|
I use a skystar2 DVB card to get satellite and a Airstar HD5000 for HDTV. They are both made by technisat and both of them are well supported under linux.
The skystar2 can be used for FTA only, but I understand that there's a way to decrypt Dish Network's mpeg2 stream. See here:http://dvbn.happysat.org/viewforum.php?f=17.... I use my skystar2 with a motorized dish to get FTA. I can get ESPN, CNN, lots of local network affiliates, network backhaul feeds (you can see what the news anchors are up to when not "on the air" not always a pretty sight!). There is a way to get a standard hauppauge PVR card to work with dish, directv, and cable boxes with a device called an irblaster. If your cable box has firewire that's an extra bonus because you won't lose any quality from the conversion from digital->analog>digital like you would with the hauppauge card and a cable box.
I use the HDTV card to record over the air HDTV broadcasts in ATSC. The HD5000 supports QAM also so you should be able to plug into cable and get your locals unencypted in HD that way. I believe that the cable company has to send down the local HDTV unencrypted for paying subscribers. I've heard of comapnies not doing this, so your milage may vary. |