Digital Cable Recordings Now on Your HTPC

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/05/12/how-to-install-a-cablecard-tuner-in-your-diy-media-center/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/05/1...y-media-center/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Access to premium HD on computers has eluded most for way to long, so as soon as we heard that it was finally possible for anyone to add a CableCARD tuner to just about any Media Center, we just knew we had to try it for ourselves, and more importantly, share with you exactly how to do it. This doesn't really require any hacking, or anything illegal for that matter -- we're not lawyers -- but it isn't cheap."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1242175574.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you have the urge to spend a penny and your recorded shows are looking a bit fuzzy, EngadgetHD has the perfect way to lighten your wallet.&nbsp; The process is not for the timid and could cause a few small hassles with your HTPC, but the reward will be an HTPC with no need for an external cable box and a much cleaner setup for your home theater.&nbsp; I'm using a cable box myself and the latency and picture degradation are noticeable but I'm afraid that I can't see this as worth the effort.&nbsp; Accessing shows online is becoming easier by the day, and in a few years, it will be all you need, and you won't have to choose which shows have priority in recording!</p>

[ptyork]

Yep, the cable industry really screwed the pooch here. They had the opportunity to really make the process of digitizing the home easy, and in the process, gained a bunch of revenue. Now, the CableCard was lawyered to a terrible death, and the cable industry is in an inevitable slide into obscurity. A pirate ship being dragged down by millions of Scientific frakking Atlanta crap for cable boxes. They had SO many options to really be relevant (why they aren't all paid IPTV providers right now is beyond me). Now, Hulu and other network provider-owned IPTV will probably end up winning the day, completely bypassing Cable operators. Dumb, dumb, dumb. And yet TOTALLY predictable. Good riddance to HORRIBLE companies. Each and every one (I've been through 5).

Of course, on the down side, their sliding cable revenues will inevitably lead to significant increases in internet costs. But I'm sure the telco's are waiting in the wings to sweep up...