HDTV Viewing Guide__________________________________________________
 

There are currently two types of video encoding in High Definition DTV broadcasting. One uses MPEG-2 video encoding. The other uses H.264 (i.e. MPEG-4 Advance Video Coding). Viewing these two HDTV has different system requirements. Please see http://www.winux-it.com/web/PcTvReceiver-LaikaInfo.asp#pcRequirements for details. DigiTV Laika natively support viewing of MPEG-2 based HDTV. However, viewing H.264 based HDTV requires third-party DirectShow® compatible decoder software (We may soon bundle one H.264 decoders with the DigiTV Laika software. Please visit our website for latest news). This Guide will give you all the information for viewing H.264 based HDTV.

Identifying Which HDTV Type You Are Watching

First, please update to the latest DigiTV Laika software. You can download the software at http://www.winux-it.com/web/PcTvReceiver-LaikaInfo.asp. Then, tune to your HDTV channel. If you do not have any DirectShow compatible H.264 decoder installed, you won't see any video. To confirm that the video is in H.264 format, right click the video window to bring up the context menu. Select Filters -> DVB Source. you will find an  item named Video H264 if the video is in H.264 format. Please See the figure below:


Third-Party DirectShow® Compatible H.264 Decoder Installation

For software only DirectShow compatible decoders, once you install it, DigiTV Laika software will automatically recognize and make use of it.

As far as we know, there is only one DirectShow Compatible hardware (GPU) accelerated decoders in the market, CyberLink H.264 Video Decoder. Please make sure your graphics card supports the H.264 decoding acceleration. Please see some example card at http://www.winux-it.com/web/PcTvReceiver-LaikaInfo.asp#pcRequirements. CyberLink PowerDVD 7 includes the H.264 decoder, and free trial are available for downloading at http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_1_ENU.html. However, once you are satisfied with the decoder performance and want to buy the product, please make sure to buy the PowerDVD 7 Max or Deluxe version. You can also choose to buy the H.264 decoder pack alone (without the PowerDVD) at http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/cyberstore/order_77_ENU.html. Please choose the full version.

To activate the CyberLink H.246 hardware decoding acceleration, please follow the following procedures. You only need to perform this procedure one time after installation.

Once you download and install Power DVD 7, start the DigiTV Laika software. Tune to your H.264 HDTV channel. If you install the Power DVD 7 correctly, you will see a separate video window poping up displaying the video. Right click the video window to bring up the context menu. Click Filters -> CyberLink H.264/AVC Decoder (PDVD7) to bring up the properties page. Please see the figure below :


The properties page looks like this:


Make sure you select Use DxVA. Click OK to close the properties page. Turn off the DigiTV Laika TV reception. And re-tune to your HDTV channel. Done!
 

______________________________________________________________________________