Is this digital or analog connection ?

[Serville]

I have sattelite TV which uses a decoder. The decoder is connected to the TV with A/V connector. It also has another RF connector that can be used as a second output. This RF connector is the one I'm currently using with my old Winfast TV Tuner 2000/XP. The limitation is that my tuner can only show the channel the decoder is currently tuning. So, I believe this is still an analog connection, right ?

Then how do I make this a digital connection ? Satelite TV is supposed to be digital, am I right ?
Is there any way I can make my tuner select its own channel without using the remote on the decoder ? Problem is, the decoder is in my room, and my computer is outside the room. It's very impractical for me run back and forth.

Aside from this RF connection, my TV also has S-Video Output, Composite Output, and A/V output.
Is it better to connect my computer to this S-Video in my TV, or directly to the RF connector in my decoder ?

[lumis]

Not gonna happen.

Unless your sat box has some kind of firewire output or something to let you capture the transport mpeg stream, you're going to have to stick with your analog methods of capturing.

S-Video is the best option you have when choosing from RF/Coaxial, RCA/composite, & S-Video.

If you have Dish Network you might want to contact them about getting a DVR. When I had Dish Networ I was able to pull the HDD from the box & extract the programs. It was a pain in the ass and a half, but it worked and it was the exact same quality as it was when it came down the pipe. But maybe not, I've heard Dish Network got in some legal trouble with their DVR's.

[edDV]

The RF connection you describe is the lowest of the analog. Broadcasters use $2000-15,000 NTSC encoders. The box you are connected to tries to do the same thing with a $2 part.

Consider the Ch3 or Ch4 a 1 on a scale of 10 (10 best for standard definition).

If you could get to a composite NTSC + audio connection, that would get you to a 3-4 for SD.

Next best is S-Video for a solid 6.

YPbPr will get you an 8.

A digital connection (VGA or DVI or HDMI) might get you in the 9-10 level for standard definition.

HDTV moves up from there.