I think thats the hardest I laughed in a few days. Thanks Mag, that was GREAT!!!!!

 

I wouldn't go TiVo, it's a subscription service, you have to pay each month to have Tivo....

For less than $500 (about what you'll spend to buy TiVo) you can turn any old computer into a DVR (aka Tivo) but better than TiVo and not pay monthly.... You can record, pause, and play live TV. Record multiple channels while watching another (TiVo cant do that)...... and it would have your tuner that you need and the hook ups you need. It could also be a cd/DVD player, and a media storage for Mp3's or downloaded **** that you could watch on the TV, plus play computer games and with emulators play virtually any game console game. All the things that TiVo can only wish that it could do.....

 

Thank you PSS. I just talked to a friend of mine that is a computer guru. I have an old desktop in my garage so I think I'm gonna hook that up. He said I need a big hard drive and a tuner for the comp. Is there anything else I will need that you know of. Thanks again. Oh whats an emulator? I can play any console game w/ this? Sounds sweet, I was gonna buy an x box too, this may turn out to be a good deal

 

Who in their right mind buys a flat panel and wall mounting kit and does not hide the cables? Don't even get me started on the crappy (at best) RCA connections being used, why even bother?

 

Go here.
Tells you everything that you need for pretty much the ultimate set up.

Those cards come with infared remote control and the DVR recording software with program guide and the whole nine yards.....

An emulator is just a download, ussually free, that lets you play X-box, PS and other game console CD's in a computers CD/dvd rom.
You ussually have to search and find the emulator that you'll need for each system, most games in that system will use the same emulators but some may not. So there is a little investigative work involved in the hacking process. If you can use google you can ussually find the emulator that you need to play a game on a computer.

There is a link to many common emulators in the DVR link above.

 

wookie,
thats an old pic I took after getting it set up. I ended up putting an audio stand under the tv that covered the wires. Whats wrong w/ the rca's?

 

Nothing is wrong with RCA if it's Component (HD) Video Connection.

Although DVI, HDMI, or firewire are more versatile.

 

First, for less than $5 you can go to Lowes and buy a couple of cut-in boxes, and a face plate. Then you can put the wires in the wall.

What's not wrong with RCA's? In the order of connections they rank just above two cans and a string. RCA->S-Video->Composite->HDMI

 

only prob w/ doing all that is I rent the house I'm in now, owner is cool but wouldn't go for that. I said I didn't know about this stuff. Isn't an S video one wire too? If so I'll switch to that. I am gonna buy a house in a year or two so thats when I'll go nuts w/ the home ent. For now I just want a decent tv w/ a decent picture, ya know.

 

well how on earth do you hide those cables without putting a gigantic hole in the wall.

 

Composite uses RCA connectors as does component. RCA is just a connector type and has no bearing on the type of signal. Digital outputs also use RCA connectors. They could do HDMI on RCAs if they wanted to. It would be a birds nest of wires but it is possible.

This would be the correct order:
Composite->S-Video->Component->HDMI

 

Who has HDMI 1.3b?

I'm going to guess most are using HDMI 1.2 or 1.2b cables and connections... That would be the minimum, if it's it's any previous version prior to 1.2, then I'd just use one of the analogs, because your not gaining enough noticeable picture quality for the price. IMO

My order.....
(any of the analog 3 color components are last) < DVI < DVI-D < HDMI 1.3b < i-link < Firewire (AKA "IEEE 1394")

"2 way signal is great for recording, you can't properly record HD signal to DVR or any other recording device with out at least 4 pin I-link, but a 6 pin Firewire (AKA IEEE 1394) is the best choice for recording and watching. Plus it can support current HD video + an additional 17 separate audio channels all in one cable. So it's going to be a few years before it's going to be as out dated as HDMI is. Plus one cable means easy to do a clean professional install and reduces the tangle of wires and connections that can cause interference in each signal.

 

The best way would be to use cut-in boxes and have the cables in the wall. If you can't cut the wall, go to Lowes and buy one of the wire channels that can be painted to match the walls.

 

Can you link me to anything about a cut-in box? I just googled it with little information shown. Very interested in hiding wires as I tend to enjoy electrical work.

 

A cut-in box is just an electrical box that is made to be put in the wall after the sheetrock is up. It has a flange on the top and bottom and two clips that expand then you turn the screws. They are less than $2 a piece. Go to any hardware store and look in the electrical section.