watching high definition cable on a computer

Is it possible to watch HD cable channels on a computer LCD monitor ?

I've already got a cox HD box hooked up to an actual hdtv downstairs, but I would like to have the ability to watch upstairs on the computer when others are watching crap on the tv downstairs

What hardware would I need to interface between an HD cable box and LCD ?
I know a tuner card lets me pull in the local channels with an antenna, but I'm not sure what I need to watch HD cable. Can the cable box output go into the video input on my videocard ? (X1900XT) Or is it more complicated ? Do I need software ?

It really depends on what you want to accomplish. You could just get another cable box from the cable company and hook it up to your monitor, either with DVI/HDMI or component if you monitor has component input. Then do the audio out to your computers sound card audio in or directly to your speakers if they have multiple inputs. There are also QAM capable TV cards that will work with all unecrypted signals, then you can just run the cable coax cable to the card and use the software that comes with the card for watching TV. You won't be able to see the premium channels though, unless they are sent unencrypted.

Right now you have a few pretty good options..

1) Buy a complete HTPC that comes with a CableCard for HD. I think VelocityMicro carries them now. Then just activate your CableCard through your cable company.

2) Get a cable box from your cable company equipped with a firewire port, then get the cable box firewire drivers off the web. (http://hdjunkie.com/tutorials.html)

3) Hook up the cable box to your HDTV/monitor. DVI or HDMI are the best, then comes component. (for HD signals)

Option 2 might be your best bet to try out right now.

4) get a HD Homerun and Sage or the latest BeyondTV Beta. It won't tune the premium channels, but should work for everything else.

Ok thanks for the help guys.

hmm. Can someone refer me to a website that explains #2 a lil better? I mean, so with this method you don't need a tv tuner, or am I getting it wrong?
I've been looking for more info the whole day, literally, since I want to do something similar myself for my new build. I wanna be able to watch video from directv and be able to record it as well. All this is using the pc since i wanna use the pc speakers and my sound card to output the sound. Is this possible? Also, since directtv have some stuff in dolby digital 5.1, will I be able to do the same using the pc? By the way, I have a X-fi XtremeMusic.

Thanks in advance.

I don't think that any directtv boxes have a firewire output. Cable boxes were supposedly mandated by the FCC to include it (though not all of them did) but there was no compulsion on satellite providers so I don't think they bothered.

Anyway, I think you need a specific motorola box, and a special driver to get it working. thegreenbutton.com should have a lot of info about it, mostly revolving around MCE, but I think you can also get it working with Sage and BeyondTV

There is a modification you can have done to your sat box to add HD over usb. I think it runs about $500, but would allow you to get any channel in HD, including espn, hbo, scifi etc. More details here

Ok, the $500 solution doesn't quite do it for me. Also., I believe is not worth it for what I'm trying to achieve. But thanks a lot for letting me know about that possibility.

In reality all want is to be able to use a tv (Westinghouse w3 37" ), and use it as a monitor to play games and stuff, and also as a tv to watch directv. I wanted to be able to record some shows if possible, so It had the idea about getting a tv tuner for the pc so i could do it, and also trying different alternatives, but since more complicated that i though.
I will only have the pc speakers (logitech z-5500), so I wanted to get both sound from the pc, and from directv as well through the same speakers, since they are better than the ones the tv comes with. So, is there a way about doing this, and if so, will I be able to take advantage of the dolby digital/dts my sound card offers? (x-fi xtreme music)

Ok, thanks in advance. I'll keep on reading on that websites you get me to see if I find some info to satisfy my need. THX.

NOTE: My budget is only of $100 to make all this possible, if not $150 MAX!