Poll: how do you plan to acquire HDTV?

[cat6man]

If I missed something important, we can increase the number of options.

How would you prefer to record HDTV with BTV?

1. OTA (over the air) from hardware card (internal or via USB)
2. Cable box via firewire/1394
3. Satellite box via firewire/1394

[rakeshagrawal]

"Digital tuner on the PC with cable card support" is probably a missing option.

And I think the question you mean to ask is "How would you like to acquire HDTV?" because I think the actual way people will get HD will be dictated by certain other realities... like whether they are actually _able_ to acquire it by a particular means or what they are and aren't able to do with the signal once they receive it.

[cat6man]

I have not heard even a hint of an internal PC card with cable card capabilities but that would be an interesting possibility....and probably
drive the cable companies nuts since their support for cable cards
is minimal to begin with (since it cuts into their PVR renting revenues as
well as on-demand fees).

Do you have any links to companies proposing such a product?
(that you can share with us and not violate any NDAs)

If you think this is something we may see this calendar year, in your
considered professional opinion, we should add that option.

Thanks.

[bnflaherty]

I think Rakesh was referring to DVB cable -- rather than OTA cards...

[k_kirk]

Would you like to capture the number of people who simply can't use HD yet because there is no broadcast in their area? This could be an option in this poll. Thanks

[btdown]

Could we please have an option for "I dont plan to use HDTV"
I think it would be usefull...

[sloanja]

Unfortunately, not having HDTV is not an option, as soon in the future, it will be a requirement by law which will then turn off analog transmissions. Exactly when this will happen has been projected from just a few (3) years to as many as 15 years. But ultimately, unless you die or don't watch tv in the next 20 to 30 years, you will have HDTV.

[Rich A]

It's not an "HDTV" mandate. Only that analog stations are all switched over to "digital". They don't have to be HD.

They've already moved the date a couple times. Last I heard was it is not sometime in 2006. It's not such a big deal really. There are already over the air tuner/converters that will receive all the various flavors of digital TV and it will down convert it so you can still keep your old analog tv. True you won't get the full DTV experience but a high quality DTV signal even being down-converted to your analog TV will be better than the original analog.

You can get one of those tuners right now at WalMart's for under 200 bucks.

[TV Scheduler]

I have good collection of stuff and a Cable box with FireWire is looking like the way to go. No TV cards. No IR Transmitters. It's simple, clean, low cost and reliable.

Bob

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by Rich A

It's not an "HDTV" mandate. Only that analog stations are all switched over to "digital". They don't have to be HD.

They've already moved the date a couple times. Last I heard was it is not sometime in 2006. It's not such a big deal really. There are already over the air tuner/converters that will receive all the various flavors of digital TV and it will down convert it so you can still keep your old analog tv. True you won't get the full DTV experience but a high quality DTV signal even being down-converted to your analog TV will be better than the original analog.

You can get one of those tuners right now at WalMart's for under 200 bucks.

But it's still a digital signal you're receiving, so *is* a mandate. Perhaps the better question is how we plan to receive DTV signals rather than HDTV signals - I believe the essense of the original question above remains.

The FCC is drooling all over the selling of the UHF/VHF bands, make no mistake. This *will* happen sooner rather than later.

[btdown]

I disagree...Its not the same. The purpose of the poll was to evaluate interest in HDTV---and I would think there are a fair share of us that dont need/want, or see any current value in HDTV.

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by btdown

I disagree...Its not the same. The purpose of the poll was to evaluate interest in HDTV---and I would think there are a fair share of us that dont need/want, or see any current value in HDTV.

My apologies, then. To me the poll looked like a question of how we would be receiving the signal, not interest in the format itself.

I don't mean to put words into the author's virtual mouth, but the poll ultimately looks like a method of gaining some credibility in the STB vs. OTA argument, which is valid since SS has announced support for OTA but not STB.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by optikhog

But it's still a digital signal you're receiving, so *is* a mandate. Perhaps the better question is how we plan to receive DTV signals rather than HDTV signals - I believe the essense of the original question above remains.

The FCC is drooling all over the selling of the UHF/VHF bands, make no mistake. This *will* happen sooner rather than later.

The FCC has been "stealing" bands from other areas for years. As far as the VHF/UHF TV Frequencies go, most will remain. The digital TV stations are using a large portion of the current VHF and the UHF TV frequencies for digital.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by cat6man

I have not heard even a hint of an internal PC card with cable card capabilities but that would be an interesting possibility....and probably
drive the cable companies nuts since their support for cable cards
is minimal to begin with (since it cuts into their PVR renting revenues as
well as on-demand fees).

Do you have any links to companies proposing such a product?
(that you can share with us and not violate any NDAs)

If you think this is something we may see this calendar year, in your
considered professional opinion, we should add that option.

Thanks.

You want to look for a card that is QAM capable. They do exist. These cards will decode the digital cable TV channels that are NOT encrypted. Almost all cable companies do not encrypt their standard digital signals and only do encrypt the pay-for-view and other premium channels like HBO etc. But you should be able to get all the standard digital channels.

The cards are out there now. One (If I recall correctly) is being marketed by a company named "Fusion Tech." or something like that .. Sorry don't have the information in front of me. Do a search for QAM and cable TV and you should find more information.

Also of interest will be the newer digital cable ready TVs. These TVs will have a card slot where you can plug in a card that will allow that TV to receive all the digital channels that you subscribed to at your cable company. These cards will be distributed by the cable companies themselves. Most likely rented like set top decoder/tuner, which you won't need with a digital-TV ready TV.

[cat6man]

rich,

i agree with everything you said (and was aware of the details) but it still does not address my specific concern.

i am aware of the QAM cards but i am looking for any indication of a QAM solution that also supports a cable card so encrypted
and premium channels can be viewed. the absence of that functionality
is a main driver in pushing for a firewire solution, which enables all those channels via either a "firewired cable box" or a "firewire AND cable card" enabled TV.

i'm ok with either solution as long as i can get ALL the channels i need,
not just those that are unencrypted or OTA.

if the FusionGold (or some other) card is upgraded to add a working cable card slot, that would work for me