I've gone thru quite a few pages of posts and finally am able to do some recording. I have a Mot DCT6412 III w/ comcast in SF bay area. Here's what I found out. I am able to record analog channels but not the HD ones. These are not premium channels. I was recording ABC as a test. I switch between the HD and analog and only am able to capture the analog. I used CAPDVHS. I also checked the ABC HD channel and make sure 5c flag is 0. timecop, i'm hoping you have some idea.....pls help.....thx in advance.

Just curious when you connected it for the first time, what device did hte pioneer box come up as? AV/C Tuner Device? Generic AV/C Device? or something else? If it was AV/C tuner and you followed install instructions, you SHOULD be getting a 'Panasonic MPEG-TS Source #1' or something similar in capdvhs menu list.

When the computer first sensed that the Pioneer TV was attached to the Firewire port, a pop-up came up indicating the there is a new "AV/C Tuner." It searched for drivers but couldn't find any. That's when I posted here and then downloaded & installed the Meidvhs driver. In the device manager, the two 1394 ports do not show any error - no question mark or no 'X." Same for the AV/C device. No, a 'Panasonic MPEG-TS Source #1' did not come up in the capdvhs menu. There are no devices listed in the menu.

If I recall correctly (am not home at the moment to check) the Pioneer manual says that the i.Link can only talk to a DVHS. Could that be a factor here? If so, is there a way for the computer to be thought of as a DVHS by the Pioneer TV?

If I recall correctly (am not home at the moment to check) the Pioneer manual says that the i.Link can only talk to a DVHS. Could that be a factor here? If so, is there a way for the computer to be thought of as a DVHS by the Pioneer TV?

You can get a trial of FireBus (search the forum / google for it)

Anyone know a .ts audio repair tool that can (Safely) work with .ts streams taken from a 6412 box (for slight audio irregularities).

AC3Fix (freeware) is a very reliable command line tool.

http://www.videohelp.com/download/ac3fix.zip

hi, i'm trying to connect my motorola dct6200 to my laptop (xp sp2)

the first time i connected, i clicked next to all the hardware installation, (i did get all three) but i got an error that they weren't installed when it finished

now i've tried everything, but i just cant get the computer to even detect the connetion

any help would be appreciated (i dont care if channel changing doesnt work, i just want the video to stream to the laptop)

Any help would be appreciated.
I have a SA8300HD trying to connect to my pc via 1394. I've followed the instructions exactly over and over. Drivers seem to be installed correctly. It recognizes as a SA8300HD tuner and as a SA8300 panel. In CapVHS am I supposed to see a Panasonic device? Because all that is listed is the two SA devices. And when I select either of them, I either get the SampleGrabber error or a crash. If so, how do I change to recognize as the Panasonic device? Is this my problem? I'm pulling out my hair over here!!!

hi, i'm trying to connect my motorola dct6200 to my laptop (xp sp2)

the first time i connected, i clicked next to all the hardware installation, (i did get all three) but i got an error that they weren't installed when it finished

now i've tried everything, but i just cant get the computer to even detect the connetion

any help would be appreciated (i dont care if channel changing doesnt work, i just want the video to stream to the laptop)


sinan32121, you might want to try to uninstall them from device manager and reinstall the drivers. If you can't see it under imaging devices, click on view and show hidden devices. make sure you only remove the 3 devices detected when you plug in your stb.

sinan32121, you might want to try to uninstall them from device manager and reinstall the drivers. If you can't see it under imaging devices, click on view and show hidden devices. make sure you only remove the 3 devices detected when you plug in your stb.

no luck, even when showing hidden devices, they're not there, i don't even have an imaging devices catagory

Help!

I just connected the firewire cable from my Motorola to my pc (xp) and am trying to install the drivers but keep getting an error message that the drivers cannot be located. How can I find and install them?

Help!

I just connected the firewire cable from my Motorola to my pc (xp) and am trying to install the drivers but keep getting an error message that the drivers cannot be located. How can I find and install them?

http://home.comcast.net/~timmmoore/firewire/readme.htm

It says that I need to have Microsoft Media Center in order to download and I have XP. Is there any driver compatible with XP?

Did you ever find the solution to your problem? I have the same sort of issue trying to record the 5.1 content using Nero...the message I get is to upgrade to Platinum edition to record 5.1...don't know what the video portion looks like yet. Have you tried upgraded Nero or similar?
Rick

Okay I successfully found the driver and was able to record live tv. My problem now is that when I burned a DVD of the recording the audio was 2x speed and the video playback was a little choppy at times. Does anyone know how to fix this? (settings on CAP?) I am using CapDVHS to record and HDTV2DVD to burn. Any help would be appreciated?

If I switch from XP to Vista can I still record through the firewire?

32bit vista, sure.
Of course anyone dumb enough to use 64bit windows in 2006 deserves no firewire functionality.

You can get a trial of FireBus (search the forum / google for it)


Found it @ Vivid Logic. However, in bold letters, a message on their website says: "Please note that this software will NOT work with Intel Processors with Hyper Threading Technology (HTT) enabled. To use on a PC with Intel processor that has HTT support, you have to disable HTT support in the BIOS AND re-install the OS. "

I use HTT and do not plan to disable it. Would you have any other recommendations?

I never did find the answer to my problem.

Next chance I get, I'm going to get a DVD Recorder (or hope I get one for my birthday).

I'm sorry to say this, but this thread was not very much help to me at all.

I use HTT and do not plan to disable it. Would you have any other recommendations?

nope, thats your only choice

Alright, what happened??? I've been capturing fine for 18 months and just today I we had to have our 6412 swapped out for a 3412. Now no capture device is found so all of a sudden I can't record to Win XP SP2.

I downloaded firestb.msi and it won't install. It says it needs the .NET framework (which I've had on this laptop for over two years) and directs me to a site where .NET 2.0 can be downloaded and installed. I still can't get firestb.msi to install and I don't even know if that's what I need (because I had always been using the meidvhs drivers).

I'm desparate and don't know which direction to turn. Any idea which way I should proceed?

Thanks!

Tim

Yes, use meidvhs the same way you used it before

nope, thats your only choice

Come on Timecop, tell him the truth that it is more accurately his only "hope".

Using the word "choice" implies if he decides to do it, Firebus would actually work, and we all know that unfortunately only happens in fantasy land. :(

I have the Motorola 6200 series DVR, and I used this forum before to record from my DVR to my laptop. I sold that now I am trying to do it on my PC. I have no problem recording the file, everything seems to work based on your instructions. However I cant seem to play back the file after I have recorded it. At first I didnt change the extention to .ts it was on MPG. Before on my laptop, that worked fine and I was able to play back the file I recorded. I still have that same file now and it wont play anymore, when I try to play it I get an error from any player I try to use and they all say "unsupported file type." I dont understand why an MPG extention wont play in any program I try to use. I can get them to record to .ts fine then convert them using Divx but it converts themt o a divx file not a regular mpg... can anyone help me?

I have a Motorola 6200 or DCT6412... cannot remember off the top of my head, and I am not at home right now.

I have been capturing HD and SD streams to my PC (WinXP) via CapDVHS for a while now, and have had pretty much nothing but positive experiences with it. My only problem is that after my DVR has been hooked up to my PC for awhile (via firewire), the FF and RW speeds on the DVR are slowed to a crawl... they basically do not work at all. The only time that I can fast forward or rewind with any speed is if I capture the program I am watching with CapDVHS (I then delete the resulting .ts file). It's a pretty good workaround, but I would rather my DVR box not be slowed down by the fact that I have it hooked into my PC 24/7.

By the way, my firewire cable if approx 50 ft long, because my PC is in another room. Could this have anything to do with the slowdown on the box? The only way that I have been able to get the FF/RW speeds back to normal is to power off my DVR, unplug it, and then power it back on. However, the issue arises again once I capture a video.


==============================

Another question:

I captured the season 2 finale of Lost (HD), but the live broadcast stream apparently had errors; the video froze a few times, and the audio popped here and there while watching it live. I imagine this was a problem with my local Cox, as my friend in Boston said he did not have any errors when he watched the episode live.

After capturing the episode and converting to DiVX, the audio would go way out of sync with each video/audio error. It would stay out of sync from there on out, and would get even more out of sync with each resulting video or audio error.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any way to fix it on any level? I know that these errors are not specific only to my DVR, as my parents reported the same errors during the live broadcast, and they live 10 miles away from me (they are Cox customers as well). I called Cox, and they said that they were not aware of any errors during the broadcast.


Thanks!

I also captured the Lost finale, and successfully offloaded it to my PC via firewire from my 6412 box. I didn't have any problems with our broadcast(in Philadelphia) except for 1 audio dropout of like 2 seconds.

50ft is a LONG way for a firewire cable, w/o a repeater in the line. I think the spec only calls for like a max of 15/20 feet unamplified.

Perhaps try that MPEG2fix tool that there is a thread about? Can't remember what it's called, there is a thread for it under HDTV Recorders I think. It's supposed to fix errors in MPEG2 files or something.

Thanks to the thread and a bit of luck and hacking. I was able to capture HD (showtime) via the firewire port from my samsung hlrxx67w to my PIII 600mhz running linux (2.6.16) last night.


Microsoft sucks!

Thanks to the thread and a bit of luck and hacking. I was able to capture HD (showtime) via the firewire port from my samsung hlrxx67w to my PIII 600mhz running linux (2.6.16) last night.


I take it you did this from the internal QAM tuner? Can you detail what steps/hacks were necessary?

I have the Motorola 6200 series DVR, and I used this forum before to record from my DVR to my laptop. I sold that now I am trying to do it on my PC. I have no problem recording the file, everything seems to work based on your instructions. However I cant seem to play back the file after I have recorded it. At first I didnt change the extention to .ts it was on MPG. Before on my laptop, that worked fine and I was able to play back the file I recorded. I still have that same file now and it wont play anymore, when I try to play it I get an error from any player I try to use and they all say "unsupported file type." I dont understand why an MPG extention wont play in any program I try to use. I can get them to record to .ts fine then convert them using Divx but it converts themt o a divx file not a regular mpg... can anyone help me?

now it seems I cant play or convert anything I keep getting errors that the file type is not supported can someone please help me with this?

...my firewire cable if approx 50 ft long, because my PC is in another room...I have several lengths of firewire cable, and the longest I've been able to go without sync issues is 20'. At 25' the breakups become unacceptable to me for anything but the shortest non-critical clips. I'm surprised you're getting anything much at all with a 50' cable. It must be a very high quality cable. I'm not sure, but the 50' length could very well be affecting the sluggish FF and REW performance of your DVR. If it was me I'd experiment by temporarily moving the PC and DVR close enough together to try a shorter cable and see if the problem persists.

All the best,

Tim

hi, i don't have mce, so i can't install the program from the " MCE 2005 STB Controller" url posted above

also, i'v got winxpsp2 and it couldnt find the drivers when i connected the DCT and since then it hasn't detected the hardware
how can i get this setup to work without installing MCE

any HELP (please) would be appreciated

thx
sinan32121

Well, thanks to you all and a few hours of reading and finally following instructions, I did get firewire capture to work on my Win Xp machine. Luckily for me, here in Vancouver Canada, all HD programming is not protected. It records fine, in HD and 5.1 but now my issue is trying to burn a dvd in HD with 5.1 audio.
When using HDTV2DVD to make HD DVDs, the conversion to mpeg seems to change the audio to 2 channel. The file Audio_TS is empty but the VIDEO_TS is populated. I can't seem to burn these files either, they show up as several files but I do have the option of converting to one large file for burning.
I then record using Nero, but no 5.1 just 2.0 Nero says I should purchase the plug-in for 5.1 sound....
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Rick

So, how do you make this work with a SA4200HD and Windows XP Pro sp2? The firestb only works with MCE.

Thanks,

Ron

When using HDTV2DVD to make HD DVDs, the conversion to mpeg seems to change the audio to 2 channel. The file Audio_TS is empty but the VIDEO_TS is populated. I can't seem to burn these files either, they show up as several files but I do have the option of converting to one large file for burning.
I then record using Nero, but no 5.1 just 2.0 Nero says I should purchase the plug-in for 5.1 sound....
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Rick

please take discussion of transfer to dvd to another thread, this thread is for firewire to windowsxp, or I suppose also media center now

alright i finally got everything working with the driver and d-vhs and now can record, so thx fr the help

i was just wondering, is there a way to watch video in real time on a pc with winxp sp2 without mce using ieee1394?

also, does anyone know how to get past the copy protection? all of the hdtv work for me except ctv and cbc, which i don't believe should be protected, since even the movie central hd isn't protected. could anything other than the protection be causing this

tia for any help

Hello all,

I've been trying to get this working and just can't. I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD with 2 firewire ports.

I have installed all of the drivers and have installed the following devices that show up in Device Manager:
Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Panel Device (Explorer 8300HD)
Scientific-Atlanta Tuner AV/C Device (Explorer 8300HD)

CapDVHS recognizes both. When I try using the Panel device to record, I just get a grabber error, but when I use the Tuner device to record, it starts recording. Unfortunately no info is populated on the screen, and the output file either has a filesize of 0 or is unreadable by VLC. I double-click it and VLC opens, but nothing happens. There is supposedly data there because there is a filesize.

Now, something of concern. I went into the service menus of this unit (Press and hold Select, then info when the mail light flashes). I kept going until a screen that caught my eye: "COPY PROTECTION"

Here is what is shown on that screen:

Outputs Protection Type Enabled Constrained
DVI/HDMI: HDCP yes no
YPbPr: none no no
1394: (in bright pink) Unavailable Unavailable
Composite: none/none

Are my firewire ports even enabled!?

Thanks,
Brian

Hey, I have the DCT6200 and I'm wondering how to force it to change channels automatically, whiout having to press enter etc. I'm trying to record via firewire with capdvhs on one channel, then on a different channel a few hours later.

Thanks!

I believe theres a command line utility linked to from the 1st post of this thread that can be used to change channels remotely.

Hey, I have the DCT6200 and I'm wondering how to force it to change channels automatically, whiout having to press enter etc. I'm trying to record via firewire with capdvhs on one channel, then on a different channel a few hours later.

Thanks!

the 6200 has a feature called "vcr recording" its for changing channels if u want to program a vcr to record several programs. what you do is go to the guide, click info on the program you want to record, then select the "R" button at the bottom, it will ask you to confirm recording. This will change to the channel the program is on when it is set to do so, and may be done for as many programs you want that don't conflict.
hope that helps

however if u mean you want to have the remote change channels without having to input 3 numbers (ie. 004) or having to press enter, you can change that from the guide setup. I've got a shaw terminal, so here's how I get to mine, you probably have something similar if not the same:

Settings (remote button)>Main Menu>Setup>Guide Setup
change channel entry behavior to "Auto-Tune"

I posted this in another thread too, but thought it might get more viewership here....hope this is acceptable....

I've been trying to archive a World Cup game from my DCT6412. I can successfully archive from other channels, but when I try to archive from ESPN-HD or ESPN2-HD I can't get data. 5C on both channels is set to 0, as are all the other channels I can record successfully from. All those channels with 5C set to 1 cannot be archived (as expected).

