How to connect a motorola DCH3416 to a com...

Simple question, with a multitude of complex answers... :-)

There are a couple of differnt things you can mean by "connecting", and depending on your computer platform there are a bunch of different choices. Also depending on how your local cable company behaves with a copy protection standard called 5c results will vary depending on where in the country you are.

So, to start with the basics.

For a fully featured solution you need to have some form of:

1. Input into your computer to record the video and audio

2. if you wish to have the computer act as the DVR, and not the cable box then you will need to add some control software to the computer, and also you will need to have some way of changing the channel on the cable box.

The most basic of solutions would be to purchase a video capture card / USB device which has a Video input. In the Computer based DVR world the hauppage PVR 150s are great and in expensive (Complete with hardware MPEG Encoding, trust me you want this). This with the supplied software would allow you to record the S-Video out of the box and the analog Audio into your computer.

There is not a consumer grade video capture device that will allow for recording from the HDMI port, or Component Outs.

i.e., if you want to record HDTV off this box via analog, I'm sorry. It can't be done..

unfortunately the connections on your DCH3416 rely on your service providers configuration. some companies have the software in place to allow you to display digital photos via the usb port, connect external storage arrays via usb or sata, or let you jump online via the lan port. the best bet on this issue is to contact your service provider and ask them what options are enabled on your dch and what software they offer to interface with it. your service provider should be able to assist you with any problems concerning the set top box, but as installations vary by provider, you will have to talk to them in order to make the most use of it.

if you just want to output video to your comp, you can try using the 1394 port as it is usually left enabled, your next best bet would be to purchase a tuner card or video capture card with at least an svideo input and output the set top box to the computer via one of the outputs.

hope this helps,
trin

Step 1: Remove Vista
Step 2: Install Windows XP. Does not have to be MCE
Step 3: http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/

If Vista is desired then do a Dual Boot. I was able to dual boot my HP PC preinstalled with vista with out any driver problems. Look up the mobo and not the pc to find backwards compatible drivers.

I have Vista x86 RTM.. i have tried the timmmoore drivers.. but they arent recognized when i try to "update" the missing drivers for the device..

Has anyone got this to work in Vista x86?

Did any of you actually READ the ORIGINAL question? He wants to know how to show his PC onto his TV, not vice versa.

The problem with using the composite or S-video ports from your DVR is that you lose HD quality. And the problem with using the firewire port is that you can only get the unencrypted channels.
Fortunately, a couple of consumer level products have come out recently that take advantage of a "loophole" that let you capture HD video through the component ports of your DVR. If you have a Macintosh, then the Blackmagic Video Recorder will work for you. And if you have a PC, then try the Hauppauge HD-PVR. I think the EyeTV software will support the Hauppage on the Mac.
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/videorecorder/

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html