VCR Recording

[GameOver]

Oh crap!

[ChadTower]

You can probably just download it after the fact and watch it that way.

[Zero_Hour]

Your DirecTV tuner should send out on all outputs simultaneously. (at least mine does) You should then be able to just run composite out to the VCR and hit record.

[ChadTower]

Wait, the implications of this just hit me in the head.

Are you saying you're old enough to be married, but young enough that you've never used a VCR for recording?

Anyway... your DirecTV receiver most likely sends the signal out to all outputs all the time.

[ChadTower]

Your DirecTV tuner should send out on all outputs simultaneously. (at least mine does) You should then be able to just run composite out to the VCR and hit record.

He has to make sure he sets the VCRs tuner to the right input or he'll miss the signal entirely.

[GameOver]

Right - I'll give it a shot.  Won't be too hard to throw some cables between my DirecTV receiver and VCR and start pressing some buttons.


BTW - you mean download it from the internet?  What the heck are you talking about?

[ChadTower]

Yes, you can pretty much download any show you want straight from the net now once it has aired using bittorrent.  Are you familiar with that app?

[2600]

Take your time, Season premier of Lost is next week.

[Stingray]

I have my DTV reciever connected to my VCR and my VCR conected to my TV. Set the reciever to the channel you want to record, set the VCR to channel 3. Like Chad said, if you see it on the TV, you're good to go to record.

Thanks for the heads up on the Lost premier, I didn't realise it was tonight. That's one of only two shows that we watch every every week down at the Stingray Ranch.

-S

[Stingray]

Take your time, Season premier of Lost is next week.

And thanks for that heads up as well.

-S

[ChadTower]

I have my DTV reciever connected to my VCR and my VCR conected to my TV. Set the reciever to the channel you want to record, set the VCR to channel 3. Like Chad said, if you see it on the TV, you're good to go to record.

If he's using composite in, channel 3 won't work.  He would have to set the VCR tuner to L1 or L2.

[Stingray]

I stand corrected. My setup is connecting to a TV that only has a coax input.

-S

[ChadTower]

So called because you have to constantly coax a watchable signal out of it.

[missioncontrol]

should've gone with beta......

 


I think running the cables from the output of the receiver to the input of the VCR then then another set of cables from the output of the VCR to the input of the TV should do the trick..........


also there is no need to stop the 12:00 from flashing just put some electrical tape over it........

[ChadTower]

Any BYOAC regular who can't figure this out on his own, BTW, needs to turn in his BYOAC logo and never return. 

[SirPoonga]

If you have coax coming from your box to tv and rca to vcr that is a good setup.  I hate running signal thorugh vcr to tv, it usually degrades the signal slightly.

Note, you have to setup the channel on the box ahead of time and can not change channel during recording. 
*IF* you did want to watch another show you'd have to have another satellite box.  If it were basic cable you could just split the signal.

[ChadTower]

Best answer:

Get a DirecTivo.  DirecTV gives them away practically free.

[SirPoonga]

Most cable and sat companies offer their own dvr for like $5 a month, right?
Or www.byopvr.com

[GameOver]

See!  Not so simple!  VCR's are killer.  I never bothered with 'em.  And you're right 2600 - the LOST premiere is next week.  I just checked w/the missus.  AND it turns out her class is cancelled tonight so that buys me some time.

I hate running signal thorugh vcr to tv, it usually degrades the signal slightly.

Exactly.  I've got component going from our DirecTV box to a 57" tv.  Composite from a VCR wouldn't be a very good picture on a big screen.  That's why I want to avoid having to send a signal from the VCR to the TV.

Yes, you can pretty much download any show you want straight from the net now once it has aired using bittorrent. Are you familiar with that app?

Never tried bittorrent, sounds illegal.  I like it! 

Wait, the implications of this just hit me in the head.

Are you saying you're old enough to be married, but young enough that you've never used a VCR for recording?

Yup! You got it!  I married my sister.

Best answer:

Get a DirecTivo. DirecTV gives them away practically free.

Why pay for DirecTivo each month when I have a VCR?   

[ChadTower]

byopvrs are not worth it when you can get an actual Tivo for like $50.

[GameOver]

I used to say why pay for Tivo when I have a VCR.

[Stingray]

Best answer:

Get a DirecTivo.  DirecTV gives them away practically free.

Unless you're already an existing customer. If I'm wrong about this, you'll be my hero. I don't know of any "deals" that DirecTV ever offers that are not new customers only. If you know where I can get a DirecTivo for next to nothing, please do share.