Why can't I get a recording from either ESPN channel when 5C is definitely set to 0? Is there a 5C implementation in the broadcast itself? I have also attempted archiving from both live and previously DVR'd shows from these two channels....with no luck!

Hey, I have the DCT6200 and I'm wondering how to force it to change channels automatically, whiout having to press enter etc. I'm trying to record via firewire with capdvhs on one channel, then on a different channel a few hours later.

Thanks!
attached is the file channelw.exe and examples of shortcuts that I use to change to my HD channels. also you can schedule channelw.exe to be run with windows task scheduler. you just have to execute the file with the paramaters for the channel:

Run: "C:\Program Files\Timmmoore\MCE 2005 STB Controller\channelw.exe" 2 778

is it just me or do you have to right click and select save as to download my attachment

I can download your attachment by single left clicking, but it opens up a pop-up child window.
Right-click -> Save As works as well. Nice add, thanks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donjo
Here ya go (from the readme that comes with the msi file):

How do I install on a non-MCE machine?

The package by default checks for MCE 2005. However, the drivers and command line utilities are useful on non-MCE machines, to install on a non-MCE machine run the following command:

MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0
____________________________________________________________ _____
THE ABOVE COMMAND DOES NOT WORK. I RECEIVE AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING COMMAND DOES NOT EXIST. If anyone cares my specs are: Windows XP Pro w SP 2 on Asus A8Vdeluxe w AMD Athlon 3000.

Has anyone been able to run the MSIEXEC...... command with success. And then been able to run firestb without recieving error message( no MCE), so that drivers could be installed. If you could install drivers, could you reliably record/playback high definition OTA content ??

Slong

It looks like most newbies asking questions are ignored. Is this beacuse this thread is 94 pages long and noone wants to answer questions anymore?

Go to Start/Run/CMD/ then type the following substituting your name below but first place the firestb.msi executable in the same folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\your name here>MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0

The program should then launch allowing you load drivers on a Non-MCE SP SP2 PC.

I hope those of you with more experience will be more merciful in future!

It looks like most newbies asking questions are ignored. Is this beacuse this thread is 94 pages long and noone wants to answer questions anymore?

Go to Start/Run/CMD/ then type the following substituting your name below but first place the firestb.msi executable in the same folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\your name here>MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0

The program should then launch allowing you load drivers on a Non-MCE SP SP2 PC.

I hope those of you with more experience will be more merciful in future!

I think it is because this thread is 94 pages long, and the newbies can't be bothered to read and and get the same answer you gave them from one of the other multiple times it has been posted.

So is 99 min the longest you can record with CapDVHS? im using V0.3.0.6

here is the ans
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eweathersix/other.htm

I've gone thru quite a few pages of posts and finally am able to do some recording. I have a Mot DCT6412 III w/ comcast in SF bay area. Here's what I found out. I am able to record analog channels but not the HD ones. These are not premium channels. I was recording ABC as a test. I switch between the HD and analog and only am able to capture the analog. I used CAPDVHS. I also checked the ABC HD channel and make sure 5c flag is 0. timecop, i'm hoping you have some idea.....pls help.....thx in advance.

I am on the Peninsula in Silicon Valley, also in the comcast area, and I am having the same problem. Recording from the analog channels works fine, but on the HD channel of interest (ABC HD) I am not able to record even though 5C=0 on that channel.

I have a Motorola Comcast DVR 3412 Phase 1. I taped a show that I want to now record to DVD. Will the guide work with my 3412 even know it was written for the older version DVR box?

Also I will be able to keep all of my recordings that are on there, IE it wont delete them because I hook my DVR up to my computer, right?

32bit vista, sure.
Of course anyone dumb enough to use 64bit windows in 2006 deserves no firewire functionality.Do you know this for a fact or are you just making it up?

I have a Motorola Comcast DVR 3412 Phase 1. I taped a show that I want to now record to DVD. Will the guide work with my 3412 even know it was written for the older version DVR box?

Also I will be able to keep all of my recordings that are on there, IE it wont delete them because I hook my DVR up to my computer, right?

Not sure about your first question but CapDVHS should suffice for copying the program from the STB to the PC. :cool:

Sorry if this has been covered, but it's hard searching a thread that's almost 100 pages long...Anyway, this morning I recorded NBC's Wimbledon coverage on my Comcast 6412 on the NBC HD channel (assuming the coverage would be in HD). As it turns out, the broadcast was in 4:3. I have successfully gotten it into my computer as a .ts via firewire but now want to crop the black bars and make a regular 4:3 mpg. Can anyone tell me how to do this? Thanks.

I am trying to capture using CapDVHS and I see Artifacts (the picture getting all messed up) is there anything I can do get rid of them. I have also tried VLC and I get the same thing. I have P4 3.2 with a gig of ram and 120 gig sata drive. I am not sure what to try next. Could it be a bad firewire cable, or is my computer not powerful enough. Please let me know any suggestions.

I am trying to capture using CapDVHS and I see Artifacts (the picture getting all messed up) is there anything I can do get rid of them. I have also tried VLC and I get the same thing. I have P4 3.2 with a gig of ram and 120 gig sata drive. I am not sure what to try next. Could it be a bad firewire cable, or is my computer not powerful enough. Please let me know any suggestions.
Two things to check are the FireWire cables you're using (too long? cheap connectors?) and the firmware in your cable box. I remember having to wait for Comcast to update the firmware in my box before I could get a stable video feed over FireWire. Which cable box do you have and is the firmware okay? You may have to search through this forum for known "good" version numbers.

its defenitly not your computer....im at 1.8ghz, 3xx ram

When I feed my 4200HD into my pc via firewire and use VLC to show it, it is badly broken up. My P4 2.26ghz system can't keep up with the video stream.

Thanks for the quick reply! I have a motoral 6412. sorry I am not home right now to check what firmware it is. I will check as soon as I get home. How long is too long for the firewire. also which is better to use the built in firewire port on the motherboard or one are a pci card. Thanks again for the quick response.

just a suggestion: try a firewire 800 (ieee 1394b) cable -- it's fully backawards compatible with firewire400 (ieee 1394a) and it's improved design and shielding improves bandwidth and connectivity as well as allow for near unlimited runs of cable. forum sponsor like monoprice's rep for quality and cost makes it easy to try.

I looked at the 1394b but I don't have a 9 pin connector

Backwards compatible means the 9 pin connector actually fits the 6 pin on your PC as well as your sat box. And you can get one that also goes from 9 pins on one end (again 6 pin compatible) down to a (different square shaped) 4 pin connector on the other end for your other devices. Win, win.

Thank you Rocky01 I will have to pick one up.
my Version is 12.31 Jan 24 2006
ASTGSC__ 71.11 ENABLED 0855

What out there is using the newer 9 pin version of 1394?

I just plugged in 2 cables worth of 6 pin versions of the 1394 I am not having any issues now :) I went to the store and couldn't find the 9 pin version. Is 12.31 the latest version for the moorola DCT6412 III ?

I have been using a 6412 Phase II for some time now successfully but have been offered a Phase III by my provider. Will the drivers etc. I have been using to capture require replacement if I "upgrade"?

Aside from HDMI what ARE the benefits of a phase III anyway?

Wolf

just a suggestion: try a firewire 800 (ieee 1394b) cable -- it's fully backawards compatible with firewire400 (ieee 1394a) and it's improved design and shielding improves bandwidth and connectivity as well as allow for near unlimited runs of cable. forum sponsor like monoprice's rep for quality and cost makes it easy to try.
This won't work - the Mot 6412 uses the 6-pin 1394a connector. You can't plug in a 9-pin FireWire 800 (1394b) connector into the Mot box, and most FireWire adapters on PCs use the older 6-pin 1394a connector so you can't connect there, either.

Oops, sorry for the goof. There are bilingual cables that allow 1394a ports to talk to 1394b ports. I've a 1394b PCI Card in order to have longer cable runs so PC doesn't have to sit next to Home Theater and monoprice cables are on the way just yet. Yes, and I don't like when others post stuff without checking first :rolleyes:

http://www.firewire-1394.com/what-is-firewire-800.htm

As you were men!

Hi,

I got a 6200 last night and was able to watch and record hi def streams. But VLCwas using lots of cpu when watching the stream live. and sometimes there is artifacting. I was just noticing that other users have this problem but I am confused as for one user, a new cable fixed the problem but the other user was told to check the 6200 firmware. Is it the Firewire cable 400 (I have a regular firewire 6 pin to 6 pin) or is it a firmware issue on the 6200?


EDIT also if I enable SPDIF on VLC the 5.1 sound stutters this is when watching live.
I am using the drivers found in firewire.zip.

Otherwise this is kind of cool. I don't understnad why there aren't better supported drivers and programs to do this.


Thanks

I got a 6200 last night and was able to watch and record hi def streams. But VLCwas using lots of cpu when watching the stream live. and sometimes there is artifacting. I was just noticing that other users have this problem but I am confused as for one user, a new cable fixed the problem but the other user was told to check the 6200 firmware. Is it the Firewire cable 400 (I have a regular firewire 6 pin to 6 pin) or is it a firmware issue on the 6200?
Way back when I first got the 6200, I tried to record programs via FireWire and had a horrendous problem with break-ups and artifacting. It was a known problem that was fixed when Comcast here in Chicago finally upgraded our boxes to firmware version 7.07.

Since that was a few years ago, I assume that most systems have more recent firmware that incorporates that fix. The other common source of problems is cheap cables, which jetskijoe found out the hard way.

I have been using a 6412 Phase II for some time now successfully but have been offered a Phase III by my provider. Will the drivers etc. I have been using to capture require replacement if I "upgrade"?

Aside from HDMI what ARE the benefits of a phase III anyway?

Wolf

I like the phase III have had no problem recording with it or anything. I have bene using it for about 3 - 4 months now. I had the Phase II before and had some problems with it so they upgraded me to the phase III the signal seems to be better and I don't have the problem with the Harddrive that I did with the Phase II.

-- new question--

i've got everything up and working fine... DCT6412III firewire to my pc and usable streams grabbed. but-

i need a 25'-30' run to get the firewire from STB to PC... trying to make the run with two cables linked through a belkin F5U526 powered hub, but no go. the hub is brand new and working fine- it links pc to pc over a 30' run with no losses.

i have tried every combination of 2', 6', 10' and 15' cables and the hub, but the pc never recognizes the STB... again, no prob PC to PC. it appears others have made long runs with a powered hub between- and belkin specifically states this hub is for relay/distance usage.

anyone have any ideas?

thanks.

Hi Guys,

I suspect something may be wrong with the box. I took some time to check out some of hi def cahnnels over S-Video to my tunerr card and there was artifacting and breaks ups. If the box can't decode the stream properly I don't see how my computer can if it is grabbing the video from the box.
Also, some channles were just black and other non HD channels that are part of my service just say please wait a few minutes.

Comcast is coming tomorrow with a replacement. I geuss a 6412 will be cool.. Although I would settle for a working 6200. I also installed the latest "drivers".. or whatever is included in the firestb.zip.

ANyway I am just rambling on cause this firewire thing has me all pschyed up. Luckily the 5c flag is off in my area.

My questions are..

Is there some sort of accelerator card that would help me watch the HD feed live without so much CPU usage? Maybe Conroe is the answer?

Could someone speculate as to why the firewire port hasn't become the holy grail of HTPC and why MS and other vendors aren't working on apps to get the hi def from the cable box to the pc and why hardware vendors aren't making devices to help take the strain off the cpu while recording/viewing the HIDEF stream on the PC.

I bet it is the stupid MPAA...
You have the to record and watch on your PC as long as it looks like **** :mad:

When I feed my 4200HD into my pc via firewire and use VLC to show it, it is badly broken up. My P4 2.26ghz system can't keep up with the video stream.

I am also trying to record HDTV from the 4200HD via firewire. Using the D-Vhs program on the first page of this post, and selecting Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Panel Device as the capture device, I get "Error 80040217: Cannot connect SampleGrabber. When I change the capture device to Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device, I get "Error 800705AA: Cannot start Capture".
I have a single cable box, 6 pin firewire going from STB to PCI card, Timmmoore's Firewire/USB software installed, 2005 MCE with all updates, a dual tuner hauppage card, and a Vbox Antenna HD card (but no antenna lol). Other hardware is that of a capable gaming rig.
What am I neglecting to do/doing wrong??? I can record cable channels via MCE from channel 2 to 70-something in SD no problem, but I believe that is coming from my SD tuner.
I have no indication that Firewire link is active, other than my cable box showing up in Device manager. Nor do I notice any change in channel-changing (is firewire channel changing supposed to work with my cable tv remote, or the MCE remote btw???)
Furthermore, I cannot watch HDTV in any capacity (channel 701 and above here in CT thru cablevision) via my Media Center PC. I have read that the 4200HD by Scientific Atlanta doesn't have a functional Firewire out for this, but it appears Ron above had some limited success.

Please advise!!!!
Dustin Cook MSPT

I can only tell you that any Cablevison box I've had, Sony, and now the 4200HD, have had active firewire output. But using old drivers (not with the SA one you chose) I get some audio and video but it is very choppy - it seems to be overwhelming my cpu.

It shouldn't be tapping your CPU. All it's doing is recording a 19mb/s (max) .ts stream to your hard drive. It's not doing any encoding or conversion.

If you're using a Moto box (Comcast 64xx/34xx) try using the other Firewire port. Try the outside one first, the one closest to the side - right when looking at the back of the box. Often times only 1 of the 2 ports works properly.

Also 15 feet is the max recommended cable length.

Alright friends, let me state from the outset that the following question may anger certain people since it is probably one that has been posted numerous times in this bibliographic thread. Nevertheless I have spend numerous hours trying to determine a precise answer and I haven't been able to do so. So at the risk of being flamed, I hereby pose the following question for your mighty minds to clarify for me.

To what extent is the DCT6200 HD box able to integrate with MCE2005 with the drivers and software that is currently available?

The reason I ask is because I am a big MCE fan but have recently taking acquired an almost violent passion for HDTV. My options, as I see it, for having the best of both worlds, are 1) OTA HDTV, which isnt an option in Vancouver BC unless you really, really like watching the one OTA channel I recieve at my location, or 2) buying a HD-ready set-top box from Shaw and somehow integrating it with MCE. Its that last part I would really appreciate some guidance with.

Thanks in advance.

Canucksguy, et al... I too have acquired the HD bug. I cannot answer your question, but I can post another that may lead to helpful discussion. Can I, or anyone, order a different cable box to use that isn't necessarily supported by our respective cable companies? Also, has ANYONE ever gotten a Scientific Atlanta 4200HD to record HD via firewire? I don't want to waste my time trying to do the impossible here... so, is vista out yet lol...

I've noticed a lot of people are having difficulties with timeshifting ABC digital programming. I live in South FLorida and on my Comcast 6412DVR ABC digital is the only local station that will not play over firewire.

