I currently have a WinXP desktop PC (will likely upgrade to Vista soon) and regular (digital?) cable (non-HD, the 'standard' offer from Time Warner in Austin TX). I have a STB connected to my TV with a coaxial cable. I tune the TV to 03, then use the STB remote to change channel and channels are available from 1 to 1000+ or so.

What I want to do is be able to watch TV (hopefully with some pause / rewind / FF features) on my PC's 2nd screen while I work / play. From what I understand to accomplish this I need a TV tuner in my PC (USB or PCI) and to rent a second STB from TW. After much reading however I am quite confused as to what capabilities my tuner would have to have.

• I understand it needs to have an IR blaster for me to be able to change channel from my computer on the attached STB? Do all STBs support this? (My TV's STB is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000)
• I see terms like NTSC, ATSC, QAM, analog, digital, OTA and so on mentioned . What does the tuner need to support for this application? (From my understanding the cable from the wall brings in NTSC analog channels (under 100) and digital ATSC (which my STB decodes?). But what does the STB send out?
• I see "FM tuner" mentioned on tuner specs, does this refer to it also being able to receive and listen to FM radio? If so does this have to be provided by the cable co or it'll just have a connector for an antenna?
• TW around here is advertising telling people to swap their STB for HD STBs for free. I am somewhat concerned that when I rent a second one they will only give HD ones, if so would it still output non-HD signal I can use with a regular tuner (not the CableCard / HDCP stuff)?
• Both STBs would be in the same room, would there be any issues with which remote / IR blaster controls which STB if they have line of sight to both?

And finally, any suggestions for a very cheap, reliable tuner to get? I would highly prefer one with FM tuner (if I can use it to listen to the same FM radio stuff I get in the car) and USB interface (connecting to either my laptop or desktop would be ideal)

Thank you very much for any help with these questions!

any hauppage tuner should work. you'll need better software than it comes with to record/watch.

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After some more reading it looks like the IR blaster needed to control the STB from the PC is usually a separate product, something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6815144019 .

So that, plus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6815116620 (internal unfortunately, but USB + FM tuner seem very rare and pricey) along with a second STB from my cable company should accomplish what I want?