Replacing Digital Cable Box?

[sscutchen]

I see the various posts about using Macs as video servers...

I have digital cable. There are many channels that can only be watched after decoding through the cable company's box. And everything out of that box does the old "export it on channnel 3 to the TV or VCR" thing. Which, for example, means that I can't program the VCR to record multiple channels. I can only record the channel that the cable box is outputing to channel 3.

I only have one of these boxes. My other TVs and VCRs can only see the cable analog signals.

So how would a Mac video solution, with EyeTV or Plextor, for example, replace the ability of the cable company's box to tune to the digital channels?

[GeneL]

As far as I know, you can't.

What you can do, with certain HD Cable PVRs is output the program you are watching or have previously recorded to your Mac, either by FW or Ethernet, depending on the box.

As I always say, "that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote sscutchen]So how would a Mac video solution, with EyeTV or Plextor, for example, replace the ability of the cable company's box to tune to the digital channels?
It can't, neither can Tivo, nor Replay. You have to have your cable systems decoder box, or the DVR your cable company rents.
Not even a "Test Box" (illegally purchased cable box) will work on the new two way systems that the cable company uses these days. The box must be registered at the main office before it works.
I fortunately have some friends in high places at the local cable company, and in the past borrowed a couple of cable boxes to experiment with.
With iEyeCaptain software, and a couple of IR Blasters, I was able to record digital channels with no problems. I had to program everything manually, that was a pain. I turned in the extra boxes because at the first of the year, my cable company moved everything I record down to the analog side. If I had to pay for the extra boxes, I never would, it is not worth the extra bucks. I would go strictly analog, but the digital package that is bundled with my internet connection is $35 cheaper than analog, with internet connect.

BGnR