For those of us in the states...

[MustangGT66]

I know we've all already seen this episode, but its a start, and it's gonna be on the discovery channel. Unfortunately, I don't know how they'll change the formatting for commercials.

http://search.discovery.com/search?q...lds=*&filter=0

[AxlxA]

airing:
— Jun 29 2005 @ 10:00 PM
— Jun 30 2005 @ 01:00 AM

Someone please capture these w/ HDTV.

I think the scene might do this.

[toma_alimosh]

HDTV ?
now that's going to be a HUGE filesize maye, you sure you want that ?

[bigfoot1942]

Originally Posted by vladmitu

HDTV ?
now that's going to be a HUGE filesize maye, you sure you want that ?

why not? if it could fit on a DVD5 that would be nice...

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by vladmitu

HDTV ?
now that's going to be a HUGE filesize maye, you sure you want that ?

Shouldn't be a problem, the TG episodes that VUK captures are widescreen. Not sure if they're aired in HD but once you start compressing you should be able to get the same 350mb file which will probably look even better since the cleaner the original file the better it will compress.

The only problem is capturing the HD signal from a cable channel. I'm in the process of building a Media Center PC and i haven't found anybody or any product that can capture HD programs off a Cable box.....

[Smahatma]

Originally Posted by Thameth

will probably look even better since the cleaner the original file the better it will compress.

Not necessarily, freeview digital terrestrial tv is the source that VUK is streampdumping from -- it is pure digital. Even though the frame size of freeview is not as large as 1080i HD, the picture quality itself should be negligable because there is not any additional noise since they are both digital, and when you resize the frames during encoding, any extra detail that may be there with 1080i is lost (assuming the video is not upconverted to 1080i from a lower res by the broadcaster).

Originally Posted by Thameth

The only problem is capturing the HD signal from a cable channel. I'm in the process of building a Media Center PC and i haven't found anybody or any product that can capture HD programs off a Cable box.....

There aren't any products that can currently decode encrypted QAM signals, and probably won't be anytime soon due to anti-piracy movements.

[sns2015]

Just so everyone knows, the US and Japan are the only two countries that have HD broadcasting (NTSC). Europe and everywhere else that uses PAL has to deal with the same resolution. In order for this to work with those nifty Plasma/Flatscreen TVs, the BBC and other European networks had to give them something in widescreen, hence why Top Gear is broadcast in widescreen and digital. Its the Brit's way of almost getting to HD, without it being HD...

And I believe the LOL tv capture group figured out a way to record an HD feed and compress it... Perhaps try to contact them?

[Smahatma]

Originally Posted by sns2015

And I believe the LOL tv capture group figured out a way to record an HD feed and compress it... Perhaps try to contact them?

I believe LOL only does HD programming from the major network stations (NBC, ABC, etc.) -- those are broadcasted unencrypted both over the air and through cable. All the HDTV tuner cards available will tune/capture over the air HD signals, and a few will tune unencrypted QAM HD signals from cable (Fusion III, etc.)

[Buba]

^^
Not true, there is a station that broadcasts HD in Europe as well, since 2 years now, I believe. Its via sattelite. And some pay tv channel will pick up broadcasting a HDTV programm the next few months.

HDTV rips of TG really would make no sense. They are using the old material and only redo the talking bits. It was metioned in another thread by the bbc dude, that they film with a standard PAL res (it was about the possibility to grab screenies from the original vid for wallpapers...)

Isn't HDTV in the States broadcast via Sattelite? There are receivers (Dreambox) that can receive DVB-S in HDTV via Sattelite and it has a built in HDD

Buba

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by Smahatma

Not necessarily, freeview digital terrestrial tv is the source that VUK is streampdumping from -- it is pure digital. Even though the frame size of freeview is not as large as 1080i HD, the picture quality itself should be negligable because there is not any additional noise since they are both digital, and when you resize the frames during encoding, any extra detail that may be there with 1080i is lost (assuming the video is not upconverted to 1080i from a lower res by the broadcaster).

Smahatma,

I think you misunderstood that line. It had nothing to do with VUK's capture. I was just mentioning that the higher quality the original content is the clearer it will look when compressed. I work in Video and have noticed this when doing some encoding testing. I'm definitely no expert but i've seen it done.

I stated in my original post that i don't think VUK captures HD or that TG is broadcast in HD but it definitely is widescreen because its a 16x9 file.

Originally Posted by Thameth

The only problem is capturing the HD signal from a cable channel. I'm in the process of building a Media Center PC and i haven't found anybody or any product that can capture HD programs off a Cable box.....

There aren't any products that can currently decode encrypted QAM signals, and probably won't be anytime soon due to anti-piracy movements.[/quote]

Yea i know you currently can't capture encrypted QAM. But again i think you misunderstood my post. I'm not trying to capture straight from the wall but trying to capture it from the actual cable box which decodes the encrypted signal so you can watch it at home. Only thing is that nobody mades a HTPC capture card that i have seen that captures component, HDMI, or DVI.....

