I am trying to help a friend purchase a gift for her husband. He has an HP dv2000 laptop running Windows XP Media Center Edition. They get their TV via Fios with an SD set-top box. They would like to use the laptop as a PVR.
I know Fios has no unencrypted stations, so I'm guessing that the laptop would need to receive the video signal from the STB via component/composite or S-video, and through a USB dongle or device.
I've searches these boards and others and come across a number of devices that I thought might work, such as the Hauppauge WinTV HVR 1500 or 1950, but in the end all seem to depend on getting a coaxial input from the source and tuning a channel themselves, thus requiring (I believe) Clear QAM transmission.
Since the trend seems to be toward all channels being encrypted, I'm hoping there's something else out there that will fit the bill. Would love anyone's thoughts on the following:
Sorry for the fact that my questions are likely rooted in a great deal of ignorance, and I appreciate any help in educating me!
--Jason
I know Fios has no unencrypted stations, so I'm guessing that the laptop would need to receive the video signal from the STB via component/composite or S-video, and through a USB dongle or device.
I've searches these boards and others and come across a number of devices that I thought might work, such as the Hauppauge WinTV HVR 1500 or 1950, but in the end all seem to depend on getting a coaxial input from the source and tuning a channel themselves, thus requiring (I believe) Clear QAM transmission.
Since the trend seems to be toward all channels being encrypted, I'm hoping there's something else out there that will fit the bill. Would love anyone's thoughts on the following:
- A device which can either decode a FiosTV signal or
- Receive a decoded signal and control a Fios STB and
- Would having XP MCE mean they only need the hardware and that any accompanying software does not matter?
Sorry for the fact that my questions are likely rooted in a great deal of ignorance, and I appreciate any help in educating me!
--Jason
