Firewire active & recording from Comcast Moto 620x! - Page 36  

Hello Everyone....
I am new to this forum so I appologize if I am a little behind and if I am repeating..

I have Comcast Digital Cable with the DCT6208 with Firmware 07.15. I love it! I have only two issues with it. The first is not really an issue, but more just a little anoyance. When switching channels there is a slight pause which I am not used to as I am coming from basic cable. When flipping it is somewhat slower... Not a big deal though considering ALL the great benefits and features of this unit.

The other issue, and the real reason why I am posting here, is that I would love to offload my DVR recordings to a hard drive or even burn a dvd. I have a couple questions, and if anyone knows and can answer, that would be great!


1) Is the below link the most current method of recording to a Windows system from DCT620x ? Is there a more current method that anyone knows of ?

avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?postid=3818890#post3818890

2) Is the quality(audio AND video) as great as when watching a dvr recording? Does anyone know if this recording to PC process is bit for bit or if compression is used ?If I record HD 1080i to DVR and then offload it to a PC will it retain the same high level formatting?

3) Has anyone experimented with burning DVR recordings to DVD? Success/Failure? Recomendations?

4) Using this process (in Question 1 above) is it necessary to sit there and watch the program while it copies to the PC ? Or does it employ some type of high speed DISK to DISK copying?

5) When copying to a PC what is the file extension that it gets saved as and what software is required to play it ?

Thanks
oznoc...NEWBIE

oooh.. one last thing..

Do I need to download the Meitape.inf file for the DCT6208? This link is dead. If it is still necessary can someone include an updated link please?

" If you are using a Motorola 620X you will need to replace your Meitape.inf from the zip file with this one."

www-personal.engin.umich.edu...les/Meitape.inf


oznoc

This is due to the disk buffering and is normal.

Yep, this method is working great for me. The only thing to watch out for is 5C encryption which will prevent you from recording. None of my channels have 5C yet, but some cable systems have it on every channel except local channels.

You will get a bit-for-bit copy of the data on your PC. Analog channels are compressed to MPEG-2 in real-time at something like 8Mbps (DVD quality), SD digital cable channels will be at whatever bitrate they are broadcast at, from the low 1Mbps (Noggin, etc), to 8Mbps or higher. All channels will have the raw AC3 audio (2.0 or 5.1). Everything will look just as it does on your TV, because you are getting the same data the box records to the internal hard drive.

Not yet, but it's on my list of things to do. It shouldn't be a problem at all for SD programs. For HD you'll have to convert them to a lower resolution.

It outputs over firewire in real time only. It will send whatever is being output to your TV, including past recordings, or if you are watching a live time-shifted recording.

Depends on the software, but the file is usually a transport stream (.TS). VideoLan Client and some other software can play these files, HD is only playable on a fast enough computer.

Yeah you need that file. I will put up a copy of it when I get home unless someone beats me to it. :)

Agtiny...
Thanks a lot for the quick and informative response! You brought a lot of good news to my eyes..

________________________________________________________
Originally posted by oznoc
3) Has anyone experimented with burning DVR recordings to DVD?
Success/Failure? Recomendations?

"Not yet, but it's on my list of things to do. It shouldn't be a problem at all for SD programs. For HD you'll have to convert them to a lower resolution."

Perhaps dual layer will help us with your above comment..not sure.
________________________________________________________


If anyone has the Meitape.inf and can post it or if you know of a working link or a location where this resides or if you can post it that would be awesome! Otherwise Agtiny... whenever you can post it ! THANKS!

Does anyone know if there are any plans from Motorola to deploy a HD/DVR unit that will also have an integrated DVD Reorder ?

oznoc

It's not really accurate to equate bit rate with "DVD quality." The real issue is the quality of the encoder and the signal it's fed-- a real-time, single-pass, consumer-grade encoder (like those in the Motorola boxes or a TiVo) being fed an analog broadcast, even spitting out 8Mbps, probably won't come close image-quality-wise to a pro-grade multi-pass encoder being fed an uncompressed studio source and encoding at the same bit rate. In fact, the pro encoder will probably get noticably higher quality with far fewer bits.

