Does it work with a cable box?

[Randall_Lind]

I need to use my cablebox to view digtial channels alone with movie channels like HBO,Cinmax etc.

I was watching on TechTV The SceenSavers tonight they were flipping channels through the SnapStream software which looks kewl. How would this work with a cable box? It seem to me I would be bypassing your software cause I would use the cablebox to flip channels so how do you record etc useing your software?

It seems your system is for basic cable user which do not need a cable box.


I been thinking of buying a TV Tuner and pvr software for a while.

[ChefJoe]

There's been a special IR blaster thing for relaying the remote control signals needed to change the cable box's channels. It's sold through their store as a cable pack item.

http://www.snapstream.com/buy/buy-cablepack.htm

I know it was made for 2.0, maybe it'll work with 3.0 as well ?

[Randall_Lind]

What is this for? Don't I just plug the cable box to the tv turner like a normal tv set? Why do I need to buy a special cable? I don't understand about delaying signal thing.

[jkoon]

Right but the TV tuner does not have the ability to change channels if you have a cable box (you have to leave it on channel 3, like you do your tv). So the IR Blaster imitates your cable box remote and allows SnapStream to change channels when a recording needs to start.

Does that make sense?

[V_D_O]

You can either use an IR Blaster to change channels on your cable box or a serial cable, provided your box is compatible with one and you have the correct config file. This way, PVS can power your box on or off and change channels either due to a command from you or due to a scheduled recording. See here for more info.

[Randall_Lind]

ok I think I am on the same page. Please forgive me I am tring to understand.

I can run a spliter from my tv/cable box to the IR Blaster which hooks in to the tv tuner card right? Which allows Snapstream menu to be able to select channel 222 at 1am and record while I am sleeping right? Without the tv would have to be put on the channel I want and I would have to press record manually.

Do I have to leave the cable box on for this? So I need a TV Card,Spliter and the IR Blaster to get started right. Also I have a Geforce 3, ti200 is that a good enough video card?

I know StarTrek shows are 426mb or so with out the ads can SnapStream skip ads or do I have to cut them out myself or sit and record and pause then record etc. How big is the average TV show let say 1 hour recorded to the hardrive?

My computer is on 24/7 unless the power goes out. I have a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 cable box.

[Bryan Doyle]

I can run a spliter from my tv/cable box to the IR Blaster which hooks in to the tv tuner card right?

Well, snapstream can either use a Coax input or a composite input. If your cablebox has a "video out" and your capture card has a "video in" you will not need a splitter.

You plug your dig cable box vid out to your vid in on capture card. You plug audio out on dig box to line in on sound card. The IR blaster gets plugged into your serial port. This allows for communication.

Are you plugging your computer into the TV so you can view the shows on TV? if so, you just have to set that up as you usually would. If you are not, you can use the composite and watch digital cable from channel 3 (or whatever it is for you)

This setup will allow you to record anything at anytime.. even if you do not leave it on the correct channel. If there is a serial port on the back of your cable box (which i believe there is) you can use a serial cable instead of an IR blaster. You train the IR blaster during the install with your cable box remote. This allows snapstream to send identical signals to the box & tune the box on demand during channel surfing / recording.

So in short, there is no manual record. Also, you can use snapstream.net to record your shows from anywhere in the world.

The cable box needs to stay on. Otherwise a change in channel would not be observed. If you are using a serial cable, there is often a power on command and not a power toggle like remotes use.

Your video card should be fine

Commercials are not cut, but you can edit.

How big is the average TV show let say 1 hour recorded to the hardrive?

Depends on the quality.

You can try it out by following the download link at betanews

[Randall_Lind]

I am not replaceing my TV I was just thinking of setting my pc up to record HBO movies etc so I can then burn it to cdr or DVD if I ever get a burner.

[Bryan Doyle]

So you can use the interface on the cablebox that is not in use or a coax splitter to connect to your tv tuner / video capture device.

-bryan

[Randall_Lind]

Thank you all for the help