Did ABC put a 5C on their broadcast nationwide or just on some Comcast networks? Seems a bit odd Congress would go thru the hassle of writting a law only to be outsmarted by ABC.

Tim Huey

Depends. Here our ABC (HD) channel is in the clear some of the time, but has 5c "copy once" for certain programs, like Disney's Toy Story, etc...

On the other hand, CBS-HD has full-time "copy never" flag set...

Ok so it sounds like a local issue for me. I will ask on the Miami thread in local broadcast area.

Thanks

All the files I've recorded I've saved as a .ts file and I was going to convert them to a .dvr-ms format so they would be compatible with MCE. Is theyre any quality loss going from a .ts to a .dvr-ms?

anyone had any problem using Womble to edit a .ts file. I can't get it to load the 3gig movie file I dumped from my moto6412.

Tim Huey

I have a Mitsubishi WD-62527 It has two IEEE 1394 outputs and I was woundering if these (instead of using cable box 1394) can be used to record SD and HD programs? I have read almost every post.. and I was able to record SD and HD with my 6412 phase II box however, it gave out on me and had to upgrade to the 6412 phase 3 box which for some reason wont record the HD channels (without 5c implimentation) anymore. SO, I was hoping that perhaps I could do the same thing from the 1394 out from my tv. Is this possible? If so, how.. and would I need to use a cable card for this or is it ok to just have my cable box and still use the 1394 out from the TV?

I have a Mitsubishi WD-62527 It has two IEEE 1394 outputs and I was woundering if these (instead of using cable box 1394) can be used to record SD and HD programs?

The thread originator used his initial capture experiences using the integrated Mitsubishi tuner to create the instructions in the first post of this thread, so it does work. A cable box is not required. He was only able to capture with OTA however, and had no joy trying to capture QAM, which means the Cablecard will likely not help you either. I could not get it to work for QAM with my Mits either, but if you have luck, please share your tips.

Alright friends, let me state from the outset that the following question may anger certain people since it is probably one that has been posted numerous times in this bibliographic thread. Nevertheless I have spend numerous hours trying to determine a precise answer and I haven't been able to do so. So at the risk of being flamed, I hereby pose the following question for your mighty minds to clarify for me.

To what extent is the DCT6200 HD box able to integrate with MCE2005 with the drivers and software that is currently available?

The reason I ask is because I am a big MCE fan but have recently taking acquired an almost violent passion for HDTV. My options, as I see it, for having the best of both worlds, are 1) OTA HDTV, which isnt an option in Vancouver BC unless you really, really like watching the one OTA channel I recieve at my location, or 2) buying a HD-ready set-top box from Shaw and somehow integrating it with MCE. Its that last part I would really appreciate some guidance with.

Thanks in advance.

i think the info your looking for is in the readme included with the mce app that is linked on the first page.

Great thread! I installed the drivers for my Motorola 6412 and was able to capture HD using CapDVHS. After experimenting with several stations via Comcast (SF/Bay area), I noticed that in some cases when the 5C flag was set to zero, I was still not able to capture the video. Early in the evening Fox HD could be recorded, but later that evening when 24 was broadcast, it would not record even when the 5C flag was displayed as zero for the station. It appears that using the 5C flag value as an indicator is not always reliable. Is that in fact the case or am I missing something?

web

I just got my XP\firewire\3412 setup working. I have some question about what I have seen so far (please forgive any n00bish questions :) ).

When using CapDVHS, what is shown on the Data Info. tab is determined by the original stream that was sent by the cable co.? In other words there is no way to adjust any of the settings because that is what is already on the DVR?


Also, I have read to set my file type to .ts but I cannot find a reader for it. I have tried all the ones suggested on this and other forums.

Right now I am recording to .avi but am not 100% pleased with the quality of what I am recording. (By the way, this is not HD). What determines the quality and how can I make the recording to be exactly what is on the DVR?

What I see on my TV should not be the same as what is recorded since I am plugging into the DVR, (my TV is pretty outdated) correct?


Thanks in advance for your help

I just got my XP\firewire\3412 setup working. I have some question about what I have seen so far (please forgive any n00bish questions :) ).

When using CapDVHS, what is shown on the Data Info. tab is determined by the original stream that was sent by the cable co.? In other words there is no way to adjust any of the settings because that is what is already on the DVR?


Also, I have read to set my file type to .ts but I cannot find a reader for it. I have tried all the ones suggested on this and other forums.

Right now I am recording to .avi but am not 100% pleased with the quality of what I am recording. (By the way, this is not HD). What determines the quality and how can I make the recording to be exactly what is on the DVR?

What I see on my TV should not be the same as what is recorded since I am plugging into the DVR, (my TV is pretty outdated) correct?


Thanks in advance for your help

MaldiGola,

This should work ---> http://www.dvbportal.de/projects/hdtvpump/

It will run .ts streams in media player...

Hope that helps.

Kohi

Does anyone know if there is a Win XP Pro/Home driver that is a good match for the SA 4200HD?

Kohi - Thanks for the reply. Ok, so I have tried hdtvpump. But when I play it back, I only see a still image of the channel that the tv was on before I started the DVR program I wanted.


Now some of my other questions:

When using CapDVHS, what is shown on the Data Info. tab is determined by the original stream that was sent by the cable co.? In other words there is no way to adjust any of the settings because that is what is already on the DVR?


Right now I am recording to .avi but am not 100% pleased with the quality of what I am recording. (By the way, this is not HD). What determines the quality and how can I make the recording to be exactly what is on the DVR?

What I see on my TV should not be the same as what is recorded since I am plugging into the DVR, (my TV is pretty outdated) correct?

Ok, quick question (I hope!)

I've read through a great deal of this thread trying to understand the process, but there is one thing I have seen hinted at, but not actually outright stated:

I get the impression that you cannot pull something previously recorded off the DVR, that the process is to simulateanously record to your PC while you record to the DVR.

Is that correct? And if so, do any of these various programs I see listed have a 'timer' so that your PC will start recording at a specified time?

Thanks

Hi,

I hooked up a SA 4200HD (Cablevision NYC) to my computer thru Firewire. I can capture the .ts stream from non-hd channels with CapDVHS and it also works with HD channels that CapDVHS shows as 1280x720, but with the HD channels that showed up as 1920x1080 the program crashes after a few seconds. If I try to open the program again I get "Cannot start capture" until I reboot. It happened with PBS so I don't think it's an encryption issue...

Any suggestions?

Shocku, what are you using for drivers for your SA4200HD?

Shocku, what are you using for drivers for your SA4200HD?
The ones linked in the first post

Kohi - Thanks for the reply. Ok, so I have tried hdtvpump. But when I play it back, I only see a still image of the channel that the tv was on before I started the DVR program I wanted.


Now some of my other questions:

When using CapDVHS, what is shown on the Data Info. tab is determined by the original stream that was sent by the cable co.? In other words there is no way to adjust any of the settings because that is what is already on the DVR?


Right now I am recording to .avi but am not 100% pleased with the quality of what I am recording. (By the way, this is not HD). What determines the quality and how can I make the recording to be exactly what is on the DVR?

What I see on my TV should not be the same as what is recorded since I am plugging into the DVR, (my TV is pretty outdated) correct?

MaldiGola,

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with the 3412, as I am using a 6412 via firewire...

capdvhs does record from the 6412 whatever currently is playing at the time.

might want to search on the 3412 specifically... :)

Shocku, what are you using for drivers for your SA4200HD?
Are there other drivers I could try?

Ok, quick question (I hope!)

I've read through a great deal of this thread trying to understand the process, but there is one thing I have seen hinted at, but not actually outright stated:

I get the impression that you cannot pull something previously recorded off the DVR, that the process is to simulateanously record to your PC while you record to the DVR.

Is that correct? And if so, do any of these various programs I see listed have a 'timer' so that your PC will start recording at a specified time?

Thanks

Capture can happen live or while playing back pre-recorded vidoes. Also CapDVHS has a scheduler that works quite fine.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I am still not sure why I can't watch the hd streams live through VLC without stuttering or break ups. I can record fine through cap dvs.
I am thinking it might have something to do with Hyperthreading. I've been checking out some other products and they all seem to have issues with HT or dual core CPUs. So far, Ive tried the built in firewire port, and the one on a SB Audigy 2.. also tried 2 different cables.

I tested the transfer rate of the firewire bus and it looks like I can do 40 mb a sec.

So I guess I could turn off the hyper threading and reload xp but I was hoping someone could at least confirm or deny this before I do that.

i am having no luck geting my DCT6412III to pass signals through a belkin F5U526 powered hub. after a replacement from belkin, it's obvious this hub just isn't going to work and they can't tell me why.

i definitely need a hub/repeater here, so could somebody please help me out and let me know some hubs that *will* work with this stb?

other than that, the captures work great on all channels at all times.


thanks.

i am having no luck geting my DCT6412III to pass signals through a belkin F5U526 powered hub. after a replacement from belkin, it's obvious this hub just isn't going to work and they can't tell me why.

i definitely need a hub/repeater here, so could somebody please help me out and let me know some hubs that *will* work with this stb?

other than that, the captures work great on all channels at all times.


thanks.
Try a 3 port hub. A 6 port hub has to send a double packet self-id, but a 3 port hub only has to send a single packet self-id. Of course, all nodes should work with multi-packet self-id's, but it's a pretty common bug.

Ron

Wow, a long thread. Didn't know where to hunt for a bit of info... If I want to dump my DVHS recordings to PC, would I still follow the steps in the first post?

Try a 3 port hub. A 6 port hub has to send a double packet self-id, but a 3 port hub only has to send a single packet self-id. Of course, all nodes should work with multi-packet self-id's, but it's a pretty common bug.

Ron

thank you very much for the info, ron. i'll see if i can work it out with belkin now... since they claim 100% compatibility.

as a point of clarification, by 3 port hub do you mean 3 expansion ports (1 from comp and 3 expansion) or 3 total ports (1 from comp and 2 expansion)?

thanks again.

thank you very much for the info, ron. i'll see if i can work it out with belkin now... since they claim 100% compatibility.

as a point of clarification, by 3 port hub do you mean 3 expansion ports (1 from comp and 3 expansion) or 3 total ports (1 from comp and 2 expansion)?

thanks again.
3 total ports (1 from comp and 2 expansion).

Ron

Wow, a long thread. Didn't know where to hunt for a bit of info... If I want to dump my DVHS recordings to PC, would I still follow the steps in the first post?

Yes, follow the same directions. I can't remember if I did anything different, but I got it to work w/ my Mits DVHS deck.

I drive through Burlington NJ on my way to/from work every day!

I have WinXP SP2. I'm trying to follow the directions in the first post, but have some trouble. Please help...


Installed firestb.msi using command line prompt for non-Media Center PCs, then rebooted
Installed CapDVHS
Connected firewire cable to my Mits HD2000U DVHS deck. Found new hardware dialog came up
Showed Tuner AV/C Device, so hit Install the software automatically (Recommended)


I start CapDVHS and it says "ERROR: Cannot find capture device". What should I do?

Please see the attached screenshots. It looks like the Mits DVHS is there, so why is CapDVHS not finding it?

You don't need to install the driver for AV/C tuner on the mits deck. Its for the analog tuner, and thus useless. Windows should have automatically installed "AV/C Tape" driver for the D-VHS portion. Check in device manager. You shoudl be able to use either CapDVHS or DVHSTool or any other dvhs->PC dubbing software.

Thank you. It appears the firewire connection is finicky. I'll keep trying.

I am also trying to record HDTV from the 4200HD via firewire. Using the D-Vhs program on the first page of this post, and selecting Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Panel Device as the capture device, I get "Error 80040217: Cannot connect SampleGrabber. When I change the capture device to Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device, I get "Error 800705AA: Cannot start Capture".
I have a single cable box, 6 pin firewire going from STB to PCI card, Timmmoore's Firewire/USB software installed, 2005 MCE with all updates, a dual tuner hauppage card, and a Vbox Antenna HD card (but no antenna lol). Other hardware is that of a capable gaming rig.
What am I neglecting to do/doing wrong??? I can record cable channels via MCE from channel 2 to 70-something in SD no problem, but I believe that is coming from my SD tuner.
I have no indication that Firewire link is active, other than my cable box showing up in Device manager. Nor do I notice any change in channel-changing (is firewire channel changing supposed to work with my cable tv remote, or the MCE remote btw???)
Furthermore, I cannot watch HDTV in any capacity (channel 701 and above here in CT thru cablevision) via my Media Center PC. I have read that the 4200HD by Scientific Atlanta doesn't have a functional Firewire out for this, but it appears Ron above had some limited success.

Please advise!!!!
Dustin Cook MSPT


I have a similiar problem. I have a single Comcast Moto 6412 PII. Firewire / USB installed fine. Drivers installed fine and I have 2 devices listed in Device Manager when I connect the firewire cable. However, when I open up My Tray "Enable LiveTV" is disabled. When opening CAPDVHS I have 2 devices listed:

Motorola AV/C Tuner Device (Unknown Video #1)
Motorola AV/C Panel Device (Motorola DCT-6412 #1)

However clicking "Rec" I get the errors dcook42 gets.

The difference in our problems however is that I have MCE but when I select "Settings" then "TV" I get "TV Tuner not found". So it seems to me that even though it's listed in Device Manager my 6412 isn't being recognized. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I feel like I'm almost there!

Thx,
61

Update.

Installed hotfix from Firewire/USB help file http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=885222. Now able to capture via AV/C TUner (But samplegrabber error for AV/C Panel). Now the problem is I can only capture local channels. HBO, INHD, Discover, ESPN, etc. are all black. Is this to be expected due to copy protection? I have Comcast in Montgomery County Maryland. Again I have a Moto 6412, how can I view the value of the 5C flag on this box?

Thanks,
61

Okay, I'm finally able to capture to my computer, but playback is jumpy w/skipped frames. The Mits DVHS deck didn't work, but the JVC 5U did. When capturing w/CapDVHS, it shows a bitrate of 45mbps & 65mbps. Is this right? Should it not be 19mbps or less? Wonder if my firewire card is the problem?

What tape are you capturing that shows 45 & 65mbps?

Using a regular DVHS tape of 'Blade Runner' off HDNet. Using the Mits HD2000U deck. CapDVHS shows the 'Bit Rate' as 65mbps under the 'Data Info.' tab. Screenshot is attached. It's capturing fine now--my original firewire card was the problem. Installed a new Firewire card I got at Best Buy & it works well. Still, the 65mbps bitrate seems wrong. Broadcast hi-def maxes out at 19mbps I know. The full movie capture TS file was about 15gb.

I have intalled the driver package From Timmmore, my Windows MCE see correctly my Sa 8300 pvr ( standard, not hd ).

In CapDVHS, I see both, the Sa tuner av/c and the panel.

But when I tried to record, it doesn't work. The .mpg is not at 0bytes, so normaly it mean that it should work, but nothing.


I tried to recorde in Studio 10 too, still black. I don't see anything, but all my software recongnize my Sa8300, but no picture.


