[mythtv-users] Semi-OT: DVB in USA?

Steven Adeff adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com
Wed Apr 5 00:11:32 UTC 2006


On 4/4/06, Mark <fairlane at springcom.com> wrote:
> Todd wrote:
> > You are mixing terms...with respect to the wire.
> >
> > You are using your PVR-150 to capture an analog signal from your Digital
> > Cable box.  This is exactly what I am doing with my Dish Box.  I use and IR
> > blaster to control the box, and send video (via Svideo) and Audio (via RCA
> > Jacks) from the Digital Satellite (in your case, Digital Cable) box.  So you
> > are capturing a digital cable signal after turning it into analog and back
> > into MPEG2.
> >
> > Someone corrected me earlier to say DVB-C is not QAM.  Technically true, but
> > it seems the marketing geniuses that describe the ATSC cards say "does QAM"
> > to mean "does DVB-C".  Check:
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVB
> > Notice DVB-C uses QAM (64 in general).  DVB-S (SHF) uses QPSK, DVB-T
> > (VHF/UHF) uses COFDM and ATSC uses 8VSB.  The card I referenced:
> > http://mythic.tv/product_info.php?products_id=46
> > ...does BOTH 8VSB and QAM....so it can deal with ATSC and DVB-C.
> >
> > Anyway, to keep stuff Digital-Digital-Digital....aka MPEG2 through and
> > through, use one of these Air2PC, Airstar, etc, type cards in the US.
> >
> > If you want to do DVB-S and DVB-C, you are locked out of anything encrypted
> > (in the USA).  Supposedly CableCards should fix this for DVB-C...but I doubt
> > it for open source projects.  ATSC is never encrypted (that I know of), so
> > you can get your locals in perfect MPEG2 (joke there...lossy)...but at least
> > you don't have generation loss due to many MPEG2 to Analog to MPEG2
> > conversions.
> >
> > DVB-C Note #2:  I understand you aren't COMPLETELY locked out of encrypted
> > DVB-C if you use firewire to control and capture video from you Digital
> > Cable box.  (These means ONLY a fire wire connects your MythBackend to the
> > Cable box; No analog RCA or SVideo cables.)  It seems every provider is
> > different...some block "premium" channels via firewire, some don't.  I have
> > no experience with this, so you will need to ask questions of someone who
> > has done this.
> >
> > Another note...you don't have to have a powerful machine to watch
> > downcoverted recordings.  I quickly stopped watching LiveTV because (yes
> > even the news) recording are WAY more convenient for me.  I just have HD
> > content transcoded after the fact to MPEG4 (and rescaled to 800 wide).  It
> > even plays on my EPIA M1000 frontend.  If you haven't made the paradigm
> > change here are my tips:
> > -Get used to setting "No. of recordings to keep"
> > -Get used to setting "Priority"
> > -Get one additional ATSC card, you will never have a problem with prime time
> > scheduling again.
> >
> > ...it is starting to get weird...it has been about 6 months since I have
> > seen a commercial.  You don't realize how many daily references there are to
> > tv commercials until you stop seeing them.  :-)
> >
> > Clear as mud?...GREAT!  :-)
> >
> > Todd
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Steven Adeff" <adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com>
> > To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 10:13 AM
> > Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Semi-OT: DVB in USA?
> >
> >
> >
> >> On 4/4/06, Mark Johannessen <mfjlaw at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>>> Yeah, that's kind of what I want! Looks like I'll have to resort to
> >>>> digital cable through my PVR-150 for anything like that. My Myth
> >>>> Backend isn't powerful enough to handle HD down conversion, and my
> >>>> front-end can't do it on the fly.
> >>>>
> >>> I'm a bit confused on this ... I though the PVR-xxx series cards can
> >>> capture analog streams (OTA or cable) but not digital streams (like DT
> >>> labelled channels whether through cable or OTA) and that is why people
> >>> are using the pcHD300 etc. type cards.
> >>>
> >>> Mark
> >>>
> >> with a PVR card you output the digital channel from a
> >> cablebox/satelite receiver through SVideo output into the PVR card and
> >> use a ir blaster or serial connection to change channels.
>
> Since nobody has mentioned it, there ARE folks out there decoding and
> using Myth with DVB-S cards ONLY on E* and B*V at a minimum.  You need
> the correct software and a bit of time.  This would be the best way to
> get clean video from a E* box.  And I believe I recently saw evidence of
> HD capture using the same setup.  Search google for DVB network.  Note,
> I'm not condoning theft of service, just "testing" and frankly, if I
> ever did do this, I'd still subscribe.  I don't think it's right to
> steal service.

Ain't that the kicker, even if you pay for the service they would
still consider it theft.

--
Steve


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