Is February 2009 the end of GBPVR for me?

[Pilot]

Remote Control and Beanbag (IR Receiver) and IR Blaster buds.... It connects to the USB port. It's generic (to a point -- It's Microsft and all)

The Hauppauge MCE kit is quite similar, but IMHO the MS is far suppier, in tech and design The Haup Beanbag falls apart when you sneeze and the MS beanbag can be used as a hammer to build three houses (I'm on my forth) ...


(house)


I've tried both. Don't waste your time with the Hauppauge. I think others with experience with both will concur.

They buy what I have suggested... (Problem is, in the picture it only shows the remote... The whole kit looks like:

http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/uploads/Main/MS-...eanbag.jpg

Okay, so the IR blaster just plugs into the "beanbag" instead of one of the tuner cards. That makes sense.

Actually, I keep reading about problems with using the Hauppauge blaster with Motorola STBs (which is what I have from Comcast), so although it was cheaper, I was worried about going with it due to compatibility. I'll likely just pick up a MCE Remote/beanbag/blaster/kitchen sink kit like you suggested.

Sorry, it takes a little while for some of these things to sink in. I'm actually a rather technical person (retired network engineer), but I admit that all this TV crap has me stumped from time to time. I feel sorry for the general public with this looming Feb 09 "threat". If things like this are throwing someone like me for loops, I can only imagine what it's doing for non-techies. Actually, they're probably just doing 100% Comcast solutions and paying through the nose, so it's probably not affecting them at all!

[Pilot]

I hear that. I suppose my suggestion to connect an antenna and record ATSC in glorious, uncompressed, free, High-Definition wouldn't be too popular, though.

I see a similar conversation a decent bit on other TV forums lately. People now going against HTPCs because they can just get a settop box/DVR that "does pretty much the same thing," albeit costing them x per month, every month, forever.

Which if using HD and satellite or the like, might be a good idea instead of jumping through setup hoops and frustration. But with OTA, an HTPC is the cat's meow. meow!

I was tempted to try OTA, but that will literally only give me about 4 channels in my area. Cellular phone reception in our area is horrible to the point that I even tried an active repeater solution and it didn't even help much. I suspect that I would find the same thing with OTA TV. I guess it doesn't help when for two years after I first started using GBPVR, we had a great cable TV service (that I wish I still had now that tuners for clear QAM are better supported and available). I was always focused on the wire rather than the air, and my current GBPVR system clearly shows that.

I'll just go the blaster/STB route until it just becomes too expensive/cumbersome, and then I'll probably join the flock of sheep and succumb to the Comcast HD DVR solution at $13 a month. If nothing else, it's cheaper than Tivo....

...no, that doesn't make me feel any better it, but I'm trying!

[johnsonx42]

I was tempted to try OTA, but that will literally only give me about 4 channels in my area. Cellular phone reception in our area is horrible to the point that I even tried an active repeater solution and it didn't even help much. I suspect that I would find the same thing with OTA TV.

Have you been to http://www.AntennaWeb.org ? Just type in your zip and it will list out all the stations you *should* be able to receive, and what sort of antenna you'll need (click the digital only button, since the analogs are going away anyhow). It also shows what direction the transmitters are in, in case you have a directional antenna.

OTA TV reception and cell phone reception are completely and totally different, there's no reason to think that the quality of one would reflect the other.

Granted of course, even if you can pull in just about every OTA station in your area, you won't get much of what you're used to on cable. I just gave up DirecTV for ATSC, and yeah, there are a few channels I miss. But it's not as bad as you first imagine. Just last night I was flipping around between two movies and a special about Johnny Cash (on pbs) whilst one of the primetime network shows was recording on the other tuner. There are still moments I have more TV than I know what to do with.

I've also worked out how to fairly easily watch shows on Hulu from GB-PVR (basically you add ie as a custom task, and you need some sort of mouse - I use a Gyration MCE remote that has an air mouse built in). Then if you want more, add a NetFlix account ($9 per month) and Whurlston's NetFlix plugin. I'm doing just that this weekend.

Likewise, if there are other shows you just must have that aren't on OTA, Hulu or NetFlix, sometimes they're available on the website for the show or network. With a bit of cleverness you can make those accessible from GB-PVR as well.

