Re: No change (WAS Re: [PLUG] HDHomeRun and Comcast Pre-liminary Report)

[zuzu <sean.zuzu@gmail.com>]

On 10/7/07, TuskenTower <tuskentower@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> As we know, with QAM, you only get digital channels.  Since most TV
> don't have QAM tuners, I can only surmise that Comcast expects you to
> have a cable box (which most of my friends do).

I think both Comcast (and certainly Verizon) carry legacy analog cable
signals as well as digital.
(I wonder if they will continue this after 2009.)


> I am guessing here,
> but I believe that if you want to receive HD free to air channels you
> have to get a digital cable box.  This means that if you have basic
> digital cable, you are limited to basic cable (unlike we are without
> the box and QAM capable TV).

I'm having trouble parsing what you're saying here.  the only thing a
cable box is necessary for is if you want channels encrypted with
CableLabs DRM.

however, all "free to air" channels are available, at least with FiOS,
as Clear QAM which many 3rd party digital tuners (such as built-in to
an HDTV or the HDHR, although not the Elgato Hybrid which only does
ATSC) support.


> I tried lining things up from Comcast's channel lineup with what I
> found.  It looks like I can see something between Digital Starter and
> Digital Classic.  I must admit, I am confused and bored with this
> part.  The SD channels are there, but you have to scroll through the
> scanned channels to find what you are looking for.  The HDHomeRun is
> good if you just want the free to air HD channels and don't want to
> use an antenna.

well, the HDHR is good for ATSC and QAM.  I installed an antenna for
ATSC originally, but there's too much structural interference where I
live, so I opted to pay the $13/mo for FiOS to supply me with a high
quality feed.  I also get extra channels such as Bridges, WGN
Superstation, Weather Channel, and some other assorted weirdness like
the EXPO channel, one which shows infomercials 24x7, one which looks
like a hotel text advertisement, one which appears to be a security
camera outside someone's driveway gate, etc.  oh yeah, and about 30
digital radio stations, which I could care less about.

btw, anyone else with FiOS still not getting sound on digital feed for
WGN and the Weather Channel?  also signal quality has gone down from
99% to 83% for me since this started up.


> > I have an HDHR that I use with EyeTV on OSX (Mac Mini as dedicated
> > HTPC) with Verizon FiOS.
>
> How is the HD playback?

HD playback on it is fine with a 1.66GHz Core Duo.  it will stutter
slightly if I backup up a DVD to H.264 at the same time I'm playing
1080i (but no stutter with 480p).  I bet if I had a C2D Mini this
wouldn't be a problem.  (the new Minis support up to 4GB of RAM too;
guess that means they use the Santa Rosa chipset finally?)


> Do you have an HDTV?  I was thinking of using
> the Mac Mini as a frontend.

no, I have a 10 year old standard TV, or I'll watch shows over the
network with AFP mounts on my laptop.  I think the S-Video output is
as good as S-Video can get, and it displays from the beginning of the
EFI POST, not later when an S-Video driver loads like on Windows or
Linux (AFAIK).

I'm holding out on HDTV either until SED hits the market, or until
projectors get smaller, cheaper, brighter, and more durable.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_electron-emitter_display


> > however, it is only an ATSC and QAM tuner, not an analog-to-digital
> > converter.  if you need the "analog hole" for your timeshifting, I
> > recommend the Canopus ADVC110 which does a simple RCA to DV conversion
> > (bi-directional).
>
> Does that mean you are using an IR Blaster to control your cable box?

I don't have a cable box.  I use a Nintendo Wiimote as a Bluetooth
remote control and Remote Buddy to interact with my Mac Mini for the
TV.
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