Hi everyone, wondering if I could get some advice and help with a custom built HTPC setup.

Okay, so I thought I would have a little fun and build myself a simple Home Theater PC to possibly rid myself of the set top box plague. I guess it goes without saying that I was in for more than I bargained for.

Before I started, I:

• Did not know ATSC from NTSC or my QAM's from my PAL's
• Thought a single dual tuner PCI card was more than I needed (they are usually 2 different types of tuners on a single card, not 2 identical tuners on the same card)
• Knew nothing of Vista MC and it's limitations in regard to Clear QAM
• Thought I could have everything I desired........right out of the box.      Nope.

Needless to say, I've learned quite a bit in the past month or so since I finished my system and got it up and running so to speak. I've also learned, rather quickly, the limitations of such a setup; limitation that I hope, with your help, I might be able to overcome.

Here is what I have:

• ASUS P5E VM-HDMI MotherBoard w/G35 Chipset
• E4600 Pentium Core-2-Duo, 2.4GHz with 800 MHz FSB
• (x2) Hauppauge HVR-1250 Hybrid Tuners
• (x1) 750 GB Seagate 7200rpm HD
• (x2) 1GB DDR2 Ram, Corsair
• Windows Vista Premium w/Media Center

Here are my questions:

1. I have seen internal PCI cards (the "How-to" videos inside Media Center) that accept "cable Cards", which resemble a PCMCIA card in a way. These cards are supposedly furnished to us by our local cable or satellite provider in an effort to un-encrypt digital channels for which we pay a monthly fee for.  Where do I find or how can I  procure or buy one of these particular types of PCI cards?
2. Seriously, is there not a single plugin, driver, codec, program, something, that I can download, intall and run that will allow me to view, watch and record clear QAM channels inside Vista Media Center?
3. Can someone break it down, in lamens terms, how I can supposedly recieve unencrypted digital HD channels using HDHomeRun?  What is HD Homerun, is it software?  Is it Hardware? Both maybe?  How do I incorporate than into my VMC in order to recieve Clear QAM channels?
4. Can someone also explain Occur (?) and Avermedia, what they are and how they pertain to media center and HD viewing?
5. Finally, a simple question, though just as important, What is the easiest way to recieve, record, and watch simple basic cable (channels 1-99) and local HD channels (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, etc.) using my computer and Vista MCE?

Sorry for the uber long message, sorry again if I rambled or seemd annoying, but I am having the most difficult time getting the whole Home Theatre PC thing to work. I am able to use this computer for music, DVD's, pictures, home videos, but for the life of me, can't quite get the TV to work the way I want it. Everyone here seems nice, so I thought I would ask some of the experts for some much needed help.

Like I said, this HTPC concept gives me a headache if I think about it too much; quite simply, I think that I might ditch it soon and go back a good-ol' set top box with HD and On Demand if I can't figure this out soon.

 

Thanks again for any and all help that I get,

DJ

1. You cannot add a CableCard to an existing PC. You have to buy a new "CableCard" PC. It is the only way.
2. I'm not 100%, but don't you just need an HD antenna?
3. HDHomerun is an HD antenna package. Search.
4. Never heard of Occur. Avermedia is a company that makes tuner cards.
5. Buy an HD antenna, hook it up to ATSC input on the tuner card in your PC, record.

Start reading around this forum a bit, most of these questions are basic and have been answered.

Good luck!

The post above I don't think accurately answers your questions. Some I think are wrong or not clearly answered (no offense). here are the ones I can confidently answer for you :)

