certain site defies video download

[shokan22]

There is a certain video site from which I am unable to download the streaming video as per usual using the Firefox download "Ant" addon (it doesn't detect a video to download) or any other streaming media download utility I have tried. I tried Streaming Transport as recommended in the sticky above, but the Help option is defunct, and I am unable to get a download to work in it. I have also tried to screen-capture it using Camtasia Recorder, but the result is so stuttery as to be barely watchable even at 10fps Camtasia setting (30fps setting makes a completely unwatchable stuttery video). I don't know if it's all right to mention the site name, so I won't until someone can tell me it's OK with this forum (it's a documentary site).

I have Firefox addon called Firebug which supposedly enables me to DL any video, but I see no flash video listed in it for this video's page. I can see the html for the site with this addon, though, if this helps. I have a jpg screenshot of it. The streaming media IS Flash in any case because I see the right-click "About Flash Player" context menu item for the video. The site has pay-to-download videos and also free ones to watch streaming. The one I want is free but nothing happens when I click their download button even in IE as they require.

Any help?

Thanks.

[bat999]

Any help?

Thanks.

What's the question?

[shokan22]

how can I download the video/

[poisondeathray]

post the url

[shokan22]

http://www.factualtv.com/documentary/Golden-Age-of-Steam-A-to-Z-of-Steam

[lordsmurf]

how can I download the video/

Pay the $3.99
http://www.factualtv.com/support

[jagabo]

Stream Transport first played an ad, then seemed to be hung up. But it eventually saw the video and I was able to download it.



I pasted your URL into the address bar at the top and pressed Start. I pressed the play button in the web pate and waited for the URL to appear in the bottom window, highlighted it, and pressed Download.

[shokan22]

Yes, OK, the video and SteamTransport froze at first (which threw me off the first time earlier today), but it has stated dl'ing just now. Thanks.

Just out of curiosity, why does only SteamTransport work for this type of video?

[jagabo]

Because Adobe threatens to sue companies in countries they can reach.

[shokan22]

Let me rephrase that, then. What technical aspect is allowing Steam Transport to download this, but not using other streaming media downloaders such as the Ant Firefox addon or the many others?

[jagabo]

Adobe spends a lot of time working on ways to make it difficult for people to download flash videos. Videos like the one above are streamed via an encrypted RTMP mechanism -- RMTPE. Whether it's hard or not to bypass that mechanism they can wield the DMCA over the heads of anyone in the USA who tries to distribute a product that does.