Cable Forum - View Single Post - Recording from NTL onto laptop hard drive

Neilm · 02-05-2005, 13:37

You will need at least an external TV Tuner system which has RCA sockets for auxillary input. These all have a built-in tuner with co-ax input, but none can take a raw Cable Digital signal, due to the encryption process.

You choice will be between software, and hardware encoding TV Tuners. S/W encoders record in Windows Media Video format, but need a lot of processor power. H/W encoders use MPEG2 format, and because the encoding is done in a chip on the tuner, the processor load is low.

I use a Hauppauge WINTv USB2 tuner. This does need an external power supply (ie it can't take power from the USB port of the PC) but the results are excellent overall.

If you don't have USB 2, or don't want an externally powered device, then the WINTV USB might suffice, being a software encoder. There are other similar devices available. I can give more advice if needed!

02-05-2005, 13:37	#2
Neilm Inactive Join Date: May 2005 Location: Harlow, Essex Age: 70 Services: NTL Digital STB x3 NTL 2mb BB Posts: 8	Re: Recording from NTL onto laptop hard drive You will need at least an external TV Tuner system which has RCA sockets for auxillary input. These all have a built-in tuner with co-ax input, but none can take a raw Cable Digital signal, due to the encryption process. You choice will be between software, and hardware encoding TV Tuners. S/W encoders record in Windows Media Video format, but need a lot of processor power. H/W encoders use MPEG2 format, and because the encoding is done in a chip on the tuner, the processor load is low. I use a Hauppauge WINTv USB2 tuner. This does need an external power supply (ie it can't take power from the USB port of the PC) but the results are excellent overall. If you don't have USB 2, or don't want an externally powered device, then the WINTV USB might suffice, being a software encoder. There are other similar devices available. I can give more advice if needed!