Watching and Recording via firewire?

[IgnacioMiller]

Hey guys, I've been lurking these forums for the past month or two trying to plan my HTPC for the HDTV I recently acquired. A quick background on my rather meager set up:

40" Sony Bravia HDTV 1080p
Built in Speakers (plan to upgrade to surround sound down the line)
Digital High Definition Cable via this STB (http://broadband.motorola.com/business/digitalvideo/product_dct3400_settop.asp) via firewire to the HTPC.

HTPC (Not yet ordered/built):
Case: Undecided, maybe build my own.
Motherboard:http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131072
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103740
CPU Fan: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835185125
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820211064
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136073
Firewire PCI Card: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815124003

For software I plan on using MythTV, via Mythbuntu. I have been using linux exclusively on my desktop/laptop for a few years now, and I have been using Ubuntu for about a year and a half so I figured it would be a good fit.

My question is this, with that STB and that HTPC, could I record a program and watch a (different) program at the same time. If not, what would I be able to do to achieve that?

Thanks, this forum and the people active in it have been invaluable!
Dan

 

[w1retap]

For two programs at once, you would need two cable boxes with firewire both plugged into the PC.

But seriously, don't expect this to work and be easy. I tried the firewire STB solution with 3 different cable boxes, and two of them didn't work, one of them partially worked. The drivers blow because nothing is really official and it is just all thrown together and not working with any programs. It's basically all beta testing and developed by amateur programmers.

I used VLC and DVHScap to test if I could even get it working, and with the Scientific Atlanta 4250HDC, I got it partially working. Some channels would playback fine, like the upper digital HBO's and things like that. But all the basic channels wouldn't work, and the HD channels would show up all broken up and pixelated, even the local HD's. When I went to record any channel, DVHScap would just crash and exit out after about 3 seconds of capture. I had everything setup properly like the people that were "successful" at it. My cable was fully unencrypted as well, because I had access to the service menu's to check.

But yeah.. good luck. It is either it works or it doesn't. I'll strongly bet on it doesn't work for you.

The best solution is with a CableCard enabled HTPC, or wait for the new DirecTV HDPC-20 that is coming out sometime later this year.

Since you are starting from scratch, definitely go with a CableCard enabled HTPC from a trusted company like Velocity Micro.

 

[IgnacioMiller]

Hey w1retap, thanks for the reply.

For two programs at once, you would need two cable boxes with firewire both plugged into the PC.

That's what I was afraid of. I think I developed a work around for that though, thinking about putting a splitter on the coaxial cable before my STB and then running that to the TV. That way, if MythTV is recording something I can just switch from the HDMI input to the standard cable input. I wouldn't get all the channels, but it would better than nothing. Or wouldn't that work? haha

But seriously, don't expect this to work and be easy. I tried the firewire STB solution with 3 different cable boxes, and two of them didn't work, one of them partially worked. The drivers blow because nothing is really official and it is just all thrown together and not working with any programs. It's basically all beta testing and developed by amateur programmers.

I read in the MythTV and Ubuntu Wiki that this should work with the Motorola DCT-6200, however my STB is a slightly different model and it may not. I'm thinking about just ordering the firewire card and plugging it into my Desktop to test out the firewire out on the STB. If it works, then great, I'll order the HTPC I built. If not...

The best solution is with a CableCard enabled HTPC, or wait for the new DirecTV HDPC-20 that is coming out sometime later this year.

Since you are starting from scratch, definitely go with a CableCard enabled HTPC from a trusted company like Velocity Micro.

Quick question, would the pcHDTV HD 5500 be a viable alternative to firewire? It says that it only supports unencrypted channels, and I have gathered that that pretty much means only FOX, ABC, PBS, etc. So I am guessing no, but just checking.

From looking at Velocity Micro's site, it seems that these prebuilt HTPCs are both overkill and very expensive as a result. I couldn't afford to pick one of those up at the moment, but I might look into it in the future should the custom HTPC deal not work out.

And, when it comes to HDTV, would it be easier to go the Windows/Vista route? I'm not opposed to doing that, it's just even more money to spend and I'm a frugal guy. Plus I like tinkering with Linux. Anyways, thanks for the reply!

 

[w1retap]

- Yes.. the solution with a splitter would work if I understand you right. One would go to cable box for HD and theoretically firewire to the PC, and the other would go directly into the TV's coax port so you could just switch TV inputs and watch another channel.

- I'd assume firewire STB support under linux would probably be even harder to get "working" than under XP or Vista. If you are really good at linux, say high level to expert level, you might have some luck.

- Unencrypted all depends on your provider to see if a QAM tuner works. I know people that have had digital cable and all their channels were encrypted, even the HD locals that weren't supposed to be. I've also seen many people that do have luck with QAM tuners and get all their channels besides Pay-Per-View and some of the other pay channels. If you decide to go the route of QAM tuning because you find out your cable is unencrypted, look into HDhomerun or the Hauppauge 1800. Both work under XP MCE an Vista Media Center if you don't have luck with linux. The HDhomerun for sure works, and the Hauppauge 1800 works in MCE with the beta drivers... that's the last I've heard.

- If you want a for sure working HTPC with high def, the CableCard PC is pretty much the only viable option, though it is more expensive. (assuming over the air HD channels by antenna aren't what you want since there might only be a few in your area, if any)