EyeTV HDHomeRun

[matthewmystar]

I am getting a new 24 inch iMac and I want to be able to use it as a TV with DVR. EyeTV looks like what I want to be able to do but I am confused about some stuff and was wondering if anyone has any experience with it.

1.) What type of cable service do I need to have? Right now I have digital cable with a typical cable box.

2.) Would all of my channels be available and would I be able to change them through the iMac and not the cable box? The EyeTV tuner and the cable box would need to be in a different room than the iMac would be.

Thanks in advance for any help. This seems like a great setup for my wife and I but I want to be sure its going to work before I spend the money on it.

 

[slu]

1. Doesn't matter.
2. If you eliminate the cable box, you will only be able to receive unencrypted digital cable channels, which is not much more than local stations on most cable systems.

 

[matthewmystar]

thanks for the quick respsonse.

So basically to receive all the channels I would need to use my cable and I would have to change the channels from the cable box not through the eyetv software correct?

 

[slu]

That is correct. The only way to change the encrypted digital cable channnels is via the cable box or with a device that supports a cable card, like the Series 3 Tivo.

To be honest this is the only thing holding me back from a Mac based PVR. My Series 2 Tivo (with Tivo Basic Service, so no monthly fee) is dying and until I can tune digital cable without the box, I am going to switch to a Series 3 or HD Tivo since they support cable cards. And with Tivo to Go I can still transfer recordings to my Mac and watch them on my iPod. This is a great solution, it is just more expensive than an elgato solution and requires a monthly fee.