Thoughts on Digital Cable box w/ On-Demand

[mkenyon2]

It seems to keep the prices low, I have to 'settle' for a digital package (Comcast, US, PA) I haven't used a cable box for over 6 years, and didn't want to have to. I was happy with the channels I used to get.

Anywho... Since I have the service, what do I get? Does that mean that I could use a digital cable tuner?

Have any of you set up GBPVR with an on-demand digital box? What's the best course of action?

[AndyPro]

It's not that bad, but if you want to use all the features you ahve to plan ahead.

First off, no. You would not be able to use a digital cable tuner to get allt he channels the box would. You should still be able to get some of the channels as clear QAM if your lucky. it seems to depend on the provider. I get all the broadcast, all the music, and a few other channels like TBS and useless channels as clear QAM but that's it.

Second, You can set up GBPVR to control the cable box, and use an input from your tuner/capture device to do the recording. Relatively seamless, so dont worry too much about that. Doesn't really take more work than a normal tuner, jsut different work.

Third, you wouldn't be able to use GBPVR to access the on demand content unless you start he content, pause it, set up the recording, and then unpause the box. At least I havn't figured out how else to do it.


Now if you want HD form the box, you'll need something like the Hauppauge HDPVR and run a component connection from the box to the HDPVR. Doable, but not in the same way as you would normally have it set up.


But...you should still have analog signals on your cable line. I dont even use my cable box as an input to my tuners. The only time I would is if theres something on the science channel or planet green that I'd want to record as those channels arent available over the normal cable. The rest is no different than normally having a cable hookup to your PVR.

It's different, that's for sure, but not unworkable and the PVR usage isn't over. Just gotta learn a few new things and cobble it together with care

--Andy P

[mkenyon2]

Third, you wouldn't be able to use GBPVR to access the on demand content unless you start he content, pause it, set up the recording, and then unpause the box. At least I havn't figured out how else to do it.

How does the On Demand work on the box? Do you go to a special channel and get it? If I viewed the Cable box through GBPVR (I can view my VCR through the RCA connectors) Could I start the movie and tell GBPVR to record like I would any other channel?

Now if you want HD form the box, you'll need something like the Hauppauge HDPVR and run a component connection from the box to the HDPVR. Doable, but not in the same way as you would normally have it set up.

Could you give me more info/detail about this? I'm thinking about picking up a box Tuesday or Wednesday night to play with it.

[khaver]

Now if you want HD form the box, you'll need something like the Hauppauge HDPVR and run a component connection from the box to the HDPVR. Doable, but not in the same way as you would normally have it set up.

There's also the option of using a firewire connection from the STB (if it has it and your computer has firewire) and using the Graphrecorder plugin in GBPVR.

[mkenyon2]

Firewire on my box is no problem. Graphrecorder, what does it do?

[khaver]

Firewire on my box is no problem. Graphrecorder, what does it do?

Check out:
http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Plugin/GraphRecorder

[mkenyon2]

It says it allows you to use any 'graph' you create. What does that mean?

[khaver]

It says it allows you to use any 'graph' you create. What does that mean?

Google "graphedit". It's a program that allows you to manually create directshow filter graphs for encoding, decoding, rendering, etc.