video capture card questions

[mousemurder]

hi, i am looking for a video capture card (preferably mini-pci-e or usb).
i am looking to use it to record cable tv and hd content. do these cards accept co-ax input ?
do cable companies put some decryption in place that only their set top cable boxes can decode ? if so it would be a waste of money for me to buy a cupture card that will only record static on some channels.
i notice that i cant watch my two favorite channels (g4 and adult swim as well as premium movie channels) on any tv that doesnt have a cable box attached.

advice ?

[Ghitulescu]

This is the wrong forum for the second part of the question. Try techwatch.co.uk.

All cards that have TV in accept coax, because this is the standard in RF transmissions (in consumer audio as well ;)). In case you refer to the F-connector as a co-ax, then there are adapters.

have a look here
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1306929#post1306929
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1295174#post1295174

[mousemurder]

well since you cant watch most channels without a box provided by the cable company, i can move my media-center downstairs (or purchase another stb for upstairs).

i am now looking for a usb or ieee1394 card that has hdmi input but i'm having no luck finding one.

any recomendations ?