Questions for upgrading system in regards to digital, hi def, and Clear QAM channels

[skobydog]

Question for upgrading, not entirely sure if I should.

1) I'm a little unclear with digital cable, I have a STB to receive digital cable (no pay channels) and I am wondering does the 150 will record and playback at the digital quality?

I came across this link for finding out which Clear QAM channels are being provided for each zip code through US/Canada.
http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels
2) Can anyone verify that this lineup is correct and these channels are being broadcasted for free?

3) What would be minimal (or better) system requirements for Hi Def recordings and playback? I saw someone mention that recording does not require much CPU but what about playback? I most likely will upgrade my entire system if the Clear QAM channels are correct. Thanks for input

[whurlston]

Question for upgrading, not entirely sure if I should.

1) I'm a little unclear with digital cable, I have a STB to receive digital cable (no pay channels) and I am wondering does the 150 will record and playback at the digital quality?

No it will not. It is converted to SD analog from the STB output and then re-encoded to digital (mpg) by the 150.

I came across this link for finding out which Clear QAM channels are being provided for each zip code through US/Canada.
http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels
2) Can anyone verify that this lineup is correct and these channels are being broadcasted for free?

That lineup is correct if someone in your area allows their HDHR to connect to the Silicondust lineup server. It can take a few days to be updated if anything changes with your lineup. The best thing to do is connect your cable line directly to a TV with a QAM tuner and scan for channels. Any that have a "-" or "." in the channel number will be a digital channel. There are also threads at avsforums.com where members maintain lists of clear QAM channels for various cities.

3) What would be minimal (or better) system requirements for Hi Def recordings and playback? I saw someone mention that recording does not require much CPU but what about playback? I most likely will upgrade my entire system if the Clear QAM channels are correct. Thanks for input

Look at the system requirements for pretty much any digital tuner card and you'll get an idea.

[skobydog]

It is converted to SD analog

Not sure what this means. Will any card record at the digital output of the STB?

I wondered why the hauppauge 1600 system requirements states
1.0 GHz Intel P4 or equivalent (for cable TV)
2.2 GHz Intel P4 or equivalent (for ATSC digital TV)

[whurlston]

Not sure what this means. Will any card record at the digital output of the STB?

If you want to record from the STB, you will need the Hauppauge HD-PVR (HVR-1212) to record from the STB's component output. The only "digital" output is from the HDMI (or DVI) output. Your "digital" channels are digitally modulated and if they are unencrypted, they can be tuned by any QAM tuner. The "cable" tuner in the 1600 is analog and can be connected to the RF output of the STB but HD channels will be down converted to standard definition by the STB before being output. The "ATSC" tuner of the 1600 is QAM capable and should be connected directly to the cable, without the STB in between. You can then record/view the native digital stream (if it's unencrypted).

[skobydog]

If you want to record from the STB, you will need the Hauppauge HD-PVR (HVR-1212) to record from the STB's component output. The only "digital" output is from the HDMI (or DVI) output. Your "digital" channels are digitally modulated and if they are unencrypted, they can be tuned by any QAM tuner. The "cable" tuner in the 1600 is analog and can be connected to the RF output of the STB but HD channels will be down converted to standard definition by the STB before being output. The "ATSC" tuner of the 1600 is QAM capable and should be connected directly to the cable, without the STB in between. You can then record/view the native digital stream (if it's unencrypted).

This is great information. I think the unecrypted channels are the ones I would be most interested in recording but I'll have to look more into it. If that's the case, then the 1600 would be the choice.

Thanks again, you cleared up the questions I had.

But then again, to play back the recordings I would need a whole new system..........guess I'll have to check on the QAM channels in my area.