Dreambox DM7000: Hackable DVR 161
An anonymous reader copies-and-pastes "The Dreambox DM7000 from Dream-Multimedia-Tv (DMM) is a $395 Linux-based digital radio and digital TV (DVB) satellite (or cable) receiver with digital video recorder (DVR) functions and PC connectivity. It is implemented using IBM's STB04500 set-top box chipset, which provides the necessary DVB functions like transport stream demultiplexing and MPEG2 decoding inexpensively. A minimalistic, GPL'd Linux-based software implementation has made the DM7000 popular with Linux programmers and TV device hackers."
Or just use your PC (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1, Informative)
www.mythtv.org
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:2)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1, Informative)
So, if sometime in the next 27 months,
- you decide that you want to upgrade to the latest and greatest, because lets face it, in 27 months your Tivo series 2 is going to be a dinosaur
- you decide that you don'
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:1)
Re:Or just use your PC (Score:4, Informative)
Both are fairly immature, but moderately stable. MythTV in particular is feature-rich, but most of the features don't behave quite right.
I'd recommend giving them a try, and maybe contributing of any one is interested, but I don't see any OSS replacing the TiVo quite yet.
Clickable link (Score:1, Informative)
Please use the A tag, Linux's copy and paste mechanism SUCKS, and its a PAIN IN THE ANUS to copy and paste URLs that havnen't been hyperlinked.
Re:Clickable link (Score:1)
Re:Clickable link (Score:1)
Woo (Score:2)
Rus
Re:Woo (Score:1)
Scart-interfaces? (Score:2)
Re:Scart-interfaces? (Score:1)
Who said Slashdot is too... (Score:2)
Re:Scart-interfaces? (Score:2)
it's not like they're more than few bucks. and single big connector like scart is is preferable to most consumers.. just one connector to hook up instead of 3.
Re:Scart-interfaces? (Score:1, Informative)
I reguarly watch 'NTSC' digital broadcasts without any problems, note that nothing is actually encoded in NTSC or PAL but their legacy scan rates still persist, but my TV is capable of scanning at 60Hz anyway.
Re:Scart-interfaces? (Score:2)
Europe hasn't bothered with HD television because on most standard broadcasts the gain in quality isn't significant enough. On the other hand having a nice switching system, support for inter equipment comunication and widescreen switching is.
Re:Scart-interfaces? (Score:2)
Little correction, partial GPL (Score:4, Informative)
What a flash-back
Re:Little correction, partial GPL (Score:1)
Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:5, Informative)
1. Jennifer Garner of Alias has lots of super-cute freckles.
2. Those super-cute freckles are only visible on the local HDTV broadcast.
3. This box doesn't do HDTV.
Luckily, there is an ATSC receiver [pchdtv.com] card that's for Linux only that does do HDTV. And Jennifer Garner. And her super-cute freckles. And yes, it's quite hackable, and source is included.
'nuff said.
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1)
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1, Interesting)
Btw, HDTV is on satellite DVB in Europe.
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
At the moment there are test transmissions using MPEG2 and a windows codec. There is no hardware decoder available in Europe, not as PCI card or STB.
The only thing you can do is decode it by software on your PC, if it is fast enough. The dreambox is rather old hardware (almost 2 years old) so unless they update it there won't be HDTV on this box.
I guess you could stream HDTV from the dreambox to a PC though.
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
That's what you think
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1)
Then tell me where I can buy one. Developement boxes
don't count, those are not available to the public and you won't find any until there is a standard and regukar programming.
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1)
HD = mad pixels
Mad pixels = Huge Filesize
Huge Filesize = ???
??? = profit
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
I do have a question though. Comcast is doing HDTV but I believe all the Linux HDTV cards only support over the air broadcasts. Anyone know if there are any cards that word with cable or dish HDTV broadcasts? (For those HDTV Animal Planet shows)
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
I assume this is a joke.. 8GB/hr HDTV data streams, uuencoded then fragmented onto usenet. Yeah, that must work great. A $30 UHF antenna and an HDTV PCI card does the job for me.
