What tuner sources do you use?

[equalize]

I have the Colossus and the HVR-2250 dual tuner. The 2250 was used for recording clear QAM cable channels and the Colossus recording off the cable box (HDMI) for anything else. Life was good until about 2 weeks ago when Comcast decided to encrypt the local stations. This rendered the 2250 useless and now I’m down to using a single tuner (Colossus) for everything. I have a cable jack on the wall for the antenna on the roof (never tried it so I hope it works) so I might try using the 2250 for OTA signals.

For those who have multiple tuners and have cable TV what sources or workarounds do you use? Multiple cable boxes? I am most curious.

[BobPhoenix]

I have multiple servers but one is similar to your's:

Colossus to record from DirecTV. HVR-2250 to record from OTA. AverMedia Duet to record OTA. 2 HVR-950Qs to record QAM - WGN and locals since I have internet with my local cable company I get the locals and WGN for free. Considering the exorbitant cost for internet it really isn't free so I don't really feel guilty.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by BobPhoenix

I have multiple servers but one is similar to your's:

Colossus to record from DirecTV. HVR-2250 to record from OTA. AverMedia Duet to record OTA. 2 HVR-950Qs to record QAM - WGN and locals since I have internet with my local cable company I get the locals and WGN for free. Considering the exorbitant cost for internet it really isn't free so I don't really feel guilty.

are listings supplied for OTA programs, or do you have to manually enter each channel and time for recordings?

[sflamm]

sorry for the question, but how do you use the colossus to record the STB output - isnt it protected by hdcp?

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

are listings supplied for OTA programs, or do you have to manually enter each channel and time for recordings?

Provided by the standard SageTV EPG. Digital 50313 specifically.

Originally Posted by sflamm

sorry for the question, but how do you use the colossus to record the STB output - isnt it protected by hdcp?

Get a splitter and it will record fine if HDMI is protected. My DirecTV HR21 doesn't need the splitter as it isn't protected - at least yet.

Edit: I am getting the link SHS posted in another thread for the splitter. Found it: Look at the link in this post works with my DirecTV H24 STB.

[sflamm]

Got it ... I bought the 'special' splitters a while back for insurance but have not put them into action...

for STBs still using my venerable HD-PVRs... but now mostly rely on my HDHR Prime or Ceton4.

Only a couple channels cannot be captured with these (and I dont subscribe to premiums).

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by equalize

... Life was good until about 2 weeks ago when Comcast decided to encrypt the local stations. This rendered the 2250 useless and now I’m down to using a single tuner (Colossus) for everything.

If FiOS ever decide to encrypt everything, that would be the last straw for me. I will join the cord cutter cult, and sadly, say good bye to SageTV.

[Deacon Crusher]

7 tuners with comcast in bay area.

2 ATSC - Kworld UB435Q connected to attic mounted Channel Master CM2016 antenna, great reception,
4 Cable via Ceton and SageDCT,
1 HD-PVR
(in tuner priority order)

Works great.
I pay for a Cable card for the Ceton, just costs a couple bucks a month and get one hd tuner as part of account that is hooked up to the HD-PVR.

HD-pvr is only in use when recording off HBO or Showtime (copy protected channels) or when I'm simultaneously recording more then 5 shows that are only available via comcast.

Works great. I and my family love Sage.

[sflamm]

Comcast in bay area...

Mine is very similar - in priority order:

1 x HDHR Prime
1 x Ceton InfiniTV4
2 x HD-PVR

Also use HD-PVR with cable boxes (with firewire tuning) to ensure recording of premium content and a couple channels neither the Prime or Ceton can tune.

Works like a charm.

[equalize]

Exactly how do Ceton InfiniTV cards work? How would I approach Comcast to make this work as it seems it’s the answer to my predicament ?

[sflamm]

Ceton InifniTV4 is a PCIe x1 tuning card with 4 tuners. It plugs into your computer and then you plug a cable card into it.

