, uncontrollable video is so...'90's.
Long live the user-controlled delay!
February 6, 2007 10:27 PM
Late Sunday afternoon we had a couple of stores we needed to visit and figuring the traffic should be zilch, it was a great time to go. Shopping completed, we decided to hit the small restaurant next door since an almost empty parking lot meant peace, quiet and fast service. As we were seated, we noticed a TV in every corner but they were muted with the CC crawl running....good. Almost on cue, Mr. Brilliant Manager at the command counter releases the mute button with max volume waiting. He finally lowered it a click but it was still obnoxiously loud, distorted audio. After asking the wait-person the location of the corporate office they were able to convince wonderboy to lower the volume to a tolerable level. My point is that the world does not revolve around the egotistical money grubbers of the NFL or the S Bowl.
Congratulations, through your quick thinking and knowledge, your desires for gratification were accomplished and having access to a large stockpile of equipment helped. Some of us are geeks but not freaks (sports or games), may we co-exist in peace. By the way, who was playing?
February 7, 2007 2:58 AM
I think he forgot it had a built-in tuner.
February 7, 2007 7:59 AM
I'm not sure that I would admit to watching the Super Bowl on a 58-inch screen. You just violated the NFL's copyright on the Super Bowl. Part of the copyright says that you cannot watch the Super Bowl if you have a TV with a screen that is over 55-inches in size (see, size does matter). What a stupid NFL rule - not enforceable unless someone admits to it. I couldn't watch it on my 65-inch plasma (Yea)
February 7, 2007 8:38 AM
The 55 inch rule doesn't apply to private viewing. It applies to public viewing at places that don't ordinarily show sports TV as part of their business.
February 7, 2007 9:12 AM
Aside from the first 14 seconds of the game, it wasn't worth the effort....
February 7, 2007 2:12 PM
Hey, if it aint broke, dont fix it!! He did what he could think of in such a short period of time. Think about it guys, how many of us could have worked all this out in time to catch the first play of the game right after kickoff?! I damn sure couldn't!! So shut up and leave the man alone! He said in the article that he couldn't hook right up to the DLP because of a custom part that he DIDN'T have on hand.
February 7, 2007 4:08 PM
Funny, geeky comments. Fun to read. Yes, he's a resourceful guy. Are there any female geeks out there? All the responders seem to be male.
Mama
February 7, 2007 8:22 PM
"He said in the article that he couldn't hook right up to the DLP because of a custom part that he DIDN'T have on hand."
NO, he didn't say that.
He said his "displayer" didn't work -- some sort of satellite dish set up?
But, then he used the Over-The-Air Antenna hooked up to another gizmo to transfer the signal to the 58" monitor. When, really all he had to do was transfer the OTA to the 58" monitor. 2-minute job. He didn't see the obvious.
Entertaining article. Too bad it makes him look silly.
February 7, 2007 8:26 PM
It was his PC that had the customized part -- so he had to route it through his XBox 360 to get to the monitor. When what he should have done was
1) take OTA
2) attach to 58" TV
3) change reception from satellite dish to OTA
4) think of something else to write for column instead of unneeded convuluted machinations.
February 7, 2007 9:00 PM
The reason he didn't plug the antenna to the HDTV is cause the HP DLP has a SD ATSC tuner oppose to the HD ATSC tuner on the HP Touchsmart TV and it's quite pointless to watch SD on at HDTV...?
So guys, he's not silly, or idiotic. He probably could have link the PC to the HDTV directly with a cable, but the point of the article to really to provide that the extra features in the Touchsmart and 360 aren't so useless and they are quite useful in dire situations. Since Jim didn't find the proprietary cable to use, this would have been the ideal solution.
To the guys who provided the "2-minute" solution:
February 7, 2007 9:02 PM
A little intuition is not a chance to taunt.
February 8, 2007 3:22 PM
agreed, ranron - methinks some folks just wouldn't have been able to think on their feet the way Jim did here, and want to rib him for it. ;)
February 8, 2007 8:35 PM
Your are wrong. This 58" $3500 HD TV has an HD ATSC tuner. Read the review, read the specs. Why would a 58" $3500 HD TV not have an HD tuner? That would be silly. It's a TV, not just a monitor.
