[olug] MythTV - Cox Communications

[Kenny Kant]

Perhaps this has been discussed before but I wanted to ask you all 
question in regard to using MythTV with Cox.  In my past installation I 
have gotten along great using variants of the Haupauge Tuner cards for 
standard definition viewing.  Now that we have a HDTV setup I want to 
build a Myth system to play well in this world.  I understand that I can 
get unencrypted QAM stuff off the wire  ...etc   and I also understand 
about the over-the-air ATSC stuff.  I am curious as to how I would get 
premium HD channels from Cox if I wanted them.  I understand my options 
to be the following:

- Give up on Myth and purchase a pre-built Media PC and utilize Cox 
Cable card technology.

- Get the Cox Cable box and utilize the HDMI output or similar to pipe 
HD signal into my Myth backend system.  I would then need to control the 
Cox box via serial and or an IR-Blaster.

- Get the Cox Cable box which has firewire output and utilize this to 
pull MPEG2 ..etc straight into Myth.

I am really curious as to if the Firewire option is possible.  Do any of 
you have Tuners from Cox that actually have this installed?  I have a 
friend of mine who claims that it is Federal Law that mandates cable 
co's to provide this as an option.  I currently have an email into Cox 
asking about this but thought I would check on opinions here.  Am I 
missing other BETTER options?



Thanks!

Kenny