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Comcast DTA hookup

post #1 of 9
9/16/12 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Hopefully I'm posting this in the correct forum. If not, please let me know.

I've had a Comcast DTA sitting around for a while that I couldn't be bothered to mess with but with the new TV season starting up I'm going to try to get this thing operational with my system. I'm wanting to connect this with a Sony RDR-HX715 DVR/DVD recorder. I'm also using a Mitsubishi WD-52631 DLP TV and an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver (if that makes any difference). I'm trying to figure out if there is a way for the DTA to be set up so that I can record one program to the DVR while watching a second one live. If anyone can provide helpful information on how to get started setting this up for optimal use I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks.
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post #2 of 9
9/16/12 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by neocisco View Post

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way for the DTA to be set up so that I can record one program to the DVR while watching a second one live. .

You need two tuners to do that. One is the DTA (they only have one tuner.) The other is... well, that depends on what channels you want and what else has a tuner.

Since it's Comcast with a DTA, I assume all channels are digital, and the Sony's tuner is now useless. The DTA could feed it, and your TV could (if it has a QAM tuner) tune channels on its own. But it might not pick up all the channels, depending on what Comcast has encrypted and what is in the clear.
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post #3 of 9
9/16/12 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tulpa View Post

You need two tuners to do that. One is the DTA (they only have one tuner.) The other is... well, that depends on what channels you want and what else has a tuner.
Since it's Comcast with a DTA, I assume all channels are digital, and the Sony's tuner is now useless. The DTA could feed it, and your TV could (if it has a QAM tuner) tune channels on its own. But it might not pick up all the channels, depending on what Comcast has encrypted and what is in the clear.

Yes, all digital channels and yes, the TV does have a QAM tuner. I'll move forward with the assumption that the channels I want to regularly watch are not encrypted and can be viewed with the QAM. So I assume I need to split the cable line before connecting it to the DTA so the DTA doesn't interfere with the TV/QAM or is that not an option? Also, would the DVR still be capable of timed recording or does the DTA have to be turned on and on the same channel beforehand in order to record on the correct channel?
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post #4 of 9
9/17/12 at 4:18am
This is an example you can use. Just eliminate the A/B switch and connect one feed from the splitter to the DTA and the DTA to the DVR. The other directly to the TV. And yes, you'll have to have the DTA on and channel selected prior to recording.

http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/cable-tv/connecting-digital-adapter-to-hdtv
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post #5 of 9
9/20/12 at 10:04am
With a Windows 7 and a CableCard tuner you can record up to 32 streams at once if you have that many tuners. Each CableCard can decrypt 6 streams at once.
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post #6 of 9
9/21/12 at 12:18pm
Thread Starter 
That's a little beyond my needs but thanks for the tip nonetheless. smile.gif Hopefully I'll have time in the next few days to get things set up and see what happens.
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post #7 of 9
9/24/12 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post

This is an example you can use. Just eliminate the A/B switch and connect one feed from the splitter to the DTA and the DTA to the DVR. The other directly to the TV. And yes, you'll have to have the DTA on and channel selected prior to recording.
http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/cable-tv/connecting-digital-adapter-to-hdtv

Well, the DVR records from the DTA but the second coax directly connected to the TV gives no signal at all. Any idea if this caused by Comcast having switched all of their channels in my area to all digital signals? If so, I think I need to start checking on OTA antennas.

(Regardless of all of this, what's really annoying is that Comcast has effectively crippled my DVR from recording more than one program while I'm away from home.)
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post #8 of 9
9/25/12 at 4:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by neocisco View Post

... second coax directly connected to the TV gives no signal at all. Any idea if this caused by Comcast having switched all of their channels in my area to all digital signals?

Well, yeah...

Your TV has a clear QAM tuner (digital cable), so it should work directly connected to the TV. Make sure you're RF (cable) input is set to "CABLE" or "DIGITAL CABLE" (not Antenna or AIR) and perform a channel search/scan. You at least should get all of your local channels. Comcast typically does not encrypt locals (and a few other channels).
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post #9 of 9
9/26/12 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
That seemed to do the trick. I have the basic 4 networks plus some throwaway channels. I can watch those in HD while recording the cable channels on the DVR. This should do for now until I decide on a permanent alternative to Comcast. Thanks for the help.
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