DVR output to a laptop?

joelrosado · Member Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Location: United States

I've got a video recorder (Panasonic VMR EZ47V) that has analog and video tuners and plays/records on VHS and SD cards as well as DVD. This is hooked via HDMI to my Mitsubishi projector - where I watch DVDs and TV. The DVR also has component, composite and S-video outputs.

The problem is that in broad daylight the projector image is almost invisible (which is OK, cuz I only watch after dark), but I then can't see the screen to program the DVR during the day.

I have a laptop (Sony Vaio K37) right there by the DVR, so I thought it would be great to find a way to pipe the output of the DVR into the laptop, and then I could program the DVR in daylight.

I bought a digital capture to USB device (EZCap) on ebay from Hong Kong, thinking that would work, but the Ulead LE software doesn' seem to want to display realtime images.

Does anybody have any ideas / suggestions to help me display the output of the DVR on the laptop?

redwudz · Mod Neophyte Joined: 07 Sep 2002 Location: AZ, USA

I have my doubts you will find much of anything to display a real-time image on a laptop. It needs to go through the device, then be processed with the computer. Both will add some lag, the laptop processing the most.

I have used a composite to VGA adapter for display on a computer monitor. But, at least for my setup, not good quality.

You would be better off to get a TV with composite inputs or SVHS, LCD preferred, and use those outputs from the DVR. I know what you mean about projectors. I only use mine at night.

You could also get some dark fabric and cut off the light from your windows as maybe a simpler option.

I've also done that.

But other members may have some ideas.

And welcome to our forums.

joelrosado · Member Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Location: United States

Thanks for your information, redwudz. (Your logo looks like you may be related to Bill the Cat, my hero.)

Actually, for what I want to do, a small delay would be OK. I just want to be able to use the DVR's onscreen programming through the laptop.

If I could find an 8" to 13" LCD monitor with RCA inputs (cheap), I'd use that, but I'd much prefer to find a way of using the existing - and underused - laptop.

redwudz · Mod Neophyte Joined: 07 Sep 2002 Location: AZ, USA

If laptops allowed direct access to the video portion of their circuitry, it would be fairly easy. But you have to go through the whole processor and video card system to get a output from a input. It's really not practical to use one as a monitor.

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