Do I need a set top box for digital cable?

[Salamando]

I have the HVR-1600 (the version that came with QAM). I put the coax cable to the ASTC tuner and selected the BDA recorder in the config. I'm not able to map any digital channels. Am I missing something or do I have to have a set top box for this?

[stustunz]

did you select your card ?under setting next to bda plugin?

[Salamando]

I did that, I forgot to set the DVB EPG. I seem to get a few channels but not all. How do I set up Zap2It/Scheduledirect if I have to select DVB EPG?

[Salamando]

Okay, I got all the settings right now (ignore everything I said above). The problem I have now is I can see a lot of channels but only a few actually play anything. Is this an encryption issue or something else?

[carpeVideo]

You should also pick the QAM version in th BDA section - make sure you have the latest 1600 drivers. But most likely only the locals and a few other basic channels will be unencrypted. You'll need to attach a a cable box with s-video to get the encrypted.

[Salamando]

Why S-video?

[haripj]

Doesn't HAVE to be S-video, you can use coax too. Regardless, you'll also need something to change channels on the box like an ir blaster or usb-uirt

[carpeVideo]

That's right it doesn't have to be s-video - but that is the best picture quality - you can actually set most motorola boxes to send progressive video on the s-video. But you could use component as well.

Depending on the set top you may also be able to get video over firewire as well (some firewire channels will be encrypted also.)

[Salamando]

So the only way to get unencrypted channels is if I have a box? I was originally planning on this but I decided to see if I could do it without it.

My card came with a remote and the IR thing, will that work with a box?

[congenictv]

Okay, I got all the settings right now (ignore everything I said above). The problem I have now is I can see a lot of channels but only a few actually play anything. Is this an encryption issue or something else?

I believe you are seeing mostly encrypted channels.

You do not need a digital set top box to receive unencrypted channels; you need it and the IR blaster if you wish to tune and record encrypted digital channels.

When you use the digital box, you will not be connecting it to ATSC but rather the other cable input on the card. (This is what I understand, I've never tried setting STB and IR Blaster before with the hvr-1600).