[mythtv-users] HDHomerun signal problem. Will HDHomerun Prime help?

[Dan Wilga]

On 1/17/12 10:34 PM, Tim Frye wrote:
> [...] they said that I needed a DTA to guarantee tuning all of the 
> channels that I have access to and that they couldn't help me (On a 
> separate note, I have the REALLY basic cable package from them).  In 
> the same conversation, they indicated that I would lose all of my HD 
> channels as they would be scrambling them shortly as part of a digital 
> transition.
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1) I thought that they were required to broadcast anything that I 
> could feasibly get over the air from local affiliates in the clear. 
>  Does what they said regarding the HD channels make sense?  I have 
> non-HD equivalent digital channels of the ones that I would lose, but 
> I love the HD.  If that is the case, I would be inclined to return the 
> HDHomerun and get the HDHomerun Prime.  I presume I would then get the 
> HD channels with the CableCARD setup.  Is this correct?

What they are doing is most likely not, technically, scrambling. They 
are converting the signals to a different format (switched digital 
video, or SDV) which requires different hardware to view them. This 
technicality is one that has been used by lots of cable companies in 
recent months as a way of increasing revenue (by getting you to rent a 
DTA), while also allowing them to offer more channels using the same 
size "pipe".

The Prime can receive SDV signals. My understanding is that if the 
stations you are trying to tune are truly in the clear and not flagged 
as "copy once" or "copy never", then you will be able to see them even 
without a CableCARD.

> 2) Would the signal issue that I'm having on channel 7-1 be solved by 
> switching to the Prime?  Does tuning via the CableCARD occur in a 
> different manner from Clear QAM tuning?

IMHO, it's unlikely that the same station is going to work any better 
when using a DTA vs. not. If it's truly clear QAM, then a DTA (or Prime) 
will fail the same as your current setup. Any QAM tuner should work, and 
when it doesn't there's a problem somewhere.

But, if what the person on the phone is hinting at (the conversion of 
everything to SDV) comes true, then it's a moot point: you'll need a 
Prime at some point anyway.

-- 
Dan Wilga                                                        "Ook."