What Product to buy to view DIGITAL cable TV on my PC?

[trighap]

Hello all. For years now I have watched all my television on my PC, using a AVerMedia AVerTV hydrid ultra USB device... This did okay with the analog channels. Regretfully, Comcast has gone digital on ALL their channels here where I live, and I am no longer seeing anything but white fuzz. As such, can anyone tell me what device I need to purchase to replace this old one, so that I may see DIGITAL cable, as Comcast sends it? I was going to get a Hauppauge TV stick, but then read in the reviews that several people couldn't see Comcast's with it, so now I am scared to buy anything without asking.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Trighap

[usually_quiet]

An ATSC/QAM tuner will work for the few unencrypted channels you will have available, although set-up can be a pain.

For direct tuning of encrypted channels, your only choice is a digital cable tuner with a CableCARD installed. Digital cable tuners only work with Windows 7's Media Center, and most recordings will be protected .wtv, that are not portable and can't be edited.

The last option is an analog capture device with appropriate connections for for your cable cablebox, which can work with PVR software of some kind, plus an IR blaster to control the cable box. The Hauppauge HDPVR is one such device, but there are some others too.

[jagabo]

Yes, a QAM tuner will pick up un-encrypted digital cable channels. That will be limited to the broadcast channels available in your area and a handful of others. Most QAM channels are encrypted.

If you have a TV with a QAM tuner connect it directly to the cable feed (bypass the cable box) and see what channels it can tune.

[edDV]

Hello all. For years now I have watched all my television on my PC, using a AVerMedia AVerTV hydrid ultra USB device... This did okay with the analog channels. Regretfully, Comcast has gone digital on ALL their channels here where I live, and I am no longer seeing anything but white fuzz. As such, can anyone tell me what device I need to purchase to replace this old one, so that I may see DIGITAL cable, as Comcast sends it? I was going to get a Hauppauge TV stick, but then read in the reviews that several people couldn't see Comcast's with it, so now I am scared to buy anything without asking.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Trighap

If you are a digital cable customer you have 3 choices.

1. Cablecard tuner as explained above (expensive and problematic).

2. Rent a conventional cable box from Comcast.

3. Comcast will usually give you two DTA (Digital Transport Adaptor)* units which convert digital channels to NTSC channel 3 or 4. You change channels with the remote that comes with the DTA. The DTA has to be programmed by the cable company and serial numbers must match your account.

A QAM tuner will get the locals (in HD if they broadcast HD) plus by agreement all PBS subs plus shopping and other channels the cable company provides. You can't get the "digital cable" channels that way.


* The DTA was intended to connect secondary TV sets or VCRs in the household that were formerly tuning direct connected analog channels. It had a secondary purpose to squeeze out all the illegal cable connections.

[olyteddy]

Here: http://www.silicondust.com/support/channels/ is a good place to check out what you get as Clear QAM.