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How to record via IEEE 1394 (Firewire) to Windows XP

3M views 6K replies 1K participants last post by  m. zillch 
#1 ·
First let me thank Timecop for discovering this process. He started a
thread a long time ago that became just too long and confusing so hopefully this will help.


This method should work for most 1394/Firewire enabled tuners. It has been tested on the Mitsubishi Integrated TV's, SA3250HD, Motorola 620X (with firmware 7.10 or higher), and the Samsung T165. *Please list your tests and I will update* This method will not allow you to capture 5C encrypted content, *see below for details* This method captures the original Transport stream sent by your provider, so if it is sent with DD 5.1 then you will capture DD5.1. This method only works with Digital channels, analogue cable channels will not work.


This method does not allow you to transfer shows already recorded on your HD DVR
only live TV.


You will need some drivers. Follow the link and Download firestb.msi.

If the link is bad, PM me and I'll fix it.

First device drivers. There are more MCE specific items included in the package, if you are using using XP then you only need the driver. You may also want to play with the channel changing software, which works on both XP and MCE. There is now a beta Vista Driver as well.
http://home.comcast.net/~timmmoore/w...0Firewire.html


For drivers only, there is a driver package that is continually updated to support new STBs, and there are some differences in how the drivers are loaded. If you have issues install the firestb drivers, it can be used with firestb instead of the drivers included with its installer.
http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/stbfirewire/


There are a few pieces of software that I know of that can capture using these drivers, Capdvhs, DCTrecord and MCE using the included software.
http://www.yamabe.org/soft/CapDVHS0306e.zip
http://home.comcast.net/~brzez2/dctrecord.html


Now that you have everything you need.

Install firestb.msi, 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.

Code:
Code:
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.


Now open CAPDVHS and a device should be listed under capture device.


Under settings I have the following boxes checked.

Convert 188 bytes

Check PTS

Delete to SyncByte


I use .ts for all my file extensions and I left the file name format to the default.


Select the "Data Info." tab and hit the "Rec" Button.

You should see the info populated.

Hit stop and check your file.
Elecard works well for playback or Sasem OnAir Editor or VLC

or http://theatertek.com/

To play with zoomplayer check this thread.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=395039


**Now you change the channel via 1394 and use with MCE see the readme for complete directions.
http://www.thegreenbutton.com/commun...ssageID=104152

**Attention this is a recording thread. For playback issues please check out the home theater PC forum . **
For conversion help check out this guide.
http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/index.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.


**Added 5/26/04 **

To watch live HD without capturing first.

Open VLC v7.2 *might work with other versions.

Choose "File" > "Open Capture Device"


To the right of "Video device name" click "Refresh List" Then choose "Panasonic MPEG2TS Tape Sub" from the drop down.

Click "OK"


Just a word of advice if I hit "Configure" or "Advanced Options" It blue screens my computer.

This seems to be much more resource intensive than watching a captured file. My AMD 2600 works at ~83% if I don't resize or any other effect. Any effect drives it to 100%.


You can also setup a shortcut to run VLC with the parms for picking up the stream automatically.


Target:


"C:\\Program Files\\VideoLAN\\VLC\\vlc.exe" "dshow:// :dshow-vdev="Panasonic MPEG2TS Tape Subunit Device" :dshow-adev="" :dshow-size="" :no-dshow-config "


Start In:


"C:\\Program Files\\VideoLAN\\VLC"

*Thanks to E Jackson*


Troubleshooting


If you can't load the driver, go over the directions again and again, make sure you don't miss any steps. It does require you to force XP to accept the drivers.


If the driver is loaded but the files are 0bytes after recording. Then you may have the driver loaded improperly or your cable company may have copy protection(5C) enabled. Try a different channel or search the original thread for someone who lives near you to see if they are having the same problem. You may also be able to reboot the Tuner. It is impossible to record content marked copy once, because it is protected from multiple copies. Typically if your provider is encrypting, than the only channels you would be able to record are the channels that are also available over the air.


**Added 2/6/06**

Changed drivers to the above. Added channel chaning support.


**Added 3/18/05**

If you have XP SP2 and you can't get it to work see this post.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...13#post5315313


**Added 2/22/05**

If you have a Motorola 620x Check this post to see if that channel is 5C protected. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...86#post3855086


If you have a SA DVR with Passport
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...80#post4617480


If you have a SA DVR with SARA
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...67#post4613067


You may also have the wrong firmware version for the Motorola 620x, to check this.

