Which way should I go? HDhomerun or HVR 1600

[IDRick]

I presently have an HVR 1600 mounted in a P4 2.4 Ghz box with 768 MB RDRAM. I am using Wintv to drive the 1600. A poor choice of software. But, I do get several clear QAM channels and would like to improve my ability to record programming (archive only, use cableco DVR for most tv watching). Questions:

1) I understand the beta version of BTV will capture clear QAM with HVR 1600. How soon before the beta is finalized?

2) My LG HDTV can find more clear QAM stations than the HVR 1600. The tuner locks on some clear QAM channels but will not play them. Could this be due to signal strength? (I have a splitter between HDTV and PC, 60 ft run from cable entry point to computer room).

3) Does the HDhomerun do a better job of tuning clear QAM than the 1600?

4) I am considering the switch to satellite tv next spring and would like to use OTA for HD locals. Which tuner does a better job on OTA, HDhomerun or HVR 1600?

Thank you!

Rick

[IDRick]

Okay, I'll answer my own post.

1) It's in beta, dude. It'll be ready someday, maybe soon, maybe later.

2) Could be. Check it out.

3) No official test facilities nor official testing procedures. Ur on your own...

4) See answer to 3.

Come back in six months. May be good news. You've waited a long time for BTV to have QAM tuning on your HVR 1600. You know it won't be ready until after you switch to satellite and it no longer matters.

[IDRick]

Just found out the bad news today... Clear QAM channels go away on November 11th. Hmmm, perhaps the move to satellite will occur sooner than I planned...

[aurigus0]

I thought that by law cable broadcasters had to have OTA channels (major networks) in Clear QAM? I could be mistaken.

If I were you, I would pick the HVR 1600 if you just plan to view TV on one PC. If you think you might want to watch on another PC, then the HDHomeRun is the way to go.

[IDRick]

Originally Posted by aurigus0

I thought that by law cable broadcasters had to have OTA channels (major networks) in Clear QAM? I could be mistaken.

If I were you, I would pick the HVR 1600 if you just plan to view TV on one PC. If you think you might want to watch on another PC, then the HDHomeRun is the way to go.

You are correct, the HD locals will remain in the clear. We do not watch the major networks all that much, maybe 10 shows a week. Maybe worthwhile to use the old box with the HVR 1600 for tuning locals. Interestingly, CC has the 1600 on sale for $30. Very inexpensive to add a second tuner which gives flexibility.

Do know if there is a difference tuner sensitivity between the HDHR and the HVR 1600?

[ZetaVu]

If you go satellite (or stick with cable) the only way to get encrypted HD is the HD PVR, also being heavily worked on in the beta. Clear QAM should still work on your locals.

THe HVR1600 seems to be getting phased back as the 2250 (dual HD tuner) takes off. Remember, analog tv is gone in February, so Hauppauge is moving away from analog hybrids. I'm hoping they still keep s-video in with hardware encoding for cable and satellite outputs. THe HD PVR will probably be the future path, once they sort out all the bugs, probably with an ota/qam HD tuner as well.

[IDRick]

Good points, Zeta! I've been watching the HD-PVR developments and look forward to future compatability with BTV. My son graduates from college next spring and then I will be able to upgrade my home computer to handle the HD-PVR.

For now, I am considering options for recording OTA. Neither sat service offers HD locals in my area. We're DMA 163 so it likely will be a few years before we get HD locals. My options for OTA are to use the sat dvr tuner or use my old PC equipment for locals. Probably easier to use the sat company's solution but then I lose control over saving to my PC. But, then I really haven't archived much from the networks anyways. The HD PVr is the more exciting option but I wonder how long the analog hole will remain open? It would be a bummer to setup a htpc plus purchase the HD+PVR and BTV and then have the hole close a few months later....

[ZetaVu]

Well, considering the slow uptake of HD in general, I wouldn't be too worried. I'm hoping to at least get the lifetime of the tuner (arbitrarily 5 years) and even then, there are devices that will convert hdmi to component (expensive but they're out there) which should mask HDCP.

One thing to remember, the htpc market is tiny compared to satellite and cable, so the majority will still use their devices. Even if they had permission to block component out (or downgrade it) doing so would mess up a large portion of customers without HDMI in on tvs, and only push people to drop subscriptions for netflix and bittorrent. The only exception they have asked for is first run pay per view movies, knowing that blocking everything would raise too many complaints. Even so, they'll probably try to nudge it year by year, but again, push too hard and they lose subscribers to easier to hack alternatives.

