Hi Def capturing from cable box to PC

[vetski179]

Planning a new PC. Would like to watch and occasionally record stuff from my Comcast DVR on this new PC. Would like to watch, sometimes capture and maybe burn a Blu-Ray. Comcast (model 3416) box has HDMI out as well as 1394 out. Can I run HDMI cable from Comcast box to a HDMI input to do this? How? I see motherboards as well as video cards with HDMI ports. Is one better than the other? Or is 1394 a viable option? Thanks.

[jagabo]

Planning a new PC. Would like to watch and occasionally record stuff from my Comcast DVR on this new PC. Would like to watch, sometimes capture and maybe burn a Blu-Ray. Comcast (model 3416) box has HDMI out as well as 1394 out. Can I run HDMI cable from Comcast box to a HDMI input to do this?

No. Everything coming out the cable box will be HDCP protected and there are no HDMI capture devices that will record that. Actually, you can use an Mux HD to strip the HDCP protection but it may not be legal where you live:

http://www.curtpalme.com/MUX-HD.shtm

You would then need something like the BlackMagic Intensity to capture the unencrypted HDMI stream.

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/

is 1394 a viable option?

It might be. You'll have to see if your cable box outputs to its 1394 port. And whether or not the data is encrypted.

http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/stbfirewire/

Also consider the Hauppauge HD PVR which can record high def component video.

[vetski179]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated!

[usually_quiet]

There's a very good chance that the HD channels will be 5c copy protected and firewire capture won't be possible. For more details, see https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/comcast-dvr-to-pc-t295631.html

[fritzi93]

As already mentioned, the Hauppauge HD-PVR can do it over component cables:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116030&Tpk=hd-pvr

It works well, and includes TME, which retails for around ~$120 bucks. TME has one of the best software Blu-Ray players available (Digital Theater module), in addition to the capture, editing/disc creation, and conversion modules.