But that's just my nit-pickin' side coming out... ;)

Yeah you're right, I really meant the bitrate is comparable to what you'd get on a DVD. Actually most DVD is less than 8, I think 8 or 9 is the max in the DVD standard and therefore almost never used.

I've mirrored the 6208 core_driver files here:
http://www.hybridized.org/avs/winxp/

This contains the 6208-modified Meitape.inf.

agtiny,

Thanks a bunch for remembering.. got it. I will have to play around with this later. Right now I have to go get a firewire card.. never had a reason before!! lol Will try to use with VLC 7.2

oznoc

I'm in Chicagoland and just called about getting a DCT6208. I'm currently getting my HD OTA with a SIR-T165, but I've been reading about the 6208's and thought I'd try one out. The Comcast guy seemed fairly clueless (although he was the DVR "expert"), but he did make an appointment for an install of the unit. My questions are as follows:

1. I have basic cable now and Broadband. He said it would cost me $15.99 for installation and $9.95 per month for the DCT6208. I asked him what the cost was for the HD service, and he said "it's in the box". Am I going to get nailed for a big Digital bill? Do I need to have Digital cable service to use the DCT6208? I could not get a straight answer from this guy.

2. I have a JVC 30K that I use with the T165. Will it work OK with the 6208 (assuming I have 7.15 FW)?

3. If the guy brings a 5100 or a 6200 out with him instead of the 6208, what magic do I have to conjure to get a 6208? Any special departments I have to convince?

Thanks in advance for any help.

dalilama..
1) I remember I had to pay some install charge also... I am almost positive that you cannot use the 6208 unless you have digital cable.. but someone who knows for sure in this forum can confirm

2) not sure.

3) not sure.. but if you get a 6208 with dvr .. push for two tuners.. right now i have to watch wahatever I record :(
___________________________________________________
Anyone...

Can anyone help me out here... I am in the process of installing the 1394 core_driver on an XP home box. After plugging in in the cable 3 devices are found.
1) Unknown Device ---> Canceled and Disabled this device
2) AV/C Tuner ----> ACCEPTED and Installed core_driver
3) AV/C Panel ----> Canceled and Disabled this device

When I installed the drivers for the AV/C Tuner I did not see any model named "Panassonic D-VHS AV/C Device" Is this necessary?
I then opened up VLC 7.2 and specified AV/C Tuner as the video capture device. I then checked "Stream Output" and selected "Play Locally" Is this the correct process to basically watch TV on my pc?

Unfortunately nothing is displayed. I rebooted and then went into VLC 7.2 and my capture device AV/C Tuner is no longer in the scroll down list .. I verified in device mgr that it is not disabled. Can someone assist please?


Thanks...
oznoc

I used the Panasonic driver on mine. Did you uncheck "Show compatible hardware"?

I don't think VLC can play the realtime stream, try capturing something using CapDVHS and then playing it.

agtiny..
I uinstalled all 3 devices and rebooted.

These are my options.

Screen 1
- Install the sw automatically (recommended)
- Install from a specific location (advanced) <---- I selected this one (fof the AV/C Tuner)

Screen 2
- Search for the best driver in these locations
1) Search removable media (floppy, cd)
2) Include this location in the search <--- I chose this and specified the appropriate patch of the core_driver
- Don't Search. I will choose the driver to install <--- I UNCHECKED this

Screen 3
- Not digitally siged to work with XP.. I selected - Continue Anyway

I then go into device mgr and the device that is present is AV/C Tuner which I just installed the drivers for, Unknown Deivce and AV/C Panel <--- I disabled these two

I do not see any option to choose Panasonic... where is the option to "uncheck show compatible hardware"?

