New to SageTV

[giono2]

I'm new at this and can't seem to find a definitive answer to my question. I am in Appleton WI (Time Warner) and have basic cable, digital, cable, HD package, and HBO. I have read a little on QAM capturing and have a few questions.

1) does having a QAM card ensure my ability to get all of my extended channels (forget HD for now) including HBO?

2) if not, if I record solely from my cable company's box outputs will be able to capture all of my channels excluding HD?

3) Am I missing something? It seems like this forum would be completely bogged down if every newb was asking these questions. I have checked the FAQ, is there somewhere else to find this info?

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by giono2

I'm new at this and can't seem to find a definitive answer to my question. I am in Appleton WI (Time Warner) and have basic cable, digital, cable, HD package, and HBO. I have read a little on QAM capturing and have a few questions.

1) does having a QAM card ensure my ability to get all of my extended channels (forget HD for now) including HBO?

No, only "clear" (unencrypted) digital channels. HBO is almost guaranteed not to be clear, beyond that, only expect locals to be clear, anything else is a bonus.

2) if not, if I record solely from my cable company's box outputs will be able to capture all of my channels excluding HD?

Yes, you can record all your channels via a cable box, even the HD ones. Now, as to whether the HD ones will be in HD....

Depends, if you're lucky enough to have a box that allows recording over firewire, then yes the firewire recordings will be HD for HD channels.

If not, everthing with be downconverted to SD.

[giono2]

Thanks for the quick reply. So does the output on the cable box supply more than one channel at a time then? Or can I only capture the channel I am currently tuned to?

[matt91]

Correct, one channel at a time (the one you're tuned to).

Each tuner that you have will need its own STB. (Unless you want one tuner to just record analog cable, as some do. This wouldn't need to go through a STB.)

Matt

[giono2]

So it looks as if I will be unable to record HBO. Ok. Is there a way to find out what channels are broadcast as clear then? I ask because I don't want to go hunt down a QAM card if all the channels are locked anyway. Also, are there any options for cards that are cablecard ready? I would see this as a way to record all of the channels.

[malore]

QAM Channel Maps - List Your Channels has listing for some providers. If you or someone you know has a tv with a digital cable tuner, I would think you could record anything that can be watched without a cable box or cable card. My tv was sold as being digital cable ready and has a cable card slot, but I don't have digital cable. In addition to the analog channels, my tv receives the HD version of all the major networks, a bunch of digital music channels and random PPV channels.

There are cablecard tuners but the whole computer has to be certified, which means you need to buy a mediacenter computer with the card(s) already installed. It would probably be cheaper are easier just to get one of the new HD Tivos if want to use cablecards.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by giono2

So it looks as if I will be unable to record HBO.

You can record HBO, you'll just need to record it through your box. "Worst case", you'll need to run the audio/video from your STB to a card in the PC. It will be SD, but you can record it.

Ok. Is there a way to find out what channels are broadcast as clear then?

The local reception area of AVS Forum is a great place to check.

Also, are there any options for cards that are cablecard ready? I would see this as a way to record all of the channels.

Yes, but you need to buy a new CableCard "certified" system running Vista, and then it only works in Vista MC.