Recording HDTV via Firewire

[Ste]

Has anyone ever attempted to record HDTV onto their computer through their HDTV tuner's i.link(firewire) line? The Samsung SIR-T165 is the only recent one that I've seen with firewire capabilities. If you hooked that up to your PC, would any type of software be able to recognize the signal?

[The village idiot]

I know people are working on this. That port is meant to connect to a DVHS recorder, so the data is definitely going out. You'll have to do a search on the web for more info. In time, there WILL be ways to do this!

[You_Are_Alive]

The JVC HM-DH 3000 is also a DVHS with i.link-s200, not just a HDTV receiver. It now goes for $799 after $200 rebate. But I've read some articles a while back when this unit (JVC) first came out with the DV port, that even though it says its got DV IN/OUT its a misleading ad.

The problem is with the legal issues involved and technical. The movie industry and other interested parities do not want the regular population to make a perfect digital copy of the work without paying for it. Also, the DV spec is for 720x480 interlaced for NTSC, and since HDTV outputs 1020 lines the only way for that port to work is for the signal to be down converted somehow thereby loosing quality. Another problem is with the capture card, you would need to find one that can capture HD content. To date, none are cheap, only available to professionals for high costs that work with HD content.

But hey, if you have anyone of these units. please try a test. Hook up the stuff either to your DV camera or the OHCI compliant capture card. And tell us your findings. Thats for anyone out there that has the equipment. Your findings would be helpful.

BJ_M, I think thats his name, I think he can try out this experiment. I hope you see this post and can find sometime to try it out.

[Ste]

Actually, my main interest is to record episodes of Seinfeld off an ATSC tuner, because that'll give me the best quality over cable/dish. Seinfeld broadcasts through my local FOX affiliate at 480i anyway, but I'd much rather use the firewire port than capturing through S-Video + Stereo RCA cables. My current Samsung HDTV tuner has S-Video, but no firewire. I was looking to upgrade to the Samsung SIR-T165 for the fact that recording off the i.Link is possible. But since no one has ever tried it, I guess that I'll have to be the guinea pig.

Of course if it doesn't work, I could always return the unit.
...but I do have to come up with the money first