[Rich A]

Analog CABLE (Cox) has been guaranteed for at least several more years. (if I recall from memory the letter I got from Cox said something like 2012) Don't know about other cable companies though.

Cox has explained they will continue to use their analog service so that customers with old analog cable ready TVs won't have to change anything. They stated that they (Cox themselves) will no longer be getting analog feeds, but will down convert the digital feeds to analog so as to continue to provide analog cable. You might check with your cable company to see if they may be doing something different. So far the only cable provider I've seen doing this is Cox.

As to the specific question on the HDHR and HVR-1600, I use both to capture clear QAM digital here. Have been doing that for many months reliably via the Beta testing venue. In my experience the HDHR seems to have a slightly hotter (better) tuner than the 1600. Also I like the fact that it is external to the entire HTPC system and feeds it's source via my LAN. As such I am able to put it close to the main cable feed to insure a good source. Then use my gigabit LAN to move it's output across the house to the HTPC. (Note that the HDHR is a 10/100 device) But every other computer on my LAN is a gigabit system which leaves lots of room for the HDHR transmissions)

I have a home run distribution system so every TV or device has pretty much the same signal level. That being that the HVR-1600 has the same signal input as the HDHR. And as such I have found occasionally the HVR-1600 will have dropped frames more often than the HDHR. In fact I'm thinking of getting rid of the 1600 and buying another HDHR. This will also reduce the load on the HTPC system as well as remove yet another heat source from the chassis.

[IDRick]

Nice summary and outlook for the HD-PVR! Thanks Zeta!

Nice summary and excellent advice Rich! I have noticed issues with occasional dropped frames with the 1600. I usually have to trim 5MB from clear QAM captures and run Quick Stream Fix on the file using Video Redo. I understand that I am part of the problem since I occasionally capture using s-video and Wintv leaves a buffer that affects the next recording. Does BTV correct this issue? It is sad that most of the clear QAM stations are going away in November. OTA locals allows me to acquire HD versions (assuming I switch to satellite) but create their set of issues. I'll have to give this some more thought...

[mudgen]

IDRick, where is the word about clear QAM going away coming from?

[vidiot1985]

Originally Posted by mudgen

IDRick, where is the word about clear QAM going away coming from?

I hope he means that his particular cable operator said they're doing away with clear QAM channels (at least those that don't fall under "must carry" if that even applies anymore??).

[Rich A]

To simplify it the FCC requirements remain the same. All Cable TV providers must provide the "locally over the air available" stations as part of their STANDARD cable package.

The FCC does not specifically state what format those channels should be in. So they could be in analog, or digital or both.

Now if the cable company is all digital, (or has switched to all digital) then they of course will have to provide those local OTA stations as part of their basic digital package. Where the confusion comes in is whether or not they can encrypt those channels. FWIW, even the cable companies don't know (or won't say) what is what as far as OTA local channel service that they provide.

In fact, I have been enjoying Clear QAM cable channels from my COX cable provider for around one year now. And they still contend that I can NOT do it without one of their cable boxes. Most of the sales and many of the technical people didn't have a clue what I was talking about in regards to Clear QAM channels. So I just hooked up my HDHR and more recently my HVR-1600 and have been enjoying the digital offered by them. (as part of my basic service)

In our case here in CT, Cox has actually gone the extra mile for it's users, by committing to keep providing all current analog stations as such until 2012. What I get now is all the analog channels of my expanded plus service, which includes all the locally televised OTA stations, AND also the digital versions of those local stations in clear QAM.

No matter what way the cable company goes, they still have to provide to you all the locally available OTA stations as part of their most basic service. This is part of their agreement with the FCC. HOW they do that is the question. I think you will find they either have to provide those channels in three ways. 1. clear QAM digital. 2. encrypted QAM but through a converter box supplied at no charge. 3. Regular analog un-encrypted channels.

My own personal opinion is that if they DO try to charge you extra for those locally available OTA stations, then I would contact the FCC and complain.

[IDRick]

Originally Posted by vidiot1985

I hope he means that his particular cable operator said they're doing away with clear QAM channels (at least those that don't fall under "must carry" if that even applies anymore??).

Oops, I should hve been more specific. My local cable co is doing away with all clear QAM channels except locals.