HDTV Forum

First I have to apologize for posting this as it's probably already been discussed to some extent. I am just soooo exhausted trying to read up on the million different technologies that make up what I want to do. And if I see a new acronym, I'm gonna freak.

That said, I want to buy an HD TV and get HD channels to watch. I also want a way to record those HD channels. Those are my basic requirements.

I have decided to build a pc DVR as this will give me the space to store HD content while be upgradable and all that. So I've got a computer. I need to know what tuner card I need. The answer to this question takes me to, I guess, what kind of signal will I be receiving.

I will want to record regular digital cable broadcasts. Ok, that's NTSC.

I will want to record HD content. Free, over-the-air (OTA!) HD is, I guess ATSC. Ok, but there aren't a ton of channels that are free over the air, right? Just the few local channels - NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, uh, a couple others maybe. So I want to get cable HD. I live in Seattle and subscribe to Comcast cable. Does anybody know how Seattle Comcast sends their HD signal?

I was thinking about getting this card: Hauppauge WINTV-HVR-1800. I was told by Hauppauge that it will only receive "clear QAM" signals. What is this? Unencrypted QAM? I asked Comcast tech support and the guy didn't know what clear QAM was. He said they send the local OTA HD channels unencrypted and the cable HD channels encrypted. How do I record/capture the encrypted HD Channels?

The other thing I keep hearing about is that Windows Media Center, which I am planning on using, doesn't support QAM. I have NO IDEA what this means. Does it mean that I can't record QAM signals - encrypted or not - with Windows Media Center?! I have Vista Ultimate, BTW.

How, then, do I get sound to my speakers and how do I get the video signal to the TV? Do I still need another video card and sound card for this? Sound card with s/pdif or tos link. Video card with... what?

I have scoured the net looking for How To instructions and have read/watched the ones I've found, but they don't really seem to fully explain all the nuances. Seems like it's also pretty simple to build your DVR if you're not doing HD.

Long post. Hope someone can help. thanks!

Scott

You're only going to be able to get your local OTA stations either from the unencrypted QAM cable channels or from an OTA antenna.

If you want more than that you need to rent a HD DVR from the cable company or buy a Tivo HD and rent a cable card. You could possibly rent a cable card and find a cable card compatible HD tuner for your PC but I don't know if that exists - and even if it did it probably wouldn't work very well. Some cable cards don't work well period.

wow, that's so unbelievably lame. I mean, I like the major OTA stations, but what's the point of everyone selling you on the number of HD channels they have if you can't use your DVR with them. The Comcast DVR has a 120 GB HD in it! So you can record 15 hours of HD programming if the drive is completely empty! Which it won't be. So that's not an option either. I thought I waited long enough for the HD stuff to shake out a little bit, but apparently not.

akirby is 100% correct until now...

http://hdtvmagazine.com/news/2007/08/so ... s_fi_1.php

Note that this PC uses the Vista OS and I think that is where the whole problem lies - The old Windows OS'es copy protect was not robust enough. Don't expect to be swapping HD files with your friends...

I am not aware of any tuner cards that are cable card compatible but that is exactly what you are looking for. Sony's PC cable card capability may have been designed in house. All it takes is a PCMIA slot like on a laptop and the software to run it and handshake with copy protected content.

hello balikian -

Do just 'read' any of the available forums - the copyright protection rules contained within any O.E.M which agreed to use / build-in HDMI technology MUST not allow recording as we all have done over these past 35-40 years. Those days are gone.

Either do get any one of the captive hard drive dual tuner HD Receivers - our Scientific Atlanta 8300HD is a superb unit, with P.I.P., even - or the VIP-722 from DISH, or the TIVO Ser 3. All accept external storage including up to a 500 GB hard drive - you're essentially trying to invent what's already out there / done.

Do also read - here - the announcement of another Western unit already certified for usage as an external HD storage drive.
eli whitney

I was right about needing a cable card for the PC, I just had it in the wrong spot.

That's a $3K PC for the HD version. I can get a combo Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player AND a Tivo HD dual tuner for half that.

If you want free HDTV, you're stuck with OTA local stations. If you want other stations you have to pay for them - cable or satellite. That's no different than analog TV for the last 40 years or so.

You can get a dual tuner HD Tivo that uses cable cards to receive premium HD channels from your cable company from Weaknees already modified with extra hard disk space:

http://www.weaknees.com/series-3-hd-tivo.php

The 70 hour HD model is $699. 140 hour HD model is $999. You can also buy a base model now and upgrade it later.

Or you can just get a cable DVR for $10/month or so.

I'm sure they'll come out with cable card compatible HD tuner cards - eventually.

Some stated that the Dish VIP 722 accepts only a 500GB outboard HDD. It has an internal 500 and will accept an outboard USB 750 GB drive. If you are going to stay w/ cable then your best bet is the pricey TIVO series 3 that accepts cable cards. As far as building an HD DVR for cable you will have to one that will be able to input QAM since that is what cable uses. It will probably be better to not try and re-invent the wheel.

Lot's of great points and I'll add that the Sony PC bulletin talks about A or ONE cable card - you can't watch one channel while recording another. The TIVO's will take two, we have one with two cards and it works great. Your cable company likely has a STB that does the same. Either Dish or DirecTV offer the same capability.

If this is a build it cause you want it scenario I understand but economically the thread makes it clear you are better off in features and price by going with what is already out there... a STB.

Get the new Tivo HD DVR for $299 and then plug and play upgrade it for $199 (see link) to add about 60 hours of HD.
http://www.westerndigital.com/en/produc ... riveID=334

Pete

The quesions that you were asking were not truly answered. I have a Scientific Atlanta HD DVR from Cox Cable.

I am not happy with the reliability and thought about building a PC to serve the same function.

I was going to use a PC with about 500 mb dedicated to this project.

I thought I might use Media Center PC O/S but have ZERO experience with Media Center.

I was going to get another HD Digital Cable Box. I can set it up to tune to a channel at a specific time and day and then have the PC record.

I then need to get the PC to distribute the content to other TVs on demand.

I have the hardware lying around. So, I need to buy Windows Media Center and pony up for another cable box $5/month. Turn in the HD DVR and that saves me $5 a month.

So, what am I missing here ?

Thanks,
/bear