Video Capture, Vista, and Watching Encrypted TV on my PC

[LotusFire]

I need help choosing a great capture card (no tuner) I can hook up to my set top box!

My current TV experience is Comcast, Vista Ultimate, and a HDHomeRun. All works well for Clear QAM, and I'm very happy with the setup.

Now I'm interested in watching the encrypted channels (that I pay for). The only TV I have is a PC LCD display, so I need to get the signal into my PC.

So I thought... why not just run the component A/V from the STB into a capture card and watch it live as it streams into the computer.

So... I started researching capture cards, but because I don't have any experience in the quality differences, lag, or features between the cards, I'm at a loss for what is possible and what to buy. I obviously don't need a tuner, just inputs from the set top box.

The Canopus products seem high quality, but I don't see that there are any Vista drivers. I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars, if that what it takes. I'm just not sure that I need a high end card? Can I get the same quality and resolution from a cheap card?

I would prefer a PCI card, but USB2 would be fine if that's the product to get.

Also, I read something tonight that HD couldn't make it through the component A/V, and I guess I don't understand why? Can't be decoded? Too big? So that means only SD would make it into the PC? or HD converted to a lower res?

I see people talking about recording a capture from a card, but what about just watching it? Best software for that? I probably don't want to see 99.9% of this stuff more than once.

I'm totally new to all this, so anything that helps me get up to speed would be great

What's your setup or experience trying to set this up?

my deepest gratitude...
LF

[Bjs]

Welcome LotusFire

Most avermedia products are vista ready , and of high quality ... but stay clear of those mentioning mce .

Pay per view channels are encrypted , and decoded by the topset box used to receive those services .

It has been metioned to use a device known as a video stabilizer , in order to remove the embeded signal from the input souce , especially from pay per view channels , prior to entering the recording device .

Your choice comes down to the following :

Pci vs Usb capture device ... usb is easier and less hassle .
A video stabilizer ... Something like this one : http://www.xdimax.com/grex/grex.html

Your current pc specs will do quite nicely for the highest capture quality .

Once thats sorted , you should be on your way to recording pay per view channels .

----

As a hint :

Should you go with avermedia , you must install the program and drivers first , then shut pc down and install the device .

(Remove power cord , as some pcs may wake when installing pci cards ... not funny) .
(If usb , use a self powered usb2 hub , such as from belkin , to interface between usb caps device to pc)

Mine requires 2amps , and such high current powered devices should NOT be connected directly to any pc , or else .

This is the "trouble free" setup method , that many seem to get messed up , and wonder why they have problems .

I would also mention you pass the audio to linein on pc sound device only , as it provides a clear picture ... mixed signal input actual degrades the quality .

[jagabo]

Also, I read something tonight that HD couldn't make it through the component A/V, and I guess I don't understand why?

To keep people from doing what you want to do. Or more specifically, to keep people from recording HD material.

So that means only SD would make it into the PC? or HD converted to a lower res?

Yes. Note that all the consumer level cards will capture from s-video or composite. These will necessarily be low res (typically captured as 720x480) but it will usually look better than an over-the-air SD broadcast.

[Nelson37]

No current path for HD into the PC except for OTA broadcast, which needs a different card.

Video stabilizer serves no purpose whatsoever for the OP's needs. Waste of cash.

HD channel downsampled to SD will yield best available signal from satellite or cable.

Virtually 100% of such signal is Telecined as opposed to Interlaced. Better for PC monitor.

[dphirschler]

Yes. Note that all the consumer level cards will capture from s-video or composite. These will necessarily be low res (typically captured as 720x480) but it will usually look better than an over-the-air SD broadcast.

This statement is misleading. 720x480 although not HD, is hardly low-res. Perhaps you should have said "standard res", which is what it is except that it will be widescreen letterboxed. If only we could get an anamorphic SD signal coming through s-video. I hope somewhere out there a settop box actually allows that, but I have yet to see one. Anyways, I digress.


Darryl

[Bjs]

Actually , Nelson37 , the video stabilizer from http://www.xdimax.com/grex/grex.html , dose indeed cover the op's need in relation to comcast services , wether it is suitable for pay per view encrypted channels , will need to be reviewed ... read it .

To record in SD or HD , you'd be looking at ... well , get a coffee , and settle down for a good read over here :

http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2634

I'll be looking into it next week myself , and may make the purchase soon .

[Nelson37]

DP- my satellite box from DirecTV does exactly that.

BJ and others - Use of a Video Stabilizer for Comcast, Time Warner, and DirecTV had no effect whatsoever other than to remove Closed Captions. Debatable whether there was a slight brightness change. Definitely no effect on encrypted channels. It DId partially remove Macrovision on VHS and DVD, I say partially because a newer capture card still recognized copy protection present.

[LotusFire]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. Informative.

I think I've got the basics, but I'm still wondering what the best device to get is?

AverMedia was suggested, but is something like the DVD EZMaker Gold going to give me the quality and options as a Canopus or Blackmagic card/usb device?

As I stated before I already have a HDHomeRun, so I don't really need another tuner (though I'm open).

On a side note... does anyone know if the SLI 16x PCIe slot (secondary) on the nVidia 680i motherboard will take a 1xPCIe card? I have the GeForce 8800 GTX in the first 16x slot and it's a double wide card, so I can't use the 1x PCIe slot next to it. Ive heard that most of the 1x PCIe cards will go in a 16x slot, but I'm not sure about the 680i SLI.

thanks again everyone,
LF

[LotusFire]

Ok, this is a long shot, but sounds simple enough...

What about using HDMI from the set top box, connect it to an HDFury, and then into a high(er) end HD capture card for 1080i on th PC? Perhaps using either a VGA input on the capture device, or a VGA to component converter?

I'm either crazy or I don't need a CableCard box at all

- LF


HDFury
http://www.consoleshop.com/product.php?productid=16848
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4897425

[digital-mann]

Nelson - Which stablizer did you use? I am looking for one to use on my media center using Bell ExpressVU. The GREX looks impressive from what I have read. Don't know if I can get it in Canada however.

I can't watch any of the newer movies on TMN. ARGH!

[jman98]

LotusFire - If you are interested, it is possible to record directly via firewire from a Comcast cable box to your PC. Once the file is on your PC you can do what you want with it - edit it, downcovert to DVD resolutions, etc. Take a look at:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=403695

Note that pay channels such as HBO cannot be recorded this way, but it works fine for all normal HD channels that Comcast gives you.