To check firmware on Moto 6200:

Menu- Setup- Cable Box- See Configuration- one of the entries on that page is Firmware. * Thanks drbenson*


If you are using a Motorola 620X with an older firmware you may need to replace your Meitape.inf from the zip file with this one. Try the original one first.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~balaz...es/Meitape.inf


**Updated link to firestb.zip** 7/12/07


This is V.04 of this document please post corrections and suggestions.
 
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#5,052 ·
but even the MS formats are still MPEG2. FYI.
 
#5,054 ·
hey guys, im having trouble getting videos off of my new Pace DVR. i used to have a motorola box and a winxp machine, and it worked flawlessly. now i have a pace box and a vista 32bit laptop.


i used the drivers on ExDues's page instead of the other drivers. everything seemed to install correctly, except the Pace Micro Technology TDC778X AV/C Panel. the inculded driver did not install for this. i dont know if this is my problem or not.


my problem is with capdvhs, i have all the settings correct, disabled UAC in vista, ran as administrator, changed the capture folder to a User folder to avoid vistas security problems. i keep getting an error or the program just crashes. when i get the error, nothing shows up in the data fields. if the program crashes however, i will see theh data fields full for a second, and the resulting file is about 400kb.


i have tried vlc, and am able to playback the video, but it is really jerky and stuttering. i blame this on directshow, as i have never had any good luck with it. i am also able to capture using vlc, but again it is too jerky to watch.


EDIT: i can record SD programs with capdvhs...well kind of. sometimes it will record for a minute, sometimes longer before it crashes. but the end result is it still crashes. and hd video is still out of the question. so it seems to me there is a problem with capdvhs on my vista basic machine. i have tried to find a different version but have been unable to



any help here? thanks
 
#5,055 ·
I was thinking of getting an HTPC and one of its purposes would be to record from either a Comcast Motorola HD STB or HD DVR via Firewire. I do not subscribe to any premium movie channels. I had presumed that since I pay for Discovery HD for example, that I would be able to record it. That since it's unscrambled from the HDMI output that it would be unscrambled from the Firewire output. But after reading through some of the postings here I now have some doubts.


Bottom line is that while I may be able to record from Firewire, there is no guarantee. Is that correct?
 
#5,056 ·
To me it sounds like the driver isn't producing a good stream from the device. It's not direct-show's fault it, the filter node the firestb driver produces that's failing for your device.


If you ask again in a few weeks I'll probably have my streaming driver done using the windows avcstrm which might work better for you than the meistb driver.
 
#5,057 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike99 /forum/post/16559505


I was thinking of getting an HTPC and one of its purposes would be to record from either a Comcast Motorola HD STB or HD DVR via Firewire. I do not subscribe to any premium movie channels. I had presumed that since I pay for Discovery HD for example, that I would be able to record it. That since it's unscrambled from the HDMI output that it would be unscrambled from the Firewire output. But after reading through some of the postings here I now have some doubts.


Bottom line is that while I may be able to record from Firewire, there is no guarantee. Is that correct?

This is true. Different cable companies scramble different sets of channels. I can't capture SpeedHD off firewire, but many of the other channels work fine.
 
#5,058 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by sitlet /forum/post/16559199


EDIT: i can record SD programs with capdvhs...well kind of. sometimes it will record for a minute, sometimes longer before it crashes. but the end result is it still crashes.

You could try using GrafCorder or even just GraphEdit with a dump file filter. Since the stream is just dumped to a file, even if there are errors in it, they won't crash the recording. If needed, use videoredo's quickstream fix to clean up the recording...
 
#5,059 ·
yeah ive been trying that the past few days. doesnt crash anymore, but the resulting recordings are out of sync and pixelated every few seconds, just like what happens when i record with vlc. maybe my box is messed u? has anyone else gotten luck from a pace 778? i know the channels arent encrypted.
 
#5,063 ·
Motorola DCT-3412, Vista, VLC 1rc3 - always get choppy audio for HD content when viewing live. non-HD content with stereo audio plays fine. Changed VLC Audio output to SPDIF, stereo and 5.1 for HD content and both play equally bad.


Same when recorded using capdvhs plays fine.


Anyone has gotten vlc live view to work properly without any audio problems with HD content using Motorola DCT-3412 ?
 
#5,064 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by kuntaldaftary /forum/post/16652575


Motorola DCT-3412, Vista, VLC 1rc3 - always get choppy audio for HD content when viewing live. non-HD content with stereo audio plays fine. Changed VLC Audio output to SPDIF, stereo and 5.1 for HD content and both play equally bad.


