[Halveb]

I have been lurking for awhile soaking up a lot of information and feel I have a good idea of what I want and unfortunately it isn't yet available. Sounds like my tv will be made sometime in 2004 though.


The question I have is for anyone who has any experience with the new internal QAM tuners being offered with firewire output. I don't think any DBS STB allows recording of any of their digital signals however there are some OTA tuners that have firewire output.


My question is, assuming you receive unscrambled digital cable (No POD yet), do any of these new QAM tuners pass the digital cable signal to the firewire output or will it only allow OTA signals to go to the firewire output?


I believe Kipp has just installed a 48613 at his parents that would have the internal tuner with firewire but don't know if he has a device to check what is being output on the firewire.


Any information would be very helpful, thanks

 

[Kipp Jones]

Hi,

yes they do pass out the in the clear QAM signals via the 1394 firewire. I have been able to record QAM on my PC using the soon to be released Firebus software that I am testing. You may also be able to use the RCA AVHDD that is out for around $400 or so.

 

[Halveb]

Thanks Kipp,


That's the exact news I was hoping to hear. I don't know if my local cable provider scrambles all or just some of their channels so I am going to wait for a tuner with a POD slot. I think the Hitachi T750s will have them this fall with most other Mfgs adding POD slots in 2004.


I was leaning more towards the Mitsubishi WS48613/513 as they are significantly lighter than the comparable Hitachi models but that won't be the ultimate deciding factor.


I am also waiting for some sort of PVR that will function with firewire. The RCA Scenium DLP/AVHDD combo has me very interested but I am not convinced the DLP technology is where it needs to be for one and even more doubtful of RCA based on what I have read. I will wait and see what these sets bring in the next 6 months and then make a decision.


I am relieved to know that clear signals from the QAM tuner are going out the firewire though.