questions about clear qam tv listing data for Hauppauge 2250

[tvmaster2]

I was just about to buy a Hauppauge 2250, cause' there's a sale on.

My cable company, COX Orange County, allows the basics via Clear QAM - locals and a few other spatterings.

I tested Cox's QAM with my two LCD tv's to see what TV guide listing data was available, by feeding them raw cable (aka not from a cable box).

On my Vizio 24", station call letters appear, but NO program discription data was visible. However, on my Sony Bravia-3 40", complete program description listing data was visible.

Here's where the confusion may be: the Bravia has the TV Guide software license built in, which comes up when you hit "guide" on the remote. Few tvs have this feature (I searched for it as an option). So, I'm wondering if the Bravia is stealing this data from the built-in TV Guide info and displaying it on the ".1" channels, or if the Vizio is just stripping out data that Cox is sending down the line, since it was a very inexpensive tv. OR, is it possible Cox is stripping the listing data?

Why is this important? If Cox is stripping the guide listing data, then the 2250 won't be of much use for Clear QAM.

Anybody with a 2250 in a Cox area getting listing data via Clear QAM?

[blade]

I don't understand why you think this matters when it comes to using a 2250 with Sage. If the channels are unencrypted they're unencrypted and you'll be able to tune them. The only thing you need is for zap2it to have the EPG data for the channels.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by blade

I don't understand why you think this matters when it comes to using a 2250 with Sage. If the channels are unencrypted they're unencrypted and you'll be able to tune them. The only thing you need is for zap2it to have the EPG data for the channels.

I realize I can tune to them, but I didn't know that Sage would do a look-up for digital channels. I take it this is based on what zipcode is entered when setting up the 2250?

[gplasky]

You set up your program guide within Sage. Sage and Zap2It handles all of this for you. It is based on your zip code and you actual cable provider. You seem to be struggling with this. If you're in the US Sage and Zap2It probably has all of your channels and program data from you provider Cox. Forget about what your TVs do because they really don't work the same way as Sage.

Gerry

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by gplasky

You set up your program guide within Sage. Sage and Zap2It handles all of this for you. It is based on your zip code and you actual cable provider. You seem to be struggling with this. If you're in the US Sage and Zap2It probably has all of your channels and program data from you provider Cox. Forget about what your TVs do because they really don't work the same way as Sage.

Gerry

thanks - not struggling, I was merely trying to find out if Cox strips any data from their QAM stream, as many cable companies handle this data differently. From the looks of it, there aren't any Cox Orange County users here at the moment.
That being said - if Sage 7 is capable of using multiple tuning devices while simultaneously accessing different zipcodes and postal codes then it's all good as far as getting listing info that can be used for scheduling purposes. I have both U.S. and Canadian tuners, so if that isn't a problem for Sage, or how Sage implements Zap2it, then that's good.

[gplasky]

Sage puts it all in one program guide. I have a HD-PVR which gets it prgramming from my cable provider, a HDHR that gets it programming guide from a neighboring cable provider and another HDHR which gets it programming guide from OTA for Detroit. All the channels, info and data show up in the Programming Guide in Sage from Zap2It. Just pick the channel-it knows what tuner to record from.

Gerry

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Sage puts it all in one program guide. I have a HD-PVR which gets it prgramming from my cable provider, a HDHR that gets it programming guide from a neighboring cable provider and another HDHR which gets it programming guide from OTA for Detroit. All the channels, info and data show up in the Programming Guide in Sage from Zap2It. Just pick the channel-it knows what tuner to record from.

Gerry

I get Detroit in my Shaw local U.S. package - lake effect brrr

[gplasky]

Well for Detroit I have 3 choices for OTA. Detroit-Analog, Detroit-Digital and Detroit-Local. I always pick Digital because of the HD but I'm not sure what the difference is if you choose Local. And I do OTA because the HD picture is much better than the cable from Comcast.

Gerry