What type of tuner do I need if I have Verizon FIOS?

[Netcraazzy]

I currently have Verizon FIOS for my Cable TV service and for the most part I like it. The big problem I have with it is that their Multi-Room DVR just plain sucks. So, I figured I'd resurrect my old MCE2005 DVR computer and put it to good use! The question is, what type of tuner do I need to use? Does FIOS use ClearQAM? I just have their standard cable package so would I be able to get all the regular channels or am I stuck using their stupid STB?

 

[Netcraazzy]

Hmm, not very many FIOS TV users on here ATM I guess. Well I found some answers here but its starting to look like the only real way to accomplish what I want is with a cablecard system which is more trouble and expense than I think I'm willing to endure.

Well if Verizon can't get my multi-room DVR to work properly I may just have to ditch them and go with BrightHouse.

 

[taltamir]

the cablecard is only 3$/month compared to 10+$ for any of the tuners or DVR units... so what do you mean extra expense?

AFAIK all companies today require a cable card for their DRM

 

[Winterpool]

The problem with CableCARD, last time I checked, is that the providers and PC manufacturers have successfully consorted to keep it from being a freely available product. You can't just buy a CableCARD for any system (which is what I thought the point of the dang thing was!). I believe you can only obtain CableCARD tuners on prebuilt PCS, ugh ugh.

This is, to my mind, the main thing standing in the way of comprehensive HTPC solutions (at least for geeks).

 

[Netcraazzy]

taltamir,

Like winterpool said, basically good luck finding a tuner that supports cablecard. I'm not 100% sure that Verizon offers cablecards either. I also don't want to pay the equipment rental fee for the cable cards. Yes it is cheaper than having several STBs but half the reason I want to go the HTPC route is so that I don't have to pay the cable company to use their crappy stuff.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Winterpool
The problem with CableCARD, last time I checked, is that the providers and PC manufacturers have successfully consorted to keep it from being a freely available product. You can't just buy a CableCARD for any system (which is what I thought the point of the dang thing was!). I believe you can only obtain CableCARD tuners on prebuilt PCS, ugh ugh.

This is, to my mind, the main thing standing in the way of comprehensive HTPC solutions (at least for geeks).

actually its the content owners like RIAA and MPAA that have consorted to keep it off the PC, and so far they are doing a pretty good job, hardware makers will love nothing more than to make the hardware, but can't legally do so.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Netcraazzy
taltamir,

Like winterpool said, basically good luck finding a tuner that supports cablecard. I'm not 100% sure that Verizon offers cablecards either. I also don't want to pay the equipment rental fee for the cable cards. Yes it is cheaper than having several STBs but half the reason I want to go the HTPC route is so that I don't have to pay the cable company to use their crappy stuff.

my point was that AFAIK you need a cablecard for verizon's competitors as well.

 

[s44]

Buy a HD Tivo.

 

[Netcraazzy]

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: Netcraazzy
taltamir,

Like winterpool said, basically good luck finding a tuner that supports cablecard. I'm not 100% sure that Verizon offers cablecards either. I also don't want to pay the equipment rental fee for the cable cards. Yes it is cheaper than having several STBs but half the reason I want to go the HTPC route is so that I don't have to pay the cable company to use their crappy stuff.

my point was that AFAIK you need a cablecard for verizon's competitors as well.

I think this is only true in certain cases. The major competitor around here is BrightHouse and I think they only require a STB if you want to get the premium channels or for HD programming. My parents have BrightHouse and last I checked they had several old TVs with no STB that were still able to get most channels. I will have to go over there today and do a test to confirm this.

Not being able to record any HD channels would suck a little but honestly I can live without it. My wife is the big TV watcher and she watches almost all her shows on a crappy old TV in the bedroom anyway. My primary goal is to be able to record as much TV with as little monthly expense as possible. I already have all the spare computer hardware necessary to build a decent media center backend PC. I also have a Windows MCE2005 license and I have two media center extender boxes left over from a setup I had a few years back. All I'm really lacking is the proper tuner card to make this all happen.