Comcast Enhanced Cable question

[archcommus]

Next year I'll be getting Comcast Enhanced Cable (previously Digital Cable) at my apartment. For the main TV we'll be getting the box with the HD tuners and all that, no DVR though as we don't really need it there. For my computer in my room, I'll be using my PVR-150 with SageTV and no Comcast box. The PVR-150 is able to tune 125 channels, so is that what I'll be able to do? Or will I not be able to do anything above the standard 60 some channels without the Comcast box.

 

[JohnAn2112]

You'll only get the analog stations available in your area. You need the digital cable box for all the digital channels.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
You'll only get the analog stations available in your area. You need the digital cable box for all the digital channels.

Okay. Would it be doable with something like the WinTV-HVR-1600? Or is it proprietary to Comcast's box. I'm not even sure how you'd use that HVR-1600, would you need to split your coax input to each tuner and let each one tune its own channels?

 

[JohnAn2112]

I'm pretty sure you need to have the box. I have my coax split, one end going to the Comcast box and to my TV and the other end directly into a TV tuner in a HTPC. I only get te standard analog channels through SageTV.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
I'm pretty sure you need to have the box. I have my coax split, one end going to the Comcast box and to my TV and the other end directly into a TV tuner in a HTPC. I only get te standard analog channels through SageTV.

Yes but what TV tuner is in that HTPC? I'm guessing the HVR-1600's digital tuner is just for that purpose, while the analog tuner would handle all the sub-100 analog channels. Unless Comcast locks in that digital signal somehow.

 

[JohnAn2112]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
I'm pretty sure you need to have the box. I have my coax split, one end going to the Comcast box and to my TV and the other end directly into a TV tuner in a HTPC. I only get te standard analog channels through SageTV.

Yes but what TV tuner is in that HTPC? I'm guessing the HVR-1600's digital tuner is just for that purpose, while the analog tuner would handle all the sub-100 analog channels. Unless Comcast locks in that digital signal somehow.

The HVR-1600 has an ATSC tuner, which is for OTA HD signals. You would still need a Comcast digital cable box even if you had this card in your HTPC.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
I'm pretty sure you need to have the box. I have my coax split, one end going to the Comcast box and to my TV and the other end directly into a TV tuner in a HTPC. I only get te standard analog channels through SageTV.

Yes but what TV tuner is in that HTPC? I'm guessing the HVR-1600's digital tuner is just for that purpose, while the analog tuner would handle all the sub-100 analog channels. Unless Comcast locks in that digital signal somehow.

The HVR-1600 has an ATSC tuner, which is for OTA HD signals. You would still need a Comcast digital cable box even if you had this card in your HTPC.

Oh good, then I don't feel bad about not buying that card.

Thanks for the info.