The future of HTPC after analog shutoff

[ahof1011]

So what about the digital to analog converter boxes that the government is offering coupons for? Will using one of them allow me to use my analog tuner just as I do now?

[sub]

Remember this shutoff only applies to over the air broadcasts, not analog cable transmissions. Analog cable signals will shutdown a few years later.

So what about the digital to analog converter boxes that the government is offering coupons for? Will using one of them allow me to use my analog tuner just as I do now?

No, not in exactly the same way as you do today. It'll most likely be like a simple set top box, so you'd need an IR Blaster to tell the converter box to change channels, and would need an extra second or so to change channels.

For a home theatre PC setup you'd be better of using an ATSC capable tuner (like HVR1600/HVR1800). This way you'd cut out the hassle of having to control an extra box, plus you'd get the full high def signal.

[mian]

No, not in exactly the same way as you do today. It'll most likely be like a simple set top box, so you'd need an IR Blaster to tell the converter box to change channels, and would need an extra second or so to change channels.

Dang. I hadn't really anticipated that.

So far as I know, no one has mpeg4 hardware encoders anymore either. I'm going to miss my tv402u.