[Tig] Tig Digest, Vol 54, Issue 3

[Bob Kertesz]

>IMHO computer-based DVR's are the way to go. I use Elgato (on Mac), which BTW 
>now supports multiple tuners, though they don't say so. Bang, bang, bang! A 
>whole raft of ads skipped through, TS editor, any kind of file output you want 
>for Blu-Ray, iPod. Plus PIP, free web program guide, etc,. Usually goes for 
>$100 and change per (ATSC plus NTSC in the US) tuner stick.
>
>It's pretty easy to set up a Mac Mini as a dedicated TV hub, add some tuners, 
>a monster HD, a TV panel with DVI input, etc. and you're good to go. Comes 
>with Front Row and remote. I just do OTA with a silver sensor, but it'll do QAM 
>input as well.

While I can see the utility of this approach, it wouldn't work for me because:

1. I have no ATSC signals here. None. Zero. I am a mile from the Hollywood
sign and neither VHF nor UHF come in here in any usable form. I've actually
paid a guy to come out with a spectrum analyzer and an antenna and confirm
this.

2. The number of "in the clear" QAM channels delivered by Time Warner is
minimal, not nearly enough for me.

3. Even if there were enough QAM channels, TW (and most other providers, I
suspect) are forever rearranging the channel assignments, so there would have
to be some sort of mapping involved, and it would have to be looked at all the
time to ensure it was correct.

4. The setup you describe doesn't allow for premium channels like HBO, which
is a staple of our viewing here.

--Bob

Bob Kertesz
BlueScreen LLC
Hollywood, California
bob at bluescreen.com

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