Cable TV on the Computer

[BeattheDrums 0]

Looking at setting up a media Server in the house and was wondering if anyone had any experience with Ditching the cable box and just having software on the computer do its job. Is that even possible? or would I still need to use the Cable box?

Thanks
Dan

A thunder of jets in a clear blue sky, a streak of gray and a cheerful "Hi"

[MarkM 0]

Depends if you have analog cable or digital cable. If you have analog cable you can get cards for your computer to record cable quite easily. Do a search for Hauppauge PVR-250 for a nice one. Do a search for MythTV for software that works as a media center.

Digital cable requires the cable box to decode the stream. You can hack around it by having your computer run the digital box(using a IR blaster to change the channels), but I think CableCards work with the digital TV format and should be available for computers at some point.

[Slappie 9]

Dated but some good info on a "HowTo" using MythTV.

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/06/22/myth_tv.html

"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them."

[normiss 900]

digital cable with premium channels requires the box...standard cable is kick ass on a video card with tuner though...
ATI All In Wonder card is my fav!