Simple questions from new user

[MrCrispy]

Hi,

I'm new to the whole HTPC world. Right now I have Comcast digital with their HD DVR cable box. I've decide to build an HTPC and also reduce my tv watching (which sound paradoxical!), so I only want to watch basic channels, no premium content. In my apt, due to the location and lots of buildings, an OTA antennal (I tried one from Radioshack) does not work very well, so I will rely on clear QAM from cable. I've done a lot of reading and have a few quiestions -

1. Since cable providers are required to broadcast HD for free, if I cancel Comcast tv but still keep their internet, what channels will I get and what will their quality be? (I want shows like Lost HD to look good!)

2. Have also heard that basic internet also has lots of other tv channels on the cable, so I can use a tuner for them. Is that right or is it a matter of luck?

3. For dual tuner HD, is Homerun the best option, or is HVR-2250 better? With Homerun the cost goes up since its more $ and I also need analog tuners.

4. Is this a long term solution? I don't know much about the upcoming changes but read about SDV, the digital switch, comcast remapping channels etc. Honestly the HTPC is a big investment in time and money and I want it to last and be tinker free. I like the idea of extenders as a future possibility.

Thanks for your help.

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by MrCrispy

Hi,

I'm new to the whole HTPC world. Right now I have Comcast digital with their HD DVR cable box. I've decide to build an HTPC and also reduce my tv watching (which sound paradoxical!), so I only want to watch basic channels, no premium content. In my apt, due to the location and lots of buildings, an OTA antennal (I tried one from Radioshack) does not work very well, so I will rely on clear QAM from cable. I've done a lot of reading and have a few quiestions -

1. Since cable providers are required to broadcast HD for free, if I cancel Comcast tv but still keep their internet, what channels will I get and what will their quality be? (I want shows like Lost HD to look good!)

2. Have also heard that basic internet also has lots of other tv channels on the cable, so I can use a tuner for them. Is that right or is it a matter of luck?

3. For dual tuner HD, is Homerun the best option, or is HVR-2250 better? With Homerun the cost goes up since its more $ and I also need analog tuners.

4. Is this a long term solution? I don't know much about the upcoming changes but read about SDV, the digital switch, comcast remapping channels etc. Honestly the HTPC is a big investment in time and money and I want it to last and be tinker free. I like the idea of extenders as a future possibility.

Thanks for your help.

All of your questions are really provider specific. Over the Avsforum.com, you would probably be able to find the answers as they do have forums for just about every major metropolitan area and can tell you what you can expect if you do drop your actual cable, but keep your broadband connection.

I can tell you when I dropped cable tv but kept my cable modem, I still get my locals via Clear QAM. I do not get my local analogs though thru my cable connection. I also ONLY get my locals and not any "extra channels". This is specific to my cable provider in my area. Your milage may vary.

As for #4, is it future proof....can't say. Your cable company could up and change how it offers its channels the day after you build your HTPC and block all television channels.

[matt91]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

I can tell you when I dropped cable tv but kept my cable modem, I still get my locals via Clear QAM. I do not get my local analogs though thru my cable connection. I also ONLY get my locals and not any "extra channels". This is specific to my cable provider in my area. Your milage may vary.

I haven't spent *lots* of time researching this, but I've seen this comment before. Locals only via QAM, nothing else when you have internet but not cable service. Again, it all depends on your provider and specific location.

[pjpjpjpj]

While I can not vouch for its correctness (since, as stated above, QAM availability seems to change frequently), you can try here:
http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels
Obviously the channels listed (on the left) as "qam256" should be what you would get over QAM ("8vsb" is OTA).

I am a big fan of the HDHomerun - I plugged it in and it worked flawlessly without any difficult configuration or whatnot - but I have not tried other tuners so I can't compare. And, as you said, HDHR has no analog, so if you need that... (if you are willing to only receive locals via QAM, why would you need analog?)

Anyway, as for questions about tuners, you may want to post in the "Hardware Support" forum rather than here in "General". There is a lot of discussion over there about it. http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9