USB capture device with hardware encoding

[TomR]

I wondering if there is a USB capture device the does hardware encoding.

I only have 1 PCI slot (small form Dell) and I want to be able to capture the output from 2 STBs. I think the CPU is a little underpowers so I would prefer to have hardware encoding.

Thanks for any suggestions on how I would be able to capture from 2 STBs.

[martint123]

I use a Hauppauge PVR USB2 plug in and it works just the same as a PCI slot PVR150 except that it has no IR blaster. MPG compression built-in. RF, s-video and RCA composite inputs. http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/d...rusb2.html
(hmmm - connections may be different between US and UK models?)

2 STBs - that depends if you want to be able to record both simultaneously or not.
If yes, then you need two capture devices, if not then a capture device with two inputs would do it.

[TomR]

Yes I want to be able to record from both (or record from one and Live TV on the other), so yes I would need 2 capture devices. It appears that the Hauppauge PVR USB2 is no longer available and has been replaced with the WinTV-HVR-1950.

Unfortunately, the cost of these units ($175 CDN) would make this not feasible. For $350 I can get a new computer with more PCI slots (not a small form case).

Any other suggestions out there? Or am I out of luck?

[jam_zhou]

I have the adaptec 3610...it's dual tuner with an MCE remote all in one (comes with two blasters too). No complaints really...but I think there's a difference in quality from my pvr150. It's not officially supported in XP but the HP drivers work perfectly for it. I've been using it for almost a year with no problems.

[TomR]

It looks like this product is obsolete, at least according to Adaptec's site http://cms.adaptec.com/en-US/support/_eo.../AVC-3610/ .

I was able to find one listed on Amazon.com but unfortunnately they do not ship to Canada. Any suggestion on where I can get one?

What are you connecting to the 3610? I want to be able to connect 2 BEV STBs (standard def.)

[Carlito]

I just ordered one (to canada) off of e-bay. Might be worth a look on there.

[TomR]

What do you or are you going to be connecting to the inputs?

[jam_zhou]

I am using standard TV for simplicity...when it comes time to switch I'll probably use my PVR150.

I got mine used on Kijiji for $50 so I really lucked...the guy bought it in the states and decided not to use it - it was unopened.

If you work for a company that has an office in the states, maybe you can get it shipped there and have it shipped to you internally?

Good luck with your search.

[Carlito]

I'll be using mine for standard analogue tv along with my pvr150 that I've had now for a couple years. When it comes time to switch I'll probably hook up the blasters to a couple STB's and connect them that way.