If you use SageTV or BeyondTV, you don't have to buy an expensive CableCard PC to access all channels for cable or satellite TV with a Hauppauge HD-PVR.
I highly recommend anyone considering going the HTPC route to check out those two programs.
Brent
of MO
@
Oct 10, 2008 11:55:21 AM
Don't overspend
I built a media center pc that I use for listening to music and viewing netflix streaming films. If you want to build one yourself, you can save a bunch of money by monitoring deals sites like SlickDeals or www.techdealdigger.com so you can find hot specials on computer components. I recently picked up a cheap Acer PC that was featured here - http://www.techdealdigger.com/deals/acer-aspire-am1640-u1401a-249-at-circuit-city/3660 for just $250. If your TV doesn't have a vga input, you'll need to add on a video card. If you're serious about this, I recommend setting up an email alert at either of these sites and you can get notified immediately if there is a hot deal on a desktop pc.
Ted
of VA
@
Sep 30, 2008 19:24:44 PM
but what about cable cards?
It's all meaningless to me unless such a solution can include a cable card. Much of my TV content comes through Comcast. There are programs I watch on network TV which I could get from my OTA antenna. But more than half of the HD TV shows I record come exclusively through cable (Discovery, Food, ESPN). Therefore, without a cable box or cable card, I wouldn't get them at all. I'd love to do a DIY DVR, especially in Linux, but the only device out there that allows for HD from a cable card is a USB device for which only Windows Media Center is an allowable host. And upon further research, that's the way Cable Labs wants it - Cable Labs is comprised of the manufacturers of the cable boxes and the content providers (cable companies) - a duopoloy that has a vested interest in preserving the status quo and preventing users like us from aoviding the montly fees of renting a cable box / DVR combo. I'm all for paying for my content to Comcast, I just want to be able to do what I want with the signal once it is in my house.
Brent of MO @ Oct 10, 2008 11:55:21 AM
Ted of VA @ Sep 30, 2008 19:24:44 PM
Ken of MA @ Sep 30, 2008 15:04:26 PM
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