[mythtv-users] Semi-OT: DVB in USA?

[Mark]

Since nobody has mentioned it, there ARE folks out there decoding and 
using Myth with DVB-S cards ONLY on E* and B*V at a minimum.  You need 
the correct software and a bit of time.  This would be the best way to 
get clean video from a E* box.  And I believe I recently saw evidence of 
HD capture using the same setup.  Search google for DVB network.  Note, 
I'm not condoning theft of service, just "testing" and frankly, if I 
ever did do this, I'd still subscribe.  I don't think it's right to 
steal service.

Todd wrote:
> You are mixing terms...with respect to the wire.
>
> You are using your PVR-150 to capture an analog signal from your Digital 
> Cable box.  This is exactly what I am doing with my Dish Box.  I use and IR 
> blaster to control the box, and send video (via Svideo) and Audio (via RCA 
> Jacks) from the Digital Satellite (in your case, Digital Cable) box.  So you 
> are capturing a digital cable signal after turning it into analog and back 
> into MPEG2.
>
> Someone corrected me earlier to say DVB-C is not QAM.  Technically true, but 
> it seems the marketing geniuses that describe the ATSC cards say "does QAM" 
> to mean "does DVB-C".  Check:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB
> Notice DVB-C uses QAM (64 in general).  DVB-S (SHF) uses QPSK, DVB-T 
> (VHF/UHF) uses COFDM and ATSC uses 8VSB.  The card I referenced:
> http://mythic.tv/product_info.php?products_id=46
> ...does BOTH 8VSB and QAM....so it can deal with ATSC and DVB-C.
>
> Anyway, to keep stuff Digital-Digital-Digital....aka MPEG2 through and 
> through, use one of these Air2PC, Airstar, etc, type cards in the US.
>
> If you want to do DVB-S and DVB-C, you are locked out of anything encrypted 
> (in the USA).  Supposedly CableCards should fix this for DVB-C...but I doubt 
> it for open source projects.  ATSC is never encrypted (that I know of), so 
> you can get your locals in perfect MPEG2 (joke there...lossy)...but at least 
> you don't have generation loss due to many MPEG2 to Analog to MPEG2 
> conversions.
>
> DVB-C Note #2:  I understand you aren't COMPLETELY locked out of encrypted 
> DVB-C if you use firewire to control and capture video from you Digital 
> Cable box.  (These means ONLY a fire wire connects your MythBackend to the 
> Cable box; No analog RCA or SVideo cables.)  It seems every provider is 
> different...some block "premium" channels via firewire, some don't.  I have 
> no experience with this, so you will need to ask questions of someone who 
> has done this.
>
> Another note...you don't have to have a powerful machine to watch 
> downcoverted recordings.  I quickly stopped watching LiveTV because (yes 
> even the news) recording are WAY more convenient for me.  I just have HD 
> content transcoded after the fact to MPEG4 (and rescaled to 800 wide).  It 
> even plays on my EPIA M1000 frontend.  If you haven't made the paradigm 
> change here are my tips:
> -Get used to setting "No. of recordings to keep"
> -Get used to setting "Priority"
> -Get one additional ATSC card, you will never have a problem with prime time 
> scheduling again.
>
> ...it is starting to get weird...it has been about 6 months since I have 
> seen a commercial.  You don't realize how many daily references there are to 
> tv commercials until you stop seeing them.  :-)
>
> Clear as mud?...GREAT!  :-)
>
> Todd
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steven Adeff" <adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com>
> To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 10:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Semi-OT: DVB in USA?
>
>
>   
>> On 4/4/06, Mark Johannessen <mfjlaw at gmail.com> wrote:
>>     
>>>> Yeah, that's kind of what I want! Looks like I'll have to resort to
>>>> digital cable through my PVR-150 for anything like that. My Myth
>>>> Backend isn't powerful enough to handle HD down conversion, and my
>>>> front-end can't do it on the fly.
>>>>         
>>> I'm a bit confused on this ... I though the PVR-xxx series cards can
>>> capture analog streams (OTA or cable) but not digital streams (like DT
>>> labelled channels whether through cable or OTA) and that is why people
>>> are using the pcHD300 etc. type cards.
>>>
>>> Mark
>>>       
>> with a PVR card you output the digital channel from a
>> cablebox/satelite receiver through SVideo output into the PVR card and
>> use a ir blaster or serial connection to change channels.
>>
>> --
>> Steve
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>>     
>
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