DVR capture to PC

[NY_RRVid]

Hi,

Is there any way to capture from a DVR in HD to PC? My cable company is going to stop supporting my cable box and has already sent me a new one. I wanted to grab a few things off it first. I have been searching around, but it's hard to find a direct simple solution. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks.
NY_RR.

[TreeTops]

It's probably encrypted.

[NY_RRVid]

Thanks for the reply.
The Cable box is from 2010 - does that help? were thing different back then?

[jagabo]

If the cable box has component outputs you can probably capture that. To capture HDMI you will need and HDCP stripper between the cable box and an HDMI capture device. Some HDMI splitters (one in, two out) can remove HDCP.

[NY_RRVid]

Thanks. Any recommendations on the better HDMI Capture devices and HDCP strippers?
RRV.

[jagabo]

Sorry, I don't keep up with what's available now. I recommend searching at youtube or one of the other streaming sites for videos about splitters that bypass HDCP. You'll want an HDMI 1.4 splitter for your old cable box; no need for a 2.x splitter.

There are a few HDMI capture devices that allow you to bypass HDCP. ClonerAlliance makes a few, they start around US$200. They're not advertised as bypassing HDCP but user reviews at Amazon.com tell you how (a button press or two).

[Alwyn]

One of these gadgets will probably do the HDCP job.

As far as HDMI digitisers go, there are many. The cheap ones are nasty, the $40 ones are better and more expensive ones ~$150 are good. I have a Startech USB3HDCAP and it works well capturing HDMI (thru the above gadget) from my Panasonic VCR/DVD combos. I haven't tried with a late model PVR.

The Elgato Camlink has been mentioned in a few YT videos for HD video capture.

Another possible option is to pull the hard drive out and analyse it with ISOBuster. This allows you to copy off the files. Check with ISOBuster about copying encrypted files; I don't know if the file itself is encrypted or only when it is played. I used ISO Buster on a old Pioneer DVR that had a dodgy hard disk. Make sure you can put it back in (if you need to).

[NY_RRVid]

Thanks for the responses. Some pretty good info here, cool. Will investigate and try a few things.

Thanks again.
RRV

[usually_quiet]

The DVRs with ISO Buster support listed on the ISO Buster website were sold for recording over-the-air broadcasts provided via antenna. These DVRS might also work for recording from a cable box's composite connections.

The list of supported DVRs doesn't include any equipment rented from cable service providers