HD Question

[Drew@PSU]

Quick question for everybody...
I've got a PVR-150 in my computer now, and Time Warner Cable HD service and Beyond TV. Can I get the un-encrypted HD Channels with just the HVR-1800 or do I have to get a HD HomeRun? I only ask because I saw the below on the SnapStream site (not complete, I cut out the obvious stuff).


Requirements for digital / HDTV

* BDA Compliant ATSC Capture Card
* Windows XP Service Pack 2

Requirements for clear QAM

* BDA Compliant ATSC Capture Card
* Windows XP Service Pack 2
* 100 MBps or higher home network
* Coax cable source
* Silicon Dust HDHomeRun Dual Network Tuner

What precisely is the difference? Is Clear QAM OTA? Or is digital/HDTV the one I need to worry about? I'm so confused....but it's ok, I've got a new HTPC case on the way, so I'll be able to tide myself over :)

[Mpegger]

HD signals are merely compressed video being transmitted over the air waves, much like a video you watch over YouTube. OTA HDTV is called ATSC and is in MPEG2 format and has a clearly defined method of transmitting, receiving, decoding, container, etc, etc. ClearQAM is the cable/satellite version of ATSC that is compatible with thier systems, so it requires hardware which is capable of receiving such a signal.

With the HVR-1800 or HD HomeRun, you will only be able to receive ATSC and ClearQAM signals for HD material. And with BeyondTV, only the HD Homerun is currently supported for ClearQAM. Other PVR software like SageTV supports numerous other hardware for ClearQAM, so you may want to give them a look.

Either way though, before you go investing into anything, find out first what channels (if any) are available via ClearQAM in your area with TWC. I too have TWC and they have cut everything except the regular OTA channels, and 2 (yes 2) cable channels from being viewable (TBS and SpikeTV, I dont count all those Public Access Channels [like anyone watches them]).

So for me, its worthless to even have a ClearQAM capable capture card (I have a PVR-1600) and even more worthless with BeyondTV (cant use ClearQAM even if I had channels availalbe with BeyondTV), and as such, I'll be switching to a TiVO HD in the near future with a cable card.

[Drew@PSU]

So, if I get any channels via the cable box that are un-encrypted, I'd HAVE to get the HD Home Run to record them. If I get anything OTA, I would be able to get a PVR-1800 or similar and record them, but I would need to get an antenna. So either way, my first order of business is to figure out what I CAN get, as opposed to what hardware I need...that sucks hard....

I guess cable card allows you to record the encrypted HD channels, at least via Tivo? Also, do you know where I would find information on what channels are un-encrypted on my cable?

[Mpegger]

Other then plugging in the cable wire directly to a ClearQAM ready device and checking yourself, the only other way would be to check out some cable forum(s) and ask there.

And yes, the CableCard is basically the decrypt-er that is supplied by the cable/sat company for any CableCard ready device to use and view the encrypted channels. This can be both HD and non-HD material, and the Tivo HD allows PVR funtionality for both materials. Although it has a small internal hard drive, it currently supports up to a 500GB SATA external drive, via a eSATA connection. I already have the 500GB drive that I had dedicated for my computer PVR, as well as a external hard drive case with a eSATA connection. As much as I would like to use my PC as the main piece to my HT setup, getting HD material other then regular OTA channels on my PC here in NYC is either too expensive, and/or just not worth the effort/headache for me.

[Drew@PSU]

Bleh, thanks for the answers Mpegger, even if they are tough to swallow....

I'm still going to get another analog tuner though, they can't take SD away from me! Not from my cold, dead hands!