Newbie Questions - HDTV

[cbauer25]

I have a Samsung SIR-T160 Directv/HDTV box hooked up to satellite, cable, and OTA. If I send the output of the stb to my pc, will I be able to record all channels (guessing yes in standard definition)? Will the IR Blaster work on this box? Can you use SS to watch live tv in high definition through the stb?

Also, can you modify the main menu screen to provide icons to your dvd player and audio jukebox programs?

Thanks for any help?

[RobertH]

snapstream will only be able to record standard definition output form the stb as there arent any supported high def receivers, so you would have to set the output of the STB to put out video at standard ntsc 4:3 and then use your capture card to do it. I think the composite out (if it has one) does this by default. You may wish to hook the tv tuner up to the box and see if you can see the picture on the tuner before you even try. If the software that comes with the tuner card can see a picture then you can record it with snapstream. Also in case you are wondering snapstream can only record in stereo, so if the incoming signal has dolby or whatever it will be lost during the recording process.

The IR blaster should be able to control the box, but I belive there are some issues with certain models of directv boxes as they dont use standard IR remotecontrols. You can search the forums for directtv there are several threads regarding getting the IR blaster to work with these devices.