Choosing 2 Tuners

[gh_speedyg]

My current system is running 1 pvr-150 (w/hauppage remote), but I would like to add a second tuner card. The problem is, I want a card that will last me a long time. I am looking at adding a single card with 2 tuners built on. I will be using a set-top digital box (Rogers). As far as I know, there are no plans in Canada to make free to air HD tv (I may be wrong 'cause I havn't really looked into it). What is the best card solution for me. I am planning on using 1 of the tuners to control the STB and the second one to plug straight into the cable (I believe rogers cable is all digital signal now). I don't mind purchasing an HD compatable card, I do not have HD as of yet, but I know I will have it down the road. As I said, I already have the remote/ir blaster, so I guess an OEM card will do me, but I don't mind if I pick up a spair (I can always reuse the pvr-150 in another system or to control a second STB in the future).

I hope this is enough info to go on.

Thanks,
Sped

[mvallevand]

Here in Ottawa you can get CBC and RC in HD OTA ATSC. Clear QAM is another story it has been very poor, only SD CBC and CTV from Montreal BET and a religious channel have been on for the last year and for now HD A&E, CNN and HDNET are available but that will change. The only use I get out of it is digital audio.

Rogers has no requirement to even provide clear QAM so I don't think you can really future proof except of course with the HD-PVR, the analog hole will be here for a while a think.

The current best machine for Ottawa still needs analog cable and OTA ATSC and you can't find that in dual tuner models.

Martin

[gh_speedyg]

Ok, I think I followed most of that, but I still don't know what my options would be. Does this mean that there are no tuners that I can use, or that I should buy a prv-500 or second 150?

[mvallevand]

The Hauppauge HVR 2250 that is coming out is dual tuner but that is analog and QAM or ATSC, I'd get it before the PVR 500 and probably the same price, in fact I probably will get one for myself when it is out. A new new PVR 150 is $73 at RBC in the west-end and even cheaper on ebay and it is going to work for the next two years so I consider that throw away.

For about $100 you can get the HVR 1600/1800 so you will have to decide for yourself if it is worth it. I think there will be more HD OTA so stations will get their shows simulcast over the American channels but I don't know when. I don't think Rogers will ever give us QAM for free unless the gov't forces them to. I'm old enough to remember when basic analog converters from the US were illegal.

Martin

[gh_speedyg]

Sorry to ressurect this so much later, but I'm going banananas with only 1 tuner. I've descided to go with the HVR 1600. Is there anything I need to know about hooking these up? How do I set this up in gbpvr and do I need to do anything with my SD account?

[ddoxsee]

If your using a cable box, have you considered the HD-PVR 1212? The reason I ask is it can record composite off your cable box and record "all" of the programming your paying for unlike any other normal tuner.

It of course isn't a tuner at all but simply a way to record. However since it records in HD and your looking for something that will last a while, it may be one to check out.

[gh_speedyg]

Sounds great, but I don't have HD yet, nor do I have a duel core processor (stated in system reqs.). I'm looking for something that I can use now, but I can still use later. I do not have pci-express, so I need something PCI. As far as I've found, the HVR1600 is best suited for my needs, I'm just not sure if I need to do anything in gbpvr to set it up. The reason I'm asking is that I tried using my pvr150 through coax instead of svideo and I couldn't get it to work right. Not sure why (not the issue right now, it's ok on svid) but I need to know if there's any need to knows about the HVR1600.

Thanks

Sped

[gh_speedyg]

I know I will have 2 tuners on the hvr1600 1 digital, 1 analog, how do I know if I can tune in digital from my source?

[gh_speedyg]

BUMP. Havn't got an answer for this yet, also need to know if I can just buy an OEM tuner and use the one remote for all tuners (Do I need another IR blaster?)