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Holy crap that's a lot of info!!!

I couldn't get in the fourms last night, so i'm having to read all that was posted to catch up.  Since these storms took out one of my sites, i have to travel there and fix $20k worth of network equipment and pcs.  Good times.
once i finish catching up, i'll put something in.

Yeah, I'm pretty pissed about the whole HD content protection BS too, the industry has decided that its ok to stomp all over our fair use rights just to protect their failing market and unwillingness to adapt to the current market. Its really not just a linux issue, but linux does get hit the hardest.
The HDHomerun is a good solution for network HD channels (cbs, nbc, fox, etc) if you can receive antenna dtv broadcasts in your area or if your cable provider sends them in the clear (they are required to do so by the fcc but it seems most just ignore this law and encrypt them anyway). You need a tuner for each stream being shown or recorded at the same time, and each HDHomerun provides 2 tuners. For instance if you only ever use 2 TVs at the same time, then you only need 2 tuners. However if you use 4 TVs *and* record 2 shows all at the same time, you would need a total of 6 tuners.
The second nic is very important for the plug n play stuff to work, LinuxMCE recognizes new devices on the network when they do a DHCP request.

I do not want to get rolling on Comcast.  I'm so pissed at them right now....*takes blood pressure meds*.  If i could curb stomp an entire company/corporation, it would be Comcast and Blockbuster.  But enough of that.
This sounds like just the ticket.

*snip*
Not True.

I have the Comcast Digital starterpack in the San Francisco, California, Bay Area and only the premium channels are encrypted. Infact, I get several channels that are not broadcast through the cable box even, including a few HD ones like KOFY.

The down side is that only 6 channels come with call signs already, the others are all identified as unknown. Because of this I have to manually set what each channel is before I can get the guide data to download properly.

I use the HDHomerun

Edit: Comcast uses QAM

My Chi is being re-centered.  Thanks for that little nugget of goodness Pnut.

EDIT ADD:  Another thing that has bothered/concerned me.  What about the EPG that comcast gives out.  Does that carry over to the HDHomerun?  do i have to pay for a service like that ServiceDirect or whatever it is?

Ok so added my new revised list:

1 - GBE NIC
2-3 HDHomeruns (to power 5 "TV's" and 1 record)
DO NOT NEED added TV Tuner or PVR Cards (Right??)

ps.  thanks for the website Pnuts.  But i have no idea wtf that is. 

PPS.  Thanks again to everyone that is posting.  You are a salvation in my world and using your info has helped me greatly.  (didn't even know about that HDHomerun thingy.  PROPS)

All,

Thanks for your replies.  I've been reading and re-reading them to suckle the information and cognate, with my brain, the info therin. 

I am a Network Admin and have about 20+ yrs of computer experience, and about 3-4 years w/ linux, so I'm not scared of "getting my hands dirty" inside a PC. 

I understand what Cowboy is saying about the MD being the DHCP server, and I don't think that is a problem, though i generally setup my network(s) with static, as i do alot of rdp or ftp.  I did read that, but forgot about the extra NIC. 

@ Itsik - I'm not too too scared of playing w/ 0710 to get it to work w/ the MB.  I"m sure i can figure it out.  And the fact that the computers (which are new) in the bedrooms can watch TV is a good thing.  BUT....

Merkur has given me pause, and is f-ing up my Chi.     Just kidding, but not really.  If i understand you correctly, I will not be able to rec'd my HD (which honestly is the whole reason i want to pvr.  I REALLY want to grab some of those concerts off that music channel and to record my HD shows.  24 in SD is, well, the sux).   Not recording my HD makes me a sad panda.

So basically, I need to add
1 GBE NIC
1 PVR-xxx
1 HDHomerun -  this 1 unit will provide TV for 4+1 rooms?  the +1 being the living room. 
So I WON'T need a TV Tuner in my PC (like this: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250 Dual TV Tuner / Encoder 1229 PCI-Express x1 Interface)?  Or is this the same as the PVR-x50?  i'm so confused on the Tuners and PVRs.

EDIT:  Oh, and also, using the information above about my Comcast, is that QAM and/or ATSC?  WTH is that anyway?  and if my above Comcast isn't QAM or ATSC, then what is it?

Hello all!
This will probably be a long post.  sorry

I've been reading forums (here and elsewhere), studying hardware, comparing websites and devices, etc... for 2 months now.  TBH, I am feeling completely overwhelmed with information.  I am getting confused with all the acronyms and whatnot.  I can't seem to find the answers to my particular problems, either because I am not understanding what i am reading, or its mired in a bunch of stuff that is unrelated to what i am looking for.  SO, i decided to come to the source of information, to brave the flames, and the RTFAs and what not, in hopes that some kind soul will help me get what i'm looking for. 

Here's what I want to do:
- Have a Core Hybrid (CH) in the Living room, connected via GBE to a 3TB File Server which houses all my DVDs, Music, Pictures.
- I want the CH to be a PVR to record my shows (like the HDMusic Channel [padilla?], DiscoveryHD and HistoryHD, and unfortunately Mexican Soap Operas [for the wife])
- I want the CH to control the cable TV and stream all my channels to the other Media Directors (is that the right term?) that will be in the bedrooms (along w/ the movies, and music etc), starting with the Master Bedroom, and possibly working into my Office and the Kids' & Guest bedrooms.

The ultimate goal here is to have the kids bedroom, guest bedroom, and office to not have a TV, but to use their computers for everything, like watching movies, music, doing computer stuff, and watching TV.  They have dual 22" WSLCDs, except for my office which is stupidly geeked out.  The master bedroom has a 32" HDLCD that will be connected to a media Director for the same stuff.

Here's what i have to work with:
- The house is wired Cat6 w/ GBE Switches/Router so bandwidth is no problem
- I have Comcast Digital Starter package.  For those unfamiliar with that, it has 1-99 standard-def channels that come w/ basic cable (like nbc, fox, abc, discovery, univision, history, mtv etc...) plus standard HD channels like FoxHD, CBSHD, CNNHD, HLNHD, HistoryHD, DiscoveryHD, HD Music Channel (whatever that is called) etc...  and the music channels (which are the highest channels [like 800's for us].  The music channels are the stuff like Hip-Hop, or Adult Alternative, or Soundscapes, or Jazz.
- The Comcast HD converter cable box (i'll get the type when i get home for lunch)
We DO NOT have premium stuff like HBO or Starz or HD Sports, stuff like the Military Channel (which is a travesty in my opinion,  that is the ONLY premium channel i want) or whatever, and never plan on getting them.

My equipment so far is:
- Antec SFF case
- ASUS P5N7A-VM LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300/nForce 730i HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
- Intel Core 2 Quad Proc
- 4GB RAM
- 40 GB SATA HDD (will be connected to file server in office for saves)
- Blue Ray DVD Player

As far as TV Tuners and PVRs and whatever, i am not sure what i need or in what quantities.  I was think about dual tuners, maybe 2 two of them for all the rooms.  I just don't know.  This is where you guys come in!!

Can someone un-fu@k me and tell me what i need to do? 

Thanks in advance,

USMCStitch