Any suggestion?

p.s.: firebus don't work at all

Great thread! I installed the drivers for my Motorola 6412 and was able to capture HD using CapDVHS. After experimenting with several stations via Comcast (SF/Bay area), I noticed that in some cases when the 5C flag was set to zero, I was still not able to capture the video. Early in the evening Fox HD could be recorded, but later that evening when 24 was broadcast, it would not record even when the 5C flag was displayed as zero for the station. It appears that using the 5C flag value as an indicator is not always reliable. Is that in fact the case or am I missing something?

web

Web, just to know you are not alone, I have an identical problem with my 6412 in Canada (Persona Communications). All the HD channels here show 5C=0 but some record and others will not. Fields in the CapDVHHS "Data Info" screen are all blank for the channels that do not record. My 6412 firmware version is at 10 .13.
I have done a hardware reset (reboot and reload) of the 6412 but no effect.
I have noticed that if the CCI flag is set to 0x02 and the RC Flag is set to 0x01 on the 06 Current Channel Status screen that you cannot record the current program. Perhaps one (or both) of these is the "real" 5C encryption setting for the current program. This code changes from time to time while tuned to the same channel. When they both change back to 0x00, I can record the program, no problem.

Anyway if anyone has a suggestions or further comments, there will be at least 2 grateful people. :)

Well, I have the new version of software for the Houston Texas Time Warner Cable SA8300HD:

http://geocities.com/truerock2/IMG_0447.jpg

But, I think we will agree, that the firewire ports are not turned on:

http://geocities.com/truerock2/IMG_0446.jpg

Does anyone have any information about what Time Warner's plans are for the SA8300HD in Houston?

But, at least my Windows XP PC is getting power from the firewire cable connected to the SA8300HD. And it recognizes the SA8300HD:

http://geocities.com/truerock2/IMG_0448.jpg

Before Time Warner upgraded the software, my PC would not even detect the firewire cable.

Notice how the Scientific Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device has (Unknown Video #1) next to it. I think this means that the IEEE 1394 port is working, but nothing is comming out of it. Or, at least the device driver cannot see the video comming out of it.

The Channel.exe program works:

C:\Program Files\Timmmoore\MCE 2005 STB Controller>channel -v -a4 2 11
Firewire STB channel changer V1.0.15, by timmmoore
Device 2 Channel 11 Timeout 100 Dec 0
1 "FireBus MPEG2TS Tuner Subunit Device"
'Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Tuner Device'
"@device:pnp:\\?\avc#scientific-atlanta__inc.&explorer(r)_8300hd&typ_5&id_0#2271ade61100#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global" 0
2 "AVC Panel Device"
'Scientific-Atlanta AV/C Panel Device'

UniqueID '2271ade61100'
VendorID '11e6'
ModelID '206c'
VendorText 'Scientific-Atlanta Inc.'
ModelText 'Explorer(R) 8300HD'
"@device:pnp:\\?\avc#scientific-atlanta__inc.&explorer(r)_8300hd&typ_9&id_0#2271ade61100#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global" 1
3 'VideoMate TV Capture'
"@device:pnp:\\?\pci#ven_1131&dev_7133&subsys_c100185b&rev_10#4&2e98101c&0&18f0#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global" 0
4 'ViCAM Digital Camera AVI Driver'
"@device:cm:{860BB310-5D01-11D0-BD3B-00A0C911CE86}\ViCAM Digital Camera AVI Driver" 0
Device Id "Device Version "2.1.0"
Using alternative command 4
Response (0x09 (ACCEPTED)) received 7 bytes
09 48 7c e7 04 00 0b


But this Tuner.Log doesn't look very promising:

C:\DOCUME~1\John\LOCALS~1\Temp>type tuner.log
Starting WinMain 0 (Apr 9 2006 14:37:28): Tue Aug 01 22:44:58 2006
Failed to get FirewireEnabled (default 0)
Failed to get LiveTVEnabled (default 0)
Failed to get channel timeout (default 50)
Failed to get R5000 channel timeout (default 50)
Failed to get BypassDeviceCheck (default 0)
Failed to get debug (default 0)
Failed to get fastchannel (default 1)
Failed to get FirstPID (default 0)
Failed to get enablechannelchange (default 1)
Failed to get hdonly (default 0)
Failed to get SendExit (default 1)
Failed to get SendPower (default 0)
Failed to get prefix (default 'Fire ')
Failed to get firewire directory (default 'Fire')
Failed to get Channel Change String 0 (default use firewire)
Failed to get External Tuner String 0 (default use firewire)
Failed to get Channel Change String 1 (default use firewire)
Failed to get External Tuner String 1 (default use firewire)
Failed to get Channel Change String 2 (default use firewire)
Failed to get External Tuner String 2 (default use firewire)
Failed to get Channel Change String 3 (default use firewire)
Failed to get External Tuner String 3 (default use firewire)
Failed to get ClosedCaption (default 1)
Failed to get SetDTV (default 1)
Failed to get SetATSC (default 2)
Failed to get Postfix (default '-mce')
Failed to get MoveMCEToOLD (default 0)
Failed to get SkipChannels (No skipped channels)
MyTray requires Windows MediaCenter 0 (Apr 9 2006 14:37:28): Tue Aug 01 22:45:13 2006

Ok, quick question (I hope!)

I've read through a great deal of this thread trying to understand the process, but there is one thing I have seen hinted at, but not actually outright stated:

I get the impression that you cannot pull something previously recorded off the DVR, that the process is to simulateanously record to your PC while you record to the DVR.

Is that correct? And if so, do any of these various programs I see listed have a 'timer' so that your PC will start recording at a specified time?

Thanks

You cant pull something off the dvr as in grab the file diorectly but you can capture the stream when you play back the HD content on the DVR.. I do this with the mot 6412. I let the 6412 do all the recording. then play back and capture to PC

I'm having trouble getting windows vista to recognize the firestb drivers. I have no trouble installing the drivers but when I connect my stb to the computer windows automatically searches for the drivers and then I get a pop up saying I dont have the driver disc show me other options. So I point windows out to MCE STB driver folder and it cant locate the drivers can some help me?

I'm having trouble getting windows vista to recognize the firestb drivers. I have no trouble installing the drivers but when I connect my stb to the computer windows automatically searches for the drivers and then I get a pop up saying I dont have the driver disc show me other options. So I point windows out to MCE STB driver folder and it cant locate the drivers can some help me?

We are blazing a trail figuring things out on our own as it is, with XP and MCE! With Vista beta you are really going out on a limb, I wouldn't expect much

Check out the FAQ section at the end of the readme file included with the installer. If you're installing the same kit I did, there are instructions on passing command-line parameters to the installer that force it to install under XP. It worked for me, after having received the MCE error.

Sorry but now i'm getting the same error. How the hell do you run a command line???

start->run->cmd

start->run->cmd

It keeps telling me "the installation package cannot be opened."

get a new pc...jk...wish i could help bro

I had a little success today with an SA8300HD (passport, time warner in cary nc)
I installed the firestb drivers (this is windows xp sp1). let the computer detect the tuner device and the panel device. started playing an SNL rerun that was on the DVR, and launched capdvhs

Using the settings specified in the first post, it recorded a 3MB file and crashed. there was video in there but it kinda worked.

so then i tried the firebus demo which i couldn't figure out. apparently you control it from the dvr? uninstalled that and gave VLC a shot

VLC continues to amaze me. clicked on open capture device, picked the sa device, and it started playing. Then i remembered you can RECORD with VLC, just click stream/save under the advanced options, then click settings. check File and choose a filename, and don't check any other settings (it defaults to MPEG TS).

I let it run for a couple minutes, worked great. doesnt record anything I recorded off 5C channels (didn't expect it to) but it works with clear stuff.

I haven't read all 96 pages here but surprised people aren't trying to record with VLC.

I'm sorry for this to be so redundant from previous posts. I've been reading these posts for several days, trying to get a working driver. Many posts have referenced previous posts and other websites, but either the links are broken, or the files are only good on MCE, and I have regular old XP home, SP2. I tried the FireME.zip with the cmd alternative for those of us with XP, and I got "the installation package could not be opened. verify that the package exists and you can access it, or contact the app vendor and verify that this is a valid windows installer package." Also, if someone could specify what files I need to rename and such, I would greatly appreciate it. I am so overwhelmed and confused after reading all of this. I consider myself computer-savvy, as I've had one almost all my life, about 22 years, but I don't work on them for a living or anything.

the text and link below are from the first post (first page)

hope this is what you need. I included the text to help you spot the section. look for the bold type. but all you really need is the link.

good luck.

Joe


**Attention this is a recording thread. For playback issues please check out the home theater PC forum . **
For conversion help check out this guide.

replayguide sourceforge-net- -dct6412 -ndex-html
The files captured from this process are the same as from most HD PC recording techniques and playback issues are the same. Please don't post in here asking how to get smooth playback. There are plenty of discussions in the correct area on that topic. Also please don't ask how to convert to DVD, or any other conversion question. There are plenty of thread dedicated to that topic also. This thread is already too long to read, and I appreciate everyone helping out by staying on topic.

get a new pc...jk...wish i could help bro

Seriously. Step by step. How do i get around this? Is there a way?

You get that error when you try to start a command line, or when running msiexec?

Click start / all programs / accessories / command prompt

cd to the folder where you saved firestb.msi

enter:
MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0

Now the problem is I can only capture local channels. HBO, INHD, Discover, ESPN, etc. are all black. Is this to be expected due to copy protection? I have Comcast in Montgomery County Maryland. Again I have a Moto 6412, how can I view the value of the 5C flag on this box?


Yes to the first question.

Second -- with the box powered on, push power (off) then OK/SELECT (the middle button on the remote) within .5 secs. This will bring up the service menu. Scroll down to (from memory, d11 - something, near the bottom) it will say things like "1394 active = yes", and "5c = X" if it says anything but "5c=0" you can't record it with a PC.

Kind of off topic, but does anyone in a TW area know if they offer any non-DVR settops that have firewire ports that are enabled? I've been meaning to get a setup like this going for a while and long story short, we already have a DVR and id like to get a second box going for this since I dont feel like dragging the computer to the living room to record a certain show.

I'm having problems even getting my SA 3250HD-F on Time Warner Cable (Austin TX) recognized by my HTPC.

I just got my SA 3250HD-F with SARA 1.58.7.1 yesterday. My HTPC does not detect any new hardware when I connect the Firewire/1394 cable (I even have the drivers installed). At worst I believe I should get an "unknown hardware detected" message.

I'm following the directions at the beginning of this thread.

I verified the Firewire port on the HTPC works by plugging my wife's iPod into it, so I'm guessing the problem is with the 3250HD-F.

If anyone has any advice on getting my HTPC to detect the 3250HD or info about the problem being the 3250HD-F's Firewire/1394 port, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Well having read and reread (and then going back and reread some more ;) ) I have to say this whole recording by firewire is a fun and easy process :eek:

Nonetheless I've managed to make some progress, but not yet to the point that I can actually view or record any files. I'm in NYC using Time Warner Cable and have a SA 8300HD running Passport Echo 1.8.112.

I've managed to get the drivers installed and recognized - device manager shows two items (not counting the two disabled mystery devices mentioned in the first post). These are AV/C Panel Device annd Tuner AV/C Device.

This was no small feat and I feel some sense of accomplishment since some haven't been able to even get this far, but now I want to capture something...

When I run CapDVHS I see the AV/C Panel Device annd Tuner AV/C Device in the Capture Device drop-down.

However, CapDVHS crashes as soon as I try and capture using the Tuner Device. The meter indicating that its capturing keeps running while I wait to push the send/don't send error message, but the created .ts stream is unreadable in media player classic. I have all settings as indicated on the first post and so far any modifications from these haven't given any different result.

If I use the Panel Device I get an erorr saying it can't connect SampleGrabber.

My computer is running XP Pro with SP2 installed and I have installed the fix mentioned somewhere in this thread (KB885222 Performance of 1394 devices may decrease after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2) to no avail.

Also soon after CapDVHS crashes the 8300HD reboots - seems to be somehow related to me.

So any suggestions???

Capturing off AV/C Panel would be as likely as getting Tivo to install functional firewire ports on their hardware.

So you're on the right track with AV/C Tuner device to capture.
Try not using CapDVHS and use VLC instead, and select 'directshow source'.
If that doesnt work, well.. then not sure.

What does the captured TS file look like? does it have sync bytes 'G' every 188 bytes? Or is it 0 bytes? Or is the contents just scrambled mess?

timecop thanks for the quick reply. My captured .ts files are all 0 bytes. I hadn't actually checked before you asked :o MPC was saying "can't render file" and I left it at that.

I'll try and play around with vlc. I installed it earlier but couldn't quite figure it out.

- Matt

Ok so I played around with VLC, and I get similar results. In open cature device - direct show tab, when I select configure device the program crashes and the 8300HD reboots. This is pretty much the same thing that happened with CapDVHS.

Anybody have suggestions....

Edit: re-re-re-reading I see on post #1924 there's a similar problem reported. I'm trying to dig in and see if there's a solution mentioned there.

In the meantime if anybody reading this has an idea please speak up :)

Thanks!

Another Edit: some more digging turned up this thread:
Recording to PC from a SA 8300HD via Firewire
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6380734&&#post6380734

There I see people having the same problem, but no solution :(

Is all hope lost? Any ideas?

Does anyone know if this works with the new Moto DCT3412 and comcast?

Does anyone know if this works with the new Moto DCT3412 and comcast?
It works for me.

I'm having some trouble, maybe someone has some advice. I downloaded the software and installed the drivers (firestb.msi, left clicked on file and selected install) and let it install everything. After rebooting I plugged in the DCT3412 via a firewire cable and in a short time a window came up saying there was new hardware. I left it at the top selection (recommended), search for the software I think it was, and I clicked next and a window came up saying the hardware could not be installed because it can't find the software. Where did the software get installed? I am running Windows XP MCE with SP2.

Any ideas on this?

Thanks,

Steve

P.S. there is a program called "Mytray MFC" I just discovered that will not run. It crashes (gives me a GPF error) and does not run on boot or if I try to run it. Anyone else have this problem or know why I am? :(

Does anyone know if this works with the new Moto DCT3412 and comcast?

Works for me as well. I am running on a Core Duo laptop and can stream via VLC with no problems. MCE is the next step.

Works for me as well. I am running on a Core Duo laptop and can stream via VLC with no problems. MCE is the next step.

Just wanted to thank everyone on this board. Without having to post a single question I was able to search and find the answer to every question I had on this issue and got it to work just fine with minimal effort. I've used VLC for years as a player of esoteric video formats, but I never realized it was that diverse a program. It rocks!

Is there any way to transfer data from the motorola DCT64612 III and only using windows xp professional. Is there any way without using media center 2005? Im using 1394 firewire to connect to my pc. I understand that i need to record the image from the 6412. I saw someone post about how they got around the mce drivers using xp but they didnt elaborate if anyone could help i would greatly appreciate this as im new this info. Ill keep looking through the 100 or so posts in the meantime.

