Digital Cable Q

[slapmebaby]

Hi All -- I have what I'm sure is the ultimate newbie/FAQ question. I've been looking at Sage, SnapStream, MythTV, etc and have pretty much decided to give Sage a go. However, in all my lurking around I can't seem to find an answer to my question. I keep stumbling across what I'm interpreting as conflicting information and am therefore confused.

Anyway... I have digital cable (channels 2-99 are analog and 100+ are digital) with a Scientific America Explorer 3100 set top box. I'll probably get either the 250 or 350 tuner card. Given that, can I ...

(1) Watch a live analog channel while recording a digital?
(2) Watch a live digital channel while recording an analog?
(3) Watch/record two digitals?

Can anyone straighten me out, please?

Thanks!

[eruji]

Okay,

to do any of the 3 items listed you will first need 2 capture cards to simultaneously record one channel and watch another live channel through Sagetv.

However you could split your cable, one going to your cable box which would be connected to your htpc (via one tuner card), and the other going directly to your TV and tune Sagetv to record your digital/analog feed and then switch video inputs on your tv to display your cable ready feed. (Probly not really what you wanted but it is possible to do this with just one tuner card)

as for number 3, you will need 2 cable boxes to record 2 seperate digital shows, as each channel will have to be decoded by one cable box.

does that make sense?