It is much like an HDHR Prime with two major differences: 1) the Prime is a standalone box which consumes little power 2) the Prime has only 3 tuners

There is an external CetonEth4 which is very similar to the Prime.

In both the Ceton and Prime you need to call your cable provider to activate the cable card once it is plugged in (much like you activate a cable box). The diagnostic software that comes with each will tell you when the cable card is successfully active (see detailed installation instructions on their respective websites for more info)

Use SageDCT in conjunction with either solution...

[Fuzzy]

If all you were getting before on the 2250 was the locals, you might want to check what you'd get with an antenna hooked to it. I'd pull up tvfool.com, and take a look at signal strengths at your house. Odds are, the quality is better than what the cable-co's been feeding you anyway.

[equalize]

Originally Posted by sflamm

Ceton InifniTV4 is a PCIe x1 tuning card with 4 tuners. It plugs into your computer and then you plug a cable card into it.

Where would I get a cable card?

[equalize]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

If all you were getting before on the 2250 was the locals, you might want to check what you'd get with an antenna hooked to it. I'd pull up tvfool.com, and take a look at signal strengths at your house. Odds are, the quality is better than what the cable-co's been feeding you anyway.

I tried the antenna jack and got nothing. No signal at all.

[sflamm]

To get a cable card go to your local cable provider office (just like picking up a cable box).

My provider is Concast and the first cable card is free - others are $1.5 per mo.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by equalize

I tried the antenna jack and got nothing. No signal at all.

With what kind of antenna? I find it hard to believe you get NOTHING anywhere in the chicago area.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by equalize

Where would I get a cable card?

CableCards are leased from the cable company.

[johnboatcat]

I have been using:
HVR-2250 to record cable (extended cable provided by condo, no box)
AverMedia HD Duet for OTA (to get the basics in HD)
ATI TV Wonder Elite for cable over flow

Now Brighthouse is going all encrypted digital with copy once flags on everything. They are giving us two free Cisco DTA 170HD's till 2015 then $1.00/month after. Additional DTA's over two are $1.00/month now. This is good and bad. The DTA has a far superior signal on normal channels like History and they are throwing in a bunch of HD channels like Bravo, SyFy, Spike, Discovery etc. I was using the OTA to get better basics, but now the basics are HD from the DTA so not really needed.

The bad is that I am going to be stuck controlling one DTA per tuner, or in the case of the 2250 per board. I don't think the 2250 can use two sources (DTA's) even if one is using the composite input and one the coax. This leaves me one tuner down and no way to control the DTA on the ATI. (The Cisco 170HD has an analog coax or HDMI out. Even the analog coax is far superior to normal cable.)

I have been experimenting with the DTA with an old Hauppauge 1950 (not reliable, has the heat problem) and I got the blaster trained to work with it on a Win 7/32 system. So the blaster can switch the Cisco 170HD's. I can't get it to work on the main Win 7/64 with the 2250 on board. I have a 2250 IR cable set coming so there is still hope there. I have read in the forum that two Haupp's don't make a whole, and cause problems when combined in some systems. That still leaves the ATI to control so really it seems that a USB-UIRT is the answer anyway. I also could just leave the ATI on the channel I record the most and isolate it somehow to be the only tuner recording that channel. The cable card tuner route wouldn't work because of the flagged channels.

I know that is a lot of data, but I was wondering if any of you who obviously have a lot more experience than me at this might see some better solutions. Thanks!

[sflamm]

out of curiosity how do you know there are copy once flags on everything?
that is highly unusual...

[Fuzzy]

Agreed, that is odd that they are ALL copy once. Most carriers limit the copy protection to 'high value' content (premium channels, VoD, PPV, etc). In such a case, where it is limited to a small subset of channels that are not watched frequently, it might make the best sense to go with a cablecard tuner for the bulk of recording, and a single HD-PVR/Colossus for the premiums.