Scientific Atlanta HD cable box/DVR to PC

[shankomatic]

Cable boxes with built-in DVR's from comcast (Motorolla 6208) have a working firewire feed. There was actually a regulation by the FCC saying the cable companines can not block the port.

On the other hand, they also have to pass copy protection flags in the stream at the request of the station/producer, etc.

Right now I am able to capture most of the HD-Digital content out there. Moive Channels are generally blocked, but if you wanted to capture a HD recording of a typical network broadcast show, or sporting event you shouldn't have a problem through the 1394 ports.

[croat]

what about pci dvb cards?
add a cam module and bam, you got all of your shows on your computer in mpeg2 format
I got haupauge nexus-s I record tons of FTA of Telstar5 satelite
As I said you can use exact same PCI card with cam module and dishnetwork smartcard (from your receiver) and you get all channels on your computer
No flags, record as much as you want

[Nelson37]

Over at AVSForum there was a discussion of a software-emulated Digital VCR which would work on the PC thru the firewire connection from a cable box. Also a company listed, whose name I forget, which made a box for around $400 which sat between a satellite box and the PC. Not sure exactly what it did.

It would seem that if the firewire port will output to a Digital VCR, and if such a VCR can be emulated in software, this would be the way to go. It was said that full Hi-Def picture was indeed captured.