Receive and record TNT HD

In the date of writing these lines, most of the TNT decoders do not allow to record the free TNT channels(simple or HD) in digital. In generally, the TNT decoders which offer this possibility store the records in an incorporated and "closed" hard disk. These records cannot be exported as video files to play and use on a PC.

To archive the records, when the decoder hard disk is full, it is then necessary to record them analogical by connecting a recorder on the peritel (or rvb) plug situated behind the decoder. In these conditions the quality of the archived video is less good than the original video, especially if this one was in HD.

This situation is no good for those who wish preserve best quality videos. Let us hope it will change quickly but for the moment it is so.

In the meantime, there is however a flexible and not expensive solution which consists to record the digital TNT and TNT HD on a PC. This solution consists in using:
1) An internal TNT antenna (amplified from preference) or a external TNT antenna;
2) A USB key of type TNT and HD TNT key.

A USB TNT and HD TNT key contains a male part intended to be plug in a USB port of the PC and a female part intended to be plug with the male part of the antenna cable.

1) The TNT antenna

To obtain a good TNT reception it is necessary to be situated in a geographic zone correctly covered by a broadcasting station and it is also necessary to have a good antenna. This seems to be an evidence but is useful to be remember. If you do not have an antenna on the roof but if you are in an enough good covered zone, you can receive the TNT and the TNT HD using an internal TNT amplified antenna. I advise you to use a good quality and amplified antenna which could be installed inside or outside indifferently .

Personally I use a TNT antenna Visiosat model AVT200, which can be fixed outside, on a bar of a balcony for example, or more simply placed on the ground inside an apartment, near a window rather. In this last case, it is possible to remove the directional part and the associated hooks which are not very esthetic.

There are naturally other marks and models of TNT antenna comparable to this one.

Normally, a TNT antenna is able to receive indifferently the TNT or the HD TNT, this without addition or particular modification. Normally there is no bad surprise at this level if we use a TNT antenna with a known mark.

In the case of the aforesaid Visiosat antenna, you may ask you how the antenna is amplified and connected ? In fact, it is very simple, the model is delivered with all the necessary connections:
- A long main cable, with a connector to screw to the antenna;
- A small connector, with a "T" form, to connect the other extremity of the main cable.
- A power block to connect between the "T" connector and the sector.
- A cordon to connect between the "T" connector on one hand and the TNT decoder on the other hand.

The connecting is easy as illustrated on the following picture.

If you wish to increase the distance between the antenna and the PC, you just have to use a longer cordon between the T connector and the USB TNT key. Personally i use a 5 meters cordon, what allows me to place the antenna in the best place (near of a room window ) while using a PC situated in another piece (desk room).

2) The USB TNT and HD TNT key

At the time of the purchase it is important to verify that the chosen model receives well the TNT and the HD TNT. If you do not take this precaution, you risk to purchase a model which receives only the simple TNT and not the HD TNT. Personally I use a USB TNT and HD TNT key WinTV-NOVA-TD-HD of Hauppauge. In the date of writing these lines, this key is delivered with the Cyberlink PowerCinema 5.1 software, with which I am very satisfied.

This model is very good. Personally I would however give it a bad point and three very good points.

Let us begin with the bad point. When we install the product and the software which accompanies it, we notice that the simple TNT works perfectly, but that regrettably the HD TNT does not work (neither in playing nor in recording). Fortunately this first disappointment is fast and widely compensated with three very good points:
The first one very good point, is that the Hauppauge technical support is really excellent. He is easy to contact, he quickly answers, and he is effective and very cool.
The second very good point is that the solution which gives the technical support is effective and repairs the mentioned problem. Once the corrective patchs are installed, the USB TNT and HD TNT HD key WinTV-NOVA-TD-HD of Hauppauge allows indeed to receive and to record the TNT and the HD TNT (TF1 HD, A2 HD, M6 HD and Arte HD) on a PC.
The third very good point is that the obtained videos, however in TNT and in HD TNT have an excellent quality in playing and in recording.

The PowerCinema software allows to make frames captures in the real-time or on the recorded videos. In the case of HD TNT channels, the captured frames have a size of 1080 x 1920 pixels. We can so verify that the USB TNT key gets completely and corectly the full HD 1080i signals of the HD TNT.

The corresponding pack of the USB TNT WinTV-NOVA-TD-HD key of Hauppauge is easily recognizable. We can find it in numerous places (internet, fnac, darty). Verify that the characteristics "TNT" and "HD" appear well on the box.

The pack includes the USB TNT key, a CD, a notice, a remote control, the piles of the remote control, an USB cordon Male female and a mini antenna (which i do not advise to use because of its low performance).

To install this set it is necessary in the order to:
1) Connect the antenna to the USB key, then to connect the USB key in an USB port of the PC;
2) Install the drivers then the PowerCinema 5.1 software supply on the CD.

At this step, once installed the key does not allow to receive the HD TNT. To be able to receive the HD you have to contact the HAUPPAUGE technical support by connecting you on the www.hauppauge.fr site and by sending a message to the e-mail address of the technical support indicated on the notice.

In its answer message, the technical support indicates the procedure to be followed and gives the links allowing to get the necessary corrective files.

You will need then to apply the corrective files in the indicated order, and to restart the PC every time. At the end of these operations, you will have the software PowerCinema in version 6 and the drivers allowing you to see and to record the HD TNT channels.