> Anyone know if there are any cards that word with cable or dish HDTV broadcasts?
There is a community closed source project that is enhancing the
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1, Funny)
Is that for when she first meets you?
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1)
I find it's easier to carry her using the supplied holes in the lower torso.
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1)
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:1)
I think on CATV it can run at 38Mbit/sec, but I don't know if there are any cable providers actually doing that, or cards that can capture it.
Now, bear in mind that 19Mbit is the entire channel, and broadcasters sometimes multiplex multiple programs into a single channel. For
Re:Still doesn't support HDTV *sigh* (Score:2)
Re:Hackable? (Score:1)
Re:Hackable? (Score:1)
Death to TiVo (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:2)
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:4, Informative)
The monthly/lifetime fee gets you the premium services, which are all based on having the program guide available. Well worth the cost, IMO.
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:1)
Really? I asked them about that, as I live outside of the Tivo service area, and they told me it wouldn't work.
Re:Death to TiVo (no way, Jose) (Score:1)
Re:Death to TiVo (no way, Jose) (Score:1)
Thanks. I didn't know there were any.
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:2)
I've heard this a lot on
Half the people say it's true, the other half say it's false... I won't believe it until someone posts a link to a difinitive source (like tivo.com) which say, without a doubt, it is true.
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:4, Informative)
However, at some point (around 2.3?) they changed the EULA and stated that a subscription was required to use it - at all.
They grandfathered in everyone who purchased before that date, so you can still buy a used TIVO that works without the subscription, but new ones technically require one. There may be a way to work around it on the new ones, but it's not going to be supported by TIVO.
All that being said... get the subscription. It's worth it for all the time it saves and the number of times it "catches" changes that you would miss if you had to do it all manually. If you can't stand monthly, get the lifetime and pretend the device is more expensive.
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:2)
No thinks, I'll stick with my PC. Straight to MPEG4/Divx, easy to edit commercials out, uses any remote I wish, burns CDs at will, etc. Probably costs less than the lowest-end model Tivo, with no subscription, no limitations on what I can do with it, nothing happening behind my back, no chance it will stop working if Tivo goes out of business, no tying up my phone-line, etc.
Right now I am putting in the times/dates myself, but I'm looking into w
Tivo basic (Score:2)
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:3, Insightful)
how does it cost them nothing? let's break it down:
o guide information has to come from somewhere. in tivo's case, they outsource
o bandwidth for guide information needs to come from somewhere, also outsourced
o upgrades, bug fixes, and new versions of the OS need to come from somewhere. things still cost money
it's obvious that it costs them nothing to me, how about you?
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:2)
Phone time costs (Score:1)
If everyone used home network connections to dial in, the monthly fee could drop by quite a bit. That's why some of the other boxes out there (some versions of Replay) required a broadband connection to function.
It's AMAZING how much it costs to provide a local dial in number throughout most of the US.
Re:Death to TiVo (Score:1)
Who would it hurt to let you just download the listings without a ton of horseshit, like TV guide provides a stream and specs to retrieve 'em. Use them in your homebrewed PVR, on your PDA, or whatever.
That annoys me to no end.
Where to buy one in the U.S.? (Score:2)
Does sound like a great box to play with though...
Re:Where to buy one in the U.S.? (Score:2)
Hackable (Score:3, Informative)
Each vendor has their own proprietary encryption format (for the content) and will only work with QPSK and QAM headend equipment that they manufacture. There is very little unencrypted content on CATV networks as digital service is generally an extra charge service. You also need to be provisioned in their billing system.
I suspect that the hackability of this unit stops at controlling the behavior of the device. I would be very surprised if anyone managed to receive free pay services the way those who built sync inverters, tone strippers, etc to receive free analog pay channels.
Please let me know if anyone has success!
Re:Hackable (Score:2, Informative)
Each vendor has their own proprietary encryption format (for the content) and will only work with QPSK and QAM headend equipment that they manufacture.
