Ceton InfiniTV 4 Quad-tuner Card $220 newegg

[joutlaw]

I've had the Ceton since July and this is my setup:

i3 2100
H67 mobo
8GB of RAM
128GB SSD - OS
1.5TB - Recordings
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit

I use the HDMI out of the H67 board to feed my Onkyo 608 receiver. I have ocassional HDMI handshake issues, but I've found they do not occur if I stop TV playback before I power down the TV.

I have Comcast and had a heck of time doing anything CableCard related. New rules are in place by the FCC for CableCard self installs, but it is still a several hour process to make any change to my CableCard. I always end up having to get a Level2 tech call me back in order to fix my issues.

The Ceton card is very well engineered except for the mini-coax connector on the back. I ended up breaking this connection on my card by moving my HTPC in and out of the cabinet. Ceton warrantied the card and all is well. Their support is excellent and their diagnostic application should be model for other manufacturers of PC hardware.

I had an issue with my new Ceton card after taking several days to get it re-paired with my CableCard. I would constantly miss recordings. I swapped the CableCard for a new one and have had an issue since. It did take several hours and 2 trips to my local office to get the new CableCard paired.

Most channels with Comcast are free to copy. Exceptions are premiums and some of the digital cable channels. I use DVRMSToolbox and ComSkip to index my recordings. This feature then auto skips commericals with DVR playback. Quite nice once you get everything setup.

 

[Midwayman]

You can either share the tuners with another computer which would allow you to view live TV or record shows on that TV which likely wouldn't be useful elsewhere or you can get a Media Center Extender (Xbox 360 is the only currently supported one) which allows you to access live and previously recorded shows away from your primary HTPC. As far as I know this tuner is only supported under 7MC (Windows 7 Media Center).

IIRC its working under mythTV as well, just no copy protected support. How that works out for you depends on your provider, but it typically means everything but pay channels (hbo, etc)

 

[Midwayman]

I'd love to do this... but I know the wife would have a hard time getting used to... meaning she would make me return it. lol

WAF was extremely high when I made the move from a Dish vip622 to a WMC7 based htpc with a Ceton card. I hear that this is pretty normal wm7 is easy to get along with. Just keep the other box around for a couple weeks while you work out the kinks with the new wmc7 system.

 

[Midwayman]

It doesn't seem to be cheap either, at least as far as I can tell. I'm looking into setting up a five-TV household with a Myth-TV setup, and I can't get it done for under $1500-2000, as far as I can tell, maybe more. It's expensive enough that I may as well just pay for the set top boxes from FIOS; at least they'll replace stuff if it breaks.

Anyone know where I can get a cheap Myth-frontend setup? That's what's really getting to me; I need something cheap that I can use for a frontend on the three standard def TVs we have.

That's a lot of cash
Ceton $220
Pc capable of running the ceton $600ish
4x media center extender (dma2100 off ebay) ~$120 a pop

You only really need a very basic PC. i3 with integrated graphics is fine. 4gb ram is fine. Single HDD works fine. (Though I'd at least get a separate os and media physical disc if possible)

Typically to match the setup you'd need
2x dvr @ $18mo
3x digital tuners @ $8mo
That's $60mo you're saving on equipment

At $1500 you break even at 25months, not counting that its a better experience than the cable company crap.

HTPC has a high startup cost, but saves you money over the long haul. If you have some spare parts lying around like me, the break even is much sooner.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Really doesn't take much computer power to handle my HTCP duties. I'm still using an old intel core 2 due e6300 running 2.3ghz. It isn't close to strained even with my software encoding analog tuner running. I picked up an xbox 360 used for $50 for my extender. Wish somebody would come along and make a current WMC extender other than the 360 like a roku wmc extender.

 

[ccbadd]

Wish somebody would come along and make a current WMC extender other than the 360 like a roku wmc extender.

Amen! I am also using xbox360's as extenders but would love a little roku in each room instead.

 

[joutlaw]

That's a lot of cash
Ceton $220
Pc capable of running the ceton $600ish
4x media center extender (dma2100 off ebay) ~$120 a pop

You only really need a very basic PC. i3 with integrated graphics is fine. 4gb ram is fine. Single HDD works fine. (Though I'd at least get a separate os and media physical disc if possible)

Typically to match the setup you'd need
2x dvr @ $18mo
3x digital tuners @ $8mo
That's $60mo you're saving on equipment

At $1500 you break even at 25months, not counting that its a better experience than the cable company crap.

HTPC has a high startup cost, but saves you money over the long haul. If you have some spare parts lying around like me, the break even is much sooner.

Comcast charges you the DVR fee and then an HD fee. My extra HD box had a fee and an HD fee.

It totaled to around $34/month just for the boxes and HD fees.

The first CableCard is free, but then you are charged an HD fee for it.

I am using 1 DMA2100 that I got for ~$30 on eBay. It has cosmetic issues but work fine. I highly recommend going wired as well. Wireless worked fine, but browsing the guide was slower as well as initial startup.

 

[rosco6912]

newegg sold out, but amazon selling for $269.... doesn't seem like much of a deal :X