I have been successfully using the SA4200HD I got from cablevision to record all of my favorite HD programming for over a year now. That is, until this morning. When I attempt to record any digital programming (HD or otherwise) the CAPDVHS application crashes. Sometimes it crashes after a few seconds, other times it crashes after a minute or 2.

This problem is not unique to my situation (in Metuchen, NJ) either, my father who lives 2 towns over (Piscataway, NJ) has the same exact problem. In fact, he told me about it this morning.

I am using the core drivers, and the SA4200 is installed as a PANASONIC DVHS AV/C Device. I am using CAPDVHS v3.0.6

If you have the same setup, please try it on your's and let me know the results.

Please try HBOHD in particular, that one bombs right away.

Thanks,

bump? C'mon... no one is using this anymore?

spelosi,

The firmware on your box must have got upgraded. I am having the same exact issue as you using a SA8300HD box. Were you able to find anything out?

Thanks,

Frank

spelosi,

The firmware on your box must have got upgraded. I am having the same exact issue as you using a SA8300HD box. Were you able to find anything out?

Thanks,

Frank


Frank,

I have no new information on this. I wonder why they would do this ...

I wonder if a regular DVHS recorder would work.

I am having the same problem in NJ with CAPDVHS. Firewire is still active as I can view live video through by JVC DVHS deck. Recording is flakey, though. It has been so long since I used my DVHS deck so I can't tell if it is a firewire problem or if I need to clean the heads. The playback I get is very pixelated.

This stinks. I was going to record 3 episodes of 6 feet under tomorrow night.

I'll have to search for the way to get into the diagnostic screen and see if the broadcast flag has finally been turned on. The strange thing is that CAPDVHS crashes on all channels (locals, PBS, etc.)

Edit: I tried a new tape this morning and DVHS recording does seem to work. At least with the 5 minute test that I did.

I am having the same problem in NJ with CAPDVHS. Firewire is still active as I can view live video through by JVC DVHS deck. Recording is flakey, though. It has been so long since I used my DVHS deck so I can't tell if it is a firewire problem or if I need to clean the heads. The playback I get is very pixelated.

This stinks. I was going to record 3 episodes of 6 feet under tomorrow night.

I'll have to search for the way to get into the diagnostic screen and see if the broadcast flag has finally been turned on. The strange thing is that CAPDVHS crashes on all channels (locals, PBS, etc.)

Edit: I tried a new tape this morning and DVHS recording does seem to work. At least with the 5 minute test that I did.

John,

Thanks for the update. Did you do any more testing with your DVHS? specifically on HBO and premium channels? I am contemplating purchasing one today.

Thanks,

I got into the diagnostic screens by holding the button in the middle of the arrows on the cable box, then when the green light on the left flashed green, I pressed "info".

On page 23 I can see the information below. I am thinking "disabled" means the port is disabled, because otherwise it would just say "none" like the others.

Copy Protection

outputs Protection Type Enabled Constrained
DVI/HDMI: none no no
YPrPb: none no no
1394: disabled disabled
Composite: none

Jonnyb,

I just picked up my 4200HD on Friday, so this is very new to me. I've been playing aroung with it without much success. I don't know if I should be happy it worked once, or isn't working now.

I've been trying different drivers from different sources, but haven't had much luck. Now I know why.

One thing I know for sure, it must work because I'm having no issues recording a video with the old mac I own, SD and HD. I didn't try Starz, HBO or InHD on my mac yet.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Jonnyb,

I just picked up my 4200HD on Friday, so this is very new to me. I've been playing aroung with it without much success. I don't know if I should be happy it worked once, or isn't working now.

I've been trying different drivers from different sources, but haven't had much luck. Now I know why.

One thing I know for sure, it must work because I'm having no issues recording a video with the old mac I own, SD and HD. I didn't try Starz, HBO or InHD on my mac yet.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Handydave,

The most I can record StarzHD is about 2 minutes. If I stop the recording before then, it will play back. If I let it go and CAPDVHS crashes, the file can't be played. I have a feeling that calling in to complain about this would be next to useless.

I'll try playing around with some of the SD channels as well.

I don't think Cablevision will care about this lack of ability.