I wonder how the hell did the normal non-MCE driver package got lost, and only the MCE junk is in the 1st post here. Can someone edit it (maybe the original author) and put the real link there, to stop every other post of people complaining of MCE features being unneeded? Original package was called meidvhs.zip and the one after that with u.s. specific cable boxes was firestb.zip, I believe.

timecop,
That driver works better than the original and installs easier, that is why I updated the link with it.

You don't have to install all the MCE junk if you don't want to. I still have the meidvhs.zip if anyone wants it. I edited the post to make sure it is clear that you don't need MCE.

If someone want to extract the newer driver from the msi file and zip it and host it, then I will link to it as well.

I wonder how the hell did the normal non-MCE driver package got lost, and only the MCE junk is in the 1st post here. Can someone edit it (maybe the original author) and put the real link there, to stop every other post of people complaining of MCE features being unneeded? Original package was called meidvhs.zip and the one after that with u.s. specific cable boxes was firestb.zip, I believe.



^^^^Yes please can someone give the link location or post it for the non-MCE drivers.

Once again...those are universal drivers bundled in an MCE-focused package and are for MCE and non-MCE installs alike. You simply use an install switch for a basic XP install, and do not install anything that is not desired.

Once again...those are universal drivers bundled in an MCE-focused package and are for MCE and non-MCE installs alike. You simply use an install switch for a basic XP install, and do not install anything that is not desired.


What is an install switch?

What is an install switch?

It is a command line argument to specify install options. I don't have the xp switch committed to memory, but it is in the very convenient readme file as well as repeatedly throughout this thread.

It is a command line argument to specify install options. I don't have the xp switch committed to memory, but it is in the very convenient readme file as well as repeatedly throughout this thread.


I just searched the thread for the last 10 minutes and didn't find it.

I see what you guys are talking about now, I don't believe the msi used to error out if you were running XP, but obviously it does now. As soon as I figure out how to fix it I will edit the first post.

From the readme file -

How to I install on a non-MCE machine?
The package by default checks for MCE 2005. However, the drivers and command line utilities are useful on non-MCE machines, to install on a non-MCE machine run the following command:

MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0

Hehe I just found it myself!
Thanks, I will update the first post!

I updated it, let me know if you think I should make any other changes.

Thanks again.

I did a web search for specific motorola 64XX drivers and found this site. It is beautiful with step by step instructions. http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/

I have my Moto 6208 connected to my XP, and all seems to be working okay, almost...

I have scoured the forums, and need a little clarification...I am able to record ANY HD channel (Sho, HDNet UHD all the locals) to my computer, with the exception of HBO. What is strange is that in the service menu of the DVR, it shows 5C=0 on all channels. If I understand things correctly, when you enter the service menu exiting from any channel, say HBO, it will then give the 5C status on that channel, correct?

CapDVHS will record HBO, but does not show any information on the file except that it is recording. The files are NOT 0-byte, so some stream is being transferred. What is odd is that my 5U recorder often has trouble syncing with HBO, but no other channels.

I have it plugged into the preferred port on the 6208. I have tried resetting the DVR and computer many times. A recording on the DVR from HBO still will not capture correctly.

Thanks for any help!!!

I did a web search for specific motorola 64XX drivers and found this site. It is beautiful with step by step instructions. http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/
That link can be found in the first post.

Has anybody been able to load the drivers for the QIP6416 box on XP SP2? Everything I've read is for the DCT64xx. I can't get it anything to work with the QIP6416.

Does anyone know if this works with the new Moto DCT3412 and comcast?

It works for me too.

Ok so I played around with VLC, and I get similar results. In open cature device - direct show tab, when I select configure device the program crashes and the 8300HD reboots. This is pretty much the same thing that happened with CapDVHS.

Anybody have suggestions....

Edit: re-re-re-reading I see on post #1924 there's a similar problem reported. I'm trying to dig in and see if there's a solution mentioned there.

In the meantime if anybody reading this has an idea please speak up :)

Thanks!

Another Edit: some more digging turned up this thread:
Recording to PC from a SA 8300HD via Firewire
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6380734&&#post6380734

There I see people having the same problem, but no solution :(

Is all hope lost? Any ideas?

Didja figure it out? I can watch it on VLC but every time i try and record with CapDVHS, it crashes.

Didja figure it out? I can watch it on VLC but every time i try and record with CapDVHS, it crashes.

Nope I gave up. As near as I can tell no one has been able to record via firewire with a SA 8300HD with Passport. Everyone reports the same crashing and rebooting...

Help please, I can't get back to where I was. I have an HP laptop with 1394 running Win XP and a Comcast DCT6412 III. Last night, I installed drivers ? and CapDVHS and things worked great. This morning, I saved a 2 hr movie via 1394.

Then I decided to put the same features on another machine. The result was that drivers look like they install, CapDVHS looks like it is recording but no data is coming over the wire and the files have 0 length.

How can I diagnose the cause? I've restored the computers to the pre driver installation state but everything I try results in no data.

Which drivers are the best for XP, firestb or meidvhs? I am very confused (more than normal, anyway).

Everything is OK in paradise again! The problem must have been with other things in wonderful Windows XP. A fresh install and an install of the drivers described above has everything working as it should be.

Go figure.

I have a Motorola 620 and running XP. I can't get the firestb installer to work using the command: MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0. When I run the command, this pops up: This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that it is a valid Windows Installer package. What's the problem? Anyone?

I have a Motorola 620 and running XP. I can't get the firestb installer to work using the command: MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0. When I run the command, this pops up: This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that it is a valid Windows Installer package. What's the problem? Anyone?

yup I had the same problem, i just found the drivers zipped and did it manually..
As soon as I am allowed.. I will post a link to the drivers I found.

There does not seem to be any output from my Firewire port on my Comcast-supplied Motorola DCT6412. I went into the Diagnostics page (power, select, select...) and found the following:
1394 I/O Device: INST
Active Ports: 0

Anyone know if this is a setting I can change myself, or am I at the mercy of Comcast?

Firmware is rev 09.19

Thanks in advance!

I'd tried with both the JVC D-VHS recorder and a Windows XP SP2 computer and cannot get anything to record through firewire with a TWC 8300HD box running Passport Echo 2.5.066 or a TWC 3250HD running 4.2 Build 068.

Looking like eSATA hard drives is the only solution for permanent archival and out D-VHS or *.TS computer files will be a thing of the past.

Paul


Nope I gave up. As near as I can tell no one has been able to record via firewire with a SA 8300HD with Passport. Everyone reports the same crashing and rebooting...

There does not seem to be any output from my Firewire port on my Comcast-supplied Motorola DCT6412. I went into the Diagnostics page (power, select, select...) and found the following:
1394 I/O Device: INST
Active Ports: 0

Anyone know if this is a setting I can change myself, or am I at the mercy of Comcast?

Firmware is rev 09.19

Thanks in advance!
It's enabled, so it should work. What do you have connected to it? You have to have something plugged into the port in order for it to be "active".

It's enabled, so it should work. What do you have connected to it? You have to have something plugged into the port in order for it to be "active".

Aha - that's probably it. I didn't have anything connected to it when I checked.
I had previously connected a Canon ZR-30MC handheld recorder to it, using the 1394 port, and I wasn't getting a signal on the Canon from the DVR.
I wanted to try this before I haul my computer into the living room. I guess it's time to buy a 30' Firewire cable :-)

OK, so I got it to work. Firewire out to the laptop, recording using CapVHS (downloaded from page 1 here), but when I try to record an hour long show, CapVHS stops at 3.99GB.
Is there a file size limitation? I couldn't find a setting for it.

Again, thanks in advance!

On the rec data page of capdvhs you should have a minutes box in the left.

Also, how large is your hard drive?

Paul



OK, so I got it to work. Firewire out to the laptop, recording using CapVHS (downloaded from page 1 here), but when I try to record an hour long show, CapVHS stops at 3.99GB.
Is there a file size limitation? I couldn't find a setting for it.

Again, thanks in advance!

3.99 GB... Hmm... Sounds like 4GB file size limit on FAT (FAT32 and FAT16). This is a well documented problem all over the place. Only workaround is to use NTFS file system. I have repartitioned all of my PC/laptops to have a video drive which is formatted NTFS. I hope this helps.

OK, I am pretty upset. This method has been working great for me with my Motorola 6412 box through Cox for the last few months, and all of a sudden, certain shows will not capture. Shows from NBC/ NBC HD, ABC/ ABC HD, and CBS will no longer record to my hard drive. CapDVHS creates a file of incrementally rising size, but when I try to play this file using VLC Player, or take it into HDTV2DVD for editing, it is essentially empty and nothing happens (well, HDTV2DVD crashes).

Does it sound like these channels were recently flagged as "never copy" all of a sudden? If so, it definitely sucks, with the new seasons of shows starting up as we speak. Do you think that this problem could in any way be computer-related? The thing that steers me away from this possibility is that I can still capture shows from other networks like Comedy Central and FX. Do you think this would be related to a firmware update perhaps? Maybe they snuck one of those on me...

If these channels have indeed been flagged as "never copy", is there any way around it? I imagine that there is not, but I am open to suggestions. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!


EDIT: By the way, in the past I have tuned in to what was currently playing on the cable box using VLC player. I can no longer seem to watch TV on my PC doing this, even on the channels I can record to the PC. Does this make any of you lean more towards a cable box/cable company issue, or to a PC issue?


EDIT 2: I just thought of something else that may or may not be pertinent... I just added a 250 GB Western Digital external hard drive to my computer via firewire. I have three firewire ports on my PC. One has always been used by my cable box, and another has always had my camcorder's firewire cable plugged in, though the camcorder was rarely plugged into it. I know have these two firewire cables plugged into my PC, in addition to the external hard drive. Could the addition of this hard drive have anything to do with this situation?

I followed the instructions from the sourceforge site that I've seen referenced several times here, and everything works as advertized, and I was able to copy two movies to my laptop (WinXP SP2) using the firewire connection. However, both times I went through this process, my DCT6412 soon began to have problems. First I noticed that while playing a recorded program, the FF/REW controls did not work. The next day, I could go through the menus to select a recorded program to play, and the progress bar would appear on the screen like it was playing, but the TV still showed whatever channel had been on, not the recorded program.

I called Adelphia, and the first person I talked to tried to push some kind of update to the box but this did not work. The next person did a reset of the DCT6412 from their side. After the menus and guide reloaded, everything worked well.

Although it is cumbersome and lengthy, I can deal with the process described in the instructions above, but I can't be screwing up the box everytime I do it. I'm sure Adelphia will quickly get suspicious and cut me off or something.

Does anyone know what's happening, or have a better (simple) solution?

I followed the instructions from the sourceforge site that I've seen referenced several times here, and everything works as advertized, and I was able to copy two movies to my laptop (WinXP SP2) using the firewire connection. However, both times I went through this process, my DCT6412 soon began to have problems. First I noticed that while playing a recorded program, the FF/REW controls did not work. The next day, I could go through the menus to select a recorded program to play, and the progress bar would appear on the screen like it was playing, but the TV still showed whatever channel had been on, not the recorded program.

I called Adelphia, and the first person I talked to tried to push some kind of update to the box but this did not work. The next person did a reset of the DCT6412 from their side. After the menus and guide reloaded, everything worked well.

Although it is cumbersome and lengthy, I can deal with the process described in the instructions above, but I can't be screwing up the box everytime I do it. I'm sure Adelphia will quickly get suspicious and cut me off or something.

Does anyone know what's happening, or have a better (simple) solution?

Mine does the same thing when I record. I have always thought that it may have something to do with the length of the firewire cable I am using (30+ feet).

A little trick I learned is that the FF/RW will work if you use VLC player to stream the content to your computer while you watch it on your TV. It is kind of a pain to have to do this everytime you watch something, but it gets the job done. Another thing I would do is to reboot the box myself... hold the box's power button down until its screen says "boot"... once it pulls back up, all of the controls should work fine (until the next time you capture something, that is) :) .


So does anyone have any ideas regarding the issues I am having?

Another thing I would do is to reboot the box myself... hold the box's power button down until its screen says "boot"... once it pulls back up, all of the controls should work fine (until the next time you capture something, that is) :) .

Did this work for you on your box? Maybe I'll try another capture if I can be reasonably sure this will fix the box afterwards.

BTW, my firewire cable is only six feet long, so the cable length probably isn't the cause.

Did this work for you on your box? Maybe I'll try another capture if I can be reasonably sure this will fix the box afterwards.

BTW, my firewire cable is only six feet long, so the cable length probably isn't the cause.

Hmm... that is interesting that the cable length may not cause this issue, as I always thought that it was the reason for the box's problems. Rebooting it does work for me. I do it right before my wife and I watch a recorded program with many commercials. Just keep in mind that you will have the same control problems each time you capture a program. I suggest that you try to capture a few things in a row to get them out of the way, reboot the box, and then watch TV or recorded programs as you usually would.

Thanks for the information. I'll probably try again this weekend.

I re-read your earlier post and I remembered the following information from the instructions I've been using. Maybe this will at least tell you if the channels are protected.

NOTE: You will only be able to capture channels/recordings without 5C protection enabled. To check for 5C protection on channels that you are interested in capturing from (or have recorded from), do the following:
Start with DCT64xx turned on and connect the firewire cable between the DCT64xx and your PC.
Tune to a channel you are interested in recording from.
Enter DIAGNOSTICS page on the DCT64xx as follows with remote: Press Cable, Power off, Select, Select.
Scroll down to: d11 INTERFACE STATUS and then click right arrow to enter that module.
In 1394 I/O DEVICE section you should see ACTIVE PORTS=1 (indicating the Firewire connection is active) and look at 5C IMPLEMENTATION value. If it is something other than 0 this means 5C protection is enabled and you won't be able to capture that channel.
To get out of the Status Page click left arrow with remote and scroll down to EXIT and click Select.

Thanks for the information. I'll probably try again this weekend.

I re-read your earlier post and I remembered the following information from the instructions I've been using. Maybe this will at least tell you if the channels are protected.

NOTE: You will only be able to capture channels/recordings without 5C protection enabled. To check for 5C protection on channels that you are interested in capturing from (or have recorded from), do the following:
Start with DCT64xx turned on and connect the firewire cable between the DCT64xx and your PC.
Tune to a channel you are interested in recording from.
Enter DIAGNOSTICS page on the DCT64xx as follows with remote: Press Cable, Power off, Select, Select.
Scroll down to: d11 INTERFACE STATUS and then click right arrow to enter that module.
In 1394 I/O DEVICE section you should see ACTIVE PORTS=1 (indicating the Firewire connection is active) and look at 5C IMPLEMENTATION value. If it is something other than 0 this means 5C protection is enabled and you won't be able to capture that channel.
To get out of the Status Page click left arrow with remote and scroll down to EXIT and click Select.


