new TV, new setup? QAM question

[liquidskin]

Hello All,

If you searched my posts in the past, you'd read of my troubles trying to get a DVR solution working for my Analog cable.

Long story short, I got it working pretty well and have been happy with it for the past few months. Some time passes and I catch the Black Friday bug and got the chance to get a great deal on a 32" LCD. It arrived today. I hooked it up to my current DVR rig (PVR-USB2 thru a 2.4ghz laptop - > svideo -> coax) and was less than impressed. I decided to eliminate the DVR out of the equation and went straight from the wall to the TV. Did a scan and couldnt believe my luck...

I must have picked up 25 or so digital channels. Beautiful HD video glistened across my screen. My smile grew. My cheap, basic analog cable is getting this awesome picture? It's almost hard for me to believe. There's only ONE problem...

In the past few months I've become addicted to EPG. I can live without recording capabilities, but not having an EPG is really inconvenient.

Technically, I could keep the laptop running into the TV via S-VIDEO and keep the actual cable signal through coax; changing inputs to navigate between the guide and the actual programming. However, thats obviously a messy solution. Anyone have any ideas? From what I've read, I could go ahead and get a HD HomeRun, but Im not certain my laptop can handle HD.. plus, I'd have to get an external video card, as my current video card only has S-VIDEO Out (which seemingly sucks to my TV).

Any guidance is appreciated!

[whurlston]

What are your system specs? If it's enough, you could always get a VGA->DVI adaptor if your TV can take a DVI-A connection.

[liquidskin]

Processor and Memory
Processor Brand: Intel
Processor Class: Pentium 4
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Installed Memory: 512 MB
Maximum Memory: 1 GB
Memory Technology: DDR SDRAM
Cache Size: 512 KB
Processor: Pentium 4
Installed Video Memory: 32 MB



Display and Graphics
Display Size: 15 in.
Display Type: TFT active matrix
Graphics Processor: NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go
Included Video Card: Graphics card - AGP 4x
Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
Display Resolution Standard: XGA
Max. External Resolution: 2048 x 1536 pixels
Video Memory Technology: DDR SDRAM


Yea, its an oldie so Im not quite sure.


Here's what Ive got to work with on the TV



Connectivity
Input Video Compatibility PC Input: Analog RGB

ATSC, NTSC, QAM Tuner

720p, 480i/p
HDTV Capability HDTV Tuner Inside
Connectors Composite + L/R Audio: 1

S-Video + L/R Audio: 1

Component YCbCr/YPbPr + L/R Audio: 1

HDMI: 1

Analog RGB (Dsub)

Headphone Output

Digital Audio Output Stream: S/PDIF
HDMI 1

[whurlston]

Actually, you could just hook it to your TV's RGB input. Set the res for 1280x720

[sub]

I must have picked up 25 or so digital channels. Beautiful HD video glistened across my screen.

Using a clear QAM capable capture device on your PC will let you capture these same digital channels in HD quality, which will look much better on your new PC (at 1280x720) than the SD picture you're getting out of your PVR USB2.

[liquidskin]

So bottom line is I'd need a new video card for HD, right? Any suggestions for something reasonably priced and external?

Can anyone think of any work-around for an EPG with no recording capability? Im trying to save some cash on this one.

[whurlston]

I would try to look into the ATI 3xxx series. Not sure if they make an AGP version or not. The 2600 Pro might work for you though.

[liquidskin]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Im afraid a new graphics card and separate tuner is just going to run up too large of a bill.

There has got to be a way to implement JUST an EPG, right? I realize at that point its not really a GB-PVR question anymore, but maybe someone here knows

[soccerdad]

Just go to zap2it .com and you can look at their guide all you want. It won't change channels or set recordings for you though. A guide without a PVR is just a guide...

[liquidskin]

Can anyone suggest a tuner that can support Clear QAM and Analog? Looks like HD HomeRun can only support digital.... Oh yea, and it has to be external. Yikes..