I've had an MCE 2005 PC for several years, but just recently upgraded to an HDTV.  When connected to my Cable, the HDTV can tune several HD channels (i.e. the broadcast networks:  FOX, CBS, NBC, ABC).  I've been researching HDTV support in MCE 2005, and I keep seeing that it only supports "over-the-air" HDTV, and requires an antenna.

Does this mean that if I buy an HD tuner with Windows Media Center Edition drivers, and connect it to my Cable, my Media Center won't be able to tune HD broadcasts?

And, if Media Center can tune the HD channels; can I use an HD tuner in combination with a standard-definition tuner?  I'm concerned that Media Center will start recording an SD channel with the HD tuner, then fail to record on an HD channel because the HD tuner is busy.  Is Media Center smart enough to avoid this, or can you limit the HD tuner to HD channels only in MCE?

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

MCE 2005 can't decode the signal from cable companies, which is broadcast in clear QAM, despite the fact that your tuner card may support it. This is an MS issue which they have no intention of fixing for MCE 2005 (they have said so on this website). You can only get HD from an OTA antenna, which would be in ATSC format. Depending on where you are, a good indoor UHF antenna (fancy rabbit ears) may do the trick -- don't ask me for a suggestion, I don't know which indoor antennas are any good. Of course, a roof-mounted antenna is usually your best bet.

As to your other question, which may be moot in light of my first answer, as long as your tuner card has separate tuners for SD and HD (my AverMeda Combo PCI-E card does), you can record 2 channels, 1 SD and 1 HD (I really should say 1 NTSC and 1 ATSC, because not all ATSC broadcasts are in HD, but I don't want to confuse you) at the same time.

I haven't looked into the other media center-like programs, like MediaPortal or SageTV or any others to see if they can handle clear QAM HD channels. I think Avermedia itself has a DVR like program which may be able to do this (being an ATSC guy, I haven't researched it). Note, though, that even if yo find a program that can decode clear QAM, your HD channels will be limited to broadcast networks, and not any others, like TNT or HBO, you may have in HD, as those will be encrypted and require a cablecard to decode.

The "clear" in clear QAM means no encryption, and by law all cable companies are required to provide broadcast television in this format with even the most basic of packages. For example, I have DirecTV (with no HD), but I still have an $11/mo basic cable connection so my upstairs TV, which has a built-in clear QAM tuner, can show local broadcast HD shows. (Of course, it doesn't hurt that my cable modem service would cost $10 more a month if I didn't bundle it with a TV service, so I'm really only paying an extra $1/mo. for HD on my upstairs TV).

If you run across a non-Vista media player program that does clear QAM decodes, come back and share with the group. Sorry if you already bought MCE 2005, but QAM simply won't work with it.

After a quick check, looks like Mediaportal (which is free) still doesn't do ClearQAM, but SageTV, which is $79.95 claims it does. I'd do a more thorough search if I were you before plonking down the $80 on Sage to see if there's another free or cheaper alternative which does ClearQAM.

There is one HDTV tuner that has found a way to trick media center to work with it, it is called HDHomerun

http://www.silicondust.com/

It is a dual HD tuner that will decode the clear Qam channel and work with Media center. It can run with your analog tuner without risk of confusion, because the Clear Qam channel are digital, so in media center they apear in a different number range like 10000+. So when you program a recording of an SD channel, it is a low digit channel number, and therefore the analog tuner are used, when you want to record an HD channel, you select the high digit channel number and so media center knows to use the Digital HD tuner.

Of course this only works for non encrypted HD channels.

Thanks for your replies!

 

I've done some more research into HD and Media Center, and the results are not promising…

 

I tested a “ClearQAM compatible” HD Tuner card with Media Center; which, of course, didn’t work at all.  And I tested an over-the-air HD Tuner card with Media Center; which did receive some HD channels, but had mixed/poor results.

 

It seems that there are CableCard HD tuners that will work with Windows Vista Media Center, but these are not available to end users!  To get a reliable HD Media Center system, you must purchase one of the few “digital cable ready” PCs from a manufacturer.  HP has two models, the d5000z and d5000t; but you’re looking at $15000-$2000 for one of these!

 

I also looked into the HD HomeRun, which is supposed to provide ClearQAM support for MCE 2005, but it’s only available online; and I didn’t want to risk $170 to test it.

 

I’m really surprised that Microsoft has dropped the ball on HD support in Media Center.  High Definition is the next big thing in TV, and it seems that they’re far behind the curve.  Competitors, like TiVo, have had HD support for awhile now.  I’ve been using Media Center since MCE 2005 came out, and this is the first time it’s let me down.

This is something we've complained about for years. They also stated they're done adding features to MCE2005. As close as you will get is HD HomeRun (lots of people use it), but that's only clear QAM, so no good digital cable channels (hbo, etc...).