What's best way to record HDTV from DishTV?

[Rob61]

Thinking of getting an HD TV and upgrading my DishTV service to HD service. Is there a way, via computer perhaps or external unit, of capturing an HD signal and recording it?

I've been doing that with a DVD recorder off of standard broadcast, but now am wondering if there is a way currently to record all the information in an HD TV signal.

I assume that HD broadcast uses 720P, so my computer or an external unit should be able to capture that. Is there a way with a computer to capture this? What are my choices?

By the way, I am NOT interested in using a recordable hard drive off my DishTV service as you are limited to the size of the disk and have no way to back up to external disk (either hard drive or optical). I want to be able to save and catalog content and not just time shift and then erase.

Thanks.

[yoda313]

It's pricey but check out the new series 3 tivo. It's high def capable. Though I think its like 800.00. But its high def

[Rob61]

Tivo is a subscription service, and only downloads to their internal hard drive. I'm looking for an external solution, either my computer or an external recording device allowing me to store on my own hard drives or optical media.

[masochrist]

Sounds like you want an HDTV capture card and one of the new HD-DVD burners for your PC. Unless you have very deep pockets, you should look for something else to do. HD-DVD-R blanks are well north of $15 a pop.

[MozartMan]

Sounds like you want an HDTV capture card and one of the new HD-DVD burners for your PC. Unless you have very deep pockets, you should look for something else to do. HD-DVD-R blanks are well north of $15 a pop.

1. HDTV capture card will not capture from DishNetwork box.
2. There are no HD-DVD burners for PC (yet).

[MozartMan]

I assume that HD broadcast uses 720P

HD broadcast uses 720p and 1080i.

Is there a way with a computer to capture this?

Yes, there is.

What are my choices?

Sign up with cable TV and get HD DVR with firewire ports.

my computer or an external unit should be able to capture that

Read this guide: http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/index.html
and this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695

[MrCreosote]

If you have a IEEE transport stream output, there is always DVHS.

Frankly, I like DVHS and wish I could have bought one 20 years ago - the MPEG2 compression on SD is amazing.

Tom

PS. Doesn't the FCC require IEEE / TS outputs?

[ACLUguy]

2. There are no HD-DVD burners for PC (yet).

There are blu-ray burners though. I agree whole heartedly with your and others assessments that it's a huge price to pay disk wise and drive wise at this current time. Plus, there is the whole "which format will supplant DVD" question.

Wouldn't want to spend several thousand dollars and find -a few years from now- you have a collection of equipment and disks just about as useful as laserdisks are now.

ACLU guy

[painkiller]

You might consider an alternative...

With a computer HDTV capture card you could convert your capture to DIVX (maybe even highdef/hires divx) if you have a certified DIVX DVD player.