DTA box

[fgeorge638]

Do any companies like Hauppage make video cards that will give me all the basic channels from Comcast without the use of a DTA box?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Unless I'm mistaken, the DTA box from Comcast just allows you to use a non-digital TV with your cable subscription. You should be able to use any TV Tuner card that has a ClearQAM tuner without the use of a DTA box from Comcast.

-Wolf sends

 

[fgeorge638]

I read a Hauppage reviewer that said you may still need comcasts dta box.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0304068

 

[Wolfshadw]

Comcast scrambles many of their higher subscription level channels. As the reviewer points out if you have a higher-end subscription (more than just basic), you need a cable card ready TV Tuner. Since you stated in your original post you have just basic channels, the any ClearQAM tuner will work for you without the DTA box.

-Wolf sends

 

[fgeorge638]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

 

[fgeorge638]

I bought the Hauppauge 1600 card for my HP Media Center m7470 but the white connector on my pc to the card was too small. Can I get and adapter that would work?

 

[Wolfshadw]

Ok. I'm a bit confused. According to the specifications of the HP Media Center m7470:

1) It already has a TV Tuner installed.
2) Should have three PCI slots (one available).

The Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 is a PCI card and should install into one of the three PCI slots your computer has.

-Wolf sends

 

[fgeorge638]

Ok. I'm a bit confused. According to the specifications of the HP Media Center m7470:

1) It already has a TV Tuner installed.
2) Should have three PCI slots (one available).

The Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 is a PCI card and should install into one of the three PCI slots your computer has.

-Wolf sends

The PCI slots not the problem. It's the ( I believe) the white 10 or 12-pin connector that it has on the card. The one from HP that came off the old card is shorter with less pins.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Ahh... I think I see what you're referring to. It's the white connector at the top of the PCB towards the rear of the card. I'm not sure what that connector is for (front IR receiver maybe?). Brief glance at the documentation for the HVR-1600 didn't mention it at all.

-Wolf sends

 

[fgeorge638]

after I installed the card and software. I tried to get it to recognize channels in my area and nothing came up. I figured maybe it's because that wasn't connected.

 

[Wolfshadw]

No, I don't think that should matter. Make sure you have your cable line running directly from the wall socket to the correct input on the TV Tuner Card.

-Wolf sends

 

[fgeorge638]

I tried that too. Didn't work.

 

[fgeorge638]

The salesperson at Micro Center told me that he heard from customers also that you may still need the DTA box.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Well as I said in my original response, the DTA box just converts the digital signal to an analog signal. Since the HVT-1600 has both ATSC (digital) and NTSC (analog) tuners, the DTA box shouldn't be required.

-Wolf sends

 

[fgeorge638]

It must be the plug not being connected.

 

[fgeorge638]

Best answer selected by fgeorge638.