Windows 7: Comcast xfinity

So with Comcast switching to only digital does that mean any 3rd party tuners are worthless. My dad is complaining now he can't record his tv shows. Short of renting the overpriced dvr what else can he do?

buy a tivo hd. or buy a cable card adapter for the computer when the cable card adapter for computers goes on sale.

You can call Comcast and ask for two digital to analog converter boxes free of charge for recording by way of VHS or component vhs/dvd recorders. For a 3rd converter box Comcast will then add a $3 monthly on for that and any other extras following the first two freebies.

We already have those. That's the problem. Comcast is swithing to only digital. Those digital transport adapters. Or are you talking about a different device?

That's what I did, and then used this guide to hook it up to my card.

Set up a Comcast DTA with Media Center

You need a media center remote also though.

You have to remote the same way on those as you would a regular cable box since you connect them the same way. But if you go through a vcr and then patch into the composite input like s-video on a tuner card you then simply change channels with the remote, set the vcr to record off of cbannel 3 or 4 and later playback through the tuner card itself.

Sounds like that would work, I just set mine up like it is in that guide because I don't have a vcr.

Well, he wants to be able watch another channel while recording a different channel.

I'm not sure about that, I can't do that with my card (hauppauge 1600) and the dta box.

One thing is having a cable splitter between the incoming cable leading to the main box while the second goes into the converter ahead of a vcr or combo recorder. The 75ohm or composite feed(vcr or other inbetween) fed into the tuner card would be for watching on pc while you would record off the cable for later playback.

The one thing for that however is having a second vcr if vhs is used or with a vcr/dvd recorder combo you would use WMP or something to play the dbd-rw back with. Rewritable disks would be the idea for repeat use since those are easily reformatted for the next taping. Or simply watch the record shows on a tv nearby having watched the others on a live feed into the tuner card with a straight 75ohm plugin off of the converter.