[zehd]

Let me summarize the 2009/2011 (can) thing... It's Y2K all over again!

The stores are having a field day selling selling selling because of one simple word that is getting everyone confused: Analog

In 2009/2011(Can) Television providers will no longer be REQUIRED to Broadcast Over the Air, analog television. (Rabbit Ears)

Mostly Cable companies have wanted to ditch analog for a long time, because for each analog channel they pipe into your home, they could get a bunch more digital TV.

The Governments have been preventing this so that dear old Granpa can still get his wrestling, when the ball of tin foil on the rabbit ears is not in the sun...

But what's really confusing, is the Cable companies are not actually compelled by the laws and their lifting and the 2009/2011 deadline.

It's only aerial Broadcast that CAN shut down.

Some cable companies can and will do what they will with analog cable...

Then there is the next biggest silly snake oil.

Since you 'need' digital, you'll need to change your TV because it can't handle Wide Screen.

Digital does not mean Wide Screen. Certainly they are well suited for each other, but as long as you have a STB that provides Digital TV, you'll be able to watch on your old composite 4x3 TV for a while.

And if you are using Coax Cable, you may be able to capture Analog cable for a while too... Or Not... whatever...

Now that we have determined that there isn't really a need, let's discuss WANTING digital, HDTV/5.1 content...

Oh and BTW, you'll probably want to use a STB so.....


....nevermind

[johnsonx42]

Let me summarize the 2009/2011 (can) thing... It's Y2K all over again!

In 2009/2011(Can) Television providers will no longer be REQUIRED to Broadcast Over the Air, analog television. (Rabbit Ears)
...
Mostly Cable companies have wanted to ditch analog for a long time, because for each analog channel they pipe into your home, they could get a bunch more digital TV.

The Governments have been preventing this so that dear old Granpa can still get his wrestling, when the ball of tin foil on the rabbit ears is not in the sun...

But what's really confusing, is the Cable companies are not actually compelled by the laws and their lifting and the 2009/2011 deadline.

It's only aerial Broadcast that CAN shut down.

Some cable companies can and will do what they will with analog cable...

I agree it's all confusing, and to some extent all the hype is unwarranted. However, you too are confused. First, at least in the US, analog broadcasts MUST shut down on Feb 17th, 2009. There's no 'CAN' about it. They must.

Second, Must-Carry rules require Cable companies to continue to provide Analog signals (of local broadcasts) until Feb 17th, 2012. Unless of course the broadcasters themselves opt out: must-carry is a priveledge to the broadcaster.

[Pilot]

Have you been to http://www.AntennaWeb.org ? Just type in your zip and it will list out all the stations you *should* be able to receive, and what sort of antenna you'll need (click the digital only button, since the analogs are going away anyhow). It also shows what direction the transmitters are in, in case you have a directional antenna.

Yeah, that's how I found out that I'd only get four channels. It's questionable whether or not I could get them in HD, so it wasn't really worth it for me since HD was what I was after. Plus, my cellular phone company says I should be getting a much better signal than I am in and around my home, so even though that website says I'll get four channels, I'm not entirely sure that after I did the antenna thing that I would actually get that many. My previous cable company offered a TON of clear QAM channels, including HBO and Cinemax. Our bill was part of the homeowners association dues, so I guess that's why we got the sweet deal even though we were paying about $35/month. Now with Comcast if you want anything HD, you have to have a STB and pay about $70 to get what we were getting previously. All this just as four of my five TVs were HD, as I donated the ol' 19" 4:3 TVs to neighbors, family, etc.

OTA TV reception and cell phone reception are completely and totally different, there's no reason to think that the quality of one would reflect the other.

Well, then it's a coincidence -- cellular sucks here and so does OTA. Welcome to flat Florida, which is actually mostly below sea level, so I guess I shouldn't expect much.

Granted of course, even if you can pull in just about every OTA station in your area, you won't get much of what you're used to on cable. I just gave up DirecTV for ATSC, and yeah, there are a few channels I miss. But it's not as bad as you first imagine. Just last night I was flipping around between two movies and a special about Johnny Cash (on pbs) whilst one of the primetime network shows was recording on the other tuner. There are still moments I have more TV than I know what to do with.

