[mythtv-users] Comcast Digital Switchover Configuring - Recommendations?

[Alan Anderson]

On Monday, January 24, 2011 05:22:45 pm Mark D. Montgomery II wrote:
> So Wednesday Comcast finally pulled the plug on analog here, so I'm
> wondering what the standard procedure is for reconfiguring the tuners
> on Mythtv, and whether I should grab an antenna (would be inside, but
> right by an outside wall) to hook up to one of my hdhomerun inputs.
> 
> I currently have both my hdhomerun inputs plugged into the cable, as
> well as the WinTV PVR-500 card.
> At a quick glance the PVR still seems to be pulling in the local
> stations and some others (maybe comcast hasn't fulling pulled the plug
> on all the analog yet...like FSN is still coming in over analog).
> Some channels are fine and others are showing the Comcast "You need a
> digital adapter" message.
> 

Comcast switched to digital on us about 8 months ago.  I already had an 
antenna in the attic with a HDhomerun and one TV for OTA HD.  I had three 
PVR-150's in mythtv for analog cable.

So after the switch  I used a IR blaster to control one of the comcast cable 
boxes for one pvr-150.  But the HDhomerun was already recording most of what I 
watch  OTA and I would record a few channels from comcast.  HDHomerun on the 
cable only gets clear stations, and Comcast keeps moving those around and you 
have to keep hunting them down and editing the channels in mythtv  Its a major 
pain.

 I didnt see the cost effectiveness of +$80.00 a month for comcast cable for 
less the 2-3 channels that I actually used, that wasnt OTA.   So I cut the 
cord, and  told comcast I want internet only.  Ran the antennea to the Drop 
amp and sent OTA throughout the house instead of cable.  I already had 
netfix/roku so I joined  Hulu Plus and added a playontv server to get the other 
stations not OTA on the roku. 

So currently with myth  I have two HDHomeruns for OTA most of this is HD 
recordings.  The basic digital cable box comcast provides is standared 
definition only.    So see what all OTA stations are in your area.  Compare 
that with what is cable only.

The hdhomerun_gui is usefull for aiming your antenna.  Tune in a weakest 
signal in your area and adjust the antenna until the GUI shows the strongest 
signal. The web site antennaweb.org will get you pointed in the general 
direction.  In my case all the broadcast antennas are on Cheyanne mountain 
south west of town.  So if yours are all over the compass it could be difficult



Alan  Anderson