Questions regarding HiDef cable

[philly_phenom]

I love my current GBPVR setup, but am ready to step up to HD, but have a couple of questions for other users who have already taken the plunge.

We have Comcast here, and even though the HDHomerun supports QAM, everything but local channels is encrypted, so if I want ESPN-HD or other cable channels, I need to get a STB - which the HDHomerun does not support.

1st: Which HD Card(s) are you all having success with when used with a STB.

2nd: I currently have a dual tuner setup. Can one PC control multiple STB's? Is it just a matter of configuring multiple USB UIRT devices?

Comcast's DVR is dual tuner & supports HD, but the user interface is terrible, slow & it only stores 15 hours of HD content (not to mention that you can't stream the media to other rooms)

[zed]

For now, the only way to get HD into GB-PVR from cable is via QAM. If it's all encrypted, I'm afraid you're SOL...you'll have to settle for down-converted HD from your STB, probably over an s-video input into a capture card. There are component capture cards on the way but you'll still need to use the STB. Depending on your STB you may be able to get HD over the firewire interface. If you want to record HD off cable, the cable co's DVR is probably your best (and maybe only) bet.

[whurlston]

No tuner is going to allow you to record channels in HD that the HDHomeRun does not. You can record from the STB but the recording will not be in HD. It will be downconverted to SD.

If that is what you want, Hauppauge tuners will get the best support as that is what sub has in his machines.

If you want to record HD from the STB, you will need to wait for the Hauppauge component capture card that is due out in March. That device will be supported in GB-PVR from launch day or shortly thereafter.

Edit: zed beat me to it.

[carpeVideo]

You might try firewire from the STB as well - I have had great success with it , others have not. It should at least get you the same unencrypted channels as QAM.

[philly_phenom]

Thank you all for your replies. I might just wait for the new hauppauge card...