I couldn't get by without the news channels, which are all cable.

I've also worked out how to fairly easily watch shows on Hulu from GB-PVR (basically you add ie as a custom task, and you need some sort of mouse - I use a Gyration MCE remote that has an air mouse built in). Then if you want more, add a NetFlix account ($9 per month) and Whurlston's NetFlix plugin. I'm doing just that this weekend.

My HTPC is hooked into my living room plasma TV by way of a DVI to HDMI cable, which works great. I've been a member of Netflix since about six months after they first came out. I've been enjoying their Watch It Now feature for quite a while now -- previously on my large screen PC, and now on the HTPC/TV setup. So I don't go through GBPVR for that. If I did, would I be able to view it on another TV by way of my MediaMVP devices? That's tempting.... I know my wireless keyboard/track mouse combo works through my living room/bedroom wall.

Likewise, if there are other shows you just must have that aren't on OTA, Hulu or NetFlix, sometimes they're available on the website for the show or network. With a bit of cleverness you can make those accessible from GB-PVR as well.

I definitely need to get an IR blaster, because I'm totally impressed with the pseudo HD that I get using the HD STB going through my GBPVR system to the MediaMVP in my bedroom. I have a widescreen HD plasma in the bedroom, too, so I do know what real HD looks like on it, but this is surprisingly good coming over the MediaMVP (of all things!).

I could maybe get by with ATSC+Netflix+Internet, but I know my family couldn't. I have two 17 year olds, a six year old, and a seven year old. Lack of Nickelodeon, Disney, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, CNN, History Channel, Versus, USA, SpikeTV, etc., just ain't happening. I'm pretty sure they would riot.

[Pilot]

Let me summarize the 2009/2011 (can) thing... It's Y2K all over again!

I agree with most of what you said, except the Y2K analogy. Y2K (remember, network engineer here) was a REAL fiasco -- not a fake one. I cannot tell you how much crappy hardware and software I had to update, patch, fix, replace, etc., all because someone didn't realize that we would one day live beyond 1999, duh.

This analog/digital thing is annoying for me mostly because I have Comcast, who is not only chomping at the bit to convert EVERYTHING to digital, but they've already started as I'm watching my basic cable service dwindling to the point of I might as well just go with ATSC!

I'm sure there are plenty of cable companies out there who will offer a much slower transition, but Comcast is definitely not one of them. That is my current pain...that and I'm sure their STB will not allow for using a date beyond 2010. Haha.

[Pilot]

Second, Must-Carry rules require Cable companies to continue to provide Analog signals (of local broadcasts) until Feb 17th, 2012. Unless of course the broadcasters themselves opt out: must-carry is a priveledge to the broadcaster.

Which basically translates to basic cable being Fox, CBS, NBC, CBS, and about three PBS stations. Haha. Okay, maybe the CW will still be analog....

[zehd]

I agree with most of what you said, except the Y2K analogy. Y2K (remember, network engineer here) was a REAL fiasco -- not a fake one. I cannot tell you how much crappy hardware and software I had to update, patch, fix, replace, etc., all because someone didn't realize that we would one day live beyond 1999, duh.

THis is getting off topic, and it seems like a time to agree that we disagree time, but...

To me, and I was in the middle of it, Y2K was totally real, and I'm glad admins took it seriously to get hardware updated so we didn't have planes fall out of the sky...

But there were so many rip off artists that were selling, selling, selling, when all people needed was a 5 dollar clock battery, or a 95 patch, or something simple...and cheap

The small timers made Y2K a joke...

[johnsonx42]

But there were so many rip off artists that were selling, selling, selling, when all people needed was a 5 dollar clock battery, or a 95 patch, or something simple...and cheap

I occaisionally lamented the fact that I just couldn't bring myself to hype-up Y2K to my customers. I patched what needed patching and left it at that... my boss at the time wanted to sell those Y2K-compliance testing and auditing programs, and have the customers pay us to run y2k readiness tests, etc. etc. etc., but I just couldn't do it with straight face. There was money to be made, but not with any honesty.

End of off-topic discussion.