Integrating TWC and MedialPortal (1 Viewer)

[unrevealable]

I've been using MP for viewing videos for quite a while and it's fantastic! I have yet to use it to watch any commercial tv though. I've been doing a bit of reading and would appreciate some help understanding what my options are for integrating Time Warner Cable TV with MP.

I would like to use my MP/PC interface to do everything video, including TV and not have to switch TV inputs in order to watch regular cable. I currently have a Digital/HD cable package that include cable, HD, and pay channels. I understand that cable companies don't want to make it too easy to work outside of their box but I'm hoping there's a way.

I've been reading that you can order a cableCARD from TWC, however, the original one-way cards don't offer may of the advanced services. I then checked and read about the tru2way cards. According to the TWC website, they have those cards available. I then tried to find a video/tuner card for my PC that supports tru2way, only to find references that the technology is dead and nobody is making devices for it. What's the story?

It sounds like if I could find a PCI-e card that has a cableCARD tru2way compatible slot, I could do everything I want. Do these things exist?

What are my options if I just keep the TWC set-top box? How can I integrate that in with my MP-HTPC?

I would hope to view all video, including cable tv, through my PC interface (HDMI) and not have to change inputs on the TV to watch cable. I am not interested in only over-the-air stations. I do want all of the stations the cable company offers.

I would also like to use the HTPC as a DVR for the cable channels if possible. I would need to control channel changing through MP/HTPC and would want to use an integrated cable guide as well.

I'm afraid I'm asking the impossible but figured I would ask.

I have a home-built HTPC with a dual-core AMD processor, 4GB ram, 1-TB external eSATA storage, onboard NVIDIA HDMI video output, Windows 7 home/64-bit.

Thanks in advance for any tips/hints/advice/etc.

 

[Darkbee]

I'm sad to see there's no reply to this thread. I'm a complete PVR/HTPC noob and I'm currently researching what TV card/s would be a good choice, but the more I read the more I think I should just not bother. I have Time Warner Cable Digital Cable too and it seems like I'm basically dead in the water before I've even started. If I understand correctly I could buy a QCAM supporting TV Tuner card, and I'd be able to view any unencrypted digital channels. However, given that TWC basically has a monopoly here in Upstate New York, I'm fairly confident in saying that they would only offer the barest of minimum unencrypted channels (probably a dozen if I'm lucky). Normally an optimist, where TWC is concerned and their total lack of customer service it's always best to err on the side of utter epic-fail.

So assuming the worst, can I then use a TV Tuner card with the digital set top box? What would be the disadvantages of this? I have to confess I really don't understand the technology enough (both cable and TV Tuner side) to wrap my head around it. I'm assuming that if I'm tied to the cable box that I'm basically restricted to one channel at a time for anything (viewing or recording)? If this is true then this sort of defeats the purpose of having a PVR/HTPC. I suppose that is why the cable companies offer all these (paid) services because they basically don't want you to have your own system.

As you've probably gathered now, I'm currently drowing in doubt and confused. I'd really love to have something like MediaPortal to allow me to control my home multimedia experience but I'm very confused and unconvinced that it's even possible at the moment given my circumstances. Can anyone give me a vague glimmer of hope to cling to?

 

[redeye19987]

It looks like your dreams have been realized:

The Ceton InfiniTV4 quad tuner (yes quad tuner). Supports all US Cable Providers.

Multi-Stream Tuner Cards by Ceton

I was looking at a recent HTPC build with this but looks like it is no good for me in Australia. The only thing is MediaPortal support, as this is new, there will be little.

Good Luck

 

[unrevealable]

Thanks for the response. While this card looks like it will support the TWC cableCARD device that will give you encrypted channels and (I believe) full HD, however, TWC does support tru2way, which gives you the ability to access more advanced features such as MOD and start-over. This card does not seem to support it though

The other thing I question about this card is that it is created to support windows media player. Will all of the features work with MediaPortal?

Could someone please confirm whether this card will work with all of the encrypted content on TWC? I guess I could give up the advanced features in order to access all of the content through MP and have a working DVR solution.

Thanks

 

[redeye19987]

The card is simply a tv tuner. You don't have to use it for Windows Media Centre though it being optimised for it is probably more of a good thing.
I currently have my cable running through MediaPortal. I have Component out into my Hauppauge 1300MCE tv tuner. This uses the analogue tuner and there is some loss in quality, My only HD channels are FTA which is from the antenna input. Also all of the channels need to mapped individually so can be time consuming if you have 100's of channels. Also I use a Media Centre Remote IR receiver with a blaster stuck to the front of my Cable STB to change channels from MediaPortal. As you have HD content coming through your STB this is probably not the solution for you. Just showing you though that it can be done.

Maybe some others can assist that have HD content coming through their Cable STB as to their set up and the TV tuner they are using. I would say though that the card in my previous post will be your best solution as that is the top of the line, most advance tuner that's probably around at the moment. This only thing is that it is an expensive purchase to be a test guinea pig .

Good luck!

EDIT: Apologies, you are correct that this only currently works with windows 7 and Windows Media Centre. Aparently that is the only software supported to decrypt any encrypted channels. It seems that it may work with "Copy Freely" channels. Some good comments to read on this post:
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/ceton_infinitv_4_review