[mythtv-users] Need help installing video capture card with no tuner.

[Alen Edwards]

Brad DerManouelian wrote:
> On Jul 5, 2008, at 5:07 PM, Alen Edwards wrote:
> 
>> Brad DerManouelian wrote:
>>> On Jul 5, 2008, at 3:41 PM, allen edwards wrote:
>>>
>>>> 2) Video source.    I want to record a VCR output.
>>> Why are you using MythTV for this capture device if all you want to  
>>> do
>>> is play back from a VCR and capture the output to a file?
>>> Surely cat /dev/video > video.mpg is a much simpler way to accomplish
>>> this.
>>>
>>> MythTV assumes you want to record, well.. TV. It's even in the  
>>> name. :)
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>> Well, I lied.  I actually want to record shows off my Dish Networks  
>> STB.
>>  However, I am going to set the channels manually (or with the timer  
>> in
>> the Dish STB) so I though describing it as a VCR would get the point
>> across that there were no channels.  I guess I was wrong.
>>
>> Maybe what you are saying is that one way or another Myth expects to  
>> be
>> setting the channels and there is no video input setting. If that is  
>> the
>> case, I would need to trick it some way.
> 
> 
> Even this way, typing cat /dev/video > video.mpg is way easier than  
> what you're trying to accomplish. :)

Does that capture the video and sound?

> 
> Or you could set it up the way it was meant to be set up. With a  
> listing grabber for Dish network and an IR blaster to change the  
> channel on the STB. :)
> Sometimes the answer is to do it right instead of trying to trick it.

I am beginning to think you are correct.  I am really surprised.  Even 
an old VCR can capture a video input.  I would think that would be a 
basic item.  I guess I am wrong.

One problem is I don't even know if this card will work and hate to get 
a blaster and then decide it isn't going to work.  I just thought since 
I had the card I would try it out and see how well it works.

I guess I can do the cat approach to test the quality of the signal and 
go from there if none of these other ideas I am getting work out.

Allen