Upgrading my HTPC, looking for options

[Coersum]

I built an htpc a bit over 2 years ago, using hauppauge 2250 and 1250 cards. We have extended basic cable with Charter, I pull HD channel by adding them manually (like 83.1 etc) but only get a dozen or so HD, the rest is in SD.

I use windows media center win7 with addons exclusively except sometimes use a 3d program for SBS movies.

I would like to see my options for upgrading (to full HD channels recording), I read a bit about cable cards and charter seems to have a cable card for $2/months. I saw the InfiniTV 4 is widely use yet a bit on the high price for me (anything else ?). Also wondering if this is compatible with charter's HD service.

Other option would be to go with direct TV, but then I have no clue if there is a solution out there to be able to record directly from my htpc without having to change the channel manually, and be able to record one or 2 shows while watching a 2nd or 3rd show live. Or get their multi-tuner DVR, but would it be able to play my external 2TB HDD shows/movies in all kind of format?

Thank you

 

[Wolfshadw]

Your cablecard solutions include:

Ceton InfiniTV4 PCI-E - Four static tuners
Ceton InfiniTV4 USB - Four static tuners
SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime - Three dynamic tuners
Hauppauge WinTV-DCR-2650 - Two dynamic tuners

These cablecard solutions will only work with viable cable companies (such as Charter). However, the recording quality is only as good as the source. If you do not subscribe to Cable HD Channels, you will not be able to record Cable HD channels.

-Wolf sends