I got it.. i am an idiot! Sorry 'bout that.. This is a lesson.. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

These are the choices :

Panasonic Digital Tuner AV/C Device (TU-BHD100)
Panasonic Tuner AV/C Device
Panasonic Tuner AV/C Device (NV-DH1)
Panasonic Tuner AV/C Device (NV-DHE10)
Panasonic Tuner AV/C Device (NV-HDR1000)


The directions state "Panasonic D-VHS AV/C Device"

Agtiny .. which one is installed on your box?

oznoc

Mine is called "Panasonic D-VHS AV/C Device" in Device Manager. I think you need to use the "Don't search" option so you can see all available drivers. I am pretty sure the instructions in the other thread were exactly right for me.

agtiniy,
you are correct .. you need to use don't search.

not sure why "Panasonic D-VHS AV/C Device" is not visable in the list.

I tried "Panasonic Tuner AV/C Device" and went into VLC and but was unable to save a file with data. I opened up CAPDVHS and it just hangs.. I did an 'end now' about 10 times now.. :(

I finally found it.. and I am able to see live video with VLC 7.2

The audio is fine. The video is a little boxy / pixelated.

These are the options for video.

Encapsulation Method:
MPEG TS
MPEG PS
MPEG 1
OGG
RAW
ASF
AVI
MP4
MOV

Transcoding Options:
Video Codec / Bitrate / Scale
Audio Codec / Bitrate / Scale

Does anyone know what the best video settings are? I tried several with little improvement.

After selecting the format , you need to additonally select a file extenstion to save the file as. What is the recommended file extension to save it with that will yield better video?


When I run CAPDVHS it does not permit me to record because the output file is not valid. What is an appropriate extension for CAPDVHS?

oznoc

Sort of a meaningless question. Capdvhs just records the signal, which is a transport stream. Use whatever extension you wish, it doesn't change anything. .ts or .tp will remind you of what it is.

Is there a program that will control the 6208 ver 7.15 over firewire to turn it on and off or change the channel?

Tim Huey

Nope. Firewire is output only on the 6xxx boxes.

jameskollar,

Not necessarily true. I have tested and verified the following linux utility works (url below). While testing Mythtv recently I was able to change the channel on my Moto. 6200 without issue. Now if we can only port this program to Windows!

Carlos

http://pvrguide.no-ip.com/bbs-old/viewtopic/6280.html

GREAT FIND! It will defintly be interesting to see what other cool things you can do to the 620x's :)

My 6208 reboots almost every time I firewire shows to my JVC 30k, with f/w 7.15. Does this happen to everybody?

Since the 6208 has limited capacity, it sure would be nice to have a reliable solution to backup shows.

I've never seen mine reboot because of firewire usage. I record directly to my PC.

Yes, I have had that happen on occasion, but not always. I think it's actually something with certain 30k's, as I have another 6208/30K combo that doesn't do it at all:confused:!!!

Yep, my 30K & 40K used to reboot the 6208 sometimes too. My 5U has been the best so far in its Firewire handshake w/the 6208. But, I've only had the 5U for two days, so it's early to tell.

Is there anyway to compile that program under windows?

Tim

A question, my cable co finally got 7.15. But now my JVC 30k has a 60 - 90 second delay in starting of recording of copy 1 time 5c material. No delay in the copy freely, is this normal?

A question, my cable co finally got 7.15. But now my JVC 30k has a 60 - 90 second delay in starting of recording of copy 1 time 5c material. No delay in the copy freely, is this normal? oops

My answer, No.

You're right, my bad. Technically it is possible to do the same on Windows, but this would require a IEEE 1394 device driver that supports this feature.
I forgot about the Linux driver, which seems to be much more capable.

Doubtfull. The program to change channels, etc. is just a small (very small) piece of the puzzle. One also needs a Windows device driver to interface with the computer and STB. That's where the rub really exists (at least for windows users) Anyone know of a IEEE driver for windows that can interface with the MOT 6xxx?