Hello. I currently have a SA8300HD DVR w/TWC. Does a "Myth Box" allow one to record HD the same way a regular DVR does? Do any of the copy protection issues come into play, or can the same things that I can record to my SA DVR be recorded to a Myth Box?

Thanks,
Harold

You'll be able to record "in the clear" QAM channels, including HD, with a Myth Box. You'll need a QAM-capable tuner, such as the one that is sold at mythic.tv

See if there's a local forum or a thread on avsforum, for the QAM assignments in your area.
Ours is here:
http://www.rochesterhdtv.com/showthread.php?t=2154
The current list:


Beware, QAM assignments are subject to change, any time, for no reason whatsoever.

As you see, most digital cable isn't "in the clear". But the "HD Locals" are required to be carried on clear QAM. To get scrambled content like ESPNHD, etc., you'd need a cable card, which isn't possible to do with MythTV yet.

It is possible to use a Firewire-capable STB and connect it to MythTV for recording. But TW does not activate FW on most of the boxes. They're only required to provide one model, and it's a grey area as to what the FW actually is supposed to do. I think this was working for some, but it got knocked out a few months ago. Look for posts by marc aronson here in the forum, I think he dealt with this.

There is no way to record the HDMI or Component video coming out of a TW box. HDMI won't talk to recorders, and Component is just too much data (raw, uncompressed, HD Analog) to handle on a PC right now.

As for me, I ditched TW years ago and pull in the HD locals via OTA antenna. I used the $$$ to build a killer Myth box. With 3 tuners, we've got lots to watch.