RCN recently decided to go all digital. As you said, the logic is similar to the DTV transition, and they're piggybacking on the timeframe to do it. Here's the thing though; the cable companies are not only switching to digital, they're also switching to encrypted channels. As it stands, no DVR can decrypt these signals. I built a DVR with a digital tuner in an attempt to future-proof it. It'll work great with an antenna hooked up, and used to work when RCN had some unencrypted digital channels.
Now I have to have an RCN supplied box anyhow.
Ignoring that argument, I'm a big fan of build over buy, if you're willing to. For about the same cost as that lifetime plan plus the initial costs, you can build a system that will do HAD with plenty of space, and the ability to quickly and cheaply upgrade at any point. Even if you're not interested in mucking around with linux bases systems, you can happily run Windows with Vista MCE, or SageTV. What I would actually recommend is building a system that you can put in your server closet (so to speak) and then use a set top extender (e.g. http://sagetv.com/hd_theater.html). After all, if you're time shifting anyhow, is there a logical reason why the recording device has to be next to the TV?
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Date: 2009-01-16 01:47 am (UTC)RCN recently decided to go all digital. As you said, the logic is similar to the DTV transition, and they're piggybacking on the timeframe to do it. Here's the thing though; the cable companies are not only switching to digital, they're also switching to encrypted channels. As it stands, no DVR can decrypt these signals. I built a DVR with a digital tuner in an attempt to future-proof it. It'll work great with an antenna hooked up, and used to work when RCN had some unencrypted digital channels.
Now I have to have an RCN supplied box anyhow.
Ignoring that argument, I'm a big fan of build over buy, if you're willing to. For about the same cost as that lifetime plan plus the initial costs, you can build a system that will do HAD with plenty of space, and the ability to quickly and cheaply upgrade at any point. Even if you're not interested in mucking around with linux bases systems, you can happily run Windows with Vista MCE, or SageTV. What I would actually recommend is building a system that you can put in your server closet (so to speak) and then use a set top extender (e.g. http://sagetv.com/hd_theater.html). After all, if you're time shifting anyhow, is there a logical reason why the recording device has to be next to the TV?