Capturing from Directv Via Firewire Theory

[amjm]

Hello I would like to record from Directv with the minimal loss possible.
I have seen on the Hughes site
http://www.hns.com/default.asp?CurrentPath=products/boxes/hd/specifications.htm
about DIRECTV MPEG and on
Digital DirecTV for Your PC
http://www.techtv.com/print/story/0,23102,9138,00.html

I belive that you can conect a Directv system with a Digital VHS if its capable using a form of Firewire and then you can conect the JVC Digital VHS to Windows XP installed drivers.

Can someone please elaborate this?
I also read on Techtv link that with the corect drivers you dont need the digital VHS.

I hope this information is enough to start a good guide.

[tonyp12]

One problem would be that the most people PC's
are not near the Satellite box

The maximum Firewire cable length for connecting
device to device is 4.5-meters (14.85ft).

A 10 meter (32ft) cable may be used in conjunction with a repeater when it is necessary to extend FireWire cables over long distances. You must however have a hub/repeater for every 10 meters (32ft).

---------
If I need to put a Satellite box in the Computer Room,
I would like them to create PCI-card Receiver instead.
(not available in USA as of now)

[JHebert]

That's an interesting idea. I know there are HDTV PCI cards that let a WinXP PC function as an HDTV tuner/receiver, and I believe some of them have Firewire/1394 connection so they can transfer backups to and from D-VHS decks. Therefore, I would think that if WinXP driver support exists for D-VHS over Firewire/1394b than maybe your idea isn't too far off. I wonder if anything would happen if you connected the Firewire/1394 output (labled D-VHS) on the DirectTV directly to a Firewire/1394 card on your PC? Would WinXP recognize it and think its a D-VHS deck or something? It would be cool if you could save DirecTV broadcasts this way.
Here are a few D-VHS and HDTV related links that may be relevant:
http://www.webtc.com/DVHS/default.htm
http://www.digitalconnection.com/

[The village idiot]

Well, this is interesting. What format is the data from the DVHS and or satellite? If it is DV, you should be able to grab it with something like DVio. If not true DV then you might have to right an app. from the DirectX SDK

[tonyp12]

What format is the data from the DVHS and or satellite? If it is DV?

Would make sence if it is MPEG2, As that is what the satellite broadcast in.
No need to re-encode of the fly,
just stream it out through the Firewire port.

Pure DV format and any Digital VCR would be pretty full fast.

[JHebert]

Satellite such as DirecTV and Dish Network and also HDTV broadcast in a form of MPEG-2 transport stream not in DV format.
The D-VHS decks can record MPEG-2 bitstreams up to 28Mb/s which is enough to record HDTV broadcasts. HDTV recording is the main purpose for D-VHS to my knowledge.
I think that the Firewire output on the DirectTV receiver would be for sending the MPEG-2 bitstream from the Satellite tuner to a D-VHS deck. I'm not sure if the MPEG-2 bitstream is encrypted or copy protected in some way, or if it could be captured and saved on a PC with a Firewire card instead of on D-VHS tape.
There is a lot of info about these subjects on the forums at http://www.avsforum.com worth checking out.

[amjm]

I found this link about D-VHS

D-VHS VCR System Outline
http://www.vhs-std.com/english/dvhs_e/dvhs_outline_e.htm

Also this link
http://www.sasem.com/english/prod/main-1.html
It says: Saving recorded stream by D-VHS as File is supported. (Supports on Windows XP)

The problem in a way is that I think that a D-VHS cost US$800
And a DVD recorder cost around US$(1000) (a Deck)
The good thing is it can record HDTV and 720 x 480 P
Of course it would be better to try DirectTV to Firewire.
Another thing is how much are the D-VHS tape.

I do have my computer besides my TV that way I can capture the programs