Forced to make changes

[nightwalker]

soccerdad, thanks for the welcome back. It has been a while and I'm learning I have some retraining to do.

My thought right now is to go with a dual system, one digital for basic TV viewing, I never did use GBpvr much for live TV as I'm a channel suffer and it's just too slow, I got rid of Satellite for that same reason, and the other the old analog for security camera's music, the old MVP's etc. I have enough wire run and my TV's support several inputs so I could use them as the switcher between the two systems.

I'm looking at maybe using the PCH units as replacements for the MVP's and maybe leaving the old MVP's along with the old GBpvr and Jukebox as just a music server.

My only immediate problem now is only the Digital Tuner for GBpvr, I'm considering a whole new system for GBpvr as opposed to going the upgrade route.

Oh the pain of it all!!!

Anyway I'm glad to be back, even if it's going to be painful and expensive.

[dark_half]

I have never used the MVP but it doesn't support .ts by default or without some transcoding does it? I also do not think it supports AC3 audio.

[davcbr]

I would hold off before buying anything.
I have Comcast "digital" and all of my equipment is analog. The "Digital" refered to is the signal from the company, to your box. The output of my box hooks up to my TV, VCR, DVR, etc all of which operate on the old style signal [ordinary RCA plugs and coax ]. They are switching to digital because 1. they can charge more, and 2. they can fit more signal over their cables.

You CAN get HDTV with comcast digital also, but that is unrelated.

[nightwalker]

I have never used the MVP but it doesn't support .ts by default or without some transcoding does it? I also do not think it supports AC3 audio.

No it doesn't, but when i set this all up it wasn't important, it has just become important and it's why I'm considering replacing them with something else. They work really really well but are definitely old school, but hey, so am I .

[nightwalker]

I would hold off before buying anything.
I have Comcast "digital" and all of my equipment is analog. The "Digital" refered to is the signal from the company, to your box. The output of my box hooks up to my TV, VCR, DVR, etc all of which operate on the old style signal [ordinary RCA plugs and coax ]. They are switching to digital because 1. they can charge more, and 2. they can fit more signal over their cables.

You CAN get HDTV with comcast digital also, but that is unrelated.

I'd like to hold off but I have limited time. They have told me that within the next 4 to 6 weeks, if I do nothing, i'll be down to channels 2-21. Now if I could choose which channels they were it would be great but alas I don't ever see companies going with the ala cart choices., That's where they get you.

There are a couple of ways to go from what I can see, I just haven't figured out which is best yet. If i get stuck I can always just put a digital box on my current tuner, install a channel changer and leave it all as is.

But, that's not fun!!

[soccerdad]

You have likely figured this out but here are some things to think about:
1) The digital cable will come in as a QAM signal. It is likely that only your very basic network channels will be unencrypted. (ABC, FOX, PBS, etc., NOT ESPN...). Most capture cards, HVR1600, etc, will only be able to record these basic channels. But they can do it in HD. For the other channels most of the cards can also take an analog signal from your STB (controlled by blaster).
2) Given #1, you will either have to do as you noted above and output your STB to your current analog PVR150 (or whatever you have), or use a HDPVR to take the ouput from your STB in high definition and record it digitally.

Regardless, if they go all digital and you want to record anything but the basics, you will need to do this through a set top box.

[dark_half]

Another issue to consider is the how many of the channels that are moving to digital will be in the clear. If any are now there is no guarantee that they will stay that way. If the channel is encrypted your only choice will be a digital box. I know I have read on the forum somewhere that shortly after going digital most of the channels were then encrypted.

[nightwalker]

This is getting more strange all the time. The whole point of re-doing the system is to try and avoid the STB. All of my TV's are either mounted in custom cubby holes so they could be flush or mounted flush on a wall if they were a flat panel. Just what i need is STB's hanging on the wall like ugly appendages, not good for the WAF at all.

I have wrongly figured that anything other than premium channels and on demand would be in the clear, and why wouldn't it be it's not like I'm not paying them to have it.

It may be worth it for now, until I see where this is leading, to just install a blaster on my current setup and leave it alone.

Comcast Sucks!! Where do I find that comcast haters forum?

[dark_half]

I have wrongly figured that anything other than premium channels and on demand would be in the clear, and why wouldn't it be it's not like I'm not paying them to have it.

Unfortunately that is not the way it works. If all the channels are in the clear everyone would be able to receive them regardless if they are paying for the channels or not.

[nightwalker]

Unfortunately that is not the way it works. If all the channels are in the clear everyone would be able to receive them regardless if they are paying for the channels or not.

After checking around and calling Comcast you're right, I just don't understand why they would set up a system with those types of limitations, unless the goal was to peddle as many STB's as they could at 5 bucks a month per unit. If i have to rent a STB for each TV in the house it'll far more than the price of my Comcast service all by itself. Satellite service is starting to look more and more attractive.