Use my Laptop like a 'TIVO'?

[allenz]

Hi

I want to be able to record some TV shows similar to a TIVO®. I'm tired of wasting VHS tapes then having to re-capture them to my editing software to cut out the commercials.

The other problem that TIVO won't help with is I got a 1 meter sattelite dish to receive CCTV from China for my wife and son. China TV is now digital and I usually have to waste a VHS tape to record the various specials. Then into Vegas then out to DVD.

I just bought a new Samsung 46" HDTV. That's got all the new inputs/outputs I think I'd ever need and my Toshiba laptop has a S-video plug.

I thought of getting a Hard Disk recorder but that's big bucks and I got my laptop!

I'm seeing all kinds of Laptop to TV with PCMCIA tuner cards and USA 2 stuff but even with the sattelite playing through on channel 3/4 I don't know if it will record off those channels.

I tried searching here but I thiunk I'm not using the correct terms cause I'm not coming up with any prior posts or help.

Thanks for any suggestions
Allen

[redwudz]

You can check our 'Capture Cards' listing to the left. Use either PCMCIA or USB2 for search criteria. The PCMCIA listings are somewhat limited.

For USB2, you might look into the Hauppauge USB unit: http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html It's not cheap, though. It has the advantage of outputting in MPEG-2 format and has a hardware encoder to lighten the load on the computer CPU. MPEG-2 is not so easy to edit, but you can burn to DVD fairly easy.

Does your satellite have any other video out besides RF channels 3/4? It would be nice to get a higher quality source signal.

[GMaq]

Hello,
I've been using my laptop for scheduled satellite recordings and it works great, I use a Plextor ConvertX M402U USB 2.0 Box it has Hardware Encoding in both MPEG-2 and DivX so it doesn't require much CPU like the previous poster said, If you want to connect your laptop to your HDTV I would suggest using the VGA Out or even better DVI to HDMI if you have it. I use Nero-Vision Express to schedule Satellite recordings and Burn direct to DVD, or many times I just hook the laptop direct to my HDTV and watch it right off the laptop.

[edDV]

I'd agree with either if the above capture devices so long as you are getting Chinese programs in NTSC format.

The PVR-USB2 has an NTSC analog tuner for over the air or cable recording but does not support PAL. Better to connect from the sat box as S-Video and audio rather than Ch3/4 for best quality.

Plextor’s ConvertX PX-M402U will work with either NTSC or PAL composite or S-Video sources should you go to China with your laptop but it lacks an off air tuner. Downside is it won't work with sat box Ch3/4.

Laptop output options are

1. S-Video + audio to the TV
2. VGA out to HDTV VGA in (if present on the Samsung HDTV)
3. DVD authored on the laptop.


PS: Plextor has a more expensive model Plextor PX-TV402U $199 that includes an NTSC only tuner.
http://www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertXComp.htm

[allenz]

Hi and Thanks much

Okay, the digital CCTV Sattelite box has an RS232, RCA composit and an S-Video on the back as well as the channel 3/4 RF. I don't know what they're broadcasting, probably NTSC signal as these are the international channels. CCTV 4 Chinese and CCTV 9 their English channel. We have no problems watching here in Illinois nor did I ever have a problem recording to VHS.

As far as USA TV, about all I record is stuff like House on Fox TV Tuesday nights 7pm central and stuff like that.

Time shifting I guess. But laptop or HD recorder would be great as I'm not wasting VHS tapes and what we want to keep I can put on DVD. However I'd prefer to capture as AVI instead of MPEG-2 like you said, hard to edit MPEG. However what would I be editing? Nothing except cutting out commercials on USA TV and nothing at all on the Chinese box.


Samsung TV has HDMI, Composit, componet and S-Video.

When I go to China and take my Laptop, it's for my video work. I don't record off their TV. Also to store digital photos off my digital still camera. Then I got my VX2000 with me also and shoot through DV Rack. So I won't need to worry about PAL on the laptop.

While we still ot a bunch of old VHS stuff here, I'm slowly replacing my VHS movies with DVD's and those that are not available on DVD, well, you know Including some of my old stuff (home movies) on VHS. But I can get the DVD's at $10 or less so not worth the 3 hours or so it takes to transfer and produce a DVD.

I'll check out the links you all gave me.

Allen

[edDV]

Hi and Thanks much

Okay, the digital CCTV Sattelite box has an RS232, RCA composit and an S-Video on the back as well as the channel 3/4 RF. I don't know what they're broadcasting, probably NTSC signal as these are the international channels. CCTV 4 Chinese and CCTV 9 their English channel. We have no problems watching here in Illinois nor did I ever have a problem recording to VHS.

As far as USA TV, about all I record is stuff like House on Fox TV Tuesday nights 7pm central and stuff like that.

Time shifting I guess. But laptop or HD recorder would be great as I'm not wasting VHS tapes and what we want to keep I can put on DVD. However I'd prefer to capture as AVI instead of MPEG-2 like you said, hard to edit MPEG. However what would I be editing? Nothing except cutting out commercials on USA TV and nothing at all on the Chinese box.

AVI what format? Uncompressed or DV will devour your laptop drive in minutes. MPeg2 is easy to cuts edit with Womble MPEG2VCR
http://www.womble.com/products/index.html
MPeg4 is more difficlut to cuts edit.

Samsung TV has HDMI, Composit, componet and S-Video.

When I go to China and take my Laptop, it's for my video work. I don't record off their TV. Also to store digital photos off my digital still camera. Then I got my VX2000 with me also and shoot through DV Rack. So I won't need to worry about PAL on the laptop.

Then either capture device will work but they do require USB2.

[handyguy]

byopvr.com

build your own PVR.....

[jman98]

MPEG-2 is EASY to edit with the right editor. Both MPEG2VCR and VideoReDo work fine and could not be easier to use. Frankly, I find working with AVI to be a huge pain in the butt. All you need is one of those 2 editors I mentioned and you'll have no problems with MPEG-2.

[allenz]

Okay, Thanks
But what about revcording direct off the satellite box for the China TV if I get that Hauppauge USB. Can I schedule recording with that instead of the Plextor ConvertX M402U USB 2.0 Box and Nero-Vision Express? I suppose that the Huappauge box comes with some kind of software for scheduling and recording?

I appreciate all your help.
Allen

[InXess]

...MPEG-2 is not so easy to edit,....

Really? ...and how different is it from any other editing process?
Let's not demonize it too much. It's no different then editing DV as far as I'm concerned.