HDHomeRun Prime or Stay With Analog

[mike1961]

Hello - here's my dilemma. I currently have an analog hauppauge dual tuner in my Sage Server along with a HDHomeRun dual tuner. I have it set so that the the HDHomeRun dual tuner can record channels 2-13 and the hauppauge dual tuner can record all stations. The advantage of analog is that I don't have to worry about all this copy protection flags and stuff and I can record any station. However, the disadvantage is that I'm tired of having supersize TimeWarner cable boxes along with all these plugs needed for everything at my Sage Server.

I'd sure like to "clean everything up" and not have to have SVideo cables along with RCA cables, etc. etc. But, I'm not sure if I need to go with a different cable company. Will ANY of the cable companies let you record all stations including premium with the HD Home Run Prime (I don't care about on demand or pay per view)?

LAST QUESTION: When I tried to set up my HD Home Run I kept getting a Incompatible card error insert an M-CARD Error 160-64 (or something like that). Does anyone know anything about that?

I'd like to upgrade to digital but I'm just not sure what to do and if the cable card is going to be a problem with HBO , ShowTime and other stations?

Thanks,
Mike

[mike1961]

I've been at this for two days now and I can't seem to get the HDHomeRun Prime to work with TimeWarner cards. There's no host ID. I"m wondering if there cable cards just don't work with it at all.

Still - I'm wondering why use a cablecard at all if you are restricted from copying many shows? Should I switch cable companies? Any recommendations? I'm tired of having huge cable boxes with lots of cables going to from them to the computer.

Thanks,

[Ender]

Last I looked Time Warner sets all stations with the exception of the Locals as copy once. As such, they will not be accessible in Sage. Having TWC as well I have a Prime still in the box, never used. Plus in most areas you would neeed a tuning adapter, since most TWC areas use SDV.

[mike1961]

Looks like I'll stay with analog for a while longer. The recording quality is excellent and I can record all stations. The only thing I don't like is all the cables and plugs but it's all in a closet anyways.

Thanks,

[loomdog32]

The HDHR Prime is an awesome tuner!

Having said that, what content it is usable for varies ALOT depending on your location.

IE: Suddenlink in West Texas - MTV2, TVLAND, and NIK, all SD channel, all avail in clear QAM, is marked copy-once for CC. USAHD is marked copy-once, but USA is not (thanx NBC).

[wayner]

IMHO your best solution would be to use HD-PVRs or Colossus' - bet then you still have the cables, even more if you use component rather than S-video. You are currently recording SD signals, not HD, so I am surprised that you say that the recording quality is excellent - are you watching on large screen HDTV's? I certainly notice a HUGE difference in quality between analog/SD channels and my HD-PVR recorded content which is, technically, analog but is in 1080i or 720p format.