I am looking to use my Mac as a DVR replacement. Right now I subscribe two boxes to TWC NYC and have DVR capability in two rooms. I cannot watch a show recorded on box #1 in room #2, and TV #3 and TV #4 cannot watch anything. Mac seems like great tool to network and centralize. Even thought of using Mac Minis with Flip4Mac product to network my DVD collection.

issue I am stuck on is how to record my digital cable. I purchased the Miglia TVMini HD and can record the local networks in HD, but that is all. I cannot even pick up all of the clear QAM available for reasons I dont understand (like TBS). But my real goal is to get a cablecard compatible product. Does one exist? Slingbox Pro will send content to my network, but I dont think it can be recorded. Any ideas?

If you already have a cable box that has a firewire port, you could connect it to your mac and use some kind of software (I don't remember the name) to record the digital video into your mac. TBS may not work on Miglia because it might be encrypted by your cable company. Miglia and other QAM computer tuners only support clear QAM.

But my real goal is to get a cablecard compatible product. Does one exist?

Yes, but only on Windows. Never on the Mac.

One way is explained in the colossal "How-To: MacOS X Firewire HDTV recording" thread, that's what bommai was hinting at, something called VirtualDVHS and the FirewireSDK. You may or may not have an active firewire port on your TW DVRs or find this method feasible. I had the active port, but didn't find the method feasible. (I only use it to record Battlestar Galactica off Universal HD.) I got two EyeTV500s for most stuff instead.

I think most Mac users choose this route, with an EyeTV or something like the Miglia that you purchased, and it's because of the interface and the software. In high def, you will usually only be able to record the main national networks, so ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS and maybe the CW--that's because most cable companies pass these along in the clear. None of these devices can record other "digital" tier channels unless the cableco is lazy or stupid, and they allow them to pass in the clear. Most have closed this door, but going back a year or two in some markets you could record things like ESPN-HD, TNT-HD or DiscoveryHD. I was able to for 2 years with an EyeTV500.

A few of these devices can record the analog cable channels, though--so you can easily record the analog version of TBS if you wanted to. It'll look like crap on an HDTV, but you could record it. You'd need to swap your Miglia for the newer TVMini HD+ for that capability, or just get a second tuner. You'll need two tuners anyway in order to record two shows on at the same time.

Whether you want to pursue this, will largely depend on what you watch. But once something is recorded by EyeTV you can do whatever you want with the file, edit out commercials, move it around, store it wherever you want, transcode or re-encode it to another format, burn it to a dvd, stick it into iTunes, stream it, whatever. The efficacy of all this will depend on how you set your home network up, which Macs or devices you have at your various displays, whether you go wireless, gigabit, etc. And THAT is largely the reason why this forum exists.

If you already have a cable box that has a firewire port, you could connect it to your mac and use some kind of software (I don't remember the name) to record the digital video into your mac. TBS may not work on Miglia because it might be encrypted by your cable company. Miglia and other QAM computer tuners only support clear QAM.

TBS is not encrypted by my cable company. It is on an odd channel number (freq 777000, program #450). The stations that work have lower program # (like 1,2,3,etc). Any thoughts on this?

The analog version isn't encrypted, but how do you know this supposed digital version isn't encrypted? Are you tuning 777 MHz in with another QAM tuner?

The analog version isn't encrypted, but how do you know this supposed digital version isn't encrypted? Are you tuning 777 MHz in with another QAM tuner?

Tuning in on my cable STB and going to the diagnostic page - it indicates the frequencies and whether a channel is clear or not. Also confirming by tuning on a Sony TV tuner (QAM, no cable card)

Tuning in on my cable STB and going to the diagnostic page - it indicates the frequencies and whether a channel is clear or not. Also confirming by tuning on a Sony TV tuner (QAM, no cable card)

Well, the same thing for me with other digital channels. I can record off firewire (in the clear), but, I can't see them on my Mac with QAM tuner (need cable card?).
Only the local HDs and some other digital channels--different for everyone--can be seen through clear-QAM, so unless you see it on a scan from your Mac, you'll have to go the firewire route.

Right, the trick of using the STB to get the right frequency is one thing, but are you telling me that the QAM tuner within your TV picks that 777 MHz channel 450 version up in a scan and displays the channel? With just the coax cable connected to the set, i.e. not through the STB/DVR?

If so, the only other thing I can think of is the QAM tuner range within the Miglia doesn't go up that high--its highest frequency is lower than where that channel is. (I have a couple of other QAM tuners as well, in addition to my EyeTV500s, and I've never come across a channel that showed up "in the clear" on one, and not the other two. I also, though, have never seen a channel on 777 MHz...)

Do you know if Comcast in your area has switched over to ADS?

Well, the same thing for me with other digital channels. I can record off firewire (in the clear), but, I can't see them on my Mac with QAM tuner

Me, too--firewire out from the STB to a DVHS deck or Mac via VirtualDVHS is different from clear QAM.

you telling me that the QAM tuner within your TV picks that 777 MHz channel 450 version up in a scan and displays the channel? With just the coax cable connected to the set, i.e. not through the STB/DVR?

If so, the only other thing I can think of is the QAM tuner range within the Miglia doesn't go up that high--its highest frequency is lower than where that channel is.

Do you know if Comcast in your area has switched over to ADS?

I think you hit the nail on the head. For Miglia, the 777 MHz does not seem to be the problem but the channel (or "program" in TWC diag speak) does not seem to work with high numbers like 450. Perhaps TWC is using some other method to cram programs onto one channel than Miglia can pick up - only SD by the way.

As for my TV tuner, this channel, and many others not available on the Miglia, come in fine with just the Coax connected to the Sony using QAM.

We don't have Comcast so I cant comment (Manhattan).

I would think twice about using the mac minis. I've got one running an Elgato Hybrid but it chokes on the hd programming. Even sometimes chokes on the standard digital signals, but really evident on the hd.

I would think twice about using the mac minis. I've got one running an Elgato Hybrid but it chokes on the hd programming. Even sometimes chokes on the standard digital signals, but really evident on the hd.

I have been using a G4 500 mhz Powerbook to record HD material. Recently upgraded to a MacBook 2.0 ghz Core Duo that so far has recorded HD material flawlessly and can also play it back. Watched an episode of Star Trek Enterprise and only recall one glitch during playback that was equivalent to a DVD hanging up btw chapters.

Brett