Regular Cable to HDTV

[Anev]

I'm so confused and frustrated with all this TV stuff. All I want to do is watch some of the more interesting channels such as BBC America but to do that I need to get HDTV. Ok, fine.

Currently I have a regular TV downstairs, I want to buy a flat screen (of some sort) for the bedroom and then my PC media center in my office (BeyondTV, etc). I have the "extended" basic cable service but to get the new channels I got to upgrade.

So, with that said, that means I need a ComCast cable box for the old TV downstairs, that's a given. The question I am trying to figure out is what can I get for the Media Center in my office so it can continue to record and use all these fancy channels? Can I upgrade to one of the new HDTV cards for the PC and not have to get a ComCast box? And finally do the new TV Flat Screens need a cable box? If so with the Flat Screens, are they all the same that are on the market right now?

I live in Seattle, ComCast region and I hate the fact that I have to pay for a box (rental fee) to even use the HDTV services (ok, that makes sense on my 32" 8 year old TV downstairs) but a brand new HiDef Flat Screen TV? Add to that, another remote, another box, another thing to worry about. And then what do I do with my BeyondTV PC?

Does any of this make sense, am I asking for to much? Can I get one of the HDTV Tuner Cards like those here and forgo the ComCast box? What about a new flat screen TV, do those work with the cable service with no box?

Any help and advice would be great, I've gotten a headache and I'm just petrified to deal with ComCast until "I" know the facts instead of them telling me.

Carl

[Anev]

I may have answered my own questions with this FAQ found on BestBuy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat49400050010&type=category

In essence, you buy the HDTV service BUT you can't really use it until you buy the box or the CableCARD thing.

That just sounds illegal, that's like selling a car without the tires. To drive the car you got to buy the tires extra and not just the tires but the whole axle and components which just happen to be only available for your model which is only available through your dealer.

Am I missing something here? I have to be, we can't all be that blind to such a scam?

Carl

[mayhem70]

You are in luck. Being in Seattle myself, I can specifically answer your questions.
Do you need a cable box to get HD? No. We get all our local channels via over the air or "clear QAM" (unencrypted digital channels). Any tv capture card/unit that handles ATSC or clear QAM will let you tune those channels even though you aren't paying Comcast for HD service. Same applies for a HDTV that can tuner QAM channels.

The down side, ESPNHD, TNTHD, BBCAmerica HD, and all the ones besides local are all encrypted, which means you need to subscribe to Comcast HD service in order to get those channels.

All the "HD tuners" available for recording on to the computer are only able to record OTA (over the air) and unencrypted digital channels. So the local ones like KIRO, KOMO, etc. If you wanted to record in HD quality those Comcast HD channels like ESPNHD or STARZ HD, then you need to get the Hauppauge HD-PVR unit. Then you have to connect your Comcast HD box to it, which is connected to the computer...and voila HD recordings.

[Anev]

Hmm... That's what it is looking like, get the box to get the additional channels. So using the HD-PVR you can control the ComCast box so I can setup recordings in to BeyondTV? The ComCast box has the ability to connect to BeyondTV I take it. I read up on how you do it, I just don't want to spend all that money and find out I can't use BeyondTV to continue it's recordings.

[mayhem70]

Well if you aren't requiring the recordings to be in HD, you could always record using standard definition using the PVR cards or the HVR cards from Hauppauge. Otherwise recording in true HD is a very recent technology so the pricing is still high.

[sixt5cuda]

You said:

>> I'm so confused and frustrated with all this TV stuff. All I want to do is watch some of the >> more interesting channels such as BBC America but to do that I need to get HDTV. Ok, fine.

I am near Seattle as well, on Comcast. If you subscribe to Comcast Digital Cable and connect the digital cable box to your new HDTV, you will be able to watch BBC America and other channels numbered over 100. You do not need a Comcast HDTV subscription to watch BBC America.

(Comcast Digital Cable and Comcast HDTV are two different products)

Recording BBC America is not a feature my current hardware/software configuration allows me to do. Others have described what is involved.

[chimney]

I didn't know there was a BBC America but I am from the UK.