[mythtv-users] Is pchdtv3000 worth it?

[Brandon Beattie]

On Fri, Jan 14, 2005 at 06:00:17AM -0800, Julian wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Could anyone who uses or has analyzed the pchdtv3000
> say whether or not it is worth purchasing it at $189? 
> Unless I could use it for more than Over the Air High
> Definition transmission, it seems overkill.  For one
> reason or another, I don't feel the potential for more
> than OTA is high.
> 
> Thanks,
> Julian

"Worth Purchasing" is very broad.  Apparently many people think it's
worth it, as the card is selling.  I think the better question you
should ask yourself is what do you expect?  If you expect something as
easy to use as Tivo then no, it's not for you (yet).  There are still
some things that can be improved.  But I have 4 cards, I'm glad I have
every last one.  Things do break (software) and there's system 
maintance (More than ntsc Myth users experience) but it's worth it to
me.  Some people have problems getting the right modelines for their HD
Displays but most eventually get it right, it just takes time.  How easy
it is depends on you and your skills.  If you get a good signal and have
a fedora box that's already connected to a HD display then you can be
running in 5 minutes.  If you're far from a tower, have to research an
antenna, are using Redhat 7.2, have a HD display that only takes 1 1080i
component input then it will take you longer.  But as far as "does the
card work" the answer is yes.  If OTA and non-encrypted QAM streams will
not be worth $189 then don't get the card.  You would be better off with
an HD Tivo that has 2 HD Satellite tuners and 2 ATSC tuners, or wait for
cable companies to sell you their PVR Cable boxes.

The HD3000 pcHDTV card does do QAM.  It has been tested, there is a 
driver that has it working, but that driver is not released.  There is a 
bit of other work being done on the driver to try to get it so that it
will be accepted into kernel source.  If there are any kernel developers
or experienced kernel driver developers that want to help, if they
contact me they will be able to work on the cvs code, and get QAM early
-- But I won't be able to let just anyone have access, sorry...  Wait a
few weeks and we'll see then.

--Brandon