Update: I didn’t mean to be misleading.  I haven’t gotten the Pinnicle card working properly in Ubuntu with MythTV, I was just messing with MythTV when I decided to get a new card.  If I understand correctly, drivers are in process for this card under Linux.

I was messing around with MythTV on my Ubuntu machine last night. I got it setup and working but decided in the process that I could use a new TV Tuner card. I wanted to get something that supported High-Definition broadcasts because I realized that as much hype as HD gets, I had never sat down and watch an entire show in HD.

I did my usual, obsessive amount of research, compared prices, then I settled on a card that was the best bang-for-the-buck; a Pinnicle PCTV HD 800i with PCI interface. The card, as all HDTV Tuners for a PC do, have support for over-the-air HD programming. That’s great if you want to hook a high-gain antenna on the top of your house to pick up the signals. That wasn’t an option for me so I opted for a card with an integrated QAM tuner. (Note: The DVR software you use also has to support the QAM tuner.)

What is QAM?

An integrated QAM tuner allows the free reception of unscrambled digital programming sent “in the clear” by cable providers, usually local broadcast stations; however most digital channels are scrambled because the providers consider them to be extra-cost options and not part of the “basic cable” package. Which channels are scrambled varies greatly from location to location, and can change over time. In the United States a television that is labeled digital cable ready can have a CableCARD installed by the cable provider to unscramble the protected channels, allowing subscribers to tune all authorized digital channels without the use of a set-top box.

QAM-based HD programming of local stations is sometimes available to analog cable subscribers, without paying the additional fees for a digital cable box. The availability of QAM HD programming is rarely described or publicized in cable company product literature.

From Wikipedia

As I type this I am watching Jay Leno in HD on my second monitor in 5.1 surround sound. It’s freaking sweet. I get all my regular channels, about 25 HD channels, and “Tivo” capabilities for it all. I hope my work doesn’t suffer now…I’ll just pause the TV, err, computer if I get a call.

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