HDHomerun perfect all round capture?

[traker1001]

Is there any reason not to start buying these for my future encoders instead of wintvpvrs, they seem like the perfect item for sage. dual tuner, qam, inexpensive and even better yet relativly indapendant of the computer.

or am i missing something? keep in mind I am still somewhat new to sage setups and tuners in general.

[blade]

Unfortunately there is one very big reason. They can only capture digital channels. Most of those are going to be encrypted so chances are you are only going to get your local HD channels.

The HDHomeRun can not capture analog channels. What I consider the "main" cable channels are only broadcast in analog (at least here). By main I mean Sci-Fi, A&E, TBS, USA, FX, Spike, etc... so even if you were lucky and your digital channels were unencrypted you still could not capture any of those channels with the HDHomeRun. Of course I am basing that on the lineups available to me and I have no first hand experience with the HDHomeRun, but it has been stated numerous times that it does not have an analog tuner.

I currently have two PVR500s and am considering replacing one of them with a HDHomeRun. I often capture 4 shows at once, but when that happens a couple of them are usually from locals. If the HDHomeRun ever comes with an analog tuners and hardware capture for analog you could probably ditch your other cards, but until then you better hang on to a couple.

[traker1001]

Big OH! I thought the could switch modes and capture anything else, I was envisioning in my head, Hooking up my sat boxes to each one thru the coax out port.

So much for that thought.

Thanks for saving me from myself.

[Polypro]

I guess it really depends on what your cable provider sends down the line. If you check the EPG forum, some members' providers are sending QAM simulcasts of the SD channels. If you were lucky enough to:

A. Be in that situation...

B. And only happen to watch those shows...

You could get by with just HDHR's.

But generally speaking, blade is right...the HDHR is for 8VSB and QAM Digital TV only. These are usually just your local network affiliates.

P

[blade]

Originally Posted by Polypro

I guess it really depends on what your cable provider sends down the line. If you check the EPG forum, some members' providers are sending QAM simulcasts of the SD channels. If you were lucky enough to:

A. Be in that situation...

B. And only happen to watch those shows...

You could get by with just HDHR's.

I would love it if my provider did that; however, would the simulcasts normally be scrambled? If not would you expect them to eventually scramble them?

[Polypro]

I don't know...the one's listed in the EPG forum are definitely in the clear.

From reading AVS, it seems the providers jack around with QAM all the time, so anything can happen

I guess it's more of a "You wouldn't need an SD tuner *right now*" type of thing. Those guys are definitely lucky though...for now

P

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by blade

I would love it if my provider did that; however, would the simulcasts normally be scrambled? If not would you expect them to eventually scramble them?

Not necessarily. The MSO's are trying to move to an all digital system, and QAM tujners in cablecardless TV's and inventions like the broadlogic chipset that convert whole swaths of digital signals to analog for internal home distribution all need in the clear QAM for the old analog tier.

And remember, they could have scrambled even the old analog tier to ensure that everyone needed a STB. They found it was more advantageous to make it easy for folks to distrbute analog programming in the home. It was a big differentiator from satellite and now FIOS and IPTV systems.

I don't think you'll see digitgal simulcast encrypted for a long time if ever. Individual systems may make that choice, but I don't think the major MSO's intend to to this.

Thanks,
Mike

[heffe2001]

Originally Posted by blade

Unfortunately there is one very big reason. They can only capture digital channels. Most of those are going to be encrypted so chances are you are only going to get your local HD channels.

The HDHomeRun can not capture analog channels. What I consider the "main" cable channels are only broadcast in analog (at least here). By main I mean Sci-Fi, A&E, TBS, USA, FX, Spike, etc... so even if you were lucky and your digital channels were unencrypted you still could not capture any of those channels with the HDHomeRun. Of course I am basing that on the lineups available to me and I have no first hand experience with the HDHomeRun, but it has been stated numerous times that it does not have an analog tuner.

I currently have two PVR500s and am considering replacing one of them with a HDHomeRun. I often capture 4 shows at once, but when that happens a couple of them are usually from locals. If the HDHomeRun ever comes with an analog tuners and hardware capture for analog you could probably ditch your other cards, but until then you better hang on to a couple.

You're correct, but why replace a PVR500, why not just add the HDHR to your existing system, keep your 4 analog tuners, and then have 2 digital as well . 6 tuners are much better than 4 .

[blade]

Originally Posted by heffe2001

You're correct, but why replace a PVR500, why not just add the HDHR to your existing system, keep your 4 analog tuners, and then have 2 digital as well . 6 tuners are much better than 4 .

I would like to, but honestly as much as I love Sage and computers in general I spend way too much money on them. I've upgraded my server and one of my clients in the last couple of months and Santa is bringing me an upgrade for my network and my other client.

I rarely have recording conflicts with 4 tuners so it makes it hard to talk myself into having 6. Especially when I think about how much money I've spent on everything recently.

[heffe2001]

But if you're planning on replacing a already-purchased PVR500, you're going to be spending the 190ish bucks for a HDHR anyway, just add it instead of replacing it (unless you're planning on selling the then unused PVR500).

[blade]

Originally Posted by heffe2001

(unless you're planning on selling the then unused PVR500).

I would only replace the PVR500 if I could sell it, otherwise I'd continue using it.

For years I've purchased new parts and the old ones have either gone to upgrade family member's PC or were thrown in the junk box to gather dust. When I look at all those old parts and think about how much they cost me I can't help but cringe. I still remember my massive gaming rig, which was a P2-233 with 64mb of ram and a Diamond Monster Voodoo card for only $2300!!! I was in awe at how great Quake looked.

I'm doing my best to only upgrade out of necessity or when I can sell enough spare parts so that I don't have to throw too much extra cash into things. Of course with all the upgrading as of late that kind of went out the window for awhile. I did have a good reason though. My mom's computer died so I built me a new server and gave her my old one.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by mikesm

I don't think you'll see digitgal simulcast encrypted for a long time if ever. Individual systems may make that choice, but I don't think the major MSO's intend to to this.

Thanks,
Mike

They will be scrambled as long as they have limited basic ($12.00) programming offered to consumers. Without scrambling them, there'd be no way to limit who watches what.