What's up with QAM what is it!!?

[matstars]

I just started with Sage and I'm running cableout on my STB (SA8300HD) into the analog in on my system (see sig) the picture is decent, but could be better and obviously I get no HD.

Can someone give me a 2 second version of QAM?

* my tuner supports QAM...
* it appears that XP MCE does not support it but Vista does... does this mean that if I upgrade to Vista I can get QAM tuning with SageTV?
* If so, do I just run my cable out into the digital in on my AverTV PCI-e combo I can get QAM tuning? Is that how this works?
* Is QAM a lot better than the analog signal?
* Is firewire a better option? I use firewire to change channels with sage currently, so the firewire's open on the STB.

Upgrading to vista will be costly - but I am willing to pay the price to get better reception than analog...

Thanks!

MATSTARS

[Conejo]

Originally Posted by matstars

I just started with Sage and I'm running cableout on my STB (SA8300HD) into the analog in on my system (see sig) the picture is decent, but could be better and obviously I get no HD.

That's no way to go though life, son.

Can someone give me a 2 second version of QAM?

QAM Quadrature amplitude modulation (<-- Meaningless Wiki page for math geeks) is a Modulation technique, not a religion as some may lead you to believe. Before QAM there was ANALOG and it was good, but not great.

For DIGITAL TV there are several ways that PROGRAMS are carried/distributed to the end-user; QAM being a method used by Cable TV Companies, ATSC being used by Over-The-Air broadcasters.

Cable companies primarily expect their QAM signals to be tuned using their Set-Top-Boxes and don't publish their frequency assignments. Most providers also ENCRYPT most of their channels so they can only be viewed using their STBs or CableCards. 'Some' QAM channels are sent in the clear and can be tuned by QAM digital receivers, Network Tuners and TVs with QAM tuners.

Channels 2-99 are usually sent ANALOG (NTSC)
Some Analog Channels can be SIMULCAST as DIGITAL SD using QAM, then their STB can tune the digital version and give you a better picture.
Some channels of a cable lineup are only sent as digital QAM.

ANALOG transmissions take up a lot of room on a cable system.
QAM tranmissions can fit several digital channels in the same space of one analog channel.
Cable companies would prefer to send primarily QAM so they can offer more channels to the couch potato and get them to pay more for less.

It's possible for XP, Vista, Linux and Apple OS users to watch these clear channels on their computer and even save the data to watch later. That's what a PVR like SageTV is for.

Many of the users on this forum have digital receivers connected to their SageTV computers. To find other digital tuners take a look at Supported Tuners: which ones work, which ones do not?

Take a look at other posts on this forum, try the search feature. Some of the threads are gems waiting to be plundered. Others, not so much.

[matstars]

Thanks man!!

Now how do I get QAM? Do I just run the cable form the wall into my HTPC, or do I need to run it through my STB?

THANKS!!

[Enormous]

Originally Posted by matstars

Now how do I get QAM? Do I just run the cable form the wall into my HTPC

You got it right there. Hook it into your tuner card and you're off.* If you haven't already, add the QAM tuner as a source into SageTV, choose a channel line up, and do a channel scan. See what channels you come up with.

* If your card is supported

Edit: Just read your other thread on if QAM on your card is supported through SageTV, so I thought I'd throw in a disclaimer.