Record to HTPC

[bobrap]

I am trying to setup an HTPC using Dishnetwork. Can I use a HD receiver and record into a tv tuner card? I realize it will only be one channel. I also have a VIP622 and wondered what the cost would be for adding the additional tuner. Thanks for any advice and suggestions. Oh, would I need any additional setup to the dish 1000?

[Jim5506]

The best you can do is record the S-video out from the 622. There is no inexpensive way to get sat signal from 62 to HTPC.

see http://www.nextcomwireless.com/r5000/info.htm for a not-so-inexpensive solution. About the only one, too.

[bobrap]

Could I add a VIP 211 and record into the HTPC? If so, what would I have to do antenna wise?

[Stewart Vernon]

You still would only be able to record in SD... unless you find a video capture card for the PC that will accept either HDMI or component connections. I suppose there may be such a beast, but I haven't seen an PC capture cards that do it unless you want to buy something that costs mega-bucks like maybe a professional studio might have.

[pcstuff]

I've entertained all kinds of options to record HD on my own HTPC via satelitte, but truth be told, the best choice is to go with a Vip622 receiver. So much easier, reliable and convenient.

About the only advantage of a HTPC is that you can more easily burn any whos to a DVD, which you can still accomplish with the VIP622, just not in HD.

One option I am still considering though, is to built an HD-HTPC to record OTA shows for my basement projector.

[hardwired]

Nextcom's R5000-HD mod can get the stream to your HTPC. Costs around $500 and I believe is legal for personal use.

I don't think you can record locals off the modded 622 to the HTPC and newer channels like Starz-HD are using true mpeg4 so more difficult to deal with editing and playback than the traditional mpeg2 transport streams.

[DoyleS]

Unfortunately the R5000 only handles Mpeg2 and a number of Dish's HD programs are now in Mpeg4. They eventually will move all to Mpeg4 so an investment in an R5000 at this point is probably not a great move. The limitation on the 622 currently is the 30 hrs of HD record time which all of us are managing in our own ways. Hopefully the external drive solution for the USB port will be available by this summer and then storage will be a little more unlimited. The ease of use of the 622 far exceeds my HD card in my HTPC.

..Doyle

[hitekalex]

Unfortunately the R5000 only handles Mpeg2 and a number of Dish's HD programs are now in Mpeg4. They eventually will move all to Mpeg4 so an investment in an R5000 at this point is probably not a great move.

That's incorrect. R5000-HD supports MPEG4. See their website:

---
Will the R5000-HD be able to record MPEG-4? YES. We are already shipping an "MPEG-4" ready modification for the Dish Network models 211 and 411receivers. These represent the latest in satellite receiver technology and are capable of receiving all current MPEG-2 offerings as well as the newly added "MPEG-4" channels. We only label it as "MPEG-4 ready" since Dish has yet to officially broadcast any true H.264 streams. The so called "MPEG-4" channels are only tagged as MPEG-4 on their headers so that older receivers will not recognize them. However, the video data is still MPEG-2 encoded. At some point in the future when their encoding and multiplexing equipment is ready, the encoding method will switch to MPEG-4 (H.264). Our own tests have demonstrated that a signal modulated with an H.264 stream and tuned in by the Dish 411 can be perfectly captured using the R5000-HD. So. once these channels switch their encoding scheme, R5000 users will be equipped to handle it.

[James Long]

Their website is out of date.

E* is now broadcasting in true MPEG4, not just MPEG4 flagged MPEG2.
(Their site also mentions 10 voom channels ... there are now 15.)

[hitekalex]

Their website is out of date.

E* is now broadcasting in true MPEG4, not just MPEG4 flagged MPEG2.
(Their site also mentions 10 voom channels ... there are now 15.)

The comment was that R5000-HD is unable to capture E* MPEG4 / H.264 - Nextcom website states that it can: "tests have demonstrated that a signal modulated with an H.264 stream and tuned in by the Dish 411 can be perfectly captured using the R5000-HD". Are you saying that's innacurate?

[James Long]

I'm saying that it would be better if the manufacturer would test their product on the feeds E* currently has on the satellite and report the truth on their website instead of an out of date "we think it will work" statement. Current information is best when selling technology.

[Joe Clark]

I'm saying that it would be better if the manufacturer would test their product on the feeds E* currently has on the satellite and report the truth on their website instead of an out of date "we think it will work" statement. Current information is best when selling technology.

They should have updated their website. In fact, the Nextcom R5000 mod does record H.264 files from Dish Network. Since H.264 files require more computing power to play back, you may have to upgrade your computer to play them smoothly. I have a modded Dish 211 that I've used for MPEG2 and MPEG4 capture for some time. Before that, I had a Dish 6000, modded for MPEG2 capture. The mods work well and are perfectly legal. You can get a lot more info on them from DBSTalk's sister site, the AVSForum.