Will this work?

[ElihuRozen]

One thing to be aware of is that the cable coming from the wall probably has QAM signals that your non-digital TV is ignoring. You could put a digital tuner in your PC to receive those signals. It is very likely you could get your local channels in SD, highly likely you could get your local channels in HD & possible that you could get the standard cable channels in SD as well.

[cardinalsfan]

I just have normal cable out of the wall with a normal tv...you are saying that with a tuner that does digital (such as an hvr-1600, which is what i am looking at), i could get the hd channels (as long as they arent encrypted)? Really, I just want the tuner to see all the channels my tv does now, i just want to be able to record them!! thanks for all the help guys!!

[HarryH3]

The off-lease HP still has the problem of having minimal memory and requires DDR memory, so an upgrade will cost you. If DDR memory were as cheap as DDR2, then it would be an easier choice. By the time you upgrade the memory and hard drive in that system, you could have just bought the (far more future-proof) dual core system here: http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/...S445-10038

I'm not a huge fan of E-Machines, but it's hard to beat the bang for the buck with that box.

The craigslist post is already gone. Did you snag it or did someone else beat you to it?

[cardinalsfan]

The off-lease HP still has the problem of having minimal memory and requires DDR memory, so an upgrade will cost you. If DDR memory were as cheap as DDR2, then it would be an easier choice. By the time you upgrade the memory and hard drive in that system, you could have just bought the (far more future-proof) dual core system here: http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/...S445-10038

I'm not a huge fan of E-Machines, but it's hard to beat the bang for the buck with that box.

The craigslist post is already gone. Did you snag it or did someone else beat you to it?

i didnt get it, some one else must have. It was a good deal too. I know the ram will be more expensive but im pricing everything out right now to see which route will be best for what I want. Thanks for all the help guys!!

[ElihuRozen]

I just have normal cable out of the wall with a normal tv...you are saying that with a tuner that does digital (such as an hvr-1600, which is what i am looking at), i could get the hd channels (as long as they arent encrypted)?

Yes - probably.

All cable companies are required to provide all the local stations. The HD versions of your local stations are still local stations. If the station charges the cable company a fee, then the cable company isn't required to carry it. Also, just because the cable comapny is required to provide it to you doesn't mean they do. They could claim ignorance, or say they have some technical limitation, etc. I'm pretty sure you would be all set. Do you know your neighbors really well? Ask them if they have a QAM tuner in their TV. If they do, you could ask them to try hooking the canle directly to the TV to make sure you will get the right channels.

Go here: http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/channels_us. Put in your zip code. Hit the Search button. Make sure you select your provider near the top of the next screen. You'll see a list of the stations available to you.