[PLUG] Comcast going all digital for me

[JP Vossen <jp@jpsdomain.org>]

Up to now, I've had the $20/mo "limited basic" *analog* Comcast service, 
and that works perfectly for my analog tuner card and MythTV.  But I 
just got the letter I've been dreading from Comcast that I have until 
2011-09-13 to order some stuff because they are going all digital in 
Collegeville, PA.

The question is, what do I need to do and have to make this new stuff 
work with my current MythTV setup?  (Stock Mythbuntu 10.04 LTS, if it 
matters, not using the Mythbuntu upstream PPA/repo [5], for backward 
compatibility with MediaMVP/mvpmc boxes, which are now dead anyway, I 
guess.)

I know I need a digital tuner and I was planning on getting an HD 
Homerun [1] Real Soon Now anyway.  Based on reading the Comcast FAQs 
[3], and as expected, the 3 free "digital adapters" I can get will 
require a remote control to change the channel, which rather defeats 
Myth.  More on CableCARDs, which we talked about here recently, below.

<Goes to http://comcast.com/digitalnow/ and Googles for a while>

OK, sanity check.

http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?Guid=62abd2ae-e54e-492f-89ea-809307dadb94 
says:
	"For the Comcast Digital Migration, will I need equipment if I have a 
digital TV with a QAM tuner?"
	"If you currently have a Digital QAM tuner, you will be able to 
continue to receive Limited Basic Cable channels and do not need a 
digital device.   All televisions, including those using QAM tuners, 
will not be able to view Expanded Basic channels without a digital 
device or CableCard™"

http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?Guid=c999a15e-21ca-41f1-af9f-1ce23bd31216
	"Can I record Limited Basic channels without my digital equipment?"
	"... However, in select markets [pretty sure that's me], Comcast is 
also migrating the Limited Basic channel lineup to an all-digital 
format. In these markets, you will need a digital device (cable box, 
digital adapter, or CableCard™ device), or a television with a digital 
QAM tuner to view and record programming in the Limited Basic channel 
lineup. ..."

So I'm pretty sure the $130 HDHR3-US that is now down to $108 [1], will 
Just Work for what I want (basic networks and PBS).  True?  Anything 
going to bite me?  (Besides disk space?)

I'm guessing the HDHR3-US price dropped because the $250 HDHR3-CC 
(CableCARD ready, but with limited support in MythTV starting with 0.24 
[2]) is almost--but not quite--on sale.  Hummm, does CableCARD even do 
anything for me if I have "limited basic" service?


So what I think I want to do is:
1) Order the 3 digital adapters from Comcast, for my older TVs and just 
in case.
2) Order the HDHR3-US now, and get it fired up and working ASAP.
3) Check in with SchedulesDirect and double-check my settings [4].
4) Maybe in the future:
	Switch to the Mythbuntu repos (for 0.24+)
	Order the HDHR3-CC and a CableCARD (if useful)
	Order bigger hard drives (have 1.8TB RAID1 now)

Am I missing anything?

___________________________________________
[1] HDHR3-US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815345007
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HO58SO

[2] HDHR3-CC
http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?seoid=CableCARD
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Silicondust_HDHomeRun_Prime
http://www.silicondust.com/products/hdhomerun/prime/
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815345006

[3] Digital Adapter stuff:
http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?Guid=9a0014bb-bdad-41db-bc46-d47b0392feff
http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?Guid=aed74ed7-6747-4d14-a349-c6b76dce5edb

[4] "Will my channel numbers change due to the Comcast Digital Migration?"
http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?Guid=918fd0b6-40fc-4441-bb15-5635490f1301
	"No.  With the Digital Migration, there will be no changes to the 
existing channel numbers."

[5] http://www.mythbuntu.org/repos

Thanks,
JP
----------------------------|:::======|-------------------------------
JP Vossen, CISSP            |:::======|      http://bashcookbook.com/
My Account, My Opinions     |=========|      http://www.jpsdomain.org/
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