hardware questions for new set-up

[dtoppin]

hello,

i am new to pvr's and have a few questions in order to get me started;

currently i have comcast explorer 8300hd dvr and keep running out of space for hd movies shows etc.

i would like to run my comcast hd cable independantly and not use the comcast hd dvr.

the questions i have are as follows;

what pc capture card / tuner card should i use to record hd cable - have looked at both happ and avermedia

how do i control the gbpvr software with a remote and what model do you recommend

thanks

dan

[Bathman]

Remote wish I am a big fan of the Microsoft MCE remote. Has a good feel in the hand is well laid out and has a nice keypress. Has a decent range and some of the keys tv, vol up , vol down can be programmed from the TV remote signal. So you end up with only one remote. Its also cheap and widely available.

As an side note I am not that impressed with the microsoft keyboard.

[mikeh49]

If Comcast (cable, I am assuming) transmits any HD channels unencrypted, then you can tune them with a "clear QAM" card like the Hauppauge 1600 or 1800. If, however, the channels are encrypted, then you will need to use a cable box to decrypt. In this case, your only option for recording HD (as I understand it) is the just-released Hauppauge HD-PVR device that records component video from the cable box output. Sub already has GBPVR configured to support this device.

If you go the HD route, it will probably take some serious CPU and graphics card horsepower to get good results. Athlon X2 4000+ or above; Geforce 8000 series, Radeon 3000 series have been used with success. Also, expect some/a lot of tinkering with decoders, demuxers, splitters, etc.

GBPVR can be configured to change channels on the cable box with the right set of IR blasters/remotes, etc. There is lots of info in the forum on setting this up. I think it will work using the remote and blaster that comes with the Hauppauge cards, but I have no experience with this.