Thanks for copying that info. I had forgotten that you could access the 5C protection info that way. It turns out that those channels are indeed 5C protected now; each one has a "1" for this field. :mad:

Next, the obvious question: does anyone know of a way around this? I suppose I would probably need to hack my box somehow, which I assume is "frowned upon". I'd appreciate any feedback or PM's from anyone who may have some input on this matter. Thanks...

I tried making my first recording to my laptop today and ran into a slight problem. I've been recording to my JVC 5u for about a year now. However, now I'd like to make recordings that I can burn to disc and play in my HD DVD player.

When I attempt to playback recordings from the hard drive of an HD channel (DiscoveryHD or HBO) there is a large pink box that takes up about the full 1/4 to 1/3 of the video on the right side of the screen. If I record a SD channel this pink box is not there. Is this a known problem?

Hi, I am interested in using the methods discussed in this thread to supplement the recording space on my 6412 DVR by copying some shows to my laptop, however I would like to know if there is a way after that to play the shows back on my HDTV instead of on my laptop?

My HDTV is a Sony set with firewire connections built into it. Has anyone tried something like this before? Any pointers would be very helpful.

First a thanks to everyone here. This has been a great help.

After reading a bunch I am having a problem recording some content. I can record using CAPDVHS from ABC (non 5c, records ok). Looks great. When I try to record from the DVR (playing a file that I recorded earlier) I only get the black screen errors. When I check to see if it has 5c on it, the box reports that it doesn't.

Does anyone have any ideas on this? I'm at a loss right now as to where to go next.

If you might need any more info please let me know.

Thanks!

I'm pulling out what little hair I have left and would love some help. I have a 3412 from comcast and I have all of the episodes of Eureka (a scifi show I've been sucked into) saved on my dvr. I was able to transfer the season opener to my computer (it was 120 minutes) just fine with CapDVHS (audio and video came through just fine). I went to transfer the next episode over and I got video and no audio. It plays back just fine when I go straight from DVR to TV but when I go from DVR to computer (running non-MCE windows XP sp2) I get no sound. I've tried the unplug everything (including power) and letting the system cycle routine but with no success. I don't know if it helps to know how I'm wired but in case it does:

DVR to TV: HDMI
DVR to stereo: Optical
DVR to computer: Firewire

There's plenty of space around the DVR for venting and I've got 60GB hard drive free on my computer (which is an Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz with a gig of ram). I don't run anything else while recording. Any help would be great! Thanks in advance!

Here in Atlanta (Comcast) the local NBC and ABC HD channels can no longer be captured via firewire. I don't know how long this has been going on. The 5C values are still 0.

Here in Atlanta (Comcast) the local NBC and ABC HD channels can no longer be captured via firewire. I don't know how long this has been going on. The 5C values are still 0.

Karl

I guess we are interacting in two different forums, so pardon the repeat reply.

Are you served off the Stone Mountain headend? I'm trying to figure out if this is a headend specific configuration error, before starting the hassle with Comcast.

I found that its actually the CCI value in the D6 diag display that tells the story. CCI=0 is "copy any" and CCI=2 is "copy once". The latter is what shows up on 803 and 806, but the others are all 0. Copy once means no copy unless the destination is a licensed DVHS instance, which the PC software is not.

Are there devices that would allow a Firewire connection for video to be sent over a LAN? And will these work to record programming to a PC located elsewhere in the house?

Or how far can I send a Firewire signal? Are there devices to extend the cable span? Im looking at about 50 feet seperation from TV to PC.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Karl

I guess we are interacting in two different forums, so pardon the repeat reply.

Are you served off the Stone Mountain headend? I'm trying to figure out if this is a headend specific configuration error, before starting the hassle with Comcast.

I found that its actually the CCI value in the D6 diag display that tells the story. CCI=0 is "copy any" and CCI=2 is "copy once". The latter is what shows up on 803 and 806, but the others are all 0. Copy once means no copy unless the destination is a licensed DVHS instance, which the PC software is not.


Yes, Stn Mtn. CCI is 2 here also.

I have a Motorola 620 and running XP. I can't get the firestb installer to work using the command: MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0. When I run the command, this pops up: This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that it is a valid Windows Installer package. What's the problem? Anyone?


anyone have an update on this? i'm getting the same error message.

EDIT: i've figured it out.

from run, type cmd for the command prompt.

then make sure that the firestb.msi file is in the directory that the command line indicates.

for example, my .msi file was on my desktop. but the command prompt was at C:/Documents and Settings/user

so i just moved the .msi file to that user folder, and ran MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0.

yay.

Here in Atlanta (Comcast) the local NBC and ABC HD channels can no longer be captured via firewire. I don't know how long this has been going on. The 5C values are still 0.

Doesn't 5C=0 mean 5C is off? If local HD channels over cable have 5C on, that is ILLEGAL and prohibited per the FCC. You should call the cable company and try to get to someone who knows what you are talking about. The first thing I would ask the person who answers the phone is "Do you know what 5C is?" If the answer is no, ask to be transferred to a higher up or someone in engineering.

Ok I'm lost I don't know how to get make your software work please help

Got it to record over 4Gig - it was the file system format. Used an NTFS drive and all is well.

Next question - is there any way to extract just a portion of the audio from a .TS file? Or do I need to convert to MPEG first, then extract (and if so, maybe a quick pointer on how to do this?)

A friend of mine was on Rockstar:Supernova and I want to convert just her songs into MP3.

Thanks!

Hey guys. I'm new here and still trying to figure this stuff out. Does anyone know if Notre Dame games on NBC are 5C protected with Comcast? I've been trying to copy the game I recorded over the weekend to save to DVD, but the capture is blank. Other shows, like House, copied fine.

Also, is there a way to check the 5C status of a recorded program on the Moto 6412 DVR?

Thanks for your help.

Running XP with SP2. I installed the drivers, installed the XP 1394 update, and plugged in the 8300HD. Drivers found and installed correctly. I launch CapDVHS and there are 2 devices the SA tuner and the SA panel. So I try to record from the tuner and CapDVHS crashes, say "encountered a problem". Any ideas?

I posted this in the Comcast 3412/3416 thread but it's not clear that was the best place, so I'm posting it again here (please excuse the duplication):

I finally had Comcast replace my misbehaving first-generation DCT6412 which, three or four times, had spontaneously reset itself and cleared all recordings and all metadata, exactly as if I had performed a Master Reset (which I had not).

When I put in the request I told the CSR that I wanted a box with an HDMI output but I also asked them to note specifically that I wanted a box with a 160GB hard drive (not knowing whether Comcast was even deploying them yet in my area).

To my surprise, the tech showed up with a DCT3416.

So far, so good, though it's certainly too early to tell. It's only been a few hours.

The problem I'm having now is that I can't capture data from the 3416 on the XP system that I had been using for captures from the 6412. I re-downloaded the drivers from http://http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/ and installed them as described on that page (though the installation messages differed a little from what's described there).

CapDVHS sees the device ("Digital A/V Tuner Device") but the captures aren't usable--it never detects the resolution of the data and populates the data info. The streams I tried to capture were network broadcasts, which aren't encrypted, so there should be no issue there.

Is there another set of drivers I should be using rather than the ones I downloaded from the above-mentioned page, something that's known to work better with the 3416? Or are there some additional tweaks I need to apply, or something obvious that I might have overlooked? (I think I still have the original drivers that I used with the 6412 available, though what I just downloaded is supposed to be newer.)

Thanks.

I use a comcast 4312 box, have installed the drivers and it is recognized. When watching via VLC I can get analog channels and the digital PBS and INHD. When tuning to the local digital channels, which are available OTA, I get a black screen. When I click on the VLC properties or info or whatever they call it, it shows that the file is growing, but it is not getting any video, only audio. The comcast properties show that 5c=0, however that CCI=2.

All I want to be able to do is get the OTA digital channels and record HD when available.

Are the OTA channels numbered differently for the firewire than they are for when you watch regularly?

Is it possible that I will be able to record the files (using sageTV) that I am unable to see in VLC?

Is it illegal for comcast to block me from the OTA channels? And if so, who should I compain to in order to get this resolved.

Thanks, Mike

How are you guys using VLC to receive a 1394 firewire connection from the wall or the cable box?

I do not see any such input choice for VLC player?

Thanks

I use a comcast 4312 box, have installed the drivers and it is recognized. When watching via VLC I can get analog channels and the digital PBS and INHD. When tuning to the local digital channels, which are available OTA, I get a black screen. When I click on the VLC properties or info or whatever they call it, it shows that the file is growing, but it is not getting any video, only audio. The comcast properties show that 5c=0, however that CCI=2.


I presume you mean 3412 not 4312. The CCI=2 means "copy once" and since the PC is not a licensed node, that effectively means no copying at all.

In my area of Atlanta, all the HD channels are CCI=0 "copy always" except ABC and NBC, which are CCI=2 and thus unavailable. I've been trying to find out why these two are CCI=2, but so far no one at Comcast or the stations in a position to know has responded.

How are you guys using VLC to receive a 1394 firewire connection from the wall or the cable box?

I do not see any such input choice for VLC player?

Thanks
From the Cable Box-6412 through firewire
File-Open Capture Device-DirectShow-OK


That will let you watch the show. The only way I have found to capture it is to use the wizard, and I was then NOT able to watch the show at the same time.

Maybe someone smarter can tell you how.

I presume you mean 3412 not 4312. The CCI=2 means "copy once" and since the PC is not a licensed node, that effectively means no copying at all.

In my area of Atlanta, all the HD channels are CCI=0 "copy always" except ABC and NBC, which are CCI=2 and thus unavailable. I've been trying to find out why these two are CCI=2, but so far no one at Comcast or the stations in a position to know has responded.

Thanks- I couldent figure out why INHD worked, but the OTA channels do not come through.

Am I correct that it is illegal for comcast to block the OTA channels? I am thinking I will have to raise a stink to get it corrected.

Thanks for the reply

Thanks- I couldent figure out why INHD worked, but the OTA channels do not come through.

Am I correct that it is illegal for comcast to block the OTA channels? I am thinking I will have to raise a stink to get it corrected.

Thanks for the reply
Here's the para:

Tiers and Rates

# The Report and Order finds that digital television signals must be available to subscribers on a basic service tier. The Further Notice seeks comment on voluntary carriage of digital signals on a tier other than the basic tier.

# The Report and Order finds that there may be some cable systems undertaking significant system upgrades, a part of which will include a digital build-out. For these systems, the Report and Order finds that a Form 1235 upgrade rate adjustment would provide an appropriate incentive for a cable operator to upgrade its system and carry digital television signals.

which comes from a 2001 FCC Report and Order re Carriage of DTV on Cable:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/digital.html

Specific links to applicable Federal Code can be found here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=5856618#post5856618
in particular see sec 76.630:

§ 76.630 Compatibility with consumer electronics equipment.

(a) Cable system operators shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt signals carried on the basic service tier. Requests for waivers of this prohibition must demonstrate either a substantial problem with theft of basic tier service or a strong need to scramble basic signals for other reasons. As part of this showing, cable operators are required to notify subscribers by mail of waiver requests. The notice to subscribers must be mailed no later than thirty calendar days from the date the request waiver was filed with the Commission, and cable operators must inform the Commission in writing, as soon as possible, of that notification date.

So ask if there is a waiver....

Here's the para:
[B]§ 76.630 Compatibility with consumer electronics equipment.

(a) Cable system operators shall not scramble or otherwise encrypt signals carried on the basic service tier.

I don't believe they are encrypting those signals. and they are in fact clear QAM on the wire. The cable box makes the embedded MPEG2-TS streams available using the HDCP firewire protocol. By setting CCI=2 (copy once), HDCP requires a handshake from a node that insures it is certified to respect the "copy once" flag, and not allow additional copying. TV's and real DVHS devices would have that certification. The PC driver does not, and will only succeed if CCI=0 "copy always" which does not require a certified node.

I think if you had your own QAM tuner you could receive these signals directly off the wire.

The regulation that would seem more relevant is that one that requires the cable companies to supply cable boxes with firewire outputs. I wonder what it says about what measures the cable companies can take to limit redistribution of the firewire output.

My recollection is that mandatory respect for both the "broadcast flag" on over the air broadcasts and the "CCI" flag on cable broadcasts was tied up in Congress, under the watchful eye of Ted Stevens.

I don't believe they are encrypting those signals. and they are in fact clear QAM on the wire. The cable box makes the embedded MPEG2-TS streams available using the HDCP firewire protocol. By setting CCI=2 (copy once), HDCP requires a handshake from a node that insures it is certified to respect the "copy once" flag, and not allow additional copying. TV's and real DVHS devices would have that certification. The PC driver does not, and will only succeed if CCI=0 "copy always" which does not require a certified node.

I think if you had your own QAM tuner you could receive these signals directly off the wire.

The regulation that would seem more relevant is that one that requires the cable companies to supply cable boxes with firewire outputs. I wonder what it says about what measures the cable companies can take to limit redistribution of the firewire output.

My recollection is that mandatory respect for both the "broadcast flag" on over the air broadcasts and the "CCI" flag on cable broadcasts was tied up in Congress, under the watchful eye of Ted Stevens.

Next week, I should be able to shed some light on this.
I currently am watching/capturing HD shows on Comcast. Some of the locals are fine, and some are black as you mentioned. I am getting a QAM tuner, and will check those same channels to see if they work.

Reading those FCC notices, I do not see where it is illegal to not have HDTV in the clear. As long as they provide the signals on the lowest tier, analog basic, I think they are meeting the "laws"

Thanks-

I guess I am out of luck then. It seems odd that comcast blocks something that is available OTA for seemingly no good reason.

Is there a way to make the computer comply with the HDCP handshake?

I have been meticulously following the threads for installation of the drivers using both the firestb and Motorola meistb drivers. I am running windows XP Pro SP 2. The device appears to install but always ends up with the following status

"Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)"

I have manually edited the registry to add SidSpeed under the appropriate registry key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\VEN_110 2&DEV_4001&SUBSYS_00101102&REV_04\4&1c660dd6&0&12F0\Device Parameters

Does anyone have a clue how to get around this. The result is any attempts to recognize the STB attached to the FireWire device is unsuccessful.

Thanks

Thanks-

I guess I am out of luck then. It seems odd that comcast blocks something that is available OTA for seemingly no good reason.

I don't believe it is Comcast setting the CCI bit in this case. OTA channels are usually simply transcoded from 8VSB to QAM with no other processing involved. GENERALLY, CCI is set by the content provider, as it is their content that they want protected.

What KM said is essentially true:

The cable box makes the embedded MPEG2-TS streams available using the HDCP firewire protocol. By setting CCI=2 (copy once), HDCP requires a handshake from a node that insures it is certified to respect the "copy once" flag, and not allow additional copying. TV's and real DVHS devices would have that certification. The PC driver does not, and will only succeed if CCI=0 "copy always" which does not require a certified node.


What he is talking about is the Device authentication and key exchange (AKE). This handshake happens anytime the firewire originating device is asked to tranfer "valuable information", which is basically anything where the CCI bits are set to something other than 00 (Copy Freely). If it doesn't get a satisfactory answer to its AKE query, it refuses to transfer any data.

