QAM Tuner Cards(Fusion)

[ChuckJr]

I have looked at several TV Tuner Cards info:
...> Fusion HDTV Card w/QAM or Fusion USB HDTV w/QAM
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/Products/

It also looks like Fusion TV Tuners are "software encoding" versus
"hardware encoding"; is this a problem ?
Can I still watch QAM unencrypted channels with these tuners most anywhere ?

BTW: Looking at the Fusion TV Tuner Products, it seems they are all just for HDTV w/QAM and doesn't include the NTSC (OTA) signals...( sigh )

What source ( website ) does it show what QAM( unencryted channels - i.e, ESPN, Golf Channel, and few others too ) that I can pickup and watch via a QAM TV Tuner ? I would like to know, exactly how many channels I can pickup.

Before I decide on a HDTV w/QAM TV Tuner, whether I can pickup quite a few of these QAM channels; and if it worth it or nor and just get a NTSC TV Tuner OR a HDTV(ATSC) with NTSC TV Tuner combination.

[Vladi]

Originally Posted by ChuckJr

I have looked at several TV Tuner Cards info:
...> Fusion HDTV Card w/QAM or Fusion USB HDTV w/QAM
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/Products/

It also looks like Fusion TV Tuners are "software encoding" versus
"hardware encoding"; is this a problem ?
Can I still watch QAM unencrypted channels with these tuners most anywhere ?

BTW: Looking at the Fusion TV Tuner Products, it seems they are all just for HDTV w/QAM and doesn't include the NTSC (OTA) signals...( sigh )

What source ( website ) does it show what QAM( unencryted channels - i.e, ESPN, Golf Channel, and few others too ) that I can pickup and watch via a QAM TV Tuner ? I would like to know, exactly how many channels I can pickup.

Before I decide on a HDTV w/QAM TV Tuner, whether I can pickup quite a few of these QAM channels; and if it worth it or nor and just get a NTSC TV Tuner OR a HDTV(ATSC) with NTSC TV Tuner combination.

I have the Fusion HDTV 5 Lite. It is both an ATSC OTA tuner, and a NTSC TV tuner with QAM capabilities, so you can watch HDTV OTA, standard analog cable, and unencrypted digital QAM cable. The two problems are it has only one coax input and it is a software based card. I tried to use a signal diplexer but it did not work. While you do not need a hardware encoder for HDTV OTA (the signal is already MPEG-2), it is preferable to have a hardware encoding card for cable TV. For these reasons, I got a second card for cable TV - Diamond 550 PVR.
Hope this helps.

[jebbbz]

It is up to each cable TV company to decide what QAM signals to broadcast unencrypted, except for a relatively small number of local "must carry" stations that must be carried in the clear (usually, the same shows that local stations broadcast over the air). They don't publish information about unencrypted QAM because they want you to rent a convertor box from them and, besides, they usually encrypt everything the law allows them to. You should count on only getting local broadcasts in the clear via QAM cable.

That said, you can check at AVS Forums for local channel availability. Try:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forum...ysprune=7&f=45

and see if there is a thread on your location.

One advantage to the Fusion 5's is that if it turns out that you get poor OTA digital standard and HDTV by antenna you still have a shot with QAM via cable.

[tbil99]

So can BeyondTV handle QAM if I have a QAM capable card like the Fusion 5. I've read elsewhere that it cannot.

[jebbbz]

Originally Posted by tbil99

So can BeyondTV handle QAM if I have a QAM capable card like the Fusion 5. I've read elsewhere that it cannot.

Real Soon, Now, Promise.

Snapstream say they are working to add QAM capability to BTV4 but for now you would have to use the software that comes with the Fusion tuners (or some other app). VBox tuners do not officially support QAM but one of their marketing reps has said that some people have gotten VBox's to work with QAM (I have no idea how).

So, you are correct that BTV4 does not currently support QAM (although Fusion drivers do) but with luck BTV4 soon will. This prospect has me leaning towards the Fusion5 USB has tuner.

[Eric3a]

Yes if you are lucky enough to live in a place where the cable co uses unencrypted QAM the Fusion is the way to go I believe.

BTV support of QAM seems logical and integral part of HD support. Let's hope eventually it will find it's way in BTV 4.
Eric