Help! Switch to Comcast digital, dont know what to do!

[lxmustang89]

Hello,

Ive been using GBPVR for about 4 years now on regular cable and its been great. Im about to move in a week or so and the only service where ill be moving is Comcast digital (the guy I talked to on the phone, probably in india, was hard to understand but Im pretty sure digital w/HD is the only option). I was told that I would need one box (provided free of charge) which would work for the entire house, and that the only reason I would need set-top boxes on each TV is if I choose to get an HD package w/video on demand, which I dont need. (this does not sound accurate from what I have been reading)

I currently have a hauppauge PVR-250 (i think its a 250, its the one with the video out that locks everything up, but I use an s-video out vid card anyway). Its also got an FM tuner, which I dont use, and a remote w/IR reciever which is a must have. The machine is a P4 2.4 ghz w/ 1.5 Gigs of ram, audigy sound card.

If someone could point me to some required reading on what I will need to do to get up and running again once we move it would be greatly appreciated. Any recommendations on tuner cards? I really dont want to have to juggle 3 remotes just to watch tv (TV, tuner box, and the PVR remote) so im thinking if a box on each tv will be required Ill just try and build 3 systems, one for each of our TVs... however two of them will be quite slow machines as thats all I have laying around (a P3 1 ghz w/512 of ram, would it even work?)

How difficult is it mapping out all these QAM channels?


Thanks, Im just really lost on this. Its all totally new to me!

[whurlston]

I was told that I would need one box (provided free of charge) which would work for the entire house, and that the only reason I would need set-top boxes on each TV is if I choose to get an HD package w/video on demand, which I dont need.

If this is true, it means that their "Digital Cable" is the standard analog package + digital channels. This is currently what I have with Insight Communications. Even though I have "Digital Cable", I still get analog channels as well. Your current setup should still work in this case.

[spicy]

To put my 2 cents in and in agreement with the previous post...

I too have Crapcastic digital service. My understanding, and experience thus far (for my area), is that they are sending the analog signal along with the digital and HD signal. In other words to watch channels 2-99 none of your TVs (analog and digital) will require a "box" since they will be still streaming analog. Now, if you want to receive their HD channel lineup (TNTHD, NGHD, USAHD..ect) then you need their box and obviously a HD TV in order to view it. If you want to receive HD channels that you also get OTA (CBS, NBC...) a "box" is still not needed just a HD TV that has a built in tuner and obviously a digital card if you want to record them. That said, your analog PVR250 should still work as if nothing happened.

My current setup is 2 PVR150 and 1 HVR1600 off a coax cable (no "box") that has been split into 4. This set up gives me 3 analogs and 1 digital (1600 is a hybrid). In turn, the computer is networked to a MVP on a TV where I can then watch the recordings and only one remote is used to control the MVP.

I hope this helps.

[lxmustang89]

Great info, Thanks!

I dont have an HD TV, nor do i really need one. I dont watch too much TV. We mainly use it to record childrens shows for my daughter, or to record stuff when we are out and about or that is on when we are watching something else.

The guy on the phone said that the "double play" package I ordered for TV and internet would include 150 channels, so perhaps ill only get 2-99?

[whurlston]

The guy on the phone said that the "double play" package I ordered for TV and internet would include 150 channels, so perhaps ill only get 2-99?

On your analog TV and the PVR-250, yes, you will only get 2-99. Going through the digital box that they provide, you will get all the other channels. You can always connect the provided box to the video input of the PVR-250 (I think it has one) if you want to record any of the other channels.

[mkenyon2]

Just got the Digital box from Comcast. I would get 2-70 via analog. (With some missing since they got moved to digital channels.)

There were a few channels that are in the 100s on the digital box.

Haven't ironed out all the details... but the box only gives the 100+ channels to the TV (or media device) it's hooked to. I'm planning (we'll see) on getting it working through the server, and using the MVP in the other room to get the channels.

PS, I'm working off the 150, so it's pretty similar.)

[ALBIG]

Lxmustang89, I have Comcast in the Atlanta area, and they have converted all of their analog channels to digital. I installed a Hauppauge 1600 which has a digital side to it and allows you torecieve clear QAM channels. I recieve all of the old analog channels in digital Qam along with ABC, CBS, CBS, FOX and three local channels in High Def, directly from the cable. Mapping take some getting use to because the channels all have different numbering. May I suggest you go towww.silicondust and enter your sip and they will give you the Digital channels in your area. Good Luck!