Sky+ And Video Capture

[marcus2704]

Ive a number of programs which I would like to pull off my Sky+ box, and transfer to PC.

If cost wasnt a problem, what would my best method of doing this be in terms of the hardware I would need to buy.

The range of products seems to be bewildering so any advice would be appreciated.

[SatStorm]

You can't pull out from sky plus just like that, so you have to do a real fashion capture if you wish to transfer your captures to discs.

Also, you gonna have to deal with macrovision, so you need a capture card that overide this problem.
So whatever is your choice, keep that in mind!

IMHO, any bt8xx(x) based card and unofficial 3rd party drivers tweaked for those things is OK. The only problem with the bt8xx(x) cards, is that you have to capture high with them, to keep picture quality. It is possible to capture of course lower, but you don't have detail and sharpness that way.
In practice, that is a minus for 2 reasons: 1. You need also big HDs for capturing let say at 704 x 576 (that kind of captures needs space...) and 2. You can't grabb direct to mpeg 2 using any kind of programs at framesizes smaller than 704 x 576 and end up with a picture like your source. In this scenario, you need a good CPU, more than 2600Ghz, to succeed realtime mpeg 2 capture @ 704 x 576 framesize.

An other alternative I can suggest you, are the older nvidia based cards, which use the 1.08 wdm drivers. Those drivers overide macrovision and those nvidia cards can capture excellent quality picture at any framesize (far better bt8xx(x) based cards). The second is a plus if you wish to capture direct to mpeg 2 at lower framesizes (352 x 576 for example) with mediocre CPUs (about 1.7Ghz). The only problem, is that you can't track those cards easy any more (are older - 1/2 years old that is...)

Some other may suggest you Ati Cards. Keep in mind that only the really latest models are good for capturing. Older ones, have countless issues (just visit the "capture Cards" section of this site, and read the related user comments for this...). I don't know how those cards overide macrovision

[bugster]

AFAIK, Macrovision is not a problem with Sky+ unless you are trying to capture PPV (Sky Box office), which you shouldn't really be doing anyway!

[SatStorm]

I have problems with various sky digital channels beyond the PPV ones (which is not an option for me, since I receive sky digital outside UK/Ireland (so, I don't have my telephone line connected to the digibox...).
And, some reports mention that this summer, macrovision gonna added on all the sky movies channels

[bugster]

I have problems with various sky digital channels beyond the PPV ones (which is not an option for me, since I receive sky digital outside UK/Ireland (so, I don't have my telephone line connected to the digibox...).
And, some reports mention that this summer, macrovision gonna added on all the sky movies channels

Ok, you must watch different channels to me!

Wouldn't surprise me about the movie channels though I will be upset if/when this happens as I sometimes archive good movies to my Philips DVDr 75.