Recording cable TV programs
What is the most cost effective equipment for recording cable TV programs for later viewing? I use to record cable TV on my VCR with a tuner but want to upgrade to a hard drive for recording.
Forum Discussion
Chris Bryant wrote:jcthorne wrote:
Current Tivo models record all cable channels in full 1080p HD resolution.
I wish- it won't record my current cable signal- the majority of which is switched digital, and not clear QAM.
Correct.
Although to clarify, the cable companies are still using QAM, however due to FCC rule changes they are now ALLOWED to enable the PRIVACY bit in the digital streams. This Privacy bit hides all the channels that are marked with this bit from QAM tuners.
In a nutshell rendering ALL TVs with QAM tuners that do not have a cable card slot useless..
Ran into this with my Dad's cable, local cable co switched this summer and no you MUST have THEIR cable box in order to get channels. They do offer "rental free" boxes but they are very limited and are not widescreen friendly? For some reason they only have 4:3 output and my dad has a widescreen TV..
They control the boxes and the access..
