Can anyone recommend me a cableCard for Comcast digital cable? (1 Viewer)

[dotrat1989]

Hello,

I am looking into building a HTPC and I am wondering what Cable Card should I buy for Comcast digital cable... Any suggestions?

 

[milhouse]

It was my undestanding that the whole cablecard thing has been a fiasco. There are no cablecard-based TV cards that can be purchased, except with a prebuilt system, and they work only with Vista and MCE due do the DRM crap. In other words, even if you had one, Mediaportal can't support it.

Maybe cablecard 2 (or truview, or whatever they are calling it) will be better, but I am not holding my breath that we'll get any open source compatible decrypters.

Move to Europe and buy a DBB-C card and CAM is the only suggestion I can make.

 

[dotrat1989]

What can I use to make my HTPC with comcast?

 

[milhouse]

Depends. Need more information on channel types (QAM or encrypted) and connection to TV (HD or S-video).

Analog channels will work just plugging the cable into any analog tuner card.

Unencrypted digital channels (e.g. your locals) you should be able to receive with any ATSC digital tuner card, live the Hauppauge HVR series, again just plugging the cable into the tuner card. No cable card required.

Encrypted channels you'll have to use the set-top box (STB). So it's a question of how to connect the set top box to your tuner card. Probably S-video, and an IR blaster to control the STB. There is not a good way to capture HD signals via tuner card - no consumer grade HDMI input cards that I am aware of.

 

[dotrat1989]

I live in the Boston area and I have the digital cable box. I receive HDTV and I use a set-top box right now.... So what is the best tuner card for my situation?... I am a newb in the HTPC scene so if there's a detailed guide on how to set this up, I would love to see it. Thanks for the help so far.