Recording advice needed

[AndrewP]

Thank you.  I had no idea these things were widely available.  I might pick one up and try it out.

I have a FusionGold USB for 2 years now. It works great. And I use it when two OTA HD shows are on (that means I can't record both with Dish HD DVR 622). Unfortunately, it doesn't work with satellite. But it should work with cable free HD (sort of free, not encrypted). Don't have cable TV, can't confirm, Dish 622 addict.

[waterhead]

I have one of these: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.locallydo?oid=161904&WT.mc_n=388565&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=AFFILIATE%20MARKETING&cm_cat=PERFORMICS&cm_pla=DATAFEED-%3EPRODUCTS&cm_ite=1%20PRODUCT&cm_keycode=388565


I got it for $60 when it on sale.

I was looking at the Hauppauge web site, and it does not list this as being QAM (cable) compatible. The Dvico Fusion HDTV5 USB Gold does. Don't know if you can get it locally, though.
http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/eng/Products/HDTV5usb.aspx

[waterhead]

Pinnacle has a USB HDTV stick that says it supports ATSC and NTSC (including NTSC cable).  Retailers listed as selling their products include Best Buy, Circuit City, Office Depot, OfficeMax and Target.

Here is a link to it at the Office Depot web site:
http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=639710&D=2%20Pinnacle&No=10&Dx=mode%20matchallpartial&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Ntt=Pinnacle&N=100000&uniqueSearchFlag=true&Nr=100000&Ntk=all&An=text

You may want to check out all of these stores when looking for a USB tuner.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Thank you.  I will look around a bit.

How much hard drive space will I need to record a 3+ hour Packer game in HD?

[Bebop]

Thank you.  I had no idea these things were widely available.  I might pick one up and try it out.

No wonder you're starving for HD.

[kevbeck122]

Thank you.  I will look around a bit.

How much hard drive space will I need to record a 3+ hour Packer game in HD?

Probably around 20-25GB.  I've seen FOX shows run 4-6GB per hour depending on how much motion is in the show.  Since the game has a lot of motion.. its probably closer to 6-7 per hour.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Wow, those are big files.  I'll have to plan this out a bit.  Maybe in the end I will end up with a dedicated PC for this stuff.

[oz]

Why not sign up for the HD-DVR with TWC for a month and then cancel?

[kevbeck122]

Wow, those are big files.  I'll have to plan this out a bit.  Maybe in the end I will end up with a dedicated PC for this stuff.

Fox runs at a lower bit rate than most channels, so that's the low end you'll see.  On the high end, I've seen episodes of Smallville on 18-1 run between 8 and 9 GB.. just for an hour.  You'll get bigger files from the 1080i channels.

[StarvingForHDTV]

Why not sign up for the HD-DVR with TWC for a month and then cancel?

I can't stand calling them.  I would rather suffer and miss the Packer game.

[StarvingForHDTV]

I have one of these: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=161904&WT.mc_n=388565&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=AFFILIATE%20MARKETING&cm_cat=PERFORMICS&cm_pla=DATAFEED-%3EPRODUCTS&cm_ite=1%20PRODUCT&cm_keycode=388565


I got it for $60 when it was on sale.

This sounds like a good deal.  $80 after mail in rebate.  I'll probably get one from Circuit City.

[StarvingForHDTV]

I picked up a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 from Circuit City.  It was $80 plus tax after the mail in rebate.

It is surprisingly small.  I am also impressed on how the HD channels look on my laptop which is only 1280 X 800 resolution.  I suppose since the screen is so close to me versus watching TV, it seems just fine.  I may even be able to watch the Packer game on here and not worry about sending the video to my RPTV.

Thanks for everyone's help.  I will try to figure out how to record before Sunday's game.

[Jimboy]

Decent software...... http://www.snapstream.com/

[StarvingForHDTV]

All of my tests worked OK on Saturday for recording.  Then I set up my laptop Sunday morning to record the game.

*%%*()&)&^&%$ of crap failed to record it.  :bang:   It opened up the WinTV2000 program, dropped down the record box and I found it stuck "initializing" when I got home.

To make it worse, it sounds like it was a great game.

Would getting the BeyondTV software help me to avoid this problem in the future?

[Jimboy]

All of my tests worked OK on Saturday for recording.  Then I set up my laptop Sunday morning to record the game.

*%%*()&)&^&%$ of crap failed to record it.  :bang:   It opened up the WinTV2000 program, dropped down the record box and I found it stuck "initializing" when I got home.

To make it worse, it sounds like it was a great game.

Would getting the BeyondTV software help me to avoid this problem in the future?

I've had no problems with the BeyondTV software and it's fairly easy to use. I've got two PC's...one with an analog ATI 7500 card and one with an ATI HDTV All In Wonder card. I'm not to fond of the HDTV All in Wonder card because it relies on the PC to do the video processing which can really slow down a PC (if it's not fast enough).

Before buying the software make sure your tuner is supported.