Recommendation request for something simple

[Doctor_Zaius]

I want to take a DirecTV signal (standard resolution (a football game actually)), via the satellite box out, via composite cables, to a capture card on my PC, where I'll edit out commercials and maybe compile a highlights of several plays. The end results (the game minus commercials, and a highlight film) will reside as files on my PC, played on my PC, and not burned to DVD (maybe later, but no interest now).

Is there an obvious choice of capture card and software for this? I'm reading all the guides and posts, and the choices are rather large, borderlining on overwhelming. I don't mind spending some cash. I don't have the editing software yet.

Reflecting back on your experience in the subject, is there an obvious, or likely choice, of capture card, software, and capture format, you'd recommend for this task?

Thanks

[redwudz]

Take a look at the Hauppauge cards. http://www.hauppauge.com/ They use hardware conversion to MPEG-2, so easy to use and doesn't load down your CPU. If you have a better output from your box than composite, you might consider one of their higher end cards. Even the cheapest one would do fine with a composite feed.

For a MPEG-2 editor, there are a lot of choices. A couple of popular ones are the freeware MPEG StreamClip or payware, MPEG-VCR, VideoReDo or others in our 'Tools' section. <<<<<< Most have trial versions, so you can test them out before purchase.

[jman98]

I strongly second redwudz's excellent suggestions. The PVR-250 would be my recommendation as it just works. The PVR-150 may be cheaper, but I have to warn you that while it works fine for most users, some people never can get it to work for them - ever. You'll have no problems with the 250 model. You don't need the PVR-350 as it is the exact same model as the 250 plus it has TV out, which you don't need. Hauppauge makes some newer cards, but these old tried and true standard definition capture cards are hard to beat.

I'm sure you'd like a card+software package, but the reality is that you'll do better to get a video editor like redwudz suggested. I've used MPEGVCR and VideoReDo for years and like both. You can try both before you buy.