I don't believe it is Comcast setting the CCI bit in this case. OTA channels are usually simply transcoded from 8VSB to QAM with no other processing involved. GENERALLY, CCI is set by the content provider, as it is their content that they want protected.


I see CCI defined in the DTCP spec which was inherited by HDCP, for the firewire. It's this flag that I can examine in the 3412's D6 diagnostic screen.

Whats not clear to me is how this directly relates to the OTA broadcast signal. Is there actually a CCI flag defined in 8VSB? I thought that there was a controversial "broadcast flag" for OTA digital broadcasts with which Congress was considering mandating compliance. Is the CCI flag for HDCP just a reflection of that flag?

I also wonder if Comcast even receives the local OTA digital signals via 8VSB, which is an RF modulation standard. I would think they would get a digital feed more directly.

I've been trying to contact engineering both at Comcast and the originating local stations to ask if they are actually setting CCI=2 on purpose. No responses yet. In my area its only the ABC and NBC affiliates that have CCI=2. CBS, FOX, TBS, WB as well as the premium cable channels are all at CCI=0.

HELP! I Have installed the drivers for the STB firewire config. I was wondering if there was a way to watch Live TV over the firewire port using the windows MCE software?! If so, how?!

Thanks.

I see CCI defined in the DTCP spec which was inherited by HDCP, for the firewire. It's this flag that I can examine in the 3412's D6 diagnostic screen.

Whats not clear to me is how this directly relates to the OTA broadcast signal. Is there actually a CCI flag defined in 8VSB? I thought that there was a controversial "broadcast flag" for OTA digital broadcasts with which Congress was considering mandating compliance. Is the CCI flag for HDCP just a reflection of that flag?

I also wonder if Comcast even receives the local OTA digital signals via 8VSB, which is an RF modulation standard. I would think they would get a digital feed more directly.

I've been trying to contact engineering both at Comcast and the originating local stations to ask if they are actually setting CCI=2 on purpose. No responses yet. In my area its only the ABC and NBC affiliates that have CCI=2. CBS, FOX, TBS, WB as well as the premium cable channels are all at CCI=0.

The CCI flag is set in the MPEG2 encoding process, and really has nothing to do with either 8VSB or QAM. Since Comcast isn't encoding OTA HD, (it is already at MPEG2, the 8VSB or QAM is just the delivery method), they shouldn't be the ones to set the flag. There is an eMedialive article that talks a little about CCI. Unfortunately, being a newbie posting on this forum, I can't include the URL (I haven't had 5 posts yet.... ) However, if you go to the eMedialive site and search on CCI, you should get a hit on an article called "Changing of the Guard".

The pertinent portion in this discussion can be found on page 3, under the heading “Protection in the Real World”

Once you do decide that your content should be protected, the CCI flag must be added to the MPEG transport stream. Alas, the CCI flag can't be placed into a basic MPEG transport stream; it was created long before the HD copy protection standards were released. Fortunately, the creators of MPEG transport specification realized that they could not anticipate every possible future extension. Consequently, they set aside a special portion of the stream, called private data, where new features could be incorporated into the stream.

For example, the DTLA has defined a DTCP descriptor that is placed into this private data area. This descriptor contains the CCI flag and related info that source devices can use to detect if the stream is copy protected. The DTCP descriptor should be added to the MPEG transport stream when it is first created.

The article goes on to say that the flag could be set anywhere before it gets to the end user, but why would Comcast want to do that? It isn't their content, and they would need to buy another piece of equipment to insert it.


Getting an 8VSB signal off the air and transcoding, it is usually a whole lot cheaper than building a digital link from the studio to get it more directly. In the past decade or so, many cable companies have partnered with TV stations to get a direct link between the studio and the cable headend, BUT, it was usually built and optimized for the analog NTSC signal, as that was the signal that was most susceptible to interference. On the other hand, the links done most recently were probably designed and built so that both the analog and digital signals could be transported. <SHRUG> I don't know what the deal is in your area, but where I am, in New England, the analog comes from a studio feed and the HD is received OTA and transcoded. The only exception I am aware of is one TV station that was waiting to get their DTV transmitter built and licensed, and built a digital link to the cable HE so they could at least get their HD signal in front of cable subscribers.

Hi, I just started recording TV shows off my 6412 yesterday and mostly everything works great. Most shows look perfect but I've ran into a few shows that simply look really bad when recorded. There's lots of artifacts in the video (I tried to take a screen capture but printscreen won't do the trick on video). I then try to re-record the video but run into the same problem.

I'm using the latest version of CapDVHS. Does anyone have any suggestions? The TV show looks fine while it's playing on the TV, only after it's been captured does it look artifacted. Is there an alternative program to use? Some different settings to try? Thanks in advance.

HELP! I Have installed the drivers for the STB firewire config. I was wondering if there was a way to watch Live TV over the firewire port using the windows MCE software?! If so, how?!

Thanks.

NO

Hi, I just started recording TV shows off my 6412 yesterday and mostly everything works great. Most shows look perfect but I've ran into a few shows that simply look really bad when recorded. There's lots of artifacts in the video (I tried to take a screen capture but printscreen won't do the trick on video). I then try to re-record the video but run into the same problem.

I'm using the latest version of CapDVHS. Does anyone have any suggestions? The TV show looks fine while it's playing on the TV, only after it's been captured does it look artifacted. Is there an alternative program to use? Some different settings to try? Thanks in advance.


You could try VLC media player to see how it looks as it is playing. I have not figured out how to watch while I record with it yet.

The CCI flag is set in the MPEG2 encoding process, and really has nothing to do with either 8VSB or QAM. .

Thanks for the info, but I'm still a bit bothered by this. Recently the FCC issued a rule mandating a "broadcast flag"

http://www.eff.org/IP/broadcastflag/20031104_fcc_order.pdf#search=%22broadcast%20flag%22

The rule was then over turned by the court saying the FCC exceeded its authority. The congress is now poised to pass legislation to give the FCC that authority.

Reading from that rule, the FCC says

"The ATSC flag itself represents a series of bits,several of which define the descriptor tag and length with others reserved for “optional additional redistribution control information that may be defined in the future. The BPDG Final Report anticipates that demodulators in DTV broadcast reception equipment would recognize the presence of the ATSC flag and then signal the device to output the marked content to connectors associated with approved content protection or recording technologies. In order for a flag-based protection system to work, therefore, all demodulators used in DTV broadcast reception equipment would need to have the ability to recognize and give effect to the ATSC flag and a list of approved content protection and recording technologies would need to be developed.
.....
there is very little cost involved for a manufacturer to implement [flag recognition], assuming that existing technologies such as DTCP (5C) are accepted as approved BroadcastFlag protection technologies"

This makes it seem to me that they anticipate the flag as at the ATSC level at the OTA transmitter, not at the mpeg level, and that the CCI flag which is part of DTCP is implemented at the cable box (or maybe the headend) to reflect the intent of the ATSC flag.

You could try VLC media player to see how it looks as it is playing. I have not figured out how to watch while I record with it yet.
Do you mean watching the TV show in VLC player while it's recording? I've watched the completed transport stream in both Windows Media Player Classic and VLC Player and they both display artifacts, but I've never tried to view the stream while it's recording. Can that be done in VLC?

Hey Guys,

Just got some new Firewire Cables, I Am Interested in trying this with My DVR Box,

So,

What Drivers Whould I Need for the Motorola 6416 Rev II HD/DVR Dual Tuner to work with Windows XP SP2 IEEE

Also, Would Adobe Premiere 6.5 Or Virtual Dub Correctly Tune to The IEEE connection?, I Plan On also using the IEEE for my HDCam as well.

Thanks for the info, but I'm still a bit bothered by this. Recently the FCC issued a rule mandating a "broadcast flag"

(URL removed due to posting rules)

The rule was then over turned by the court saying the FCC exceeded its authority. The congress is now poised to pass legislation to give the FCC that authority.

Reading from that rule, the FCC says

"The ATSC flag itself represents a series of bits,several of which define the descriptor tag and length with others reserved for “optional additional redistribution control information that may be defined in the future. The BPDG Final Report anticipates that demodulators in DTV broadcast reception equipment would recognize the presence of the ATSC flag and then signal the device to output the marked content to connectors associated with approved content protection or recording technologies. In order for a flag-based protection system to work, therefore, all demodulators used in DTV broadcast reception equipment would need to have the ability to recognize and give effect to the ATSC flag and a list of approved content protection and recording technologies would need to be developed.
.....
there is very little cost involved for a manufacturer to implement [flag recognition], assuming that existing technologies such as DTCP (5C) are accepted as approved BroadcastFlag protection technologies"

This makes it seem to me that they anticipate the flag as at the ATSC level at the OTA transmitter, not at the mpeg level, and that the CCI flag which is part of DTCP is implemented at the cable box (or maybe the headend) to reflect the intent of the ATSC flag.

I understand what you are saying, but the broadcast flag and CCI (or DTCP) are different animals.

The Broadcast flag was designed to limit re-distribution, while the CCI flag was designed to limit copying. It sounds like we are just talking semantics here, but if the Broadcast flag were implemented, it would not limit the amount of copies that you made, it would limit their distribution outside of your "personal digital network environment".

This is from comments filed by the MPAA with the US Patent and Trademark Office:

It should be noted that the Broadcast Flag Solution is not a means of "copy protection." It is a technical means of preventing unauthorized redistribution of digital broadcast television content outside the personal digital network environment. As such, the Broadcast Flag Solution does not prevent or limit the number of physical copies being made within the home. It requires only that such copies be sufficiently secure so as to prevent such copies from being a source of unauthorized redistribution outside the home.

I suspect that in the absence of the ability to use the Broadcast flag, your local OTA broadcasters have decided to use the CCI flag instead. The Copy Once flag of CCI effectively does the same thing as the Broadcast flag in securing content from redistribution, but at a higher personal cost, as it also limits the amount of copies that can be made, or whether they can be made at all, due to the handshake needed to determine a legal node.

Rereading your post, I *think* we are saying the same thing regarding the intent of the CCI flag. I think we may still have a difference of opinion on who is actually implementing the flag. I would submit that if it was Comcast doing the insertion, why just on ABC and NBC, and why NOT on the premiums? It would seem to me that the premiums would be the ones they would really like to protect.

thank you bdraw for the informative post 3 years ago.

I am new here trying to decide which way to record OTA HD channels - 1. buy an HDTV tuner with 1394 output, and record in Windows Movie Maker in Windows XP. 2. Buy an ATSC PCI card and high end PC, record directly on disk. I have access to latest Windows Media Center and Vista software. Anyone did this before? please email me at gmail, my alias is hdtvtech. maybe we can share resources and ideas to make HD recording easier/better. thanks,

shunyc,
if you are interested in Windows TV tuner based capture, you should really check out the HTPC computers section of AVS.
There are people discussing almost every single current(and past) solution.

Mine does the same thing when I record. I have always thought that it may have something to do with the length of the firewire cable I am using (30+ feet).

A little trick I learned is that the FF/RW will work if you use VLC player to stream the content to your computer while you watch it on your TV. It is kind of a pain to have to do this everytime you watch something, but it gets the job done. Another thing I would do is to reboot the box myself... hold the box's power button down until its screen says "boot"... once it pulls back up, all of the controls should work fine (until the next time you capture something, that is) :) .


So does anyone have any ideas regarding the issues I am having?

If I use the outermost firewire port it works fine, but the inner one screws up my box. Use the other port and see if that fixes it.

I have an issue that has been reported by a few others, but I haven't seen a reply to any of them.

I appear to be recording; however, everything is blank in capdvhs (stuff that tells you about the stream you're copying). But the file size is growing just fine. I checked that 5C=0 (and it does).

This is not working on 2 different machines. same exact thing happens. The resultant output isn't viewable in anything.

Any advice?

Does it happen on all channels? Check the CCI flag. This has been recently discussed in this thread.

Does it happen on all channels? Check the CCI flag. This has been recently discussed in this thread.

That's it. A thread with nearly 100 pages, I guess it's easy to miss a page or two if you don't know exactly what to search for.

For other's that wind up at my post looking to find out why you can't record anything...here's the deal.

Cox (or maybe your cable subscriber) started using the CCI flag (mine is set to 0x02). To check yours on a motorola box, on the remote click cable | power off | Select | Select

Scroll to the d06 menu and click select...look at the flags at the bottom and find CCI. If it isn't 0 then you can't copy via firewire.

Well this makes the DVR that less attractive to me. Might be time to look at satelite and TIVO.

EDIT: Now that I swapped tuners not all the stations are showing up as CCI = 2, so I think I was looking at the wrong tuner. This may not be a cox issue, but a broadcast issue as dr1394 stated below.

I understand what you are saying, but the broadcast flag and CCI (or DTCP) are different animals.

The Broadcast flag was designed to limit re-distribution, while the CCI flag was designed to limit copying. It sounds like we are just talking semantics here, but if the Broadcast flag were implemented, it would not limit the amount of copies that you made, it would limit their distribution outside of your "personal digital network environment".

This is from comments filed by the MPAA with the US Patent and Trademark Office:

It should be noted that the Broadcast Flag Solution is not a means of "copy protection." It is a technical means of preventing unauthorized redistribution of digital broadcast television content outside the personal digital network environment. As such, the Broadcast Flag Solution does not prevent or limit the number of physical copies being made within the home. It requires only that such copies be sufficiently secure so as to prevent such copies from being a source of unauthorized redistribution outside the home.

I suspect that in the absence of the ability to use the Broadcast flag, your local OTA broadcasters have decided to use the CCI flag instead. The Copy Once flag of CCI effectively does the same thing as the Broadcast flag in securing content from redistribution, but at a higher personal cost, as it also limits the amount of copies that can be made, or whether they can be made at all, due to the handshake needed to determine a legal node.

Rereading your post, I *think* we are saying the same thing regarding the intent of the CCI flag. I think we may still have a difference of opinion on who is actually implementing the flag. I would submit that if it was Comcast doing the insertion, why just on ABC and NBC, and why NOT on the premiums? It would seem to me that the premiums would be the ones they would really like to protect.
DTCP/5C is (or was) an approved way of implementing the Broadcast Flag, so they are tied together. In DTCP, there is a special mode called EPN (Encryption Plus Non-assertion). In this mode, the stream is encrypted, but the CCI is set to "Copy-free". By encrypting the stream, redistribution (especially to PC's) is controlled. But with DTCP devices, copying is unlimited.

My guess is that what folks are seeing with the inability to record OTA stations is an implementation of the Broadcast Flag that was never turned off when the Broadcast Flag was repealed. Many OTA stations are still sending the Broadcast Flag in their bitstreams. The cable companies and STB's were ready for the Broadcast Flag, so the software exists (remember, it got repealed at the last second).

People complain when an OTA stations forgets to "flip the switch" to HD. In this case, the cable companies and OTA stations have forgot to "flip the switch" back to no Broadcast Flag and/or recognition of it.

