QUESTION 1:

Supposedly, Fiji is going to finally allow us to record digital cable programming within Media Center, just like we can now with OTA signals.  Will Fiji also allow us to stream recorded programing to media center extenders, such as the xbox 360?

My dream is to be able to record HD programming (preferably cable) on my Vista media center machine (in my bedroom) and be able to access the recorded programs (or even watch live TV) on my tv hooked up to my 360 in the living room. 

Ive done searches and can't find anything, so i'm guessing the answer is going to be no.

 

QUESTION 2:

This is not related to extenders, but I figured if someone has the savvy to answer my first question, they may be able to answer this.  Allegedly, i should be able to get basic unencrypted cable HD channels (abc, cbs, fox, etc) with my tuner on my vista machine (using a program other than media center, such as sage).  My tuner says it supports this.  My cable provider says these channels are unencrypted.  However, when I use sage, myth, etc, i cant get the HD channels, only the regular OTA ones.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Could i do this with the new HD Homerun tuner?

 

#1 - yes, anything recorded via media center will be playable through and extender be it a 360 or otherwise.

#2 - by default media center cant tune unecrypted QAM channels, the hdhr and other tuners are able to record them via a plugin or add-on program

talkshow2:

QUESTION 1:

Supposedly, Fiji is going to finally allow us to record digital cable programming within Media Center, just like we can now with OTA signals.  Will Fiji also allow us to stream recorded programing to media center extenders, such as the xbox 360?

My dream is to be able to record HD programming (preferably cable) on my Vista media center machine (in my bedroom) and be able to access the recorded programs (or even watch live TV) on my tv hooked up to my 360 in the living room. 

Ive done searches and can't find anything, so i'm guessing the answer is going to be no.

 

QUESTION 2:

This is not related to extenders, but I figured if someone has the savvy to answer my first question, they may be able to answer this.  Allegedly, i should be able to get basic unencrypted cable HD channels (abc, cbs, fox, etc) with my tuner on my vista machine (using a program other than media center, such as sage).  My tuner says it supports this.  My cable provider says these channels are unencrypted.  However, when I use sage, myth, etc, i cant get the HD channels, only the regular OTA ones.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Could i do this with the new HD Homerun tuner?

 

You can already record digital cable (unencrypted QAM) in vista and stream it to extenders with the HD Homerun and some Hauppauge cards.  With a cable card certified PC, you can get the encrypted stations as well.  Nothing will change in Fiji, since you can already do this now.  Fiji will reportedly make the current workaround (using the HDHomerun software) native to VMC, but extenders already stream live or recorded TV.

 

Your second question is confusing. You say you can only get the regular OTA ones, but by that don't you mean (abc, cbs, fox etc)?

Either way, you should be able to record and watch (including extenders) any unencrypted QAM channel. The only difference Fiji will make is that the QAM support will be native instead of through a 3rd party driver like the HDHR.

Thanks everyone for your helpful answers.  I think I will sell my curent onAIR USB tuner and buy the HDHR.

Sorry for not clarifying the 2nd question: i can get every standard definition channel (including stations like tnt, tbs, sci-fi, etc) up to channel 75 when using sagetv and mythtv. What I was saying is that I can get the standard definition ABC, CBS, NBC,  FOX, and PBS.  However, my cable provider says that the HD versions of these channels are unencrypted as well, so shouldnt I also be able to get them on my PC as well?

Basically, what I'm asking is, how do i get HD-ABC, HD-CBS, HD-NBC, HD-FOX, and HD-PBS on my computer?

The SD channels are sent in NTSC analog cable. The HD channels are sent in clear QAM. Most tuners that support both, don't do so simultaneously.

Regardless, the HDHR is the best solution right now, there is also a new Haupague HVE 2250 dual tuner pci-e card, but no clue how well their drivers work with clear qam with VMC.

I have been using the HDHR for about a year now.  You won't regret it.  I stream HD content (clear QAM) from Time Warner Cable to my Xbox 360 extender hooked up to a HDTV and recently, now a LinkSys DMA 2100 hooked up to another HDTV.

Clear QAM channels over an HDHR have work flawlessly for me, both with the main VMC PC and with a Linksys extender.

BTDT:

Clear QAM channels over an HDHR have work flawlessly for me, both with the main VMC PC and with a Linksys extender.

Out of curiosity, do you have to keep the main HTPC on in order to stream to the extenders even though the HDHR isn't actually in the machine? I'm sure the answer to this question is yes, but I was just curious in case I was wrong :)

SirMeili:

BTDT:

Clear QAM channels over an HDHR have work flawlessly for me, both with the main VMC PC and with a Linksys extender.

Out of curiosity, do you have to keep the main HTPC on in order to stream to the extenders even though the HDHR isn't actually in the machine? I'm sure the answer to this question is yes, but I was just curious in case I was wrong :)

The answer is yes. The Linksys extender (the 2100) does absolutely nothing useful without the VMC PC being on.