Windows 2000 options, if any.

[AlecWest]

For a while now, I've used a Hauppauge PVR150 capture card to capture analog video from my basic cable service. Now that I have a digital cable box, I can still do this since the box has analog outputs on the back. Of course, that means I've lost the ability to "schedule" captures since the card doesn't allow scheduling of captures from a "non-channel" source.

I'm wondering if there is another capture card out there that I can connect direct to the cable ... allowing me to "tune in" to capture or schedule any of the approximate 900 channels I now have access to and still work under Windows 2000 Pro SP4.

If not, I suppose I'll just have to limit myself to captures requiring my presence ... or until I find a capture card and scenario workable under a Linux distro (later).

[edsmith77]

I would like that capability as well. However, those channels as you know are scrambled and hence the need for the converter box. I doubt that you will find a video card that will do that service for you. The cable company probably would not like that.

Good Luck.

[AlecWest]

I would like that capability as well. However, those channels as you know are scrambled and hence the need for the converter box. I doubt that you will find a video card that will do that service for you. The cable company probably would not like that.

Good Luck.

I kind-of expected that. They want to keep renting DVR service. I just wonder how long it will be (assuming it hasn't happened already) before Comcast restricts the copying of movies on digital premium channels.

[dwill123]

You could maybe start with Slingbox AV and look for a tool to maybe capture the feed?

[edsmith77]

AlecWest,
Not long as I have been seeing traffic regarding that very stuff.

Have a great day.

Ed

[prouton]

If you'll consider changing your PVR software, you could try GB-PVR. It will do timer recording from the A/V inputs, and offers a couple of options for controlling the cable box.

As for a tuner card or external tuner that can handle cable's encrypted channels, that's still in the future. ATI is making a cable card ready box, but it doesn't appear to be available at this time for retail sale (Dell sells a box with unit as an accessory). And if you can get the ATI product, then you've got to fight the cable card problems.

[SmokieStover]

Now that I have a digital cable box, I can still do this since the box has analog outputs on the back. Of course, that means I've lost the ability to "schedule" captures since the card doesn't allow scheduling of captures from a "non-channel" source.

Based on using a PVR 250 card and WinTV2K, I think you are wrong about not being able to schedule recordings thru the composit or S-Video inputs.......just create the channel for them! As I recall, composit 1 imputs are numbered channel 200 by default....S-Video might be 210, or whatever.

The PVR 250 does not have an IR blaster for changing channels on the cable or sat box, but the PVR 150 does.