I just got the EyeTV 250 thinking it was going to be really cool. It is very cool but, I only have regular analog cable. However, I've been reading about all of this HDTV and free-to-air HD content and being able to capture it with an antenna and it's making me think that my purchase was an unwise one. What are even the chances that I'd be able to get any HD content in the small town I live in? Also, if the Hybrid is so much better, how come it's half the price of the 250? Is it because the Hybrid uses your computers processor rather than the device itself to decode the signal? In every other aspect, the Hybrid seems like the better tuner.
Final question is: Did I make the right decision?
spaz,
It really depends on what you want to do. In your small New Hampshire town, who is the cable provider? Try to find out what they send out over the cable. For the most part, analog/digital cable doesn't really mean anything. For example, does your cable provider have a digital tier of service? If so, then they are sending out the digital channels through the same wire that they send the analog stuff. You just need the right tuners to view it.
Like I said in the other post, there are three tuners out there for USA. NTSC, which is what your 250 has. ATSC, which is included in the Hybrid, along with NTSC. QAM, which the EyeTV 500 (discontinued) and the Miglia TVmini HD/HD+ has.
If you want HD, then the 250 was the wrong device. You would need a Hybrid or the TVmini HD for HD and digital. The question is where you get the HD signals.
If you live relatively close to a big city, chances are that the local stations are also broadcasting digitally and in HD. Depending on many factors, you may be able to tune into HD-OTA with just a crappy antenna. The beauty is that if you get a signal, the picture will be crystal clear. No snow and fuzz like analog OTA.
If you can't tune into HD-OTA, then maybe QAM is an option. Many cable companies pass along the local HD channels unencrypted. You would be able to tune into those stations with a QAM tuner. You'll need to do some research to see what the cable company puts out. Check out avsforum.com for more info. It's likely that there are many HD-philes in your area that have already done what you are looking to do. They (if they exist) should be able to help answer your questions.
Here's a thread for Comcast (Adelphia) in Manchester, NH.
THREAD I'm guessing that you may live near Manchester, only because that and Concord are the only cities that I know of in NH.
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