Outside of CapDVHS, I've been using VLC just to make sure I can get a stream. Even though the picture is better with VLC 0.8.2, I still get hickups on the lower 02-15 and the HD is pixelated. I noticed that with ESPN, they aren't broadcasting a digital audio and the picture is perfect. I am not able to get anything to come up on INHD, Fox Sports,MSG, HBO, STARZ and Universal HD. The broadcast flag must be preventing them.

I had to use the lastest drivers found here:

http://www.thegreenbutton.com/community/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=26&MessageID=104152


I'm going to bump up my processor from a 2Ghz 400FSB to a 3Ghz 800FSB. Hopefully that will make for a better picture, but won't solve the record issue. Unless these new driver need a faster machine and will let CapDVHS record in HD.

I emailed a VP at cablevision, and he said he is looking into it and will get back to me.

I asked him if this was a problem with 5C being turned on, or if there was a bug in the new firmware.

I'll keep you posted.

I tried bumping the processor, but that didn't help.

I was able to record 2 hours of HBOHD programming last night using DTCrecord. Everything came out perfect. CapDVHS still doesn't work, but it looks like DTCRecord is. I am running another test this afternoon (spiderman 2). I'll let youknow how it goes.

Spiderman 2 recorded, and did not crash. There were some minor sound glitches and minor pixelation at times as well.

What drivers did you use?

What drivers did you use?

Dave,

I am using the core drivers (Panasonic DVHS).

I tried it again and I'm having much better success then I've had in the past. I'm using the same driver your using, the one found in the AVS thread, Windows XP SP2 and the SP2 Firewire update. VLC 0.8.2 is able to play back the lower SD channels throught the firewire, and I'm not getting as much pixelation on the HD channels, but it's still there. I should also say that I was never able to view HBO, Starz, or Universal through VLC, but I was able to today.

I didn't try DTCRecord, but did use CapDVHS to record 2 minutes of HBO without any major issues. It wasn't much of a test, so I'll need to do more, but it's more than I've ever gotten in the past.

Does anyone know if there was a firmware upgrade to the 4200HD recently that may have fixed some of the issues?

Thanks for the help

I tried it again and I'm having much better success then I've had in the past. I'm using the same driver your using, the one found in the AVS thread, Windows XP SP2 and the SP2 Firewire update. VLC 0.8.2 is able to play back the lower SD channels throught the firewire, and I'm not getting as much pixelation on the HD channels, but it's still there. I should also say that I was never able to view HBO, Starz, or Universal through VLC, but I was able to today.

I didn't try DTCRecord, but did use CapDVHS to record 2 minutes of HBO without any major issues. It wasn't much of a test, so I'll need to do more, but it's more than I've ever gotten in the past.

Does anyone know if there was a firmware upgrade to the 4200HD recently that may have fixed some of the issues?

Thanks for the help

capDVHS still does not work for me.

CAPDVHS still crashes for me as well. I'll try dtcrecord. Is that command-line only?

CAPDVHS is crashing again. Must have been a fluke. When I use dtcrecord, I get a lot of pixelation on the HD channels. Same thing with VLC.

Anyone overcome this?

CAPDVHS is crashing again. Must have been a fluke. When I use dtcrecord, I get a lot of pixelation on the HD channels. Same thing with VLC.

Anyone overcome this?

I don't think we are going to overcome this without another firmware update. I am getting a (working) DVHS to deal with this.

I just realized that I too am having a problem recording from SA4200HD using CapDVHS.

Any updates?

INHD on channel 701 gives you 3 minutes of recording time before shutting down CapDVHS.

Any updates?

INHD on channel 701 gives you 3 minutes of recording time before shutting down CapDVHS.

Any updates?

No, no updates. DTCrecord seems to work ok.

I purchased a DVHS vcr and it's working very well.

No, no updates. DTCrecord seems to work ok.

I purchased a DVHS vcr and it's working very well.


are you able to record all HDTV channels using DTCrecord?

If so, how?

are you able to record all HDTV channels using DTCrecord?

If so, how?

Yes, but there is some slight pixelation in some areas of the recording.

Please define what you mean by "how".

It's a pretty straight forward application.

Thanks for your interest.

I tried DTCRecord but cant get a clean recording. I can hear the audio clearly, but have no video except for an occasional "green" pixelated image.

What settings do you have for your DTCRecord?

Thanks for your interest.