Jim needs to explain why he needed to go through all these gyarations. Either he forgot the monitor had a tuner -- or he's a poor writer. Take your pick.
He mentioned the satellite hookup wasn't working and he mentioned the PC has a customized part -- so he THOUGHT HE had to go through the XBox.
He just needed to hook the PC's antenna to the fancy HD monitor.
You notice he's not answering any of this because he's embarrassed he made such a big deal about it then didn't need to do all those steps.
However, as a "journalist" he needs to answer questions or change the blog to reflec the truth.
February 8, 2007 8:39 PM
There are HD monitor only. This is not one of them. This is an HD TV. It has an HD tuner which works off ANY -- ANY - over the air antenna. Read their own review Jim linked to. Do some research!
He needs to explain.
February 10, 2007 2:36 AM
Whats funny is the antenna was already setup, all he had to do was go to the channel. Not being able to control it isn't so bad, why watch a live game with a delay? Then you can't use your telepathic powers to make your team win!
February 10, 2007 12:55 PM
He did it the right way. By using the Media Center PC & Xbox, he was able to watch the game on the big screen AND use DVR features which are useful for fast forwarding throug lame Super Bowl advertisements.
February 11, 2007 2:59 AM
He did it the hard way that enabled him to write a column, not the easy way he could have. Also DVR doesn't let you forward through commercials that are airing live. It's not a magic machine. You can only forward through oommercials once the show is recorded and you are watching it in delay. Notice again we have called him on this and he is not responding. A correction is due.
February 13, 2007 1:15 AM
So, Jim, if there is any confusion here it's in regards to whether you were watching the game in real time or delay- it sounds like live so connecting the OTA antenna to the ATSC tuner equipped TV would have been the easy way (unless there was same cable I'm not familiar with- it should be just 2k+ rated cable coax from the antenna, right?). Also, with OTA programs you can record the program on HD-DVRs (and transfer to HD-DVD or BluRay) and DVHS tape decks. So, was the viewing live or in delay? (I hope there is no 55" limit for home- we were on a 110" screen from a NEC LT240k projector, using a Samsung STR-165 tuner that has a firewire output to record on DVHS tapes- the first option for time shifting HD- and saving (out of the Dish-DirectTV boxes) program in a portable format.) This requires a component to vga cable- but no need to 'MacGyver' the cables and boxes, the projector comes with the adaptor!
February 16, 2007 12:37 PM
You know he's reading this, as well as all his writer co-workers. He's embarrassed and he's hoping it will go away. So, he's ignoring all the people who see he really had nothing to write about. He thought it was an HD monitor, he didn't realize it was an HD TV with its only HD ATSC tuner. Sure it was hooked up to the satellite dish, but not because it had to be. All he needed to do was hook the OTA antenna to the set -- the game was being broadcast in HD by CBS!
But, he's not going to issue a correction because he's not a true journalist, apparently.
Sure, what he did was nifty if he had needed to do it. But he didn't.
Also, this brings up another question. Did he work all this out in his mind just so he could write a column? Like a major geek "what if" scnenario? 'cause there were plenty of nearby sports bars with big screen TVs showing the game! He says he had an early Monday morning meeting, but that does NOT mean he spent the night there! :) This suspiciously sounds like he contrived to write a column bragging about MacGyver-like thinking and torturiously came up with the conditions that had to be met. "Oh, the satellite dish wasn't working. Yeah. And, uh, the dongle wasn't there. And, um, I used the XBox to turn water into wine."
Sad. I hope this is not the case. Other publications like the NY Times have had to issue retractions for journalistic fabrications.
Would be nice for him to step up to the plate and say "Hey, I didn't realize this thing had its own tuner and I could have used the OTA. Stupid me."
March 1, 2007 5:55 PM
Well, if Jim won't be honest and respond to valid questions, how can you trust the other articles he writes? This really reflects on PC Magazines, too. In reviews or news, do they write the truth?