Ron

New issue. How can I tell if a PPV has CCI set? I can't copy it off, but now can copy other stuff (after I switched the tuner via the remote's swap button).

That's it. A thread with nearly 100 pages, I guess it's easy to miss a page or two if you don't know exactly what to search for.

For other's that wind up at my post looking to find out why you can't record anything...here's the deal.

Cox (or maybe your cable subscriber) started using the CCI flag (mine is set to 0x02). To check yours on a motorola box, on the remote click cable | power off | Select | Select

Scroll to the d06 menu and click select...look at the flags at the bottom and find CCI. If it isn't 0 then you can't copy via firewire.

Well this makes the DVR that less attractive to me. Might be time to look at satelite and TIVO.

EDIT: Now that I swapped tuners not all the stations are showing up as CCI = 2, so I think I was looking at the wrong tuner. This may not be a cox issue, but a broadcast issue as dr1394 stated below.

I Run COX Hampton Roads (moto, DCT6416R3, and my CCI = 0x00, Even if they disable it, I Have Ways of Doing it other than Firewire, i just started using Firewire Because its more convienent (as evident from My post above),

I Have Ways of Doing it other than FirewireCan you elaborate? Does it involve connecting the box HD to a PC, or analog capture?

I've gotten my HTPC to change channels on my motorola DCT6412 via firewire. That works great. Anyone had any luck or tried to control their PVR functions via firewire? I've stumbled onto the "pause" and "record" ones , but nothing else. The codes listed in the "readme" file with the firestb file do not work.
Thanks.

Doc

I have read through almost the entire thread and have found an answer to almost every question I could possibly have. The knowledgable answers are astounding! I would like to thank everyone involved in the questioning and answering on this crazy 100 page thread!! My problem is in recieving certain stations and I think I know the answer to why. It all started when I found a beta program claiming to be able to control our local cable DVR box within Windows MCE 2005, at a recent expo and had tinkered with it but found little use due to the encryption. At the time I was unable to receive any video, but heard audio that was choppy on some stations. I was installing this system for a client and already had the IR blaster setup working flawlessly with the ALL IN ONE 8900RF remote so I completed the job as normal.

The program was titled MCE 2005 STB Controller and I havent been able to find the CD again but have had some free time recently and started working on the project at my home. I live in Maine where Adelphia was purchased by Time Warner Cable due to their legal problems. I wish I had been able to test these channels before the switch to know if the encryption was the same. I dont have a Digtal VHS recorder to try either. I am able to recieve all channels on the basic package (2-72) plus VOD including premium services (which is GREAT to record for a later date but cant be controlled within any of my HTPC frontends so as of now VOD is useless). When I try to view any digtal or movie station it fails. I get 2 HD stations (PBS, FSNHD). I have checked the 5C encryption and on one tuner it shows some channels locked and some not. On the other tuner is shows all unlocked (or set to =0). So I also checked the CCI which is set to =02. From what I have gathered thats the problem. No one is able to bypass the record once setting. I found a PDF by searching google with the search phrase "bypass cable CCI protection" - should be first link. That is incredibly in depth and even gets into the algorithms used to create the encryption. I am sure anyone that can understand that stuff has already seen or know that information. But incase no one has seen it maybe it will help lead to a solution.

I simply want to be able to create a media center that will play all cable broadcast stations in their native format. It just makes no sense to create an all in one system that cant access all the available media! I havent seen any legal problems that prevent use from acheiving this goal. So I guess my question is "Is this a dead issue with our current hardware options or is it a matter of someone creating a driver stack to handshake with the protection.

One thing that give me hope is that when I switch back to live TV from VOD while watching through VLC and PIP (to control the box) it shows about 5-10 seconds of the "encrypted" video. My guess is this means it shows the video until it checks the CCI protection again? Anyone know if that makes sense?

I also thank anyone who makes it through this post. I didnt intend for my first post to the forum to be this extensive. I also hope I can be a helpful tester for any future break throughs!

OK I have connected the firewire cable from my XP SP2 laptop to my DCT 6416 III dvr. However I'm not getting the recognized hardware that has been discussed in this board. It actually doesnt give me what it found, just that it found new hardware. It finds two things and when I go to the device manager the devices are labeled as "61883 Class Bus Device" and "Unknown Device."

I read somewhere that the new hardware is supposed to be found under imaging in device manager but as you see there is no "imaging" category in device manager. I am stumped as to how to go about this.

Basically from the above thread the computer is picking up new hardware but its not picking up an "AV/C Tuner" and "AV/C Panel." Whats the deal?

sorry if this sounds silly, but I didn't read all 100 pages and was curious if it's possible to capture via any other methods(sata, usb, etc.)?

sorry if this sounds silly, but I didn't read all 100 pages and was curious if it's possible to capture via any other methods(sata, usb, etc.)?

It depends on your box but it seems most of the Motorola ones with those jacks do not have them activated. So you can't "download" files via SATA, USB, or Ethernet.

I havent found an answer to capturing issues with SP2. Is there anyway to correct the problem where CapDVHS crashes when hitting record?

Guys!

Give it UP!

If you're using TWC in NYC running Passport O/S and using 3250HD or 8300HD DVR boxes, firewire is active BUT there is software that encrypts the programming so it will lock up when any attempt to record is made.

Stop wasting more time.

Since I have 3, yes three D-VHS recorders, I have been trying for months to make it work.

TWC and the FCC all know about it. It's not working and no one will help.

The only thing for us to hope for is some Blu-Ray or HD-DVD recorder that will work with the 8300HD DVRs.

GIVE IT UP!


Paul






I havent found an answer to capturing issues with SP2. Is there anyway to correct the problem where CapDVHS crashes when hitting record?

I can confirm that the latest firmware (build 68) for the 3250HD has made it impossible to capture via firewire to XP (or to DVHS for that matter). The potential problem is not encryption, but the 3250 attempting to send the full stream (2 or 3 HD stations) at once down the firewire cable.

Anyone tried this with the Vista RC1? Do the drivers work?

I have been able to use the Firestb drivers, along with VLC to tape and watch through firewire under Vista RC1+ x86.

On a long, 20GB+ file, my computer did crash and restart...I was not at the machine, so am not sure what the specific error was.

I have successfully record hdtv over firewire... however the recordings are so dark they are almost unwatchable. I have to turn the brightness WAY up on the TV to see anything, and then the picture is so watched out it's horrible.

Any suggestions?

I have successfully record hdtv over firewire... however the recordings are so dark they are almost unwatchable. I have to turn the brightness WAY up on the TV to see anything, and then the picture is so watched out it's horrible.

Any suggestions?

What OS are you running? which dvr? and what sofyware did you use to capture it?

Now that you have everything you need.
After unzipping firestb.msi run and if you are using MCE install the components you want. If you are running XP then at the very least install the "Firewire Drivers" component, you won't be able to double click on it, you will have to use a different command to skip the MCE required screen. Now you can just choose the driver.

MSIEXEC /i firestb.msi IDENT=0

Click continue anyway a the signed driver screen.

Plug in the 1394 cable.
Found new hardware wizard will come up.

Keep hitting cancel until you see "Tuner AV/C Device" or "Tuner AV/C Panel" as the hardware that was found. Install both like any other device.
Then Choose Install the software automatically (Recommended).
Click Next
Keep clicking Next.
Then click Finished.

Click cancel on any other devices that are automatically detected.
I would go back into Device manager and disable the other devices so windows doesn't keep looking for drivers on reboot.

Does anyone know how to extract the necessary driver when using XP? Like it says, you cannot simply click on it and I am unfamiliar with where to input the code that is listed. I'm really new to this, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

S

Start-Run

Start-Run

OK, I attempted that and got the following pop up message:

Windows Installer:

This installation package could not be opened. Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package.

Do I need to have saved the firestb.msi in a certain location? Thanks for the quick response.

S

Yes, either put it in the c:\windows directory, or open a command prompt (start-run, type "cmd" without the quotes) and navigate to the directory where the file resides (cd\"type your directory here") and then type the provided command.

Thanks so much! It worked fine after that. Any recommendations on what type of firewire cord to use?

You're welcome, and welcome to the forums :)

Any regular firewire (not 800) cable will do, as long as it's 6-pin on one end and 4 or 6, depending on your PC connection, on the other.

What OS are you running? which dvr? and what sofyware did you use to capture it?


Running MCE 2005, Motorola 6200 STB. I am capturing with CapDVHS.

Hi guys,

Thanks to the folks here at AVSForum, I felt confident in buying a Westinghouse LVM-42W2 LCD HDTV. Of course, getting an HDTV meant getting an HD cable box from Adelphia/Time Warner Cable in Buffalo, NY. I received the SA3250HD cable box. I have been tinkering with the FireSTB drivers and CapDVHS for quite a few days now and have just about given up on recording via firewire. I was hoping someone with a bit more experience could help me out.

For starters, I have tried the methods given by the original poster on two computers. The first is my laptop running WinXP SP2 with a built-in firewire controller. I used KB8552 firewire update. I was able to install the drivers just fine but I was not able to capture using CapDVHS. The second system is a desktop computer with a Rosewill R-501 firewire controller (firewire 100/200/400 I believe) running Windows MCE 2005 also with KB8552 update. I have spent a lot more time tinkering with the second system. Also the second system was a completely clean install solely for the purpose of using the computer as a DVR.

Here are my problems. Initially, I received the "cannot connect samplegrabber" problem. After a clean reboot, I would be able to hit record once without the samplegrabber issue but CapDVHS would crash immediately. After tinkering with the drivers by uninstalling and reinstalling and alternating with the meistb drivers, I was able to eliminate the samplegrabber issue but received a "cannot start capture" error. Some more tinkering with the drivers and many many reboots has changed the problem. I am now able to hit record and the timer ticks on the bottom of CapDVHS. However, the info tab shows absolutely nothing and the resulting file size is 0 kb.

Even if no one can help me out, if you could please answer some questions, it could point me in the right direction.

1) I can use channel to change the channels on the SA3250HD from the computer. Also, checking the turn on/turn off on record options in CapDVHS will correspondingly turn on and off the cable box. I assume this means that there is full firewire functionality. Is it possible that no video can be streamed over firewire even though the on/off and channel commands seem to work?

2) From some other threads, a lot of people made mention of using tuner cards and MyTray. I have not had a tuner card since my old Hauppauge WinTV (58xxx series) from 1998. I put that in the computer but MCE still does not let me set up the TV settings. The Tuner lines in MyTray are greyed out. Is a tuner card of some sort required to capture video from the cable box? From the comments in this thread, I was under the impression that the data stream was sent along the firewire connection. Am I wrong?

3) Are there any other Adelphia/Time Warner Cable customers in the western NY area who have managed to successfully record video over firewire on the SA3250HD? Either way, could you please let me know so that I would know if my efforts are in vain.

Sorry for all the novice questions but this is my first foray into the world of digital video recording. Thank you very much in advance!

I am now able to hit record and the timer ticks on the bottom of CapDVHS. However, the info tab shows absolutely nothing and the resulting file size is 0 kb.
Go into your STB's diagnostic screen (on my SA4200HD it's hold the center nav button then press the info button from the STB front pannel- I don't know the sequence for the 3250 but it may be the same). On one of the many screens, you should see something like "CCI=copy freely" or "CCI=copy once". If it's the latter, you can't capture the stream with a firewire card. With a computer and firewire the only content you can grab is CCI=copy freely.
You can leave your STB on the diagnostic screen and change channels to see the CCI attributes for each HD channel.

The device mamnager shows a yellow icon near the A/C tuner. I tired to load the 6412 driver and will not work. Where do I get the driver for the 3412?

AFAIK, the driver 6412 driver should be compatible, although you may have trouble with some firmware versions of the 3412. Try following these instructions (http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/#Setting_up_for_drivers_for_DCT6412).

i have been in contact with the PR rep at TWCNYC to find out what they are doing about the firewire/5c issue.

they release a firmware update last week, and, apparently, another one today.

i was able to (briefly) record channel 5, to my firewire, but no HD, yet.

will keep you updated.

CJ

Guys!

Give it UP!

If you're using TWC in NYC running Passport O/S and using 3250HD or 8300HD DVR boxes, firewire is active BUT there is software that encrypts the programming so it will lock up when any attempt to record is made.

Stop wasting more time.

Since I have 3, yes three D-VHS recorders, I have been trying for months to make it work.

TWC and the FCC all know about it. It's not working and no one will help.

The only thing for us to hope for is some Blu-Ray or HD-DVD recorder that will work with the 8300HD DVRs.

GIVE IT UP!


Paul

Go into your STB's diagnostic screen (on my SA4200HD it's hold the center nav button then press the info button from the STB front pannel- I don't know the sequence for the 3250 but it may be the same). On one of the many screens, you should see something like "CCI=copy freely" or "CCI=copy once". If it's the latter, you can't capture the stream with a firewire card. With a computer and firewire the only content you can grab is CCI=copy freely.
You can leave your STB on the diagnostic screen and change channels to see the CCI attributes for each HD channel.

I checked the diagnostics menu and you are correct. CCI is set to once for all channels it seems. My next question is if I had a DVHS recorder, would I still be prevented from recording from the STB? Thanks.

I checked the diagnostics menu and you are correct. CCI is set to once for all channels it seems. My next question is if I had a DVHS recorder, would I still be prevented from recording from the STB? Thanks.


TWCNYC responded to me (12 months ago) that they only support firewire output to a valid device. i assume DVHS device.

but i dont know how they would allow that.

c

i have been in contact with the PR rep at TWCNYC to find out what they are doing about the firewire/5c issue.

they release a firmware update last week, and, apparently, another one today.

i was able to (briefly) record channel 5, to my firewire, but no HD, yet.

will keep you updated.

CJ

Does the firewire record method work only for HD channels or any digital channels? I managed to record a little bit of PBSHD using a method posted on the SageTV forums using graphedit, but the quality was not very good.

I'm unable uninstall the drivers that firestb.msi slammed into my system. It's almost like a virus. It does not show up in my device manager any longer. Not under hidden devices and not under any other devices. I've unistalled the card and unhooked the cable, all the while rebooting my PC. Still those devices seem like they are gone forever. Does anyone know what inf file this thing writes to the computer. This is an absolute nightmare. :mad: :(

Thanks.
Rudy

At a command prompt, type:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
then launch device manager with:
devmgmt.msc

You should be able to see all installed devices then.

At a command prompt, type:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
then launch device manager with:
devmgmt.msc

You should be able to see all installed devices then.

Hi Epsilon.

Awesome post. After I repeated your two steps I had to check View -> Show Hidden Devices to see them. And I uninstalled them. However now they simply don't show up as new hardware. My AV/C device is gone completely. Any other ideas?

Thanks.
Rudy

i have been in contact with the PR rep at TWCNYC to find out what they are doing about the firewire/5c issue.

they release a firmware update last week, and, apparently, another one today.

i was able to (briefly) record channel 5, to my firewire, but no HD, yet.

will keep you updated.

CJ

I was able to a while back as well. It's never worked on an HD channel though. :(

I absolutely HATE TWC.