problem on recording hd cable channel using a monitor as a viewing source?

[lansing]

I'm planning to get a cable service to watch and sometimes record nba games, but the hdtv I have was mainly dominated by my parents, so I wanted to use my computer monitor as the display instead of the tv.

I researched for a while and found that this SiliconDust HDHomeRun hdtv tuner should work. However, the problem is that it states that it only works with unencrypted digital cable TV, and I don't know whether or not if those NBA channels from the cable service were encrypted. How do I find this out?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Ask your cable service provider?

(If they send encrypted that should by pretty obvious because you'll need a "SmartCard" plus the suitable CAM plus a receiver with CI-Slot)

[Capsbackup]

From my experience with Comcast, local channels Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS are not encrypted. HBO, Cinemax, Starz etc... are encrypted.
I use the firewire out the back of the HD DVR, Motorola DCH 3416 to record to my PC with CapDVHS software. This software will display if the signal is encrypted or not, as well as the actual resolution of the broadcast, be it 1080 or 720.

[A.Fenderson]

I have the HD Homerun myself, and from first-hand experience, my local cable-TV provider (Cable One) encrypts everything excepting most local channels (a few are encrypted, oddly), and their crappy low-bitrate music channels. Calling the cable office and asking is, unfortunately, probably the only way to find out without any first-hand tests, but good luck actually speaking with someone who both understands what you're asking and can give you 100% correct information.

[lansing]

thanks for the replies. I actually brought the hd homerun device yesterday, and was able to watch some basic hd channels (only a few because of bad reception from my cheap antenna) on my monitor through the software Beyondtv. The display is really good and doesn't eat up any cpu. However, after further research, I found out that the device will not be able to tune NBA channels because it doesn't support satellite such as directv and dish network. That is the sad part for me.


@ Capsbackup

Do you need the tv for watching and recording with your method? Because one of my goal is not to use the tv as the display medium.

[Capsbackup]

@ Capsbackup
Do you need the tv for watching and recording with your method? Because one of my goal is not to use the tv as the display medium.

I usually only watch the start of my recording, then either turn the TV off, or change to the TV's tuner instead of the Comcast tuner. I cannot change channels or watch anything else on the Comcast box while recording, for the obvious reason that I am playing a pre-recorded show from the DVR and recording it live.