could be internal or external. PCI/PCI-e. Would prefer to have alternate composite inputs available in addition to coaxial. whats some good ones?

3/22/2010 10:14:44 PM

The only TV tuner worth a shit that you can buy today is the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable OCUR Tuner.

With the move to digital, cable companies are quickly cutting off ClearQAM channels which means non-CableCard tuners are going to be worthless. This has already happened with most ComCast markets, and I'm sure TWC isn't far behind.

Fortunately the ATI tuner is cheap, at about 120 bucks for the external tuner, and 170 for the internal one (both are USB).

If you can wait another few weeks, the Centon Quad tuner will be out (PCIe) for $399.99 and the HDHomeRun dual CableCard tuner is supposed to be out in April for $200-250 from the rumors I've heard.

Really shitty, but thats the reality with digital cable. I have two amazing ClearQAM and ATSC HD tuners in my HTPC just collecting dust now. If you want a tuner for alternate inputs, the Hauppauge WinTV HVR-2250 is what you want to get (comes with a dongle for s-video and composite)

[Edited on March 22, 2010 at 10:32 PM. Reason : .]

3/22/2010 10:27:06 PM

under $120... is that if I get it from ebay for the external. From a quick google search, the external goes for around $240.

3/22/2010 10:40:53 PM

^Yeah, I got mine on ebay, new in the box. Search for ATI Digital Cable Tuner.

Setup was an absolute breeze too, even the Cable technician was surprised. Plugged it in, plugged in the USB cable, Win7 auto-recognized it, downloaded the new firmware and flashed it automatically.

The MCE setup was just as easy, it found all the non-encrypted ClearQAM channels without a cable card, then when the guy came and put in the card, activated the card, went to the diagnostic screen and he has Comcast turn on the card, and he was back out the door in like 15 minutes.

3/22/2010 11:48:54 PM

cable companies are not allowed to disable qam hosting of broadcast channels, as per the fcc. I have a hauppauge 1600 hybrid atsc/qam tuner that I'll sell for $50. I never intend on going back to cable, ever.

3/23/2010 1:51:44 AM

^You can watch those channels via ATSC OTA with much higher quality anyway. All anyone wants is ESPN, and the basic cable tier, all of which is now encrypted QAM, leaving you shit outta luck with a regular tuner.

3/23/2010 3:25:56 AM

you can buy my AVerMedia AVerTV M7380 Combo x1 PCIe dual TV tuner

http://www.avermedia-usa.com/mpd/combopcie_spec.html

3/23/2010 7:58:28 AM

^^^ PM sent

3/23/2010 2:04:49 PM

man i wish TWC would let you pick individual channels. There are like maybe 10 i'd want to keep of the 200 or however many i have right now.

3/23/2010 2:09:13 PM

Quote :

"man i wish TWC would let you pick individual channels. There are like maybe 10 i'd want to keep of the 200 or however many i have right now."

3/23/2010 2:10:35 PM

seriously. fuck disney and all their channels. Thats like 1/4 everyones cable bill right there.

3/23/2010 2:14:12 PM

oh, i agree, completely...i could probably narrow my entire 200-channel offering down to 20, and that would include the "something to run in the background if there's nothing better on television" channels...i could probably knock it down to 10-11 of channels i ACTUALLY watch

3/23/2010 2:15:31 PM

definitely need:
NESN (Regional sports network for bruins/redsox)
Science channel
Discovery

probably also want:
AMC
food network
cartoon network
history

Nice to have, but dont reeeaallly need:
scifi
tnt
USA
FX

If they were in HD:
BBC

Thats really about it.

[Edited on March 23, 2010 at 2:20 PM. Reason : a]

3/23/2010 2:20:03 PM

Quote :

" HDHomeRun dual CableCard"

can't wait for this!!!!

3/23/2010 3:58:32 PM

Anyone know how much TWC generally charges for cable cards/mo?

3/23/2010 4:14:56 PM

http://www.timewarnercable.com/centraltx/support/policies/cablecard.html

Quote :

"CableCARDs can be activated, serviced and leased for a small monthly fee of $2.99 from Time Warner Cable. Installation fees may apply."

3/23/2010 5:49:55 PM

wow, that blows. they are free with Comcast

3/23/2010 6:06:59 PM

i wonder what would happen if i pulled the card from the back of my existing box

3/24/2010 1:40:53 PM

^ The cable box will self destruct, a gust of wind will swoop through your home and your entire block will lose power. Oh and the card will evaporate to dust.

j/k, worth a shot

[Edited on March 24, 2010 at 2:25 PM. Reason : ]

3/24/2010 2:24:45 PM