How to record via IEEE 1394 (Firewire) to Windows XP - Page 96

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

1. Installed firestb.msi using command line prompt for non-Media Center PCs, then rebooted
2. Installed CapDVHS
3. Connected firewire cable to my Mits HD2000U DVHS deck. Found new hardware dialog came up
4. 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 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

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'
"@devicenp:\\\\?\\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'
"@devicenp:\\\\?\\avc#scientific-atlanta__inc.&explorer(r)_8300hd&typ_9&id_0#2271ade61100#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\\global" 1
3 'VideoMate TV Capture'
"@devicenp:\\\\?\\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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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

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 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