1. (as mentioned above) The only way to get cableCard is to buy an OEM machine with CableCard support (Dell, HP, and some custom builders can do this). MS and the CableLabs decided to utterly screw the DIYer.
2. If you have an ATSC (HD) Tuner, alot of the manufacterers are releasing drivers that allow you to fool Media Center as seeing those unencrypted QAM channels as ATSC channels. This takes a bit of work on your end, but once set up, there is generally no matainence. HDHomeRun makes this even easier (from what I understand I don't own one).
3. (unlike mentioned above) HDHomeRun is a Tuner (not an antenna) that instead of being installed in a computer and being restricted to one computer instead runs off the network. This tuner only does ATSC (I believe) and clear QAM. These are supposed to be great cause they not only allow use from multiple machines but they simplify the process to add clear QAM to your Media Center Machine.
4. OCUR (not Occur) and Avermedia
1. OCUR - An OpenCable Unidirectional Receiver (OCUR), such as the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner, is a TV tuner device that uses a CableCARD™ to get conditional access protected broadcast digital content from a cable television provider, and send it out to a Digital Cable Compatible PC.
2. Avermedia is just a manufacturer of TV tuner cards much like Hauppage and Pinacle.
5. If you are using standard cable, then the simplist way is probably to use a one or more NTSC (Standard Def Tuners) for 1-99 and then one or more ATSC for the clear QAM that you should get from your cable company. If you don't get any Clear QAM channels from them you can try and Antenna and use the ATSC tuners to pull in OTA (Over The Air) HD Broadcasts. I see that you have 2 hybrid tuners, and I personally have no experience with them. I am unsure if one of your hybrid tuners can pull HD and SD channels or if you have to choose which one (SD or HD) the tuners tunes when you set it up in MC. I would hope it is the former since that would be the most useful. I'm sure others can chime in and fill in this last blank for you. I do know that Hauppage has released clear QAM beta drivers for getting clear QAM into Medie Center.

I hope that helps you out. I understand your confusion with Media Center as we all have had our problems and with MS releasing feature updates so slowly it makes it hard to believe it will get better any time soon (though I am hoping it does).


Edit: It occured to me that the previous poster could have used the term 'antenna package' in place of 'tuner'. So if so, then yes he is spot on, but I think that term is confusing at best.

SirMeili:

1. If you are using standard cable, then the simplist way is probably to use a one or more NTSC (Standard Def Tuners) for 1-99 and then one or more ATSC for the clear QAM that you should get from your cable company. If you don't get any Clear QAM channels from them you can try and Antenna and use the ATSC tuners to pull in OTA (Over The Air) HD Broadcasts. I see that you have 2 hybrid tuners, and I personally have no experience with them. I am unsure if one of your hybrid tuners can pull HD and SD channels or if you have to choose which one (SD or HD) the tuners tunes when you set it up in MC. I would hope it is the former since that would be the most useful. I'm sure others can chime in and fill in this last blank for you. I do know that Hauppage has released clear QAM beta drivers for getting clear QAM into Medie Center.

I just looked it up and I guess when in Media Center you have to choose either digital or analog when you set up the hybrid tuners. From the Hauppage FAQ on your card:

Can I use the WinTV-HVR-1250 with Media Center?

Yes, the WinTV-HVR-1250 can be used in Windows XP or Vista Media Center.

Simply download and install the latest drivers from the Hauppauge website, which will install the necessary "Hauppauge MCE Soft Encoder".

Please note: you will only be able to configure WinTV-HVR-1250 as either an Digital tuner or an Analog tuner. You will not be able to switch between Digital and Analog channels.

NOTE: You must set up an analog TV tuner in Media Center first before you can proceed to set up a digital tuner.

That was really informative Melli, thanks! I learned some too.

And yes, I did mean tuner, that is a much better way to describe it ;)

What is that website you can go to to check OTA HD broadcasts in your area and help you select an antenna for OTA?

I believe you are referring to antennaweb.org. Though I just checked my address again and it says I have only 1 digital station within reach (i live in a rural area), but it used to have all the major networks listed for my location. I'm' not sure if they changed something. I don't use OTA yet, so I'm unsure if I can actually get those other stations (I get them via clear QAM now).

Thank you so much for the information.  I guess I should have read up a bit before I decided to embark upon this endeavour. You are correct, the DIYer is definitely getting the short end of the stick most of the time. 

I think I will research more about the drivers that you mentioned. I found a post here regarding Hauppauge releasing a Beta version of a driver that supposedly does just that; I downloaded it, but I have yet to get it to work.  Seems odd though, because I could not find it on the Hauppauge website, only here.

I have used the program which came with my tuners, WinTV, to find clear QAM, however none of my local channels are ever found except for Cable Access or government access channels. I found this strange because my HDTV, which has the built in digital tuner, was able to find all the local HD channels (Fox, NBC, ABC, etc.)

I guess I'll keep lurking around the forums, learning more, and hoping for that miracle breakthrough from MS.

Thanks again.