I'm finally losing analog cable - what will happen?

[roy]

I have long enjoyed my low cost Comcast basic analog cable. No need for set top boxes or channel changers. My HTPC has run GBPVR and now nPVR like a champ with several analog tuners - PVR 150, 500 and a 1600 (with dead digital tuner). Added a 2250 a while ago to step up to the digital HD world, tuning and recording the several local broadcast channels that Comcast so generously provides in clear QAM (because they must, right?). All for use with two Popcorns.

My family has come to rely on nPVR being able to record everything they want, without concern that there is a tuner available, even when there are 4 or 5 recordings at the same time.

I have been waiting for the day (first they said it would be last year) but I finally got the notice that Comcast will be switching our town to all digital and shutting off the analog cable "for my benefit" so I can enjoy everything Xfinity has to offer. It's been happening around the USA, in my neighboring towns, and I'm surprised it's taken so long to happen here. I'm sure many of you nPVR users have dealt with it, so that's why I'm asking here.

How will losing analog cable affect my nPVR HTPC?
Will my analog tuners become useless?
Do the digital tuners (2250) tune all digital channels or only clear QAM?
Will each digital tuner require a set top box/channel changer? 1 or 2 for 2250?

I'm so scared am I worried about nothing? :o

I will soon be receiving the one set top box and two digital transport adapters that comcast provides at no extra cost. I would certainly prefer not to pay more to comcast each month for more boxes.

Thanks for your input and advice from your experience.

Roy

[pcostanza]

My area is not at your point yet but I do have a cablecard tuner so that I can record anything in HD. However, I use NPVR to record all the programs from the major networks via QAM and I no longer record any analog.
But, I think it's the cable companies that better watch out. People are cutting their cable and getting their fix from Netflix, Hulu and the network web sites so their attempt to raise pricing and give less for more money may bite them on the arse. The new HD tv's are connecting to the net now and offer more choices too.
Analog is dead and there's no looking back but my fear is that all the viewing of HD material via the internet will slow down an already over burdened broadband pipeline in the states. According to the FCC, the infrastructure is there but.......not ready and won't be able to keep up with current growth.

[mikeh49]

You're not worried about nothing. Actually, you have nothing to worry about if you're willing to send more money to Comcast. I'm not a Comcast customer, but here's my take on how it might work:

The 2250's should still record clear QAM; I'd be surprised if they messed with that.

The analog tuners can still record the analog output of the STB (and probably DTA;s). S-video is the most likely, at least with the STB. I don't know about the DTAs. You'll need a IR blaster or maybe firewire to change channels on the STB. I don't know if anyone has gotten a blaster to control a STB.

Without a STB or DTA for each of the analog HTPC tuners, you can only record what the TV is watching, or, the TV can only watch what you're recording. This is the real downside of all digital.

You can use a Hauppauge Colosus or HD-PVR to record the HD component out of the STB, assuming it has component out. But, your still limited to the single tuner in the STB.

Have fun!

[roy]

I do have a cablecard tuner so that I can record anything in HD

Not with nPVR, correct?

You're not worried about nothing. Actually, you have nothing to worry about if you're willing to send more money to Comcast.

That is what I'm worried about.

Without a STB or DTA for each of the analog HTPC tuners, you can only record what the TV is watching, or, the TV can only watch what you're recording. This is the real downside of all digital.

your still limited to the single tuner in the STB.

So....as I suspected, basically, I have to pay comcast for at least a DTA to provide a signal to each tuner. And from what I've read, I think having more than one blaster is not supported.

[mvallevand]

You can use a Hauppauge Colosus or HD-PVR to record the HD component out of the STB, assuming it has component out. But, your still limited to the single tuner in the STB.

I use and HD-PVR with an HD STB box and I love it. That is about $375 so it's not cheap for a single tuner, but I want premium cable anyway. I need my fix of "True Blood" on Sundays. I think it helps that we get East and West feeds of most shows but I think time-shifting sports is the biggest challenge. In August we have our digital cutover, and I am hoping that ATSC will provide me some more flexibility.

Martin

[pcostanza]

Not with nPVR, correct?

Correct, not yet. I'm using W7 Media Center which work well with cablecards (I have a Ceton InfiniTV and 1 cablecard can record 4 HD shows at one time) but Whurlston is working on a way to record copy freely cablecard shows via NPVR.

[mian]

I have been waiting for the day (first they said it would be last year) but I finally got the notice that Comcast will be switching our town to all digital and shutting off the analog cable "for my benefit" so I can enjoy everything Xfinity has to offer. It's been happening around the USA, in my neighboring towns, and I'm surprised it's taken so long to happen here. I'm sure many of you nPVR users have dealt with it, so that's why I'm asking here.

Ugggh. <.< I've been dreading that. Every time I talk to the cable company they try to talk me into a getting a cable box. My response is never polite. When they cut me off, I'll cut the cord. Trouble is, I like cable drama. Men of a Certain Age, Falling Skies, White Collar, Burn Notice... and I just know as soon as I'm gone, SyFy is going to do something amazing, a la BSG or SGU.

Seems like a bad time to go cablecard too, with allvid (maybe?) lurking in the near future.

[pcostanza]

Remember when competition was a good thing? Seems like between a bad economy, the internet and government, cable just ain't what it use to be.
I do think there are a few years, at least, of cablecard left but things are changing so fast, and companies are going to where the customers want. Me, I can't stand looking at tv on a small, handheld device.