I thought that's what the CAM was for? I am probably being overly naive about the whole procedure but I had throught that the system provided the CAM with the questions, the CAM responded with the answers (typical ZK tests) and if the answer was correct the signal came through. I know that the CAMs are relatively low-speed devices (if you pull the CAM o
Re:Hackable (Score:1)
I didn't say that you couldn't hack the unit ala videocipher for SAT broadcasts. I said I'd be surprised if you could receive on most cable networks. It WOULD be wonderful if the card reader could provide you the necessary keys to decrypt the signal. The cable industry itself desparately wants an open standards based set
Hackable != Stealing. (Score:1)
Just think: A SHAREWARE/OSS Market for Television. i.e., apps start springing up that are designed specifically to help you manage your television viewing experience.
I'd like to write an app which strips the laugh-track, for instance. Does this thing have the DSP for it?
Why? Because when you strip the laugh track, you can peer directly into the propaganda and social agenda of most modern television shows without bein
No limits at all (Score:1)
But hackers are releaseing their own versions, which support almost all types of subscription cards (via2, seca2, irdeto, crypto, conax etc.) in the built in card slots.
The scrambling systems are also completely hacked, so there is a software cam and software card in the firmware, and you can receive all hacked channels for free (need no CAM, no card). If you don't have management keys, just go to
Did they like read minds or something? (Score:2, Funny)
* It should run Linux, of course.
* It has to connect to my PC so I can write all those recorded movies to DVD-R.
* Oh yeah, and a satellite or cable decoder, so I can HAX0RS it and "share" free movies and stuff.
* And I'm sure the hard drive won't be big enough, so I sh
Can I connect it to my Mac? (Score:2)
Re:Can I connect it to my Mac? (Score:1)
Wait a minute.. (Score:2)
$400 without a harddrive!? Can't you build a small AMD PC for the same price, with a 80GB hard drive?
Re:Wait a minute.. (Score:1)
Re:Wait a minute.. (Score:3, Interesting)
Irrelavant, as "HDTV" is nowhere to be found in that article. Therefore I assume it doesn't support it. I can configure a PC with a standard TV tuner and MythTV for about the same price. Granted, I don't get a remote, but I get a lot more functionality.
I can appreciate the "proof of concept" of these packaged Linux DVR boxes, but the manufacturers are not offering anything "above and beyond" for the re
Re:Wait a minute.. (Score:2)
Re:Wait a minute.. (Score:2, Funny)
But thats like saying (car ad): It can go places with an internal motor (not included)
I mean, I can always get inside and listen to the radio, but...
Re:NO YOU CANT! (Score:2)
Case..... $100
AMD Processor $100
Motherboard $100
512 MB ram $100
80Gb hard drive $150
Linux Distro $50 (or $50 in bandwidth bills if you want to apt-get shit)
Total : $600! Conclusion! SHUT UP NERD!
-----
Case & 350W PS $50
AMD Processor $70
Motherboard $60
256MB ram $40
80GB HD $80
Linux CD $8
Total: $308
-----
Now add a TV tuner for ~$50, NIC for $10, and mouse/KB for $15 and you have a complete PC that you can use for DVR, email, browsing, writing, music, etc for the sa
Features (Score:2)
Anyway, it seems interesting. I'd be interested if I was more sure of it's capability. I keep seeing things come out that do a few things here
I know just what's going to happen to this... (Score:2)
The cards are on the table, lets see if they bluff or if they throw down their hand.
But they COULD embrace it. (Score:2)
"Your DVD player is readily and easily modifyable to illegally recieve our signal, decrypt it, and use it as a replacement for our and other recievers. Your buisness is illegal, we'll sue."
Alternatively they could embrace it - by licensing a manufacturer to make a closed (and sealed) plugin to hold a smartcard (or whatever), manage authorization messages from the downlink, and decrypt the signal.
This would be an especially good move for Dish Network (which do
Sharing decoder-cards (Score:1)
Or, hack your TiVo - A challenge is more fun.. (Score:3, Insightful)
There's a reason that TiVo is the most popular. The user interface is a pleasure to use. A lot of the fun of hacking your TiVo is that you're making that cool box better..
