4) Tuner co-exists with my PCI tuner fine. Note that the PCI tuner is recognized first by Linux, so the USB will be DVB1 device.
Now go back into the config and turn on "multi-rec" (or whatever it was called), and that HVR-950Q will show up as three separate tuners.. so that you can record from multiple subchannels simultaneously from a single OTA channel. Eg. 17.1 at the same time as 17.3.

Cheers

Good tip! I have both tuners set for multi-rec, each it set to record up to two shows. It works on both the PCI and USB tuners.

Here is a snippet from my mythweb status page showing 4 encoders, even though I have only two physical ATSC recording devices:

Encoder status
Encoder 1 is local on myth-server and is recording: 'Frontline' on WNED. This recording will end at 10:00 PM.
Encoder 2 is local on myth-server and is not recording.
Encoder 3 is local on myth-server and is recording: 'Wild Roses' on CBLT. This recording will end at 10:00 PM.
Encoder 4 is local on myth-server and is not recording.

Thank you Hi-Def. I did some googleing but didn't think to include QAM in them.
So basicaly it's only music... :(

I'm sure the answer is somwhere on this site but I just couldn't find it.
What channels can I get on Rogers using this card:
AVerMedia AVerTVHD MCE A180 HDTV (TV Tuner ATSC/ClearQAM)

Thank you in advance!
I did a quick look up on that card - it does not have NTSC, correct?
If that's the case, you'll get zero channels with rogers.
They are fully encrypted, last I heard. You need a box to decrypt and then output to either Svideo/composite/rf and record analogue (NTSC) tuner, or component out and use the hauppauge HD-pvr

What kind of reception can I expect with the HVR-950Q using an indoor SS Antenna?

I currently have the antenna connected to my TV and get: (that I can remember off my head)

CBC
CTV
CTS
CITY
GLOBAL
SUN TV
OMNI

Thanks in advance,

The 950Q receives all of the channels my Olevia HDTV does.
It is a modern tuner, as good as anything I've seen.
This includes the 6 different tuners I have used in my setup including TV's, PCI ATSC tuners and a 60$ set top box.

With a PHDTV3 (amplified ZSS clone)
on the second floor on top of a bookshelf (near the ceiling)
I could get all the channels from buffalo/toronto
minus the weak ones (49,27, and another one i cant recall offhand)

This was with the old 950, so the 950q should do much better, perhaps even get 49, depending on local reception ability.

Can I watch TV on my PC just like I get on my HDTV?

My TV equipment is an HDTV connected to Shaw Cable through a Motorola DCT6200 set top box.
My HTPC is built with the latest stuff & should be well capable of handling any kind of card. My display can do HD.

The problem is that my knowledge level for this is very kindergarten level. So, please recommend a card or two.

Thanks

Yes and no. The "affordable" cards will tune SD. If you're fine with that, no problem.
If you want HD on the PC(and not from an antenna), you need the Hauppauge HD-PVR, which was like $200, last I checked.

Yes and no.What won't I be able to watch on my PC?

If you want HD on the PC (and not from an antenna), you need the Hauppauge HD-PVRYes to HD. I want to do an internal card. The one you mention isn't.

On a technical point, others say that the STB should be connected to the HTPC by firewire. I don't see that kind of connection on the Hauppauge cards.

I don't know anything about firewire so I'll let someone else who does answer that one :P

The Yes is for SD the No is for HD.
There are no internal HD-recording cards at this time except for ATSC (antenna) recording ones
The only one available now is the HD-PVR (external) that records the component output from your STB.
As for SD, anything is game.

There are no internal HD-recording cards at this time except for ATSC (antenna) recording ones
The only one available now is the HD-PVR (external) that records the component output from your STB.I've been reading up on this subject all day now & my head is spinning. Here's a question from the last thing I read: can you tell me what this means? "The newest card from Hauppauge Computer Works, the WinTV-HVR-2250 ($129 direct) has two high-quality tuners, to bring a world of high-def goodness to your PC. No cable box required. The Win-TV-HVR-2250 does everything short of unscrambling Cinemax. It features two hybrid digital tuners—hybrid because they can decode several different types of signals. Each NXP TDA18271HD tuner chip can decode NTSC, ATSC, and clear Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) signals." (copied from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2320616,00.asp)

As for SD, anything is game.Here's something else I don't understand. My STB delivers standard definition (SD) & high definition (HD) and also anolog & digital pictures. Is there a list that shows which of Shaw Cable's pictures can be seen on a HTPC. For example, I want to know if CNN channel 33 or HDABC channel 200, etc is viewable on my HTPC.

