[mythtv-users] Firewire Issues...

[Sean Goodpasture]

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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