Live stream capture to PC (Motorola DCX 3400-M)

[mr-scarface]

Hi All,

I was wondering if it's possible to connect a DVR (Motorola DCX 3400-M) to a PC? It's got ethernet, USB, firewire, etc.

I want to capture the video in real-time, so I can edit it immediately. I heard there are hauppage cards. How does it work? Do they create files on your PC? Or does it send the video stream to your PC, allowing you to capture it yourself?

Any insight would be appreciated.

[vaporeon800]

I provided my input on this in the other thread.

Firewire is best for quality. Give it a try with Mac OS X or a 32-bit version of Windows.

[jagabo]

http://sichantalpo.wordpress.com/2007/01/25/capture-hdtv-using-your-firewire-equipped-cable-box/

[mr-scarface]

http://sichantalpo.wordpress.com/2007/01/25/capture-hdtv-using-your-firewire-equipped-cable-box/

Really? It's that easy? You just need to install a couple pieces of software and get a firewire cable?

I heard they disable the ports on this particular DVR.

[mr-scarface]

I provided my input on this in the other thread.

Firewire is best for quality. Give it a try with Mac OS X or a 32-bit version of Windows.

The machine I use for editing video is a windows 7 64-bit. Can it not be done on this version?

[mr-scarface]

If I were to get an internal TV tuner card like this one, could I split the signal from my cable company so I can watch it on my TV, as well as my PC?

[jagabo]

http://sichantalpo.wordpress.com/2007/01/25/capture-hdtv-using-your-firewire-equipped-cable-box/

Really? It's that easy? You just need to install a couple pieces of software and get a firewire cable?

Yes.

I heard they disable the ports on this particular DVR.

Then it wont' work.

[vaporeon800]

I didn't say 32-bit Windows just for giggles. It is a requirement, because the person writing the drivers had and has no interest in creating a whole new branch.

If I were to get an internal TV tuner card like this one, could I split the signal from my cable company so I can watch it on my TV, as well as my PC?

Possibly, for analogue NTSC channels only. No HD.

I believe both Shaw and Rogers are actively enacting plans to remove all NTSC channels and replace them with digital versions, in all markets.

What is your cable company?

[sanlyn]

And if the past is any clue, cable companies are starting to require cable boxes for unscarmbled reception. On the cable line itself, all channels would be encrypted. Capture cards would be useless. While that is not true in all areas of North America, it's something to think about.

[jagabo]

If I were to get an internal TV tuner card like this one, could I split the signal from my cable company so I can watch it on my TV, as well as my PC?

Possibly, for analogue NTSC channels only. No HD.

He would also be able to get SD and HD clear QAM channels if his cable company hasn't switched to all encrypted QAM (the FCC dropped the clear QAM requirement for local broadcast channels recently).

[mr-scarface]

I didn't say 32-bit Windows just for giggles. It is a requirement, because the person writing the drivers had and has no interest in creating a whole new branch.

If I were to get an internal TV tuner card like this one, could I split the signal from my cable company so I can watch it on my TV, as well as my PC?

Possibly, for analogue NTSC channels only. No HD.

I believe both Shaw and Rogers are actively enacting plans to remove all NTSC channels and replace them with digital versions, in all markets.

What is your cable company?

Shaw Cable.

[vaporeon800]

I'm still going to keep pushing you to do Firewire captures. I've done them with Shaw in Vancouver and a mid-sized city in AB.

He would also be able to get SD and HD clear QAM channels if his cable company hasn't switched to all encrypted QAM (the FCC dropped the clear QAM requirement for local broadcast channels recently).

Remember jagabo, Canada. The only ClearQAM channels here are the Galaxie music stations.

[mr-scarface]

I'm still going to keep pushing you to do Firewire captures. I've done them with Shaw in Vancouver and a mid-sized city in AB.

He would also be able to get SD and HD clear QAM channels if his cable company hasn't switched to all encrypted QAM (the FCC dropped the clear QAM requirement for local broadcast channels recently).

Remember jagabo, Canada. The only ClearQAM channels here are the Galaxie music stations.

Ok so I got a 6 pin to 6 pin firewire cable and hooked up the PVR to my PC, but it couldn't automatically install the drivers. Here's what it says:



I tried clicking the link (which jagabo provided) to download the driver, but the link is broken. Is there another place to get the driver?

[jagabo]

Try here: http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/stbfirewire/ . That's where I got them long ago.

[mr-scarface]

I tried it and it doesn't work. It says:

"Windows could not find the driver software for your device".

I picked the "drivers" folder where the files are located, and it won't work for either device. Any ideas why?


Perhaps the drivers do not support my 64-bit version of windows 7? vaporeon mentioned earlier in the thread that it works with 32-bit windows only.

[vaporeon800]

You nailed it. Not sure why I have to say it 3 times and you still don't believe me.

[mr-scarface]

nah I believed you, I was just a bit confused about the whole thing so I decided to go ahead and try that method. Especially since there's some doubt with the capture card method.

I could always set up a dual boot with win7 32-bit just for this purpose, but that's kind of a ridiculous workaround.

[godai]

dual boot its pretty easy to install i guess,

[mr-scarface]

I guess it is pretty easy to install, but it just doesn't make sense for me. I will be editing the videos in a 64 bit version of Sony Vegas, so it just doesn't make sense to use a 32-bit operating system especially when I'm performing resource-intensive tasks like this.

As of right now, I am recording my TV screen with a camcorder, which is FAR from the ideal situation.