HDPC-20 and the problems it will cause

I’ve given a lot of thought to the HDPC-20 and how I can use it and can it save me money in the long run?  In my thinking, this device will pose me several problems.  Currently I have 4 receivers, with the thought of adding 2 more later.  That would mean I have to pay the $5 fee for the 5 additional receivers, putting me at $25.  With the HDPC-20, I’m speculating that there will be a $5 fee for each one that you have including the primary (your first) one.  I think this is how it works with DVR receivers.  That would mean I could supply 6 rooms at once for $15 instead of $25.  However, lately I’ve been wondering if I may be wrong about this.  Will they charge $5 per tuner, not device?  In this case it would end up being the same as having 6 receivers.

But let me move on.  Let’s say that I get 3 of the HDPC-20.  The simplest way would be to connect all 3 to one PC.  Will Windows 7 support 3?  But given the size of these things and the fact they’re external devices, I don’t want to sit 3 of these in my family room floor.  The other thing is I would have to have 6 holes or 1 big hole in my floor for the cables to run through.

Next thought is to put one of the three in separate rooms.  My bedroom and son’s room already have cable run through any way for the current receivers.  Problem is, I’d have to have a computer in the bedroom to connect it to.  So then maybe I can just put it in my computer room, as I call it, and run coax in there.  But the thing that has gotten me to thinking about this 3 room idea, these 3 computers would have to be on all the time for the rooms with extenders to be able to access them at any time.  Not good for the electric bill.

That’s why I think it would be most beneficial to be able to connect these to one PC server and have only it on all the time.  BUT, if all the tuners are on one PC, that means you have to have at least 5 extenders.  My first idea was 3 PC’s and 3 extenders, and I already have the PC’s.  If only “softsled” would become a reality that would help.  Say that I did this server idea, it wouldn’t be on my current HTPC that I use in the family room.  So without softsled, I’d have to have my HTPC in there AND an extender.  Not exactly ideal.  The only good way I see you can pull off this server idea is if you have a basement where all the cables come into any way.  At my dad’s all the coax cable enters his semi-finished basement.  But I live in a double-wide with no basement, so I don’t see myself running that much coax up through the floor of one room.  Has anyone else given thought to any of this?  Or am I the only jumping the gun and getting too excited over this thing?  If it ever comes out.