[mythtv-users] OT: Comcast Chicago changing channellineup, SCI-FI moving to digital only

[Gavin Haslett]

I will say that using external boxes ain't so bad, particularly if you plan ahead enough with your installation to put a meaty backend in the basement for example. I plan to do this with "Version 2" of my Myth setup with both DirecTV boxes and a good backend with lots of drives in the basement (directly below my entertainment center), then just drill a hole in the floor for an Ethernet cable and hook to the switch I already have screwed to the back of aforementioned entertainment center.

While I really disagree with the fact that the cable/satellite companies are forcing these boxes on you, there are easy enough ways to work around it. As for IR Blasters, nah... serial connection's the way to go and well supported in Myth. IR Blasters are usually more trouble than they're worth.

This is one problem with this country today; nobody seems to have the balls (or money) to really take a stand against the rampant corporatism that threatens to destroy this country. I'm British, living in the US because of the perceived freedoms I saw half a world away 10 years ago. I find it telling when both my wife and I have discussed recently the possibility of moving back to Britain in order to get some of the freedoms back we've given up in the last few years. Don't get me wrong; I love this country... I just don't love what Corporations are doing to it.

Sorry... OT rant...


-----Original Message-----
From:	mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org on behalf of Jim Reith
Sent:	Tue 8/9/2005 1:28 PM
To:	Discussion about mythtv
Cc:	
Subject:	Re: [mythtv-users] OT: Comcast Chicago changing channellineup, SCI-FI moving to digital only
At 02:15 PM 8/9/2005, you wrote:
>On Tue, 2005-08-09 at 13:51 -0400, Scot L. Harris wrote:
> >
> > Still have that channel here.
>
>Wow.  Cableco lied to me.  Imagine my surprise.

Still available in new England as well


> > Currently I have the cable going direct to the PVR-350 and PVR-250.
>
>Yup.
>
> > I
> > assumed this was the basic analog service.
>
>Analog service anyway.  Not sure about the adjectives.
>
> > If/when they go full digital
> > which cards can be used?
>
>None.  Welcome to America.

Not true. Both cards will work using their S-Video inputs


> > Or do we have to play games with IR blasters
> > to switch channels on the cable box?
>
>Yup.

yeah


> > Would not be good having to have a
> > separate cable box for each encoder.
>
>Yup.  Sounds like the cableco has a cash crop side business in selling
>marked up cable boxes huh?  And since every cableco is using some
>different technology, it's not like 20 years ago when you needed a
>"standard" cable box just to get more channels and we just had to wait
>for TVs to have the cable box integrated into it.  How many TV
>manufacturers do you think are going to put 17 different digital tuners
>in their TVs.

Charter is nice enough to provide additional digital boxes for a buck a
month rental after you buy the initial service so it's not a big deal other
than needing two IRBlasters


>It's not like standards don't exist though.  DVB for one.  American
>cablecos just want to lock you into their service by making you have to
>"throw away" a large investment in hardware to change providers.
>Apparently Europeans didn't stand for that and now they have DVB (for
>satellite at least anyway) and can buy their tuners anywhere they want
>(and with one standard, TV makers will have one thing they can integrate
>into the TV).
>
>b.
>
>
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