[mythtv-users] Firewire Issues...

[Michael Tiller]

Nope, they specifically say "Copy *Free*".  Weird, huh?

--
Mike

On Dec 20, 2007 2:31 PM, Sean Goodpasture <goofygrin at gmail.com> wrote:

> are they marked with the copy once flag?  That's what I ran into (I can't
> remember what the flag is off the top of my head).
>
> On Dec 20, 2007 10:09 AM, Michael Tiller <michael.tiller at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > So I ordered Comcast digital cable.  When I was ordering I asked them
> > whether the STB would come with Firewire ports.  They said "yes, but they
> > are disabled".  I figured that was probably typical but I'd complain about
> > it once I got the box (wasn't expecting really use them anyway).
> >
> > Well, it turns out they aren't disabled.  In addition, some quick
> > experimenting with my XP laptop and I was capturing video nicely through
> > Firewire.  I figured a few more tweaks and I'd have it integrated into
> > MythTV.  Well, almost. :-)  So I'm looking for any assistance.
> >
> > First, the strange part...I naturally assumed that the only channels I
> > would be able to get (at least in HD) would be broadcast channels.  Well, it
> > turns out that HD Theater is also available through my Firewire port (and
> > unencrypted QAM too).  So I wondered what else.  I went to A&EHD and I could
> > record that with my XP laptop.  So I went to the diagnostic screen on my
> > Motorola 3412 (Cable-Power-Select) and checked the port status (d11) and
> > sure enough it very clearly said "5C=0 - Copy Free". I thought that was
> > pretty cool so I started poking around.  I went to TNTHD and did the same
> > thing.  That was also listed as "5C=0 - Copy Free".  Even HBOHD said this.
> > Wow, I thought.
> >
> > Well, this is odd because what I have noticed is that when I try to
> > record from HBOHD or TNTHD, it doesn't work.  My guess is that this is a 5C
> > encryption issue but I'm not really sure.  If something is 5C'd, can you
> > still grab the video (just not watch it)?  Or does the encryption interfere
> > with the "grab".  (I'm using dvgrab 3.0 with the -f hdv option, BTW)
> >
> > Assuming that 5C prevents dvgrab from working then it appears that the
> > cable box very clearly says 5C=0, but that there is, in fact, some kind of
> > 5C?!?  I double checked the tuner channel and the 5C settings several times
> > in the diagnostic screens.
> >
> > Now, I wanted to try and figure out what channels were available via
> > Firewire so I started doing a "firewire_tester -b -n 0" on various
> > channels.  Some seem to work consistently while others don't.  So I made
> > sure to do a "firewire_tester -B -n 0" before actually trying to grab
> > packets (this is all in a script, no manual).  That helped, but things were
> > still a bit inconsistent.  So I currently do the following:
> >
> > 6200ch $CHL
> > firewire_tester -R
> > firewire_tester -B -n 0
> > firewire_tester -b -n 0 -r 5
> >
> > (then I check the return status of the last command)
> >
> > It still doesn't give me a reliable result about what can be acquired
> > via Firewire and what can't.  Would "priming" help in this case ( i.e.
> > doing a grab as well)?  My feeling is that if "firewire_tester -b" doesn't
> > work, there is really no point in attempting a grab...but what do I know.
> >
> > Now for my last question and this is with regards to managing the tuner
> > with MythTV.  Channel changing works fine so right now I'm just grabbing the
> > S-video output from the 3412 and recording it with a PVR-150.  It doesn't
> > give me HD video for anything, but at least I can record every channel the
> > box provides.  If I go with Firewire as the "preferred input" then I could
> > get at least some of the HD channels to my Myth box.  BUT, if Myth tries to
> > simultaneously record one show via the PVR-150 input and another through
> > Firewire, there is really only one tuner between them so it won't work.  Is
> > there some way to tell Myth that it has to use either the Firewire or the
> > PVR-150 but not both?
> >
> > On a related note, I need to setup two different channel lineups in
> > SchedulesDirect corresponding to the same provider but with different
> > channels available.  I'm assuming there is a way to do this, but there are
> > any tricks related to this I'd be happy to hear them.
> >
> > Thanks for any guidance and assistance on any of this.  I'm hoping to be
> > able to use the Firewire port to get HD off of channels that I would
> > otherwise not be able to record in HD. :-)
> >
> > --
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
>
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