DVB broadcast compability with capture cards

[vigi_lante]

I recently got a DVB-C service, and now I would like to directly capture this DVB stream. But before spending a lot of money on a capture card, I need to know first if the card could capture the signal even considering there is no settop-box to decode the signal. And in order to the settop-box work, you need to insert a smartcard on it.

I guess there are some capture cards that also have somekind of slot to use the smartcard. The smartcard is the thing that decrypt the transmissions or what ? Because if I remove the smartcard, I still can get very few channels.

Then, I think it's better to assume that the DVB-C transmissions are encrypted and I need the smartcard. So, these DVB Capture Cards can work with any DVB broadcast, even on my case ?

Thanks.

[kassandro]

Originally posted by vigi_lante
I recently got a DVB-C service, and now I would like to directly capture this DVB stream. But before spending a lot of money on a capture card, I need to know first if the card could capture the signal even considering there is no settop-box to decode the signal. And in order to the settop-box work, you need to insert a smartcard on it.

In theory it is possible. In practice the chances are lower. The DVB-C card from Technotrend (sold by Vendors like Hauppauge) can be attached CI-CAM reader and in the two slots you can insert an appropriate CI-CAM and in this CI-CAM you can insert your smart card. In Europe this works fine with most PayTV systems. First you must know, which scrambling system (Viacess, Seca, Irdeto etc.) is used by your PayTV provider and then you must look for any appropriate CAM. The CAM and Technotrend DVB-C card may cost more than 200$ each, so you have to assure yourself that everything works before you buy it. Another idea is to by a settop box with a builtin hard disk and an ethernet adapter to connect the settop. In Europe the Dreambox is a satellite settop box of this type. Even if the settop doesn't have an ethernet connection. You may buy two big hard disk and exchange the one hard disk with the other one, when it is full. The is fairly after a while and in long run this may be the only way for recording DVB streams in the US, because the movie doesn't like such high quality recording at all.


I guess there are some capture cards that also have somekind of slot to use the smartcard. The smartcard is the thing that decrypt the transmissions or what ? Because if I remove the smartcard, I still can get very few channels.

Then, I think it's better to assume that the DVB-C transmissions are encrypted and I need the smartcard. So, these DVB Capture Cards can work with any DVB broadcast, even on my case ?

Thanks.
Yes, the crucial problem is, whether there exists a CI-CAM for the encryption system of your PayTV provider.

[vigi_lante]

Well, I think it can't be done. The company here use Nagravision, and I'm almost sure that the smartcard is "married" with the settop-box, so it can't be used on anything else, besides the settop-box.

But I want know to follow the DVB-S way. And this one I'm almost sure that could work. You still need the smartcard, but you are free to choose your receiver, as long it uses Irdeto system. So, I think all I need is a Irdeto CAM.

Another idea is to by a settop box with a builtin hard disk and an ethernet adapter to connect the settop. In Europe the Dreambox is a satellite settop box of this type. Even if the settop doesn't have an ethernet connection. You may buy two big hard disk and exchange the one hard disk with the other one, when it is full.

Good idea. But it's possible to put the hard disk on your PC, in order to edit and burn to a DVD ?

And I'm not sure if that this kind of device can record at broadcast quality, something that I'm really looking for. And I wonder what kind of bitrate the signal is broadcasted. Looks like it's much more higher than a DVD could support. Some channels looks crap, but others looks like an analog broadcast (without all the noise). So I think there is some serious bitrate that can't be played on any DVD Player. I'm talking about burning DVDs without re-encode, of course.

[Ishan]

Well I personnaly do what you are talking about here. I got a DVB-c card and do some recording for my own use.
I use one of the many available DVB-c card (techno trend DVB-c premium with hardware mpeg2 decoder) and one of the many dvb software (MyTheatre mainly but ProgDVB too).
The CAM thing is really a problem, I personnaly don't care much about it cause I use one of those infamous S***CAM (software decoding, I let you check for that yourself) floating around the net mainly because there's no way to do it in hardware/legal blabla. I pay for the channels I watch so don't start bitching :)

The best and cheap option would be a Technisat Cablestar2 (wich is limited to QAM64 modulation so beware), wich got no mpeg2 decoder (need a fast pc but who cares these days? even the lowest sempron 2200+ and a crappy Asrock MB can do it :) ).

If you don't like the idea of using a S***CAM, there's usualy some free channels that doesn't need any decoding. (those channels you can still watch when you remove the card)

One drawback : you'll have to find out by yourself what symbolrate/frequencies/modulation your cable provider use, they won't tell you that :)

[vigi_lante]

About "those" CAM...only one CAM can be compatible with a lot of systems ? Nagravision, Irdeto etc

Because what I need is a Irdeto CAM, but there is Irdeto 1, Irdeto 2...so, I thinking that buying one of those could be more safe, more compatible.

What encryption mode your cable company use ? You can even watch payperview channels ?

What about the recordings ? The quality is exactly the broadcast quality ? It's not possible to know the difference if it's recorded or real time broadcast ?

[kassandro]

Originally posted by Ishan

The best and cheap option would be a Technisat Cablestar2 (wich is limited to QAM64 modulation so beware), wich got no mpeg2 decoder (need a fast pc but who cares these days? even the lowest sempron 2200+ and a crappy Asrock MB can do it :) ).

If you don't like the idea of using a S***CAM, there's usualy some free channels that doesn't need any decoding. (those channels you can still watch when you remove the card)

I think vigi_lante is not from Europe (otherwise he wouldn't have these questions) and PayTV piracy is only in Europe. The Technisat Cablestar2 is the cable analog of my Technisat Skystar2, which is only for FreeTV and PayTV piracy, because it has no slot for a CI-CAM. Thus he has to go with a Technotrend DVB-S or DVB-C. However, this is not the right forum for discussing such questions, because this is a legal forum and one quickly touches illegal topics.

[kassandro]

Originally posted by vigi_lante
About "those" CAM...only one CAM can be compatible with a lot of systems ? Nagravision, Irdeto etc

Because what I need is a Irdeto CAM, but there is Irdeto 1, Irdeto 2...so, I thinking that buying one of those could be more safe, more compatible.

It's not easy, use Google to obtain more information. As far as Europe is concerned there is an abundance of information. But even the links are illegal here.


Originally posted by vigi_lante

What about the recordings ? The quality is exactly the broadcast quality ? It's not possible to know the difference if it's recorded or real time broadcast ?
Yes, usually you get exactly the DVB stream as it was broadcasted. The quality is somewhat lower than PAL-DVD, because everything, even progressive film, is broadcasted as interlaced. On the other hand it is much closer to DVD than to analog TV. In the NTSC world film must be telecined. Thus there even DVDs must be interlaced and NTSC-DVB is even closer to NTSC-DVD and worlds above analog NTSC.

[vigi_lante]

Thanks. Recording movies with broadcast quality in real time, with no additional work, sounds very exciting. It's like a dream. :)

I just can't wait to get my hands on this beauty!