Pick of the Week - Nov 10 [Show all picks]
Path Finder 5 - A feature-laden Finder replacement
Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsFAQHeadlinesRSS
12,000 hints and counting!

A Python-based DVR for FireWire cable boxes Other Hardware
I wrote a nifty little Python module (for OS X only) that allows you to control and record FireWire-connected cable boxes such as the new ones from Comcast! It's simple code, and this post contains a ton of information about how it works and how to use it.

[robg adds: I don't have cable, so I can't test this one ... in glancing at the page, though, it's clearly a CLI-only tool at present, though Ken states he has a close-to-ready GUI to use with it. This older hint provides another option for recording from FireWire cable boxes.]
    •    
  • Currently 0.00 / 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  (0 votes cast)
 
[7,150 views]  

A Python-based DVR for FireWire cable boxes | 9 comments | Create New Account
Click here to return to the 'A Python-based DVR for FireWire cable boxes' hint
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
i can use this, thanx:-)
Authored by: airdrummer on Sat, Feb 14 2009 at 10:23AM PST
i'll see if i can use it to control my samsung f/w tuner...i've been using VirtualDVHS.app since i got my sammy >3yrs ago, recording OTA, but never saw any upstream control api...

i control the tuner (as well as the tv) thru iRed/irTrans blaster, and since all those are applescriptable (the apps, not the h/w;-) i taught myself a/s & wrote some background apps to tie them all together...

i use titantv's .tvpi to schedule recordings...and since i use cron, i can just switch to your cli:-)

[ Reply to This | # ]

wish i could use this...
Authored by: airdrummer on Tue, Feb 17 2009 at 7:36AM PST
ok, i installed, but:

ap2cl23:/Library/Frameworks wiblete$ python
Python 2.6.1 (r261:67515, Jan 9 2009, 10:29:22)
[GCC 4.0.1 (Apple Computer, Inc. build 5367)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import avc
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/lib/python2.6/site-packages/avc/__init__.py", line 1, in <module>
from capture import AVCCaptureInterface, AVCCaptureDevice, AVCCaptureException
File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/lib/python2.6/site-packages/avc/capture.py", line 1, in <module>
import objc
ImportError: No module named objc
>>> ^D
ap2cl23:/Library/Frameworks wiblete$ ls -l
total 0
drwxrwxr-x 5 root admin 170 Feb 17 10:20 AVCCapture.framework
drwxr-xr-x 6 wiblete wiblete 204 Feb 17 10:23 AVCVideoServices.framework
drwxr-xr-x 5 root admin 170 Sep 2 2006 DivX Toolkit.framework
drwxr-xr-x 6 wiblete admin 204 Dec 23 08:59 Python.framework
ap2cl23:/Library/Frameworks wiblete$

oops gotta install pyobj...fat chance:
http://svn.red-bean.com/pyobjc/branches/pyobjc-1.4-branch/Installer%20Package/10.4/Resources/InstallationCheck

is garronteeed 2 fail:-( 10.5 only?


[ Reply to This | # ]
like pulling teeth:-P
Authored by: airdrummer on Tue, Feb 17 2009 at 10:23AM PST
i finally got pyobj pulled down from svn, no ez_setup...
installed easy_install (setuptools...egg, still no ez_setup...!@#$%%%%&^%#$
finally pulled ez_setup.py into pyobj/, python setup.py installs a buncha stuff, then builds against 10.3??? ( build/temp.macosx-10.3-ppc-2.6/) oh, well, if it don't care i don't;-) build's running...film@11

[ Reply to This | # ]
finally!!!
Authored by: airdrummer on Wed, Feb 18 2009 at 6:15AM PST
got pyobjc built & installed @ work, now i just gotta get it working @ home (where my f/w tuner is;-)

[ Reply to This | # ]
it works, but...
Authored by: airdrummer on Fri, Feb 20 2009 at 6:20AM PST
it recognizes my sammy tuner, but all it can do is record, no channel-changing.

guess i'll stick w/ my applescripts;-)

[ Reply to This | # ]
A Python-based DVR for FireWire cable boxes
Authored by: QRM on Sat, Feb 14 2009 at 4:37PM PST
The older hint (linked by robg), works like a charm with my Verizon FIOS Motorola box. Captured video is 1920 x 1088 and was about 100MB per minute.

[ Reply to This | # ]
clover?
Authored by: airdrummer on Mon, Feb 16 2009 at 4:41AM PST
i d/l'd that, but the .pkg is 10.5 only:-( ripping it open, the clover executable is intel only:-( the clover0.1 is src, how 'bout 0.2?

[ Reply to This | # ]
0.1 xcode build error
Authored by: airdrummer on Mon, Feb 16 2009 at 4:52AM PST
missing dependency: SDK package clover-0.1/macosx10.5:-(


[ Reply to This | # ]
build succeded, but...
Authored by: airdrummer on Tue, Feb 17 2009 at 7:14AM PST
no executable:-(

[ Reply to This | # ]