Advice... FTA + PCI Capture card + dual tuners?

[maximillianx]

Hi guys/gals -

First time poster, and I'm totally new to the arena of HTPCs...

Currently, we have Dish Network via SBC, and I am considering moving to FTA and digital television, but need some advice as to which PCI card (or two cards?) I should be buying for doing this.

I currently have a Superdish 500, so I believe I have the capability of pulling in two sat signals at one time...also, the DVR we have allows us to record two shows at one time.

I have a license for Windows Media Center Edition, and I am putting together a system using a mini-ATX form factor, giving me 3 PCI slots + 1 AGP. I don't necessarily have to go with MCE (but since I got it with my MSDN subscription, I figured what the heck) - - XP or even 2K is an option here.

I was _this_ close to purchasing a dual tuner FTA receiver, but then came across the idea of using a HTPC to also manage my downloaded videos/pictures/music, etc.

My overall desire is to retain the ability to record two channels at once.

Do I:

1. Get a dual-tuner FTA card (do they exist)?
2. Get a dual-tuner FTA receiver, then plug it into a dual-tuner/input card
3. Get two single tuner FTA cards?

If I went with option 2, would I experience issues recording channels from the HTPC through the satellite, since the sat tuner isn't a part of the HTPC?

So, I need some advice as to what hardware I should go for here.

Again, I'm totally NEW at this, so please be patient with me.

Thanks everyone...