[mythtv-users] HDTV cards w/o antenna

[Michael Haan]

On 6/12/05, Robert Tsai <rtsai1111 at comcast.net> wrote:
> On Sun, Jun 12, 2005 at 10:11:56AM -0400, David Fitzgerald wrote:
> > The HD-3000 specs or FAQs claim that you need to have an antenna and
> > that it is incompatible with a cable company's HDTV feed (I use RCN,
> > or Comcast is also available to me).  Depending upon how you read
> > it, it may be talking about the older HD-2000 or maybe both the
> > HD-2000 and the HD-3000.  I'm not sure if it is a typo or a
> > "feature".
> >
> > The other option, the Air2PC card, claims to optimally "receive 8VSB
> > (ATSC) digital broadcast signals", and appears to have only an RF
> > interface.  Is this two different ways of saying that you simply
> > cannot capture any HTDV signal on either of these two cards w/o
> > having an antenna?
> >
> > If so, I'm extremely underwhelmed.  The last thing I want to do is
> > deal with an antenna on a MythTV box.  I'm hoping I'm mistaken.
> 
> FWIW, I am using two HD-3000 cards with great success using a $20
> Radio Shack indoor UHF antenna as input (split to both cards).
> 
> Of course, YMMV depending on your location relative to broadcast
> towers, etc.
> 
> --Rob
> 
> 
> BodyID:84214936.2.n.logpart (stored separately)
> 
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> 
> 

You're mistaken.  The HD3000 with the V4L driver can tune regular
cable and, with the DVB drivers, can tune QAM (digital cable) where
you'll find some number of HD channels.  I myself, and many others,
are doing this right now.  I get roughly 8 HD channels.  What's more,
my rig had multiple tuner cards so I can record several simultaneous
shows (which tivo cannot).  And, finally, commercial skip, though
seemingly trivial, is very very nice (and not available on tivo).