How can I watch cable TV on my PC?

[theredbaron]

Question, does the IR Blaster program that comes with the PVR150 need to be installed or are there better alternatives? Does GB-PVR know to change the channel on the cable box, rather than just the tuner?

[seven]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. You have all been a great help to me.

I have decided to keep the WinTV-PVR-USB2 only because I can easily use it on my main computer as well as my laptop. So it is good for me.

I also decided that for now I will just use it as a way to record tv anytime something good is on. (Of course this means I will have to be home and manually record it but oh well).

groover km, you are right, those IR Blasters on ebay wont work for me. I figured that out shortly after posting those links when I looked at the pictures of the connections on the WinTV-PVR-USB2 and the PVR150.

Well, it's not the end of the world. I do have DVR from my cable company and it works great. So I guess I can always play the DVR recordings and use the WinTV-PVR-USB2 to re-record them onto the hard drive if I ever need to. I don't know if that degrades the quality but it looks like it is my only choice until I decide to get the USBUIRT.

Well, thanks again everyone for all the help. I actually learned a lot of new things

[Pioneer4x4]

You can still use GBPVR to record the shows, you will just also need to schedule the shows on your cable box. That way it will change the channel itself. It will work the same, just not as simple.

[theredbaron]

Oh... There's no way for GB-PVR to use the IR blaster directly and change the channel? Cause if it doesn't, then what's the point of even having channel listings in there? Is there a program that is compatible with digital cable set top boxes and an IR blaster, so that everything is controlled within the PVR program? BTW, I have Motorola STB with Comcast D-Cable, plugged into the composite port on the Hauppauge PVR 150.

[groover km]

Oh... There's no way for GB-PVR to use the IR blaster directly and change the channel?

There's a little confusion here - using the IR blaster to change the channel on the cable box is *exactly* how gb-pvr works. Once you schedule a recording, gb-pvr sends the signal to the IR-blaster to change the channel and starts recording.

The OP's question regarded the fact that he doesn't have an IR-blaster with which to control the cable box in the first place.

Hope this helps.

[Dagon]

Seven, you didn't mention the model of cablebox you have but if you are using the motorola DCT6200 you can hook up to the cablebox with the firewire port (if your provider didn't disable it that is) There is a driver program and channel changer application that works really well with GB PVR

Check out this link to get the details

http://www.thegreenbutton.com/community/...eID=104152

I haven't tried any other models of cable box but there are several that are reported to work.