HTPC w/PVR functionality on Rogers - possible? (2 Viewers)

[Fotohacker]

I've been studying up on the various components required to build a MediaPortal PC to hook up to my Rogers cable service, but seem to have hit a snag - or a series of them, and my head is going around in circles trying to figure out a system that will work for me. These problems are aggravated by the fact that a lot of the information I'm culling about Canadian service providers and HTPC equipment are from outdated forum posts.

What I want to do: Build an HTPC with PVR functionality that rivals the SA8300 HD PVR that Rogers has provided. MediaPortal seems to be most software of choice, and I'm starting to gather the hardware now.

As I understand it, Rogers encrypts all their channels (well, the ones that matter to me) - so ditching the SA8300 is not an option. My question then becomes how can I connect the 8300 to my new HTPC so that I can record live TV, preferrably having the ability to record one thing while watching another?

Currently the 8300 connects to my HDTV via Component. Can I output coax from the 8300 to, say, a Hauppauge WinTV-2250 card on my HTPC and then connect the HTPC to my TV via, say, HDMI?

Thanks for any advice, tips, or wisdom you can pass along.

 

[Fotohacker]

Ok, I'll simplify the question in an attempt to garner a response.

Has anyone had any success with Rogers and with what capture card? What were the limitations, and were you able to overcome them?

Being new to this, I'm anxious to try building an HTPC w/PVR capability, but I need a recommendation on a capture card as it pertains to this particular cable provider, seeing as there are restrictions (namely, their encoding of digital channels - or so I have read).

 

[Spragleknas]

Hi.

Here is your options (as I see it):

1. Analogue capture of STB, via
a) s-video (no HD possible)
b) component (Hauppauge HDPVR - find and read thread first!)
c) coax capture? Never done this - need to do some digging....

or
2. Using a DVB-card and a smartcard via subscritions
- need much more details to elaborate more

If possible, you should go for 2.

EDIT: Some more info -> http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/windows-vista-rogers-cable-hd-free-hdpvr-430524/

 

[geoffstewart]

Ok, I'll simplify the question in an attempt to garner a response.

Has anyone had any success with Rogers and with what capture card? What were the limitations, and were you able to overcome them?

Being new to this, I'm anxious to try building an HTPC w/PVR capability, but I need a recommendation on a capture card as it pertains to this particular cable provider, seeing as there are restrictions (namely, their encoding of digital channels - or so I have read).

Hey there,

I have been recording content from Rogers for quite some time... about 1999, I guess... and over a year recording hi-def... I have been using Snapstream but am migrating to MP... here's what I have.

I have a SA4350HD settop box dedicated to recording... the output of that box goes to my Hauppauge HD-PVR using component in and optical audio.. this is hi-def recording and it's excellent.

I also have a SA3250 settop box dedicated to recording my standard def channels... The out of that box goes to one of my PVR-250 cards via S-Video and RCA audio.

Lastly, I connect the basic cable to other PVR-250 to record analog channels less than 67 or so.... this option may not exist too much longer, but it's really up to Rogers... i

That gives me three tuners...

The encryption is not an issue given that you're using the settop boxes to get video/audio signal.

In your case, I wouldn't keep the SA8300, unless you've already paid for it... even then, it might be better to sell it and buy a non-PVR STB since you'll get dinged each month for guide data.

Does that give you an idea of what hardware you may need?

Cheers.

Geoff

 

[xvffx]

looking for a solution with my Rogers HD box as well.

I was going to go with hauppagee card and have a IR blaster to control the STB. (still seems the best choice)

but just found out about firewire controlling the STB. (using mythtv)

have anyone gone this route and with what results ? (using MP of course)

Vff

 

[Fotohacker]

I have a SA4350HD settop box dedicated to recording... the output of that box goes to my Hauppauge HD-PVR using component in and optical audio.. this is hi-def recording and it's excellent.

Can you not record SD channels using the above setup? Could you output this STB to a Hauppauge 2250 card? Why do you need several tuners?

I ask because the box I'm building (just received the motherboard today!) has one PCIe slot... that's all. It has a ton of USB connections, but I can only fit one tuner inside it.

Does that give you an idea of what hardware you may need?

Almost.

 

[geoffstewart]

yes, i can record sd channels with the hdpvr, but it's a limited resource... i only have one.. it's usb...

you could use a 2250 to record from 2 sources at once but only in sd... if thats sufficient for you then thats all you need... you can either ise the svideo out of an stb and the coax or just have both sources be from coax

ifnin the future yiu want to add tuners for hd just go with usb

i have multiple so i can record multiple shows at once

hope that helps
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Fotohacker]

yes, i can record sd channels with the hdpvr, but it's a limited resource... i only have one.. it's usb...

you could use a 2250 to record from 2 sources at once but only in sd... if thats sufficient for you then thats all you need... you can either ise the svideo out of an stb and the coax or just have both sources be from coax

ifnin the future yiu want to add tuners for hd just go with usb

i have multiple so i can record multiple shows at once

hope that helps
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't mind having multiple connectors (I have a plethora of USB ports on my HTPC) but I'd rather not have any more STB's than I need. Having said that, I do want to be able to record two things at once, or record one and watch another channel. What I have trouble wrapping my head around is the technicality of recording HD vs SD channels, and the necessary equipment required to do so.

Is the only way to record the HD channels from a rogers HD STB using the HD-PVR (which I've read in the past), or could an external USB connector like the Hauppauge HVR-950Q work for that purpose (assuming I don't want to do anything else at the time)?

 

[geoffstewart]

Yep, the only way to record HD from Rogers is with the HD-PVR. The 950Q is for Clear QAM that Rogers doesn't do (well only a couple of useless channels)... if you get over the air, you will be able to record HD using an antenna, but you'd have to get someone else to chime in for that because I don't know the details.

So, to get two HD shows recorded at teh same time, you'd need 2 HDPVRs and 2 STBs. If your second recording can be SD, then you can have 1 HDPVR, 1 STB and a second SD tuner to have just the old fashioned cable (up to channel 67 or whatever it is).

Geoff

 

[Fotohacker]

So, to get two HD shows recorded at teh same time, you'd need 2 HDPVRs and 2 STBs. If your second recording can be SD, then you can have 1 HDPVR, 1 STB and a second SD tuner to have just the old fashioned cable (up to channel 67 or whatever it is).

Your posts are really helpful, thankyou!

When you say "old fashioned cable" (ie. up to 67) those are presumably all the SD channels... but I know there are some SD channels up in the hundreds, like CNN Headline News (channel 190) which isn't HD. Would a regular SD tuner connected to the HD STB record this channel (in SD obviously)?