[tivoyahoo]

Is anyone getting their HD signal from Comcast cable using their own decoder box not provided by Comcast (I presume their standard issue is the 5100)? If so, what alternative decoder box are you using? I presume it would have to include a QAM tuner? What decoders have QAM tuners compatible with comcast? Does Comcast use QAM256? Are there any decoders that will receive both DirecTV HD and Comcast HD? I'd rather not have the extra component in my rack and pay the $5 equipment rental fee to comcast.


I'm thinking this question may have been answered already, but I can't find it. If so, sorry for the repost, but please point the way to the answer. Thanks.

 

[SonomaSearcher]

The answer is no.

 

[salsbst]

There may be hope for some channels: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...04#post2631504

 

[SonomaSearcher]

There are no current generic STB's which decode 8VSB and QAM. You either get the cable STB offered by Comcast, or buy an HDTV with an integrated tuner which does QAM.


I don't know if any PC cards do QAM, but it appears the answer there is also no from the above link.


You could always wait to see if an STB becomes available which decodes unencrypted QAM. But you could wait a long, long time for it to happen.

 

[salsbst]

Sonoma, yes I agree that the answer for PC cards today (unless you're in the beta for the Fusion III) is no, but they are claiming that October will bring QAM via the PC.

 

[tivoyahoo]

salsbst, thanks for the heads up on the FusionHDTV III (i.e. QAM-capable) card due in October. Is there any projected pricing yet? I'm assuming it will have multiple inputs and do 8VSB also, right?


Are there different versions of QAM? I saw a mention of QAM256. Is that what comcast uses? The 256 refers to encoding method and not encryption, right? Thanks

 

[salsbst]

I think you're correct that 256 doesn't refer to an encryption method, as I don't believe the card has any aspirations to do decryption.


I don't know about pricing. I believe that the previous generations of this card were less than the $400 Hipix that sits in my "unused cards" box (since that card can't do QAM and I've discovered that I can't receive OTA in my apt).


The previous generations were 8VSB only, and I believe the III will do both QAM and 8VSB but I'm not sure if it has multiple inputs (I would guess that it does).


To the best of my knowledge, Comcast is using QAM256 and this card will support that, but my knowledge is very thin. Don't trust me.

 

[FSugino]

Quote:

Originally posted by tivoyahoo Is anyone getting their HD signal from Comcast cable using their own decoder box not provided by Comcast (I presume their standard issue is the 5100)?

Back when AT&T/Comcast was testing HDTV over cable here in Chicago, I used the built-in tuner in my Mits WS65869 to watch HD the signals. See this thread for details.


I haven't tried scanning the cable line since I got my Mot 5100 box, but I think the non-premium stations are still available this way.

 

[tivoyahoo]

Thanks for the good feedback. Has any other manufacturer besides Mitsubishi included a QAM tuner in a television? If so, what makes/models? If so, do any of them have any type of output that could be directed to a hard drive (or other recording device) for straight-through digital HD recording. Presumably the answer is no, but thought I'd ask anyway.


I guess what I'm essentially after is this: Has anyone figured out a way to record in HD what was originally an unencryted QAM encoded signal without using the cable company issued set top box? None of the set top boxes have a digital output for recording, right? So are there any other standalone devices that could either a) do the recording once it was QAM decoded via a digital throughput or b) decode and record using a combo decoder and a hard drive (or d-vhs). Or would using the FusionHDTV III be the first instance of HD recording (without any conversion to analog) of what originated as a QAM encoded signal?


And as far as QAM/QAM256, is there only one encoding method that all cable companies have standardized on, or are there multiple versions of QAM such that a manufacturer would have to build a QAM tuner specific to the individual TW or Comcast proprietary QAM encoding? In other words, could one expect that the FusionHDTV III (and similar future devices) would be compatible with all cable systems/implementations of QAM?

 

[Big D TV]

I receive all of Comcast's HD channels via the built-in QAM tuner in my Mits 65869 RPTV (PBS, ABC, NBC, ESPN HD, HBO HD and Show HD. Other channels are not coming in, just those channels do.

 

[Mr. Grim]

Quote:

Originally posted by tivoyahoo If so, do any of them have any type of output that could be directed to a hard drive (or other recording device) for straight-through digital HD recording. Presumably the answer is no, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Not yet, but this capability should be available on future devices.

Quote:

Originally posted by tivoyahoo I guess what I'm essentially after is this: Has anyone figured out a way to record in HD what was originally an unencryted QAM encoded signal without using the cable company issued set top box? None of the set top boxes have a digital output for recording, right? So are there any other standalone devices that could either a) do the recording once it was QAM decoded via a digital throughput or b) decode and record using a combo decoder and a hard drive (or d-vhs). Or would using the FusionHDTV III be the first instance of HD recording (without any conversion to analog) of what originated as a QAM encoded signal? And as far as QAM/QAM256, is there only one encoding method that all cable companies have standardized on, or are there multiple versions of QAM such that a manufacturer would have to build a QAM tuner specific to the individual TW or Comcast proprietary QAM encoding? In other words, could one expect that the FusionHDTV III (and similar future devices) would be compatible with all cable systems/implementations of QAM?

Not too long ago (late last year) the Cable companies and the Consumer Electronics companies came to an agreement on standards for transmitting digital TV signals over cable. The intended effect of this agreement is that tuners in future STBs, PVRs and TVs will be able to be built to decode digital cable signals--much like the analog 'Cable Ready' TVs and VCRs of the 80's. For these future devices to be able to decode encrypted signals for premium channels, the cable company will send you an POD card (like a PC card for your notebook computer) that will plug into the device.


According to the Consumer Electronics Association , just yesterday, the FCC approved the Digital Cable Plug-and-Play standard. (Warning--Adobe PDF file). It appears that what you are looking for should be available in the very near future.

 

[UncD2000]

The LG LST-3410A (formerly Zenith HDR330) http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=299116 should fill the bill when released, reportedly in November. ;