-S

[ChadTower]

Unless you're already an existing customer. If I'm wrong about this, you'll be my hero. I don't know of any "deals" that DirecTV ever offers that are not new customers only. If you know where I can get a DirecTivo for next to nothing, please do share.

I shall be your hero.  Call Customer Service and ask them about getting an additional DVR.  When they act like a dumbass, and they will, ask for Customer Retention.  Tell them you have an offer in your hand from someone like Comcast or whatever a local competitor may be.  Customer Retention is their bend over and take it department.  When I wanted a second DirecTivo, they gave me one for $50 + shipping + free install I didn't even want.  Customer Retention can really be abused, that is their job.  I've seen people get the mega super premium channel on the intro package and then call Customer Retention every time it runs out and threaten to go back to cable, only to get it free again for another few months.  They don't tell you Customer Retention exists, but it is there and it is there for your use.

[Stingray]

Next time I'm feeling particularly malicious, I'll give 'em a call. Thanks.

-S

[Daniel270]

I don't think I've actually recorded anything on VHS tape since '97.... 

and now that I don't really watch TV (except DVD or to play console games), there's really no point in it....  VCR's are pretty much obsolete now anyway....

[ChadTower]

So, if you wanted to record conveniently, what would you use?

I tried standalone DVD recorders, had three of them, all three died inside of 6 months.

[RaggedEdge]

I have two MythTV setups that are very dependable.  It can burn right to the DVD-Recorder in the computer.  If you are a do it yourselfer, which I presume you guys are, being on BYOAC and all, then it is worth doing. 

http://www.mythtv.org

[Daniel270]

So, if you wanted to record conveniently, what would you use?

Since I don't watch TV, what would I need to record?

[Stingray]

So, if you wanted to record conveniently, what would you use?

Since I don't watch TV, what would I need to record?

You can record stuff you don't want to watch. Just think how much more stuff you don't want to watch that you can record with a DVR. Think how much easier it will be to record over all that stuff you don't want to watch with more stuff you don't want to watch.

-S

[ChadTower]

I have two MythTV setups that are very dependable.  It can burn right to the DVD-Recorder in the computer.  If you are a do it yourselfer, which I presume you guys are, being on BYOAC and all, then it is worth doing. 

http://www.mythtv.org

Note that I said conveniently, not build an infrastructure for recording.

[SirPoonga]

byopvrs are not worth it when you can get an actual Tivo for like $50. 

Depends.  Unless you hack your tivo you can't get the video files off it and burn to dvd.
If you just want to record TV, it's hard to beat a Tivo.  But a BYOPVR takes TIVO to the next step, turning yout tv into a media and information center.
Ok, you can extract some shows to pc.  But soon probably not many.
http://slashdot.org/articles/05/09/14/1440252.shtml?tid=129

With something like GBPVR, there's modules to read RSS feads, a weather module, shoutcast module, jukebox, movie theater listings, etc.  I think MythTV has a feature to connect with Caller ID and show the info on screen.

The cost.
If you already have a PC (say the one in your arcade cabinet that isn't doing anything when you aren't playing it) it will cost less than $100 to create a pvr system with tons of features.  For another $100 you don't even have to have the computer in the same room as the tv thanks to MediaMVP.  To start from scratch would cost less than $300, you only need a <$100 WinTV PVR150, <$100 1-1.5ghz computer, $50 150gig hd.  That's new prices, get a used pvr card from ebay from someone who upgraded to a pvr500, and a used 1ghz computer...


And then since it is a PC hook up some usb gamepads and play nhl2k6 with your friends or even mame 

But then again I believe a tivo can do most of that aftering being hacked...


The funny thing is since I have a networked computer in my arcade cabinet it has become the information center.   Like if we want to find an address, phone number, theater listing, order a pizza, etc we fire up a browser on there instead of my main machine since te arcade is there in the living room

[RayB]

Sorry to interject here, but doesn't Macrovision kick in?

[MaximRecoil]

Sorry to interject here, but doesn't Macrovision kick in?

