What I'm trying to find out is whether MythTV can actually be set up to work with a Digital Cable input or an input from a satalite receiver. Specifically, tune stations on it's own without changing stations on the STB, and also record those stations.

I havn't found definitive answers, and I admit I may not have looked enough. But if someone can point me in the correct direction here. Maybe provide some good web resources? Please consider that I am a newbie at Linux and anything to do with it.

THanks

TREVOR

No, the only way you'll really get away with it is doing an analog capture from the STB. You can capture QAM in the clear digital cable without an STB but I don't get the feeling that's what you're looking for. You also have the possibility of firewire out of the STB but again, the STB is still involved.

You can't do it without the set top box for Satellite, but, as stated, you can use QAM without a cable set top box. How many digital stations you'll get with QAM depends on your cable provider. You can also get all of your analog cable stations with an NTSC tuner card. I use QAM and NTSC to get 90% of the stations I want without a cable box, but YMMV. The firewire option is also dependent on your box and cable provider but may allow you to get many more stations, using the set top box, however.

thanks for the info guys.

As for the firewire option out of a STB. Does that Firewire out provide the unmolested signal (ie. Passthrough) of the cable signal or just a signal containing the channel the STB is currently set to?

TREVOR

I have some Linux experience but I am just putting together a htpc, so I don't have alot to add of my own. But you should check the modded receivers--search for r5000 mod (by Nextcom I think) and 169time.com. Also, dbstalk is a good forum to check out. One note--I have no idea if the modded boxes will work after DTV's new satellites launch, assuming they do. Finally, Mythtv related sites will have information.

I'm going to have a better idea starting in about a week :) (Cox Digital Cable standard def service). My tuner (Hauppauge PVR-150) has RF, S-video, and composite video inputs. The Cox settop box has RF (channel 3), S-video, and (I think) composite output. My plan is to keep using the PVR-150 for analog signals and the S-video or composite output of the STB for the digital channels. A 3rd option is to feed the STB output into my tuner/DVD recorder or a VCR and pick up the signal there. I will need to get the IR Blaster on the PVR-150 working to be able to schedule recordings easily; otherwise I will have to use manual scheduling and set the STB up on one channel.