Question

What do I need for High Def Digital Cable box and Custom Media Center PC

Asked by: SOS_Support

I am building a HD Media Center PC...

Athlon Phenom
4 Gig RAM
1 TB HDD
PowerColor HD2600XT Video
LTS Media Center Remote
DVD Burner
(Blue Ray in the future)



My TV comes through a Fiber Optic Connection through the Scientific Atlanta box (Basically, think of it as Digital Cable TV)...  It will then goes to a Onkyo SR606 through HDMI, then to a HD Projector.

How Do I get that signal to the media center PC? I think I need some sort of an HD Tuner? What is recommended? How are the channels arranged on the Media Center? Manually? Auto?

Is it possible to record 2 channels at once?

Anyway- any help is appreciated?

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Asked On
2008-11-29 at 16:17:09ID23944333
Tags

Microsoft

,

Vista

,

Scientific Atlanta

,

Explorer

,

4250HDC

,

Qwest Fiber Optic TV

,

Home Theater Wiring

,

TiVo / DVR

Topics

Home Theater Systems

,

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: garycasePosted on 2008-11-30 at 11:02:56ID: 23064307

Is there a coax digital cable output from your Scientific Atlanta box?   ... or does it only output the demodulated channel currently tuned?   i.e. can you connect the cable directly to your HDTV and use the TV's tuner to change channels (obviously not receiving any premium channels this way) => or do you HAVE to use the cable box?

With a "normal" digital cable feed, you could receive any "ClearQAM" HD channels with an ATSC tuner card [Such as the Hauppauge 2250 dual tuner cards I use], and in that case you could record 2 (or more) channels at once ... limited only by how many tuners you have.

But it sounds like your cable box may only output a single demodulated channel.   If that's the case, there's nothing you can do to record the HDMI stream;  but if the cable box also has a component output you can record the currently selected channel by using a Hauppauge HD PVR [http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html ].   If your cable box doesn't output both component and HDMI simultaneously, you can use the component passthrough on the HD PVR to pass the signal to your receiver or projector (assuming they accept component inputs).

 

by: SOS_SupportPosted on 2008-12-01 at 20:17:52ID: 23074462

OK I will try and answer all your questions, and follow what your saying...


There is a COAX cable out on the back of the Scientific Atlanta box. There is also component, HDMI, optical and digital audio out, and even an IR port.

I have got to think that it could work somehow like the way I have a different non HD box setup in a different room on a standard TIVO... With the cable box going out through standard video cable to the Tivo, and the Tivo changing stations on the cable box via IR controls that are placed in front of the cable box IR sensors....

Then Tivo made a customized channel list for my (unpopular/not mainstream) channel lineup ...

So

1) I dont know if it can do 2 simaltanous channels, but its not a deal breaker if it doesnt... I guess that is to be determined... 1 is OK

2) I want it to go from the box to my PC and be able to record HD and playback HD... Preferrably via HDMI because its the best, correct?

3) Is there software that is purchased or avialable for free,  which has the channel lineups and guides??

Hopefully I can narrow this down a little more.

Thanks!

 

by: garycasePosted on 2008-12-01 at 20:51:54ID: 23074548

IF the coax output isn't just a modulated single-channel output [e.g. Channel 3 or 4], then you can use a tuner card to receive your unencrypted channels and will have FAR more flexibility in what you can do.   If you connect this output to a TV, can you then tune different channels on the TV?  [Whatever you can receive on a TV is exactly what you'll be able to receive on a tuner card]   If the coax is a single channel 3/4 modulated output of the currently tuned channel, then there's nothing you can do ... you're limited to a single channel -- whatever the cable box is tuned to.

As for recording on your PC ... as I noted above, there's no way at the moment to record an HDMI stream.   Blackmagic recently released a card that accepts HDMI input for recording ... but it will not record HDCP protected material (virtually everything on premium cable channels ... and a lot of non-premium HD channels).   The best way to record in high definition right now is the HD PVR box I noted above.   I use Beyond TV to schedule recordings, etc. => it supports the HD PVR (although I don't have one, as I can directly tune ClearQAM HD channels with my 2250) and will also control an IR blaster to automatically change channels on your cable box.   It has a good channel guide; and you can also set it up so you can add recordings from any web browser with a "Snapstream.net" account (free for Beyond TV users).   There's no monthly fee, but you do have to purchase Beyond TV [http://www.snapstream.com/products/beyondtv/ ]


 

by: SOS_SupportPosted on 2008-12-06 at 21:41:23ID: 31521216

Sorry for the delay... still not quite sure the best way to go... but definately in the right direction!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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