To the best of my knowledge, Shaw encrypts (scrambles) all of their HD channels, so any card with a built in tuner will not be able to tune the HD channels Shaw gives you. Your choices are:


Dump Shaw and get an antenna for free HDTV (this is 100% legal) that has better picture quality than Shaw gives you, though fewer channels.
Rent or buy a digital box from Shaw and connect it to an Hauppauge HD-PVR like recneps77 suggested.
Rent or buy a digital box from Shaw and connect it to a firewire (a.k.a. IEEE-1394 or iLINK) card (if your PC doesn't already have a firewire connector).

To the best of my knowledge, Shaw encrypts (scrambles) all of their HD channels, so any card with a built in tuner will not be able to tune the HD channels Shaw gives you. I hope that means I'll get all the other channels.

See my comments noted below

Dump Shaw and get an antenna for free HDTV (this is 100% legal) that has better picture quality than Shaw gives you, though fewer channels.
not likely
Rent or buy a digital box from Shaw and connect it to an Hauppauge HD-PVR like recneps77 suggested.
I have a digital box DCT6200 and I'm looking for a recommendation for an internal card
Rent or buy a digital box from Shaw and connect it to a firewire (a.k.a. IEEE-1394 or iLINK) card (if your PC doesn't already have a firewire connector).
I have both

Try connecting your TV directly to Shaw cable bypassing your cable box. I think you should be able to receive all the basic analog channels and a handful of unencrypted digital channels above CH-60. For me, these were digital SD channels and frankly not worth the trouble of tuning in. Anyways, the analog and unencrypted digital channels are the only ones that an internal TV tuner card will work with.

In other words, kaal is right about a plain vanilla ATSC/clearQAM card is PERFECTLY CAPABLE to record clearQAM off digital cable but the problem is almost everything from Canadian cable providers is scrambled for years now, even on the standard channels (SD/HD) you paid for.

IIRC, the firewire function is killed in many boxes so I think you're most likely SOL.

Go for option #1 like I do...down the road, there will likely be an internal card like the Analog Hole, I am not sure if the Analog Hole can be killed in the future...

I originally wroteCan I watch TV on my PC just like I get on my HDTV?... ...The problem is that my knowledge level for this is very kindergarten level.so I'm not sure I understand when you sayTry connecting your TV directly to Shaw cable bypassing your cable box.Are you suggesting that I split my Shaw coax cable running the new split to a TV tuner card and leave my original connection still attached to the STB? Some of the other forums suggest connecting the STB to the HTPC by firewire. Would there be an advantage of one connection over another?
I think you should be able to receive all the basic analog channels and a handful of unencrypted digital channels above CH-60.OK, that's clear! Thanks. To reiterate, everything from channels 1 - 60 and possible some others above channel 60. Any chance CTVNEWS channel 103 is unencrypted?

Anyone have a card recommendation? It looks like the 2 majors are Hauppauge & ATI (thru their partners Diamond & Visiontek). Newegg.ca customer reviews show a lot of unhappy negative reviews with these cards.

If you have a newer TV that does ATSC/clearQAM, plug the cable directly and do a channel scan will tell you which digital channels (if any) you can get. The same ones you can pick up by any internal ATSC tuner card that does clearQAM)

If you have a newer TV that does ATSC/clearQAM, plug the cable directly and do a channel scan will tell you which digital channels (if any) you can get. The same ones you can pick up by any internal ATSC tuner card that does clearQAM)Now I'm on the same page as you & Michael. My HDTV is an older 2002 crt type. So all that stuff I wrote earlier about splitting coax cable is gibberish.

Rent or buy a digital box from Shaw and connect it to an Hauppauge HD-PVR like recneps77 suggested.

I have a digital box DCT6200 and I'm looking for a recommendation for an internal card

There are no internal cards that will do this in HD.


Rent or buy a digital box from Shaw and connect it to a firewire (a.k.a. IEEE-1394 or iLINK) card (if your PC doesn't already have a firewire connector).

I have both

Buy a firewire cable and give it a try then. If it doesn't work, return the cable.