Please recomend a tuner for OTA and QAM recording at the same time

The best option for your needs is the HD Homerun-

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0266804

Works out of the box with Linux/Myth. Dual QAM/ATSC tuners. Standard Ethernet interface- no drivers needed, works on any OS past, present and future. Doesn't add power/heat internally in your HTPC like internal card(s) would. Any computer on your network- wired or wireless-g or higher can see the tuners and watch /record TV using standard browser and network protocols, view the tuners (watch HDTV) with VLC player

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Unscrambled clearQAM, of course.

If you want to record scrambled HD channels, you'll need a cable box with analog HD component outs that haven't been disabled by your Cable/Sat OverLords () and the Hauppauge HD-PVR-

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0292609

Others can chime in with recommended internal PCI/PCIe tuner cards.

I'll second the HDHomerun choice.

HDHomerun!

One turner for OTA and one for ClearQAM from cable. Or get two HDHomeruns and then you're have two OTA's and two cables..... Just plug them in anywhere on the network and you're good to do.

I thought you wanted inexpensive? For half that you can install a couple of internal PCIe cards. Or I just picked up my 3rd HDT7 Dual Express card for $77 total. I need to quit buying tuners. Got 3 I don't use now. i think I'll throw them in a spare PC, install Mythtv and sell it.

To me the huge plus for the HDHR is it's external to the HTPC and on the network. Sometimes I sit at my desk upstairs from the HTPC and watch TV as I'm working using the hdhomerun_gui which is downloaded from silicon dust.

The HDHR has a IR receiver built in and you can use a remote control without needing additional hardware.

And that's the disadvantage I see in it. I've got 6 tuners (3 dual) in my server. I don't like the idea 3 more external boxes and power bricks, nor the extra bandwidth it takes to stream 6 hdtv shows at once just for recordings. Not to mention I'd have to buy another switch to hook them up. As for watching TV or recordings, you can do the same thing with internal tuners in the server. In fact I rarely watch TV or recordings at the system where the recordings are stored, or the tuners are installed. As for remotes, many tuners come with them and receivers. But they wouldn't do me any good since I don't watch TV where they would be located. IR receivers can be had for $1.50 anyway.

The whole point and purpose of the HDHR is *because* it's external and Ethernet enabled. The point is to mount it or shelve it where your Ethernet switch is located. My main 8 port whole house switch is mounted between joists in the basement near the furnace and water heater where the cable and phone enter the house.

It's good practice to treat the home network as infrastructure like the electrical, phone and cable TV. The HDHR is then easily added as another infrastructure device mounted in a junction box or between joists in a basement, out of sight, feeding the whole network.

The HDHR is infrastructure, not an A/V component.

Careful, there are now two versions of the HDHomeRun. There is a new model with only one tuner. Be sure you know what you are getting.

Three versions, if you count the "Tech" version that can do multi-cast streaming (but I doubt very many home users ever pay the extra bucks just to get multi-casting and a bunch of diagnostics modes).