Need some advice/suggestions

 

Current system:
OS:  Media Center 2005 SP2
Mem:  1.5 Gb
Proc:  2 GHz AMD Athlon 64 (3000+)
Tuner:  ATI TV Wonder Elite PCI Video Card

Service Provider:  Comcast (no cable box)

Problem:  Comcast.  :-)  They've basically reduced broadcasting to only a
handful of analog channels.  The tuner does not support HD or Clear QAM or
really anything like that, so my recording selection is extremely limited.

Question:  What should I do if I want to get more channels?

I'm not necessarily averse to upgrading to Win7 (but I'm not interested in
Vista), and I think the system has enough to handle Vista as is.

Obviously I need a new tuner card, but I haven't found any that had, shall
we say, glowing recommendations.  The best of them tend to have 3 stars out
of 5, at least on Amazon.

For the record, I built this system from scratch, so I'm certainly not
afraid of swapping cards, though I'd rather not have to build an entire new
system if I can avoid it.

Thanks

--
Reginald Blue
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my
telephone.  My wish has come true.  I no longer know how to use my
telephone."
 - Bjarne Stroustrup (originator of C++) [quoted at the 2003
International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces]
 

 

Why not get the cable box.

Comcast gave me three of them for no extra charge.

 

Ultimately, if that's the consensus, that's what I'm going to do.

But, I have a few reasons why I'd prefer not to do that, especially if
there's a better option.

--
Reginald Blue
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my
telephone.  My wish has come true.  I no longer know how to use my
telephone."
 - Bjarne Stroustrup (originator of C++) [quoted at the 2003
International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces]

 

if you have an old analog tuner on MCE2005 you have two options

1. get a FREE DTA and hook it up.
http://digitalmediaphile.com/index.php/tips-tricks-how-tos/comcast-dta-mce-setup-steps/

2. rent a traditional set top box and connect it up.



wrote:


Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com

 

Well, I must say that I'm surprised at this answer (i.e. that my best choice
is to get a set top box/dta), but, I'll call comcast and get them to ship me
one of their evil little boxes.  :-)

Thanks everyone for the input!

Barb Bowman wrote:

http://digitalmediaphile.com/index.php/tips-tricks-how-tos/comcast-dta-mce-setup-steps/

--
Reginald Blue
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my
telephone.  My wish has come true.  I no longer know how to use my
telephone."
 - Bjarne Stroustrup (originator of C++) [quoted at the 2003
International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces]