Comcast just scrambled my signal

[sub]

HDMI and Component capture devices don't use BDA drivers. They use custom WDM drivers, and all have enough different enough behaviour to require a bit of special handling to make them work (around their audio standards, crossbar routing, bitrate control etc). Infact, they won't even show up in NextPVR, unless they're included in the list of special rules for these types of devices, and at the moment that list only has Hauppauge devices on the list.

[dongna]

OK, I've disconnected Comcast, and connected an OTA antenna. I'm getting a good strong signal direct into my TV (auto-scan picked up 48 channels, most at 90% signal strength or higher). Now I've run the connection into my PC. I'm in the Settings > Devices window. My tuners were previous set to QAM... I have to change that to ATSC, correct? I have the following settings:

Device: Hauppauge WinTV-7164 BDA ATSC/QAM Tuner -- 1
Type: ATSC
Enabled: checked
Type Specific Settings: All Frequencies

When I click on Scan, I'm getting an error box: Unable to start device... Device failed to start.

I also have some additional tuners listed, but they're all disabled so I'm assuming they're not hurting anything.

Do I have everything set correctly?

[dongna]

Disregard my previous post... I didn't realize NPVR was attempting to record something I had previously scheduled. Once I cancelled the recording, the scan began.

[roy]

Similar situation here. Comcast will encrypt my signal on Nov 12. I currently have one HDHR Prime that works great (gave up on the DCR2650 that was too problematic for me). I also have an HVR2250 for the unencrypted channels that has worked great for years. I got a DB4 type antenna a few years ago to play with but have not been using it. When I saw the notice from Comcast recently, I put the antenna on the roof, hooked it to the 2250, did a test scan, and pulled in all of the locals I was getting from Comcast and more. All of the Boston stations at nearly 50 miles away. In the next week or so I'll switch over to the antenna and update recordings to the new source.

I was planning on calling Comcast to see what "free" equipment they would give me, as promised in their letter. As mentioned above, certainly nothing useful I'm sure.

[dongna]

Just a further update... after a day of crawling around in my attic and fishing RG6 through my walls, I appear to have gotten everything hooked up and running. Thank you sub and others for finally pushing me to get the antenna hooked up.

The only remaining question I think I have at this point is what's the best suggestion for EPG sources these days? I've been using Schedules Direct for years... is there a better option for use with an antenna?

[sub]

Schedules Direct is still your best option in North America.

[dongna]

Thank you, I will stick with that then.

[roy]

I use Schedules Direct with two lineups, one for Comcast and one for Local Antenna.

[BrettB]

In the next week or so I'll switch over to the antenna and update recordings to the new source.

FYI: I'm pretty sure that if you merge the identical channels from the clear QAM source with the ones from the OTA ATSC source, then you shouldn't have to make any changes to your recordings.

[baj1]

I got my letter from Comcrap today. So the HDHomeRun Prime works well with NPVR? Is there a PCIe version, all I found was a separate box that sits on Ethernet. Does this really record 3 HD channels at once without issue via Ethernet?

I had found the "Ceton InfiniTV 4 PCIe - 4-channel Internal Cable TV Tuner Card for CableCARD". It sounds like this would record 4 channels with one CableCard.
http://www.amazon.com/Ceton-InfiniTV-PCI...=cablecard

FYI, for those wishing to stick with Comcast, it looks like you can exchange the no-charge set top box for a no-charge CableCard.
http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-sup...cablecard/