[mythtv-users] New user setup questions?

[Andrew Dodd]

Quoting Mike Myers <mikesm559 at yahoo.com>:

> "BTW, it is *theoretically* possible to capture HD from a DirecTV box if you
> have
> a receiver modified by 169time for Firewire output, although currently Myth
> doesn't support Firewire tuners.  It might happen if tuner manufacturers get
> off
> their asses...  169time-modified DTV receivers seem to be the only ones
> that
> will feed Firewire HD recorders such as the JVC HM-DH30000U or a Linux box
> with
> the right software.  (There is software in existence to act as a recording
> device in such setups, I forget the exact name, look around on avsforum..."
>  
> That was true until recently.  There is a thread at avsforum
>
(http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=353608&perpage=20&pagenumber=1)
> that outlines how to get raw mpeg2 from a comcast 6200 series DVR through
> it's firewire ports.  Apparently these ports are now active with the new set
> of firmware that's being rolled out to the boxes.  The firewire isn't used
> for control, it just sends out the mpeg2 stream for whatever is being tuned
> (which can be controlled via IR or serial ports).
>  
> The interesting thing is that the mpeg2 capture isn't just for HDTV, but for
> standard digital programs off cable, and even analog programs (the DVR box
> encodes like like a PVR-250).  And this all works even for encrypted
> channels.  
>  
> In the thread they reference code on Linux that supports the reading from
> firewire, and people have this more or less running...  It would be so cool
> for Myth to support this kind of firewire tuner. Is anyone working on this
> now?
I actually just caught that thread, and more importantly for me, reports that
people have managed to get recent Sony iO (Cablevision) boxes to work.

A friend of mine just ordered an upgrade to an iO HD box, so if his comes with
1394 ports, I'm going to go down there with a laptop with ddr1394 (I THINK
that's the name?  I'd have to look around avs to confirm that) installed and see
if I can record.

If it works, then I guess it'll be time to see what it takes to have Myth record
from a 1394 port.  I'm willing to help with testing and such, but I don't think
I have the coding experience for such a major modification.  :(