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Elgato - Video Capture ??

1K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  18m2 
#1 ·
I have been reading on the web site and wondering if there are users who could answer my question.

I receive signal from Shaw. With the Video Capture unit, can I capture/record to my MacBook Pro and transfer to iTunes and then playback via airplay to television ??

Or, is this just my hopeful understanding.

My set top box is not PVR included unit.

April is start of season 4 of G of T...would like some choices.
 
#2 ·
I am not sure about Shaw boxes, but I have the non PVR Bell Satellite receivers and they all have a USB port in the rear. I simply buy a cheap external 500 GB USB HD and plug it into the boxes. It looks to me like you can according to this Shaw page: Using external hard drives with your PVR - Shaw Direct

Then each box becomes a PVR (with the exception that you cannot watch another channel while recording a show). No biggie for me as the reason I record a show is that I cannot be there to watch it live. The PVR functions on the remote all work fine once the USB external HD is plugged into the receiver.

If Shaw boxes work the same way, and it looks to me like they do, you can replay the shows whenever you want right on your TV with no need to involve your MBP at all. Check the receiver for that USB port, it may be the answer to your issue.
 
#3 ·
This may not suit your needs,

I have an Eyetv 250 and record various OTA TV programs - saving to a dedicated HD. I then edit the file to remove the ads etc then convert to iTunes using Toast, then burn some of them to a Dvd. My only problem is making sure to set the guide to record the next episode of my favourite shows.

I also archive some of my old VCR tapes without any problems (you will require a VCR with the appropriate ports). - the picture quality is as good or better than the original analog Tv picture.

We view the recordings on TV using an ATV2
 
#4 ·
Thank you Sinc

My HD shaw satellite receiver has a USB Port (reserved for future use) on front

on back: Serial port (reserved for future use)
and a Ethernet RJ45 Cable (reserved for future use)

the last one sounds familiar FTA upgrades ?

The Shaw page you linked me to, suggests I need a SATA cable.

I need to find my receiver's booklet and do more reading.

thanks again
 
#6 ·
Sinc, One more question if you have time:

Would it make sense to do a Mac format or buy a portable HD that was labeled for Mac ? I was thinking that I could save my current movies/tv shows from iTunes if for whatever reasons the USB port on my satellite receiver did not work.

Do you transfer recorded shows to iTunes or just keep them on the portable hard drives and buy another when full ?

again, thank you
 
#7 ·
Sadly, the capture you get on either Shaw or Bell is not Mac compatible. Buy any external you find on sale, then when you plug it into the receiver, the software in the receiver itself will format the hard drive to work. As I mentioned, it has NOTHING to do with your Mac. I use it until full and then either erase viewed shows to create more space, or buy a new HD. If that is the way you are going, better to buy a bigger external HD. Check Costco if you have one, they often have good buys. Bottom line is to forget about trying anything to do with your Mac, it is just not doable. That is why your satellite receiver did not work. You cannot play Shaw (or Bell) recorded shows on a Mac, period

It's an all Shaw system. Using the Mac, any Mac, is out of the question with this method.

I store my entire movies and music collection on an external HD using iTunes to save space on my laptop and I can play it through iTunes using an HDMI adapter and cable. I have had zero success with airplay and frankly gave up on it in favour of the HDMI feed since my laptop is in close proximity to my Samsung smart TV in both my motor home and my office and it works for me. YMMV.
 
#8 ·
I like the elgato's eyetv 250 and have used it successfully for video capture. It ran perfectly when we had a cable provider. However when we switched to Telus the control for channel selection stopped working because the only signal I could use came out of the Telus non-PVR box. To enact a channel change I have to change channels on the PVR. I also use the device to process 8 mm analogue tape to digital using a Sony 8 mm playback unit and a VHS recorder.
 
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