It very well might, depending on whether or not DirectTV signals contain Macrovision, and whether or not his VCR has automatic gain control circuitry. VCR's without automatic gain control circuitry are immune to Macrovision. The way to find out is to [temporarily] get rid of the component connection between the DirectTV box and the TV and run a set of RCA/composite cable from the DirectTV box to the RCA video inputs on the VCR. Then run a coax cable from the VCR to the RF input on the TV. This forces a VCR pass-through signal which would hit the automatic gain control circuitry by default and if Macrovision is there you will know it immediately. If this works, just repeat the setup for when you want to record the show. Some VCR's need to be set to "AUX" to record from the RCA inputs, some just need to be on "VCR" (the infamous TV/VCR switch). The TV needs to be set to channel 3 or 4 for the RF signal from the VCR; though that is only the viewing link and has nothing to do with the recording.

[Ed_McCarron]

Depends.  Unless you hack your tivo you can't get the video files off it and burn to dvd.

Not true anymore.  Tivo released 'Tivo-to-go' a while back.  I can see my Tivos on my network, pull files from them, and burn 'em to DVD.  No more linux required.  Theres even an unsupported web server on the newer software... You can pull the .mp4 files right from there.

Only catch is the transfer rate is dog slow.  Haven't figured out a hack to speed it up yet.

Oh, yeah, TivoS.  His 'n' hers.

[ChadTower]

It very well might, depending on whether or not DirectTV signals contain Macrovision, and whether or not his VCR has automatic gain control circuitry. VCR's without automatic gain control circuitry are immune to Macrovision. The way to find out is to [temporarily] get rid of the component connection between the DirectTV box and the TV and run a set of RCA/composite cable from the DirectTV box to the RCA video inputs on the VCR. Then run a coax cable from the VCR to the RF input on the TV. This forces a VCR pass-through signal which would hit the automatic gain control circuitry by default and if Macrovision is there you will know it immediately. If this works, just repeat the setup for when you want to record the show. Some VCR's need to be set to "AUX" to record from the RCA inputs, some just need to be on "VCR" (the infamous TV/VCR switch). The TV needs to be set to channel 3 or 4 for the RF signal from the VCR; though that is only the viewing link and has nothing to do with the recording.

DirecTV's signal has nothing to do with macrovision, because it is translated from DirecTV's slightly altered mpeg to a regular analog signal when it leaves the receiver and goes to the VCR.  I can tell from years of, uh, hax0ring on the DirecTV signal, there is nothing like Macrovision on it.  All encryption/decryption is done on the smartcard driving the receiver, and it wille either allow or disallow decryption of the DirecTV signal at that layer.

[RayB]

Just thought I'd mentioned it, since my VCR is 15 years old, yet when I tried to copy ET off another VCR, it wouldn't work (the copy was all garbled).

I figured if VCRs from 1990 had this technology, then surely it would have infiltrated today's various TV devices...

but I'll take your word for it. (I never tried recording off my my satelite service)

[MaximRecoil]

DirecTV's signal has nothing to do with macrovision, because it is translated from DirecTV's slightly altered mpeg to a regular analog signal when it leaves the receiver and goes to the VCR.

[ChadTower]

I'm using encryption and decryption in terms of the security of the signal... as in the system keys that are on the smartcard.  Irrelevant for this discussion and I shouldn't have mentioned it.

There is no macrovision on the output from a DirecTV receiver.

[MaximRecoil]

Just thought I'd mentioned it, since my VCR is 15 years old, yet when I tried to copy ET off another VCR, it wouldn't work (the copy was all garbled).

I figured if VCRs from 1990 had this technology, then surely it would have infiltrated today's various TV devices...

but I'll take your word for it. (I never tried recording off my my satelite service)

You can't pin a date on what VCR's will or will not ignore Macrovision; other than possibly the date (fairly recently) that they went ahead and passed a law (lol) requiring automatic gain control circuitry on all analog recording devices. Automatic gain control started out as a feature intended to benefit the consumer if they wanted to spend a little extra or whatever. Then Macrovision comes along with a half-assed idea of exploiting this feature by sending signals that are designed to "confuse" the circuitry and the circuitry over-corrects and you get a distorted picture and funky colors. So, VCR manufacturers in part decided that automatic gain control circuitry wasn't such a big deal anyway and decided not to include it at all; which had the side effect of making the machine "Macrovision-Free". So they passed a law, LOL!

It is interesting logic. It would be like if cops developed a nice way to detect speeders but it depended on the car having intermittent wipers (or whatever). So all of the sudden, no one wants to have the intermittent wipers on their new cars and the manufacturers stop putting them there. So...they just pass a law requiring all cars to have intermittent wipers...

[MaximRecoil]

There is no macrovision on the output from a DirecTV receiver.

Good to know. He should be all set then, to record his show.