[mythtv-users] Shouldn't have bought an HDTV

[Doug Meredith]

I've been a MythTV user for over a year now, and the WAF has been very
high.  About six weeks ago I made the mistake of buying our first HDTV.
My wife is quite disappointed that everything looks "the same".  To be
honest, I'm pretty disappointed too.  Even DVDs look amazing compared to
my captures.  I've been investigating my options for capturing HDTV, and
have come up with the following:

1.	Over the air.  Not an option.  There are no HD broadcasts in New
Brunswick, Canada.
2.	QAM capture.  I get four unencrypted HD stations and a number of
digital SD broadcasts.  I have an HD Home Run but I'm nervous about
deploying this at all due to reports of cable companies changing what is
available unencrypted or changing frequency assignments without warning.
In any case, it isn't going to get me HD.
3.	Get a cable box and hope that I get what I want through fire
wire.  Some people have difficulty making this work, it seems.  No
guarantee there will be *any* unencrypted stations on fire wire, and if
there are, no guarantee they will stay unencrypted.  I don't think I
would risk this even if it would work now.  Better to never have HD than
to have it and have to tell my wife we are going back to SD.
4.	Get a moded cable or satellite box.  The two options I have seen
are Windows-only.  It isn't clear how easy or convenient it would be to
tie Myth into there recording scheme.

 

Unless I'm missing something, there are *no* good options.  Option four,
while expensive, looks the most hopeful.  I'm just not sure I'm willing
to put in the time required to be on the bleeding edge with this.

 

We can dream about the encryption situation changing, but I don't think
that anything is going to happen that will let me record HD in the next
couple of years.  If anything, cable companies are likely to clamp down
more and more on options two and three.  It really looks like option
four may be my only hope.

 

Have I missed anything that should give me reason to be optimistic about
being able to record HD in the (very) short term?  Personally I wouldn't
give up Myth just to get HD.  But I worry greatly about the WAF.

 

Doug

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