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Heymbit · Nov 9, 2007, 03:08 PM

I've looked everywhere and can't find an answer to this question, so here's my story.

I like watching stuff on Comedy Central, Adult Swim, Sci-Fi, FOX, NBC, and more. I want to be able to record these shows, mainly so I can watch them a million gillion times. So, can the EyeTV do this (one of the models). I don't just want to watch and record SDTV, but also HDTV shows. I've heard about an HD Antenna, or something like that, and am completely clueless. Also, what's Free-View/Over the Air? Stuff like Channels 2,3,4, etc? I want something that can record shows on networks like Spike, SciFi, Adult Swim (technically Cartoon Network), HD Channels, basically everything. Also, I have Comcast now, but am switching to FiOS when it becomes available, so I'd love to know if EyeTV is compatible with both, or at the least FiOs.

analogika · Nov 9, 2007, 03:59 PM

Elgato's current hardware supports HDTV. The eyeTV software does, regardless of attached hardware.

I don't know anything about your channels or cable contracts, I'm afraid, so I can't help you there.

Heymbit · Nov 15, 2007, 05:32 PM

Can someone please answer the question about Adult Swim, Sci-Fi, and others? That's pretty much all I watch so if I can't record it, then I have little need for the program

BLAZE_MkIV · Nov 16, 2007, 09:24 AM

Theres one cable card ready tuner for PCs that I know of made by ATi. They make QAM tuners but that won't for cable only broadcast. That leaves you with analog cable only tuners. All of this info is available on their website BTW.

eyadams · Nov 16, 2007, 11:44 AM

Can someone please answer the question about Adult Swim, Sci-Fi, and others? That's pretty much all I watch so if I can't record it, then I have little need for the program

We're not being mean: there's no way for any of us can tell you for sure whether or not you'll be able to record those channels. In the simplest terms, if your cable company is sending those channels out unencrypted (in what's called "clear QAM"), you'll be able to record them. If not, you won't.

If you already have a high definition, cable ready television, you can figure this out for yourself. Instead of plugging the cable into your provider's cable box, plug it directly into the TV. If you can watch your channels, you'll probably be able to record them with an EyeTV. If you only get them in standard definition, that's what the EyeTV will get. If you don't get any of them, there's nothing the EyeTV can do.

Good luck.

analogika · Nov 16, 2007, 04:01 PM

IIRC, at least one Elgato product supports encrypted video.

BLAZE_MkIV · Nov 17, 2007, 12:00 PM

The european one right?

analogika · Nov 17, 2007, 02:11 PM

Which "European" one?

European encrypted video?

Or do you mean European Elgato (yes, they're based in Munich). 'Cuz here in Europe, we have at least six different Elgato eyeTV models available.

*looks up website* Seven, in fact.

This one (U.S. version) looks to fit the bill: Elgato Systems EyeTV 610

Plus, it has this nice little tidbit:

PayTV
To receive PayTV on EyeTV 610, all you need is a compatible combination of CAM (Conditional Access Module) and a PayTV subscription SmartCard. Please check with your PayTV provider to ensure that it supports third-party standard CI receivers. A few providers, such as NTL and Telewest in the UK as well as NOOS in France, do not.

Edit: Check out the Elgato Product Comparison Chart

BLAZE_MkIV · Nov 17, 2007, 02:42 PM

Yes thats the one I was thinking of. DVB-C is european not US as far as I can determine.

Heymbit · Nov 29, 2007, 05:26 PM

Ok, I should ask this then.

When I hook up my computer to my comcast cable box (from Motorola) via a firewire cable, I use a program called AVCVideoCap. When I try to record programs from channels like ABC, NBC (aka free channels in America) I get Copy Freely. Those copy to my mac well, and I enjoy them. I get the same results from Spike and HGTV. However, when I try to record from Adult Swim, Sci-Fi, TNT, Comedy Central, or other awesome stations, I get Copy Once. Afterward, I get a file on my harddrive with no video or audio, aka a failed recording. So here's my question. Can EyeTV successfully record both Copy Freely and Copy Once channels, or only Copy Freely? Because if it can only do Copy Freely, then I'm not paying for what I can get for free.