Ceton Multi-Channel Cable HDTV Card

[Octavean]

As lsilvest astutely pointed out Microsoft Windows 7 Media Center uses the “.wtv” proprietary container. This proprietary format wont likely be accessible by most programs such as BTV. If the .wtv recording isn’t encrypted then you’ll likely be able to convert it with some third party solution. However, in all likelihood it would be easier for you to use Media Center as a front end for the native .wtv files and setup Media Center to watch the BTV recorded TV file location for import into Media Center’s video folder. Its either this or switch between the two programs with frequency.

[captain_video]

I just did a quick google search and turned up several freeware programs that are supposed to be able to convert wtv files to other formats. Here's one that converts them to mpeg2:

WTV to MPEG Converter free download - Convert WTV file to MPEG2 format, create recorded TV show DVD in Vista TV Pack

I would imagine that if you convert them and then run them through VideoReDo and save the output as a transport stream, you could play them back in BTV with no problems. I don't have Win 7 installed yet so perhaps someone would like to give this a shot and let us know how it goes.

[vidiot1985]

Originally Posted by captain_video

...I would imagine that if you convert them and then run them through VideoReDo and save the output as a transport stream, you could play them back in BTV with no problems. ...

Is there some advantage to converting them to transport streams?

When I edit .tp files saved by BTV when recording clear QAM programs with VideoReDo, I save them back out as MPEG2 files and BTV can play them just fine. So I would expect WTV files converted to MPEG2 could be played back by BTV fine too, no?

[captain_video]

Originally Posted by vidiot1985

Is there some advantage to converting them to transport streams?

Based on your response, apparently not. I have not tried playing back mpg files in BTV but I have tried ts files. They're both mpeg2 files with different wrappers but it stands to reason that they both should work.

[Octavean]

Microsoft .wtv and .dvr-ms files are not inherently restricted. Also as already noted there are some free applications that can convert said .wtv files even at this relatively early stage. Here is another such free application / method:

Super-simple, no config commercial removal in Windows 7

This is intended for Media Center users though as it converts .wtv to dvr-ms. The problem would come in with restricted recordings and that restriction is in no small part due to how the program is flagged even with the upcoming relaxed firmware for cablecard.

It would still probably be easier to use Microsoft Media center as a front end as it can deal with its recordings and access the recordings of other applications like BTV without the need of any conversion whereas the reverse is not true.

[Octavean]

MCE: Digital Cable Advisor Tool Available Now!

Looks like Microsoft finally did it! CableCards for everyone!

MCE: Digital Cable Advisor Tool Available Now!

ATI DCT Firmware update pops up on Windows Update, DRM-free MCE recordings & are a go

Microsoft emancipates Digital Cable Tuners with second Media Center update today

[Octavean]

For what its worth:

Working Screenshots of SageTV and CableCard Tuner:

http://www.geektonic.com/2009/11/working-screenshot-of-sagetv-and.html
http://www.missingremote.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4379&Ite mid=1
http://www.missingremote.com/images/stories/News%20Images/nov/sagetv_cablecard3.jpg