I did see at Greenbutton that they are working on an addon to the Media Center OS that will allow you to capture HD from an HD cable box through firewire! They are just getting the bugs worked out now.

The whole law that stops you from capturing cable HD signals is rediculous also since it goes back to the Sony lawsuit mentioned on here so much with the C&D. I just want to record the signal so i can watch it at a later date. I pay for it i should be able to do that. Why am i allowed to capture digital cable channels but not HD??

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by sns2015

Just so everyone knows, the US and Japan are the only two countries that have HD broadcasting (NTSC). Europe and everywhere else that uses PAL has to deal with the same resolution. In order for this to work with those nifty Plasma/Flatscreen TVs, the BBC and other European networks had to give them something in widescreen, hence why Top Gear is broadcast in widescreen and digital. Its the Brit's way of almost getting to HD, without it being HD...

And I believe the LOL tv capture group figured out a way to record an HD feed and compress it... Perhaps try to contact them?

SNS,

Do you have a link to this LOL tv capture group?

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by Smahatma

I believe LOL only does HD programming from the major network stations (NBC, ABC, etc.) -- those are broadcasted unencrypted both over the air and through cable. All the HDTV tuner cards available will tune/capture over the air HD signals, and a few will tune unencrypted QAM HD signals from cable (Fusion III, etc.)

Actually there are capture cards for the Media Center OS that can capture two HD signals at once from OTA (over the air) TV like NBC, CBS, and so on using dual tuners.

But honestly i rather be able to capture Discovery HD, INHD 1&2, HDNET, ESPN HD and so on. I want to capture signals from off air HD cable channels.

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by Buba

^^
Not true, there is a station that broadcasts HD in Europe as well, since 2 years now, I believe. Its via sattelite. And some pay tv channel will pick up broadcasting a HDTV programm the next few months.

HDTV rips of TG really would make no sense. They are using the old material and only redo the talking bits. It was metioned in another thread by the bbc dude, that they film with a standard PAL res (it was about the possibility to grab screenies from the original vid for wallpapers...)

Isn't HDTV in the States broadcast via Sattelite? There are receivers (Dreambox) that can receive DVB-S in HDTV via Sattelite and it has a built in HDD

Buba

HDTV in the states can be viewed through off the air, cable or satalite. There already are HD Tivo's and HD PVR's that you can buy or rent from you provider but they are VERY $$$$$$$$. I think an HD Tivo costs about $700 right now???

Now the question is can an HD Tivo capture HD cable signals?? If it can then why am i not allowed to do the same thing with my computer?

[hokiethang]

Originally Posted by Thameth

HDTV in the states can be viewed through off the air, cable or satalite. There already are HD Tivo's and HD PVR's that you can buy or rent from you provider but they are VERY $$$$$$$$. I think an HD Tivo costs about $700 right now???

Now the question is can an HD Tivo capture HD cable signals?? If it can then why am i not allowed to do the same thing with my computer?

I'm fairly certain that the HD Tivo is only for DirecTV systems. As for capturing cable, the only devices I know of that work for that are PVRs provided by the Cable company itself.

[Cruzz563]

I know that the PVRs provided by Time Warner here can record in HD, and I also know the all Satellite providers don't provide the full HDTV experience, usually it's just 780p--not 1080i, because they don't have enought bandwidth to provide it.

[bahnstormer]

as far as i know, vuk records the raw mpeg that is streamed via satellite into his home...

in america this is impossible

http://www.hauppauge.com/Pages/prod_digital.html

that is a good place to start reading

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by hokiethang

I'm fairly certain that the HD Tivo is only for DirecTV systems. As for capturing cable, the only devices I know of that work for that are PVRs provided by the Cable company itself.

Looks like they've made alot of progress in capturing HD using a Media Center PC and firewire:

http://www.thegreenbutton.com/commun...52&TopicPage=1

Its alot of reading but if your looking into building a Media Center PC its worth it. Now i just have to get my damn project off the ground.

[Thameth]

Originally Posted by bahnstormer

as far as i know, vuk records the raw mpeg that is streamed via satellite into his home...

in america this is impossible

http://www.hauppauge.com/Pages/prod_digital.html

that is a good place to start reading

Capturing a SD Cable box or Digital Cable box signal is actually no problem at all with a Media Center. Its the HD part but it looks like people are starting to get around that.

Great news so far, hopefully this will just be built into Media center 2006 as Bill Gates is pushing hard into HDTV

[Vipergts662]

You can also record the show onto a DVR and rip it onto your computer. That is assuming you have a digital cable box that has a firewire port enabled. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695 I'm sure most of you know about that site for those of you who do not those guys know their av equipment.

I highly doubt discovery HD will air Top Gear because they only air shows there are originally filmed in HD or Imax films. Personally I would rather see Mythbusters in HD before Top Gear.

[Smahatma]

[dupe post]