Plus, there's something unexplainably more-fun-than-it-should-be about modifying a device that wasn't designed for it..
If you want to play around with this but still want to be able to enjoy a great DVR, consider buying a TiVo to hack instead (or hacking the TiVo you already have).
Might I also humbly sugest picking up a copy of the book Hacking TiVo [amazon.com] , which ships next week. (In all fairness, I am the author, so I might have a bit of a bias). You can also go to the web on your own to find everything, but this acts as a nice guide from your initial tinkering through to the development of your own hacks.
Hacking this device instead could definitely be interesting - it's just sad that you'd be stuck using it if it was your only DVR.
Re:Or, hack your TiVo - A challenge is more fun.. (Score:1)
Re:Or, hack your TiVo - A challenge is more fun.. (Score:2)
Re:Or, hack your TiVo - A challenge is more fun.. (Score:1)
USB what? (Score:2)
USB:
USB 1.2 connector
Uh... I've never heard of USB 1.2. Can someone shed some light on this mysterious standard? Also, is it full speed, high speed, ultra-high speed or l33t speed?
Work with DISH networks (Score:2)
I was intrigued but wanting more information.
Also, I notice Comcast is finally doing HDTV feeds. How do HDTV cards handle that? I assume they don't include software/controls for handling channel switching easily. (I recognize that the box that is the topic of this art
Re:Work with DISH networks (Score:2)
-psy
Re:Work with DISH networks (Score:2)
Re:Work with DISH networks (Score:2)
-psy
Re:Work with DISH networks (Score:2)
Unfortunately there are not many that offer SCART connectors. IMHO they are the best solution. Who wants to use those flimsy RCA connectors or even worse: S-video? I want many RGB video connections.
It seems the US video world has invented something incompatible with the industry standard RGB: component video. Probably to force the customer to buy new stuff.
Has a few limitations... (Score:2)
While they work fine for notebooks, they do not have the capacity of 3.5" HDDs, nor the speed, nor the durability you want in something that is going to be spinning constantly for long periods of time. Even though I appreciate the power savings, I wouldn't use 2.5" in anything unless it's meant to be mobile, and that's obviously not the case with this thing.
Not that it matters too much to me. I'm here in NTSC
Hackable, or Hackworthy (Score:2)
For the majority of readers who are not hackish, that means that having hacked it, you can make it do cool stuff that the original designers not only didn't think of, but never would have in a million years. It's even better if the next regular release does that stuff too.
earth to ummm.... (Score:1)
I'll be flamed for saying this, but I hope this $400 Linux DVR goes no where... except down in price. Call me when it hits $199.
What is the difference.... (Score:2)
I think too many acronyms are being thrown around here.
Couldn't find anything about program guides... (Score:2)
How about Tivo features like "record all Star Trek Enterprise" shows...?
I'd love one... if it has these features!
MadCow
Re:Couldn't find anything about program guides... (Score:2)
It cannot record anything from external sources.
It has access to program guides transmitted in DVB, but most program guides cover only the current/next program and sometimes a couple of days. When there is a program guide, it can record an item from it. But only when you can select the item at the time you program the recording (there is no "record all items that have star trek in the title" function. of course you c
Where's the dual tuners? (Score:2)
Record two shows at once, while playing back a 3rd from it's HDD.
I know people want to "hack a PVR"*** but really, when the most basic of features are missing, it's not really worth all the fuss. Especially not worth the money they are charging.
Yeah, it runs Linux. I've got several PC's doing that now, and they do what I need them to do. I've also got a UTV PVR that does more than these over-priced things will e
Re:Is this a drop in replacement for my JVC (Score:1)
Dish and DirecTV have proprietary delivery mechanisms and lock out all receiver equipment that they haven't agreed too. And they exert that control in great detail.
Of course, that makes it easier for their tech support people....
Re:obligatory, but shoot me now.. (Score:2)