Digital Capture???

[ydekmekji]

I've got basic analog cards now, but I've been flirting with the idea of getting a digital capture card. I'm in the US. But from the (little) research that I've done, I haven't been able to find much. I assume they are new?? (i.e. Hauppauge doesn't really advertise them that strongly on their site). Also, I just have basic cable here in the US and an analog TV. Is it even worth it?

My questions are:
1. Which company is the premiere in digital capture cards? (I assume it's not Hauppauge). Which cards should i be looking at?
2. Do I need digital cable?
3. Do I need a different TV?

[djtaylor]

Hauppauge have plenty of digital offerings. DVB-T and DVB-S. I'm in the UK and have 3 digitial tuners but can't help you as to suggestions for what you should buy in the US.

David.

[ydekmekji]

yeah i dont think hauppauge isdoing as much marketing in the us

[twiggins]

I am not an expert,but did just buy a regular 32" tv. All the sales places left me with the impression that to take real advantage of digital, you need a HD tv.I would have to upgrade to comcast digital, and as comcast already over charges. I just bought the old analog.

[groover km]

Don't confuse digital with HD. When the analog signal is turned off in 2009, all this means is that your 'rabbit ears' OTA antenna will no longer work. If you already have a 'cable box' the chances are that it is already descrambling a digital signal of your analog stations so it is not an issue.

You don't need a HDTV for digital TV - that's sales pitch.

[David]

I just picked up an ATSC tuner card to pick up digital over the air broadcasts. Most programs are broadcast in standard definition (SD) and some of them are HD. I do not have any HD equipment, so need to be careful that I do not record the HD shows unless I plan to watch them on my computer. I am 26 miles from most broadcasters and was worried that I might not get any signals; the wiki says forget it if you are over 20 miles. The broadcasts come in very clean and I am looking forward to using them. I just need to resolve my muxing issue so that I can use my media players connected to my TV/Stereo system.