Questions about my setup!

[HebrewHammer]

OK, so i have digital cable and in my room, I have the coaxial split: One cable goes to my cable box, and the other to my tv tuner in my computer. I just got the WinTV-HVR-500 because I wanted the dual tuner and everything looked pretty good. Then I recently got a 22" widescreen capable of doing 1080p. Does the WinTV-HVR-500 do digital/hdtv? Or should I return it and get the WinTV-HVR-1600? Because i've been noticing that currently tv on my computer looks pretty crappy, will the WinTV-HVR-1600 fix it because i know i get digital cable.

Also, is there a digital tuner that you guys would suggest other than the WinTV-HVR-1600?

And incase you are wondering, i bypass my cable box b/c i don't need it to watch any channels other that on-demand, i don't want to go through the hassle of an IR blaster, and I don't want my computer changing the channel on my tv when i'm watching it.

Thanx!!!

[tscales]

You cannot receive Cable based HD into BTV (or Windows MCE). Do a search on the forums as there are thousands of posts. There are firewire workarounds, but they don't work for me.

You need an antenna for HD

[HebrewHammer]

I understand I won't get HD over cable but, I don't think my WinTV-HVR-500 does digital cable and I was wondering if I get a tv tuner like the WinTV-HVR-1600, will tv look better than it is now b/c now its really crappy.

[thundermax]

Did you mean: WinTV-PVR-500 ?

it is a long read, but may address your problem -> Hauppauge WinTV PVR 500 MCE

[HebrewHammer]

Yes, im sorry, i meant the WinTV-PVR-500.

[tscales]

How are you connected from the cable box to the PVR500? S-video?

The 1600 won't be any better

[thundermax]

i exchanged my PVR-500 with Samsung tuners for one with Phillips tuners and it is much better image quality. Check out the thread I linked to, it covers a variety of issues people have had with it.

[HebrewHammer]

It is connected through coaxial, and I do have digital cable, does the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 500 MCE do digital cable? And if not, will buying a atsc tuner like the Hauppauge WinTV HVR 1600 make a difference in quality?

I've been reading the thread about the whole tuners thing. How would I get one with Phillips tuners?

[thundermax]

I don't know much about digital cable

i got mine by emailing Hauppauge tech support directly. They are aware of the situation. I would suggest contacting whoever you bought it from as well as Hauppage and see if either will replace it. I didn't return mine to newegg because they required I send back the box and all original packing materials, which I did not have.

[pvrguy]

I believe BTV only records in analogue/stereo from all sources other than OTA tuner setups. So the 150/500 Hauppauge cards (or any analogue cards) will not give you true digital but you can record from a digital STB either via coax or s-video.