Computer Savvy Folk: Help please

#1
USAF_Vol

USAF_Vol

Let there be BEER
Joined
Aug 1, 2005
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#1
Without buying a DVD recorder to do it. How would I:

Have football games from TV streamed onto my laptop and recorded. After I record it, edit out the commercials and then put on a DVD.

How would I go about doing that?

Do I need slingbox, or hava? I wouldn't mind hooking my laptop to the tv for recordings.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh, I know this isn't about "gaming" but you gamers should know this technology.

Please dispense advice:hi:
 
#3
#3
It is also possible to use firewire to get a stream from a digital cable box... save it, and remove commercials and re-encode.

Of course, this assumes you have a digital cable box, and a firewire port on your computer, but it is an option.
 
#4
#4
rwemyss said:
It is also possible to use firewire to get a stream from a digital cable box... save it, and remove commercials and re-encode.

Of course, this assumes you have a digital cable box, and a firewire port on your computer, but it is an option.
Click to expand...

That's what I do. Firewire from cable box to laptop. Running cap-vhs on the laptop and then use software (the name escapes me now) to remove the commercials.
 
#6
#6
I have an HD DVR cable box. What is a firewire? Also, my tv has a hookup for a computer. Will that make it easier?

Freak, pick the brain for that software name please.

MG, problem with that is that my tv box output is component cables. The only coaxel is for input. Thanks though.
 
#7
#7
USAF_Vol said:
I have an HD DVR cable box. What is a firewire? Also, my tv has a hookup for a computer. Will that make it easier?

Freak, pick the brain for that software name please.

MG, problem with that is that my tv box output is component cables. The only coaxel is for input. Thanks though.
Click to expand...
IEEE 1394 interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ports on your cable box should look like this...

http://www.hardware-one.com/reviews/Yamaha8824FXZ/images/FirewireSocket.jpg

Is it a Motorola box?

If you have firewire on your laptop it likely looks like this.

firewire.jpg


Of course, you would need a firewire cable... with ends that match each of these ends. 6 pin (the large one) or 4 pin (the mini one)

As to your reply to MG, that is a tuner... you could actually plug it into your cable outlet in your wall to get the video on your computer, or for HD you would use the supplied antenna to get OTA signals.
 
#8
#8
OK, on the back of the cable box (It is Motorola) I have two of the large openings, one has IEEE under it and the other has 1394.

I have the small 1394 on the laptop.

So I get a six pin for the back of the cable box, a 4 for the laptop.

Will I need software for the laptop to stream and capture the video?
 
#9
#9
USAF_Vol said:
OK, on the back of the cable box (It is Motorola) I have two of the large openings, one has IEEE under it and the other has 1394.

I have the small 1394 on the laptop.

So I get a six pin for the back of the cable box, a 4 for the laptop.

Will I need software for the laptop to stream and capture the video?
Click to expand...
Yes, that would be the cable you need.

Yes you need software, but the program to get the stream is the freeware that Freak mentioned, cap-VHS, as well as the device drivers for your cable box.

Check out this thread for some great info on what you are trying to do.

How to record via IEEE 1394 (Firewire) to Windows XP - AVS Forum

Also note, that once you get this working, many cable companies lock the transport stream (.ts) so that it cannot be recorded or viewed by a secondary device (in this case your PC), but there are often many channels that are unlocked, it depends on your area and your company. I've even had OTA broadcast channels locked, but ESPNHD open. Never really made sense.
 
#10
#10
How will I be able to tell if the channels are locked? That would defeat the purpose if it is blocked.
 
#12
#12
USAF_Vol said:
How will I be able to tell if the channels are locked? That would defeat the purpose if it is blocked.
Click to expand...
You can either go into the service menu of your cable box and check the proper entry. (have to be vague because I forget how I did this and don't want to look it up).

Or get the cable and try it... if the .ts comes through with no video that can be played back, it is locked.
USAF_Vol said:
Oh man I think I am in over my head
Click to expand...
Nah. If Freak can do it, anybody can. :)
 
#13
#13
Ok, I got seriously curious on how I did that in the past and looked it up...

diagnostics for MOT stb:

* Start with DCT6412 turned on and connect the firewire cable
between the DCT6412 and your PC
* Tune to a channel you are interested in recording from
* Enter *DIAGNOSTICS* page on the DCT6412 as follows with remote:
Press *Cable*, *Power off, Select, Select*
* Scroll down to: *d11 INTERFACE STATUS *and then click *right*
arrow to enter that module
* In *1394 I/O DEVICE* section you should see *ACTIVE PORTS=1*
(indicating the Firewire connection is active) and look at *5C
IMPLEMENTATION* value. If it is something other than *0* this
means 5C protection is enabled and you won't be able to capture
that channel
* To get out of the Status Page click *left* arrow with remote and
scroll down to *EXIT* and click *Select*
Click to expand...

Please note that the 5C value will change depending on what channel the tuner is set to... that's how you can determine if it is locked or not. Change the tuner to the correct channel, do this, and read off the 5C line. If it shows 0, you're good... if it is 1 or 2, it won't work.
 
#14
#14
wouldn't it be easier to just buy a tuner like I suggested, run a splitter and use the software included with the tuner to do the recording? especially if he's locked out by his cable box?
 
#15
#15
MG1968 said:
wouldn't it be easier to just buy a tuner like I suggested, run a splitter and use the software included with the tuner to do the recording? especially if he's locked out by his cable box?
Click to expand...
Only if he's locked out. The quality of a .ts from the digital box is far better than from an analog tuner... plus if he is trying to record a digital channel (i.e. any above 100 or so) even if the tuner he bought were QAM capable (that one probably is since it also has an ATSC tuner) if it is locked in the cable box, it will be locked from a QAM tuner decoding it as well.

I'd rather buy a $5 cable and it not work than a $50 tuner and get the same issue... it not work.
 
#16
#16
Thanks for the advice folks. I will keep you updated on my progress. I will get to it this week. Wanna have all my ducks in a row before football season starts.
 
#17
#17
Went to radio shack to get a firewire cable. They are out of their freakin minds man. 36 bucks for a 6ft cable.

Newegg (Thanks MG) has one for a buck ninety nine! Booo yow!
 
#18
#18
Yeah, it is insane what retailers charge for cables. I have to be in a dire emergency to pick up any sort of cable from a local shop.
 
#20
#20
I did, but I have not had a chance to try it out. I will prolly tomorrow. There is an extra kid at the house and things are hectic with 4 of them.

Last week of leave though:cray:
 
#21
#21
rwemyss said:
.

Nah. If Freak can do it, anybody can. :)
Click to expand...

Easy now. You shut your mouth when you are talking to me.

By the way, none of the channels are blocked from my box. I can record high def and everything. Of course, my problem is that the HD broadcasts are too big to burn on DVD and some are too big to burn on two DVD's. I guess my only option would be a blu-ray recorder for my PC but I'm still not sure about that technology.

Oh yeah, the commercial editing software that I use is VideoReDo. It's not free but it's been worth it to me. You click "scan for commercials" and it marks them all for deletion. Occasionally it will get confused at halftime breaks or really short segments but it seems to be about 98% accurate and I always review the edits before deleting.
 
#25
#25
doozer said:
you have to go back to Iraq?
Click to expand...

Oh no, I will be home for at least 6 months. My job is on a 1 to 1 with deploying. 6 gone, 6 home. It really sucks right now.

That is one of the main reasons I am trying to figure this out. Gotta get a system in place for when I leave again.
 
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