New card for directv setup

[Boogittty]

I need to replace a capture card. I see most of the opinios are a few months old and I know how fast things change. Here is my set up:
Directv HD
No OTA ( distance)
Needs to be PCI-E
Will only need for recording to computer, no server
Running Vista 32 bit, but plan to change to Windows 7 64 bit
I will mainly use this to record football games and other special events, no streaming.
What do the experts on here see as being my best capture card based on the info given.
Thanks in advance,
Boogittty

[Terminal]

Well, if you want to capture in HD, then your only option is the HD-PVR. It's USB.

[Boogittty]

I don't think recording HD is going to be a reasonable option right now. With ball games length, it would probably take several DVD's and a lot of time from what I have been reading.
Boogittty

[ZetaVu]

The HD PVR is a hardware encoder to H.264. A 1hr recording on typical settings is about 3-4GB, which makes it about the same size as OTA HD recordings and only slightly larger than mpeg recordings. Of course you need to make sure your machine can handle the H.264 recordings, you need the equivalent of an 8500 (nvidia) or better to hardware accelerate (not sure about the ATI spec) and many people have had issues adapting. I'm using it without issue on my Directv H20.

Otherwise, for SD recording you can go with the Hauppauge HVR 1800 (single) or 2250 (Dual) tuners. Both are PCIe 2x and hardware encode svideo or analog signals as mpegs. I have an HVR 2250 but use it for OTA HD. You can also capture QAM or use the svideo output of a STB to record. I've had my best luck with Directv boxes using a serial port cable (null modem cable attached to an iogear GUC232A serial to usb) for tuning, I use the setting Satellite box 2 in setup.

Good luck.

[Boogittty]

Originally Posted by ZetaVu

The HD PVR is a hardware encoder to H.264. A 1hr recording on typical settings is about 3-4GB, which makes it about the same size as OTA HD recordings and only slightly larger than mpeg recordings. Of course you need to make sure your machine can handle the H.264 recordings, you need the equivalent of an 8500 (nvidia) or better to hardware accelerate (not sure about the ATI spec) and many people have had issues adapting. I'm using it without issue on my Directv H20.

Otherwise, for SD recording you can go with the Hauppauge HVR 1800 (single) or 2250 (Dual) tuners. Both are PCIe 2x and hardware encode svideo or analog signals as mpegs. I have an HVR 2250 but use it for OTA HD. You can also capture QAM or use the svideo output of a STB to record. I've had my best luck with Directv boxes using a serial port cable (null modem cable attached to an iogear GUC232A serial to usb) for tuning, I use the setting Satellite box 2 in setup.

Good luck.

Thanks ZetaVu,
I need to update my sig. I now have dual quad and ASus 512mb DDR3 video card. Will QAM enter into my thinking since I am on DirecTV? I looked at the 2250 and wondered if it would worth the cost if I cannot use QAM. Then I got to wondering for only 50 more I could go with HD PVR and especially now you tell me that the space is what it is.
I know since I have no OTA, that it makes my situation a little out of norm.

[ZetaVu]

You really won't benefit from QAM with Directv. However, the 2250 is a dual tuner, meaning you can use it for two set top boxes. The 1800 is a single tuner. Since you're aying for HD you may as well check out the HD PVR is you have the time (Dell has good deals, shop around), you always can return it within a month or so if your unhappy and don't want to go through the RMA routes, then get the 1800 or 2250.

[Boogittty]

I have ordered the HD PVR 1212. Of course the post office is going to take a week to go 300 miles but is there anything that someone has tried and found to be important in the setup of this? I will use Beyond TV for recording only and do I need to install the software that comes with the unit? I also have been using Video Redo for editing. I also ordered a 1TB esata hard drive.
Thanks

[ZetaVu]

Hauppauge HD-PVR support

The 1212 is the HD PVR, we just started talking about what important setup considerations are at the end of this thread. You will need the cd for driver and TME software (for the arcsoft decoder). You can use BTV to record and playback without issue as long as your hardware is up to it.

Last I checked Videoredo does not work on H.264 files, there is a free piece of software I've used http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/293998-post4.html that works with these files. However, I typically showsqueeze them to divx first then use avidemux to edit those files, far easier and less errors.