[mythtv-users] I may have SOLVED the 5C cable encryption problem - DOH!

[Joe Borne]

>On 05/09/2007 01:06 PM, John P Poet wrote:
> On 5/9/07, Joe Borne <joe.borne at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 2007-05-09 at 10:41 -0400, Joe Borne wrote:
>>> I have found a solution to the problem of 5C encrypted channels.
>>>
>>> This device here -> PYRO A /V
>>>
>>> Can convert Component Video (The Y Pb Pr) stuff straight to DV
>>> (firewire/ieee1394). It can also pass through the audio (in stereo at
>>> least).
>> Sorry.  The specifications show that it only does standard definition,
>> so it's no better than a PVR-150.
>>
>>  You're right, I just noticed that too. Darn it. On the right track
though.
>>
>
> It actually *might* be better than a PVR-150.  It comes down to how
> well it converts the analog video/audio to digital.  Since it is an
> external device, it would not have to fight off electrical
> interference, like the PVR-150 does.  No tuner, so it is only doing
> one job.  Component inputs should be much higher quality than s-video,
> so it should have a cleaner source, which should result in a cleaner
> result.
>
> So, it is not going to be HD, but it still might be much better than
> using a PVR-150 to capture s-video.
>

>Not to mention that the video never gets corrupted--I mean quality isn't
>degraded--by the NTSC format.  NTSC is most of the reason that standard
>def quality is so lacking--after all it's more than 50-year old
>technology.  If the video never becomes NTSC, it could theoretically be
>as good as DVD quality (as played through a non-NTSC connection--i.e.
>component or VGA or DVI or HDMI).  And, anyone with an HDTV who has
>played a (good quality) DVD through a non-NTSC connection knows how that
>compares to NTSC.  IMHO, NTSC = ., DVD = O, and HDTV = 0 (the difference
>between NTSC and DVD quality is huge compared to the difference between
>DVD and HDTV quality).

>And, depending on the device, it may allow for proper aspect-ratio
>switching.  If so, it may allow capture of widescreen content at 720x480
>with no black bars--meaning all 480 horizontal lines contain picture
>content, so none of the resolution is wasted.

> Does Myth know how to play video in "DV Video" format?

>It could always be transcoded.

>Mike

Well, at the very least it appears we are on the right track to finding a
path between the STB and MythTV that has hope for viewing HDTV 5C encrypted
content in a time-shifted format.

It seems we only lack one or two things:

1. A device like the PYRO A/V that converts "Y Pb Pr" or DVI-D to DV or
MPEG2 carried via ieee1394/firewire and retains the 1080i/p resolution.

and/or

2. A "connector" to allow MythTV to accept a raw DV stream.


Does anyone on the list who has A/V hardware expertise know of a device to
fill role #1?

Does anyone on the list who is a developer know of a package or think they
can create one that can fill role #2? (dvgrab -
http://www.schirmacher.de/arne/dvgrab/ seems to be on the right track, kino
is already using it.)

I'm no developer, but I can write OK bash scripts and I admin/hack a redhat
based distro pretty well. I've written my own MythTV themes also. I'm a
pretty accomplished Project Manager, so I'd be happy to help coordinate an
effort to make this all work.

I see additional benefits to this in that it would enable folks with DV
based camcorders to transfer content directly to a MythTV box and transcode
it.
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