Multiple digital cable boxes? (1 Viewer)

[nhoffman82]

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to tv capturing and tuning, I've been trying to do a lot of research though. Are my conclusions based on my setup correct?

I have 3 tvs at home, & 2 digital cable boxes. If I wanted to use my computer downstairs as a server, and interface with digital cable from my 3 TVs, I would...

1) Have to rent another box, because for each different client there needs to be a different box, correct?
2) Install three TV tuner cards to interface separately with each box (is there any external solution for this, I don't think I have 3 open pci slots).
3) I could then, in practice, have three different TVs accessing pre-recorded shows, live tv, or recording tv simultaneously?

It would be ideal if I could just use one set-top box to interface with all three, but from my understanding that's not possible I need all three working individually with 3 cards. I have 3 laptops for the 3 TVs acting as clients, and a powerful desktop system downstairs acting as the server (all through wireless networking). I know there's software configuration, but I'm just looking at the hardware setup for now. Thanks in advance for the help, it is much appreciated.


P.S. What exactly is meant by a transponder (as it relates to cable)?

 

[Dubyahjay]

You could have two capture cards that have twin analogue tuners each such as http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116628
that would take up two PCI slots in your server. That would allow you to have up to 4 set top boxes connected with 4 streams at once.

Then you can have small HTPC clients at each tv and watch recorded or live content using TVserver.