R5000-HD capture via USB2 & SageTV

Stealth1971 · #1 03-05-2006, 04:31 PM

Hello All -

I want to get the best quality out of my DTV service and I have seen some rumblings about using a R5000-HD from Nextcom with DirecTV for USB2 output. I think I can get it working with my HDNE code. Is there any interest in this? or has this already been accomplished in another way?

Tim

dbfresh23 · #2 03-05-2006, 04:52 PM

If you're talking about the R5000-HD I'd be interested in knowing how you plan on doing this.

Stealth1971 · #3 03-05-2006, 04:59 PM

Are you familiar with HDNE? It was the OTA HD Network Encoder I wrote in the middle of last year - it worked with BDA drivers (the only solution before Sage built in version 4). The recorder functionality is plugin based.

The R5000-HD has command line software that is available to control it. For a first run at it I can control the command line app as a HDNE plugin. That in itself is fairly easy... However, for event easier use, I am asking them to provide a DLL that I can control instead.

I want to make sure no one else has done this.

dbfresh23 · #4 03-05-2006, 05:03 PM

It hasn't been done that I know of. I know Timmore (from TGB) wrote an app for MCE, all the app really does though is control the R5000 app. I'd probably find myself a used R5000 if ya got this working in a cleaner way.

EDIT:
His app actually results in 2 files of the same thing, 1 TS and 1 DVRMS.

Stealth1971 · #5 03-05-2006, 05:24 PM

Well from what I can tell, the app natively creates MPEG TS files. So that is what I plan on providing for Sage to use.

Here is a small issue I am seeing right now. It sounds like it fixes the DirecTV MPEG1.5 TS streams on the fly so it uses lots more CPU (min requirement is P4 1.8Ghz).

MPEG4 streams should prove interesting also.

Stealth1971 · #6 03-06-2006, 10:16 AM

Update:

I have some feedback from Nextcom Wireless about their R5000-HD. Their software is also accessible via one their DLLs making for a much cleaner Network Encoder module. I have to find out if they share the TS files they write to disk from their software - SageTV needs to read the stream as their app writes the stream.

It seems there is some interest from Nextcom in getting their software to work with SageTV per my email dialog with them. They have been very helpful so far.

JUC · #7 03-06-2006, 11:43 AM

i'm not sure if i'm following but would this be able to record directv's HD lineups?

JUC

Stealth1971 · #8 03-06-2006, 11:48 AM

Yep -

The R5000 is a module that this company adds to DirecTV receivers to support USB2 output of the demodulated mpeg stream from directv. SD or HD! Very similar to 169time.com solution but cheaper and doesnt need extra hardware.

Here is their link:

www.nextcomwireless.com

dbfresh23 · #9 03-06-2006, 12:47 PM

Something to keep in mind is that the APP that timmmoore wrote was also able to change the channels on the R5000 via usb - if you're going to create an app for SageTV it would be really cool if it was also able to.

http://home.comcast.net/~timmmoore/firewire/readme.htm

Stealth1971 · #10 03-06-2006, 01:07 PM

Well it looks like their command line app supports channel tuning, so that should be a no-brainer connecting it to HDNE. HDNE is a full fledge network encoder.

BobPhoenix · #11 03-06-2006, 02:48 PM

Definately interested in this. Please continue.

BobP.

mikejaner · #12 03-06-2006, 02:58 PM

Yes, this would be a great alternative to waiting to see what Directv is going to offer!!!!

dbfresh23 · #13 03-06-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Yes, this would be a great alternative to waiting to see what Directv is going to offer!!!!

Well aside from that the R5000 also bypasses any DRM stuff that will be in what DTV offers, so there wont be any problems with what can be recorded and how long you can archive it for.

mikejaner · #14 03-06-2006, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

Well aside from that the R5000 also bypasses any DRM stuff that will be in what DTV offers, so there wont be any problems with what can be recorded and how long you can archive it for.

Tru, I would love to be able to do this with SageTV. I would pay $700 each for two tuners that can record Directv HD
Mike

stanger89 · #15 03-06-2006, 05:10 PM

I assume the R5000 DLL doesn't care if it's Dish or DTV?

Stealth1971 · #16 03-06-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanger89

I assume the R5000 DLL doesn't care if it's Dish or DTV?

Thats my understanding so far. The only difference we might see in the future is variances in encoding as they move to MPEG4.

dbfresh23 · #17 03-06-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth1971

The only difference we might see in the future is variances in encoding as they move to MPEG4.

Which for the purposes of SageTV shouldn't matter since it would still be the R5000 app that is actually writing the TS file.

bhyman1 · #18 03-08-2006, 09:50 AM

If you could get this to work it would be fantastic. I'm on the edge of dumping Time Warner because they refuse to give out boxes with working firewire ports!

dbfresh23 · #19 03-08-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhyman1

If you could get this to work it would be fantastic. I'm on the edge of dumping Time Warner because they refuse to give out boxes with working firewire ports!

Actually I just setup a pvr system for a friend on Time Warner, in his case it wasn't a matter of the firewire ports not working, it was the fact that TW in his area is now 5C encrypting EVERYTHING.

dbfresh23 · #20 03-08-2006, 10:03 AM

I was doing some thinking about this system. With DirecTV switching to a STB rental system, which I would imagine would prevent people from getting newer MPEG4 STBs R5000-HD modded, this could wind up being a fruitless venture.

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