Same when recorded using capdvhs plays fine.


Anyone has gotten vlc live view to work properly without any audio problems with HD content using Motorola DCT-3412 ?

Are you recording at the same time? I get those kind of problems with it while recording and viewing simultaneously. VLC recording never did work for me, so I went to CapDVHS exclusively.
 
#5,065 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwer /forum/post/16665015


Are you recording at the same time? I get those kind of problems with it while recording and viewing simultaneously. VLC recording never did work for me, so I went to CapDVHS exclusively.

Hi bwer, thanks for responding.


No, I am not recording at the same time, just viewing. Stereo audio seems to work fine with SD content and with 1080i content. 5.1 or SPDIF audio is choppy with 1080i. All audio (stereo, 5.1 or SPDIF) is choppy with 720p.


Yeah CapDVHS works fine (thankfully!) - I was hoping that VLC would work so that I dont need yet another program.
 
#5,066 ·
Sorry I can't be more helpful directly...


What kind of CPU and graphics do you have? HD speed (and interface), memory? It very well could be a computer horsepower problem, but I doubt it. I'm using XP, I don't know if Vista acts different.


Since CapDVHS seems to work fine for you, I don't think it's your firewire interface.


It's too bad this is all a nasty kludge, and there aren't more polished applications for this stuff. Then again, if it was more well known, the 5C hammer might be dropped on more content.
 
#5,067 ·
wondering if I could get a little help here:


Moto DCH6416-firewire is active in diagnostic/xmission active/5C is off and copy free for the channel is listed

Windows XP SP3

Belkin Firewire card

6 pin to 6 pin firewire cable

drivers installed from this thread(panel and unknown device disabled)


CAPDVHS is giving me no data info and the .ts files are blank


any tips are appreciated


thanks


-Gary
 
#5,068 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Murrell /forum/post/16671930


wondering if I could get a little help here:


Moto DCH6416-firewire is active in diagnostic/xmission active/5C is off and copy free for the channel is listed

Windows XP SP3

Belkin Firewire card

6 pin to 6 pin firewire cable

drivers installed from this thread(panel and unknown device disabled)


CAPDVHS is giving me no data info and the .ts files are blank


any tips are appreciated


thanks


-Gary

Do other channels produce valid Transport Streams? Have you tried streaming the channels live on VLC? Or perhaps recording the channel on the DVR then playing it back and trying to record it on CapDVHS?


I have a few channels that act wonky with CapDVHS live, that work fine when played back through the DVR, stuff that is listed as 5C Copy Free. Other channels seem to be 5C'd based on a per-show basis, or at weird times of the day. Sometimes this stuff just doesn't want to work.
 
#5,070 ·
That does sound like your cableco is blanket-prohibiting everything but locals, yeah.



There is a legitimate (in terms of the specs) way for it to be showing as 5C Copy Freely but not working with the computer. The cable box could require a 5C encryption key exchange/handshake, but not be encrypting the content. I'm not sure how that shows up in the Motorola boxes' diag menus.


If that's the case, it may or may not be possible to record to a D-VHS and then output from the D-VHS to the computer. I haven't tried it (My 40K hasn't arrived yet), though.
 
#5,071 ·
I have a soft spot for DVHS, so may be time to break it back out



another question, my channels are all showing 0x01 DRM as well(only one non local showing 0x00), being that the Tivo ignores this could it be that the moto is setting CCI to 0x02 on its own and the Tivo will ignore this? sounds like the case from what I have gathered reading up on this


-Gary
 
#5,073 ·
thanks, I was meaning offloading from the Tivo to PC, which is my main interest


what I don't know is if my provider is sending DRM 0x01 only and the Moto is doing CCI 0x02(which it does when DRM is present) or the provider is sending both CCI and DRM, if it is the DRM only then the Tivo ignores that and offloading to PC works fine


-Gary
 
#5,074 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Murrell /forum/post/16673025


thanks, I was meaning offloading from the Tivo to PC, which is my main interest


what I don't know is if my provider is sending DRM 0x01 only and the Moto is doing CCI 0x02(which it does when DRM is present) or the provider is sending both CCI and DRM, if it is the DRM only then the Tivo ignores that and offloading to PC works fine


-Gary

TiVO works exactly as its required to do. It sounds like your cable company doesnt have the DRM settings correct.
 
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