[mythtv-users] The end of analog - Digital Converter Vaporware?

[Mike Perkins]

kawayanan wrote:
> I'm interested to see how this goes.  Last time I looked at the 
> governments website, they didn't have any eligible boxes listed.  Now 
> they do have boxes listed (http://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm), but 
> still no retailers to be found (at least near me).  If they sell for 
> near the $50 the government claims they should, one could get one free 
> or cheap (the actual price remains to be seen however).  I would get one 
> or two.  I currently have a pvr-500 and standard analog cable, but 
> wouldn't mind adding OTA to the mix even if its analog.  (Think free or 
> cheap alternative to the hdhomerun or pcHDTV if your like me and don't 
> yet have a HD TV).  What I really want to see is what the hardware is.  
> I assume that this thing basically need the hardware of a digital tuner 
> and then a converter to composite/S-vid/coax.  I would love to see a 
> hardware hack to make one usable as a digital tuner  (bypassing the 
> conversion to composite/S-vid/coax).  Yes I'm cheap, but I can't 
> convince myself to spend the money for a hdhomerun (or similar) to get a 
> digital version (plus the additional sub-channels) of channels I 
> currently get with my pvr-500.
> 
These things *are* a digital, over-the-air, SD tuner. All you need is to connect 
the output to your PVR-500.

Mike Perkins