HDTV QAM Question

[fdm225]

Hi,
I see that AutumnWave OnAir HDTV-GT is now supported. Before I go and spend the money on it I would like to understand a little more about QAM and how the tuners work in general. I know that unencrypted HDTV cable channels are supported (thanks for the response on that question Sub!) but my confusion still comes with digital cable channels? For example, Comcast in my area has Scifi channel on channle 160, which puts it in the extended digital range. Would these channels be supported by this or is it a whole different encoding scheme?

Thanks,
Dave

[sub]

For example, Comcast in my area has Scifi channel on channle 160, which puts it in the extended digital range. Would these channels be supported by this or is it a whole different encoding scheme?

With the AutumnWave OnAir HDTV-GT you can record unencrypted digital cable channels. In this case the Scifi channel is digital cable, but I have no way to tell you if it is encrypted or not.

Its possible your existing set top cable box will give you some indication if a channel is encrypted or not.

[fdm225]

thanks! I am willing to try it out if there is a chance!

Thanks for the great program,
Dave

[nitrogen_widget]

As far as I know, SCI-FI does not broadcast in HDTV yet so it is just upscaled by a HDTV.
I think the only thing your guaranteed to receive in HDTV are local channels broadcast in your area.

I don't have an HDTV tuner yet.
I use Directv & i'm not close enough to receive locals on an antenna so I havn't tested this.

[fdm225]

HI,
Yeah, scifi is digital but not HD. From what I am understanding, as long as the stream is not encrypted the QAM tuner will do the digital channels even if they are not HD. To me I am more interested in recording digital channels, the fact that it does the HD is a pure (and very cool) bonus.

dave

[bungle]

I think Comcast has a lot of channels unencrypted. AVSForum has a forum where you can probably find out. (In contrast, Charter encrypts all QAM channels.) Another option is to make Comcast give you a set-top box with a Firewire output (they must comply courtesy of the FCC). However, the Firewire output may have 5c protection on it, so you may only be able to use it with a DVHS recorder. Even if it's unprotected I don't know if anything in Windows will tune it (besides manually), so that's a minus. Overall, you'd probably have a better chance of getting all the digital channels by getting a normal tuner and hooking up the STB's s-video output to it and using a IR blaster to control it.