We're missing out on so much HD programming using BTV

[erikhtpc]

We're missing out on so much HD programming using BeyondTV compared to a HD Directv setup. I have been using BTV for 2.5 years now and am starting to really be jealous of all my friends that have 15 HD channels where I can only view OTA local channels in HD.

When will this change so I can record all of Directv programming through BTV.

[ZetaVu]

It won't, Directv will lock down their HD technology, even the R5000 will not work on the new mpeg 4 machines. You can get R5000 refits on dishnetwork that works with their latest machines, but then you need the firewire externinator plugin and not sure if anyone tried this (it works out of the box with Sage). There are rumors of a cablecard equivalent for directv, but they are not required like cable companies to do this. There are also some pvr's that will work with external disk drives, not sure how the files on those drives work and if workarounds will be available to let those drives play back through btv or be archived (you know, like those MCE workarounds, hint hint).

Either way, BTV will give you OTA HD, some unencrypted QAM HD, and possibly firewire fed content HD using $600-800 refits. It will also let you record sd from directv using s-video, which isn't going anywhere soon. You could always get a directv pvr for HD content and use BTV for archiving sd content.

No one is happy about this, consumer wise. Only option really to get HD quality (compressed ) directv footage is off of bittorrent, maybe they should start considering that.

[cfaslave]

I was thinking about this recently when looking for a College Football game on my guide. I'm on Time Warner and have the HDHomeRun so I get the major network HD channels, but these are all encrypted for me:

ESPN HD
ESPN HD2
A&E HD
Discovery HD
MOJO
HDNet
HDNet Movies
NBC Universal HD
HD on Demand

I used to get some of those, but TW encrypted them darn them... Time Warner sucks for HD channels anyway, but my sports viewing habits make me envy those with the ESPN HD channels. Cablecard with all of its warts is very compelling to me because of that.

[merrypig]

Originally Posted by ZetaVu

No one is happy about this, consumer wise. Only option really to get HD quality (compressed ) directv footage is off of bittorrent, maybe they should start considering that.

Who recorded the original HD content and how tho?

[queonda]

Originally Posted by merrypig

Who recorded the original HD content and how tho?

That's what I'd like to know.

[ZetaVu]

They probably used either a 169time or R5000-HD adjusted receiver box. Both will let you record via firewire using their software or Sage (and it might work with BTV using the externinator) They intercept the signal after encryption, and send the stream via firewire. (So you still need a legit account with satellite or cable to use these.

From what I've read at avsforums, they work on motorola cableboxes, the latest v211 dishnetwork boxes, but only older directv boxes (and won't work with the new mpeg4 models).

That, and of course HD DVD (and I think BluRay) have both been cracked, allowing those to be ripped, compressed, and shared as well. Sad when there is no legal means for fair use, but plenty of illegal means that are much less effort.

[cosiz]

I started looking into this at one point, but then gave it up. There seemed to be options available for a period of time, but 5C encryption apparently makes it necessary to go with one of the refits ZetaVu mentions above. The high prices, legal implications and questionable future of those options rules them out for me.

Here are some of the links I collected when I was looking into it if anyone wants to take a gander (some of which may be out of date info):

avsforum HDTV recording forum main page:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=42

How to record firewire thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=403695

Linux firewire thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=734242

Mac firewire thread:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=386740

WinXP and DVHS how to:
http://web.archive.org/web/200604280....htm#Recording

Firewirestb page:
http://home.comcast.net/~timmmoore/firewire/readme.htm

CapDVHS app download link:
http://www.yamabe.org/softbody.html

[cat6man]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

I was thinking about this recently when looking for a College Football game on my guide. I'm on Time Warner and have the HDHomeRun so I get the major network HD channels, but these are all encrypted for me:

ESPN HD
ESPN HD2
A&E HD
Discovery HD
MOJO
HDNet
HDNet Movies
NBC Universal HD
HD on Demand

I used to get some of those, but TW encrypted them darn them... Time Warner sucks for HD channels anyway, but my sports viewing habits make me envy those with the ESPN HD channels. Cablecard with all of its warts is very compelling to me because of that.

i have a similar situation with my cableco........how would cable card help you?

apparently, cablelabs has just (under much pressure) agreed to a DRM method which will permit recording encrypted channels and streaming them around the house......i haven't seen details yet but it sounds like you record the encrypted stuff and can play it back on cablecard equipped devices

[cfaslave]

Originally Posted by cat6man

i have a similar situation with my cableco........how would cable card help you?

It would help me watch the channels I want on at least my BTV server (if it had cablecard). My server is actually connected to my livingroom TV (via cords from the office) so I don't have to stream to another PC or device to watch in that room.

It would of course be even better if you could "stream" it to the BTV Link PC's in the house too.

I understand all the limitations that come with Cablecard with the DRM crud, but I would at minimum be able to tune (even if its live) the sports programs in HD when I want to. It's not the ideal, but its something at least.

[jhanan]

Originally Posted by cfaslave

I I'm on Time Warner and have the HDHomeRun so I get the major network HD channels, but these are all encrypted for me

I'm in the exact same boat. HDHomeRun is working GREAT! But what about the encrypted HD content on the cable?? When do we get CableCard support? How do I record analog HD (component video in 1080i) from the TWC HD STB?? Please - someone offer some solutions. (BTW, the NFL on HDHomeRun is absolutely incredible!) I get no HD OTA for my Fusion HDTV Gold piece of garbage card.