I tried DTCRecord but cant get a clean recording. I can hear the audio clearly, but have no video except for an occasional "green" pixelated image.

What settings do you have for your DTCRecord?

What settings are you referring to? I believe you just start it up, enter the time, and file name and press record.

anyword on if this will be fixed. CapDvhs crashes When I use dtcrecord, I get a lot of pixelation on the HD channels. Same thing with VLC. seems like this was on purpose.

anyword on if this will be fixed. CapDvhs crashes When I use dtcrecord, I get a lot of pixelation on the HD channels. Same thing with VLC. seems like this was on purpose.

I am not sure it will ever get fixed. The DVHS decks work, so I can't see how they would have much incentive to fix it.

I think cablevision updated the boxes again last night. Mine rebooted around 4:30 AM today. I haven't checked to see if this fixed anything yet, but I will give it a look later.

no chance. Cablevision s......

Anything change?

Just got mine all set up.. very pixelated and blocky on the Live TV using VLC... I wonder if we can all email cablevision or something and tell them that we need to use firewire for our TV!!

Just wanted to see if anyone has come up with a solution to this problem of recording HD to a PC on Cablevision. My system was working great up until August. Is anyone successful recording with capdvs or MCE with timmore's drivers? Thanks.

sorry to bump an old thread, but it's the only one i've been able to find here that deals directly with recording cablevision's signal from sa4200hd.

has there been any process made since the last group of posts. any updates? does recording via firewire from 4200hd work now, or should i give up before i even begin?

thanks.

Unfortunately, I think this is a nationwide problem. I can't do any firewire recording at all. I've tried the MCE workaround, capvhs, everything. I think we're out of luck until someone comes out with a component video capture card.

Unfortunately, I think this is a nationwide problem. I can't do any firewire recording at all. I've tried the MCE workaround, capvhs, everything. I think we're out of luck until someone comes out with a component video capture card.
Even then you'll get degraded quality on HD content since it's not the bit for bit copy of the original programming. What you need is for your firewire ports to be correctly implemented and/or made PC compatible.

You can record with firewire and the 4200HD box.

The problem is most of the channels have 5c enabled and only like 2 or 3 will record crystal clear.

Don't use CapDvhs to capture, use VLC instead.

I have a similar problem. I have a 4200HD and certain channels work perfectly (NBC 4) However, when i tried recording the same program in HD i got ALOT of picture stuttering and pixelation. This sounds like processor and system issue rite? I have an AMD 3000+ with 1 gig of ram on xp professional sp2. I changed the priority to high (VLC because capdhs completely shuts off my system) and i get the same problem. Any ideas?

I got into the diagnostic screens by holding the button in the middle of the arrows on the cable box, then when the green light on the left flashed green, I pressed "info".

On page 23 I can see the information below. I am thinking "disabled" means the port is disabled, because otherwise it would just say "none" like the others.

Copy Protection

outputs Protection Type Enabled Constrained
DVI/HDMI: none no no
YPrPb: none no no
1394: disabled disabled
Composite: none

What did you do if anything to have the 1394 enabled. How did you start using it again. I have a 4250HD and If I look at the diagnostics screen mine says the same thing disabled.

I posted this over on dslreports as well...

It looks like I can record channels 2-13 without any issues. Any other channel and CapDVHS blows up. I can watch the live streams with VLC, but anything other than 2-13 is almost unwatchable with the digital noise and dropouts. Guess everything above 13 is 5C protected?

EDIT: Looks like all is working fine using VLC to capture instead of CapDVHS.

I have a similar problem. I have a 4200HD and certain channels work perfectly (NBC 4) However, when i tried recording the same program in HD i got ALOT of picture stuttering and pixelation. This sounds like processor and system issue rite? I have an AMD 3000+ with 1 gig of ram on xp professional sp2. I changed the priority to high (VLC because capdhs completely shuts off my system) and i get the same problem. Any ideas?


Not your processor. I have the same rig, and never had a problem until software upgrades on Time warner SA3250 boxes. Can no longer record digital OTA SD or HD. Nothing on CapDVHS, very pixilated on VLC. THIS SUCKS!!!!!! I filed complaint with FCC, and waiting for a reply

What you need is for your firewire ports to be correctly implemented and/or made PC compatible.

THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!