[mythtv-users] What dual/triple-tuner setup is recommended for the switch to digital?

[Richard Shaw]

On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 2:49 PM, Mark Knecht <markknecht at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 12:22 PM, Richard Shaw <hobbes1069 at gmail.com> wrote:
> <SNIP>
>>
>> I would say it depends on the selection you want. I've been over the
>> air for the last year and OTA-HD for the last 4 months. I don't have a
>> ton of time to watch TV so I find plenty of stuff. I'm using a
>> HDHomerun box for ATSC tuning but it will also do QAM as long as it's
>> unencrypted.
>>
>> The FCC requirement does not apply to cable and satellite providers,
>> just OTA transmissions, so it will not affect comcast. However, that
>> doesn't mean that they will NOT change what channels are encrypted at
>> any time...
>>
>> Richard
>
> Richard,
>   Much to learn. I need an acronym page.
>
>   Over the air won't likely work for me for other than NBC which is
> local here in the South SF Bay Area. CBS, ABC anc Fox are broadcast
> out of areas that are dicey in my location. That said I was
> considering getting one of the PVR Stick devices and trying on my
> Windows laptop just to see where things work and don't work in terms
> of OTA.
>
>   None of that will keep my kid in touch with 'The Hills' so I'm
> assuming I'll have to pay someone for content, be it Comcast or
> satellite.
>
>   ATSC and QAM I don't understand so off to Google on those.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark

Sorry, I'll expound a little, though I'm certainly not an expert...
ATSC is the US standard for Over The Air (OTA) digital TV. QAM is the
method cable generally uses.

I wouldn't give up on OTA necessarily. There are some very good
directional antennas out there if all or most of the broadcasting is
coming from one direction. I'm using a DB2
"http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html" which is a
medium directional antenna which works well for me.

Richard