Thread: HOW TO RECORD DIRECTLY FROM THE DMBox TO THE HDk OF YOUR PC

HOW TO RECORD DIRECTLY FROM THE DMBox TO THE HDk OF YOUR PC

HOW TO RECORD DIRECTLY FROM THE DMBox TO THE HARD DISK OF YOUR (Windows based) DESKTOP PC : NGrab STREAMING PROCESS SETUP

- The following tutorial concerns the owners of the DM 500/56XX/600PVR/7000/7020 Receivers (not those of the latest DM 7025).
- The ownwers of the DM 500 , via the NGrab Streaming Utility , can overpass the Receiver's incapacity to support the installation of an internal HDisk and satisfy their data storage needs.
- The ownwers of the other models (DM 56XX/600PVR/7000/7020) can always have at their disposal an alternative/extra "Data Streaming/Storaging Tool" (no limitations concerning the HD Storage Capacity).

A> NECESSARY EQUIPMENT/TOOLS FOR A LAN CONNECTION
- Modem-Router with at least 2 ethernet ports (Desktop PC + DMBox)
- Cables RJ-45 (cat. 5 or cat. 6)
- A (Windows based) Desktop PC (NGrab SERVER) with a 10/100 MBit Compatible Ethernet Interface
- DMBox 500/56XX/600/7000/7020 (NGrab CLIENT) / Firmware's Release (Version) : GP2 v 4.10
- A Windows Streaming Tool (for the Desktop PC) : "NGrab Lite v1.0.3" application (http://sfteam.anfy.cz/tools.htm)
- A Linux Streaming Tool (for the DMBox) : the application is already included in the standard list of the supported for the DMBox plugins (application already installed into the system). The User , in order to activate the DMBox's NGrab recording capabilities , has to locate and set up correctly the necessary parameters appearing in the "NGrab Server Setup Options" (Menu/Setup/Expert Setup/NGrab Streaming Setup/NGrab Server settings).

B> PRELIMINARIES

HOW TO CONNECT THE DMBox TO THE PC (LAN Connection) VIA THE MODEM-ROUTER

I> USING THE Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

i> Go to the configuration interface of your modem and ENABLE the DHCP option. The Modem-Router is now the default Internet Gateway
which acts as a DHCP Server , in order to distribute automatically to each device of the LAN (PC , DMBox) its own Local IP Address.

ii> Connect the PC and the DMBox to the modem-router , via cables RJ-45

iii> Configurations on the DMBox (DM 500/56XX/600/7000/7020)

Go to "Menu/Mainmenu/Setup/Expert setup/Communication Setup :
*ENABLE the DHCP option and CONFIRM the option "Enable Network"
*Connection Type : LAN
*Port : 80
Green button to SAVE the above configurations

iv> Configurations on the PC :

Start/Control Panel/Network Connections/Local Area Connection/Properties/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)/Properties :
- CHECK the following options : "Obtain an IP address automatically" & "Obtain DNS server address automatically"
- Go to Advanced/Default gateways : ADD the IP address of the Modem-Router

II> USING Personalized settings

- For the DMBox (DM 500/56XX/600/7000/7020)

The elements to be modified are the following :

- IP Address : Associate to the DMBoxes a Local IP address starting from 192.168.xxx.xxx , because this type of address is "private" and cannot be refound on the Network
- Nameserver : Set the Primary (Public) IP address of your ISProvider. You could also set the Local Internal <LAN> IP address of the Modem-router. It's up to you.
- Gateway : Set the Local <LAN> IP address of the Modem-router
- CHECK the option : "Enable Network"

PRESS the OK/Green button to SAVE the configutations.

- For the (Windows based) Desktop PC

Start/Control Panel/Network Connections/Local Area Connection/Properties/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)/Properties :
- CHECK the option "Use the following IP address" and set :
i> IP address : 192.168.xxx.yyy
ii> Subnetmask : BY DEFAULT , 255.255.255.0
iii> Default gateway : the Local IP address of the Modem-router (192.168.xxx.zzz)
- CHECK the option : "Use the following DNS server addresses" and set as "preferred" & "alternate" the Public IP addresses (primary and secondary) of your ISProvider

FOR EXAMPLE :
*Router's Local Internal <LAN> IP address : 192.168.1.1
*PC's Local <LAN> IP address : 192.168.1.2
*Default Gateway : 192.168.1.1 (router's LAN IP address)
*DNS server addresses : ISP's main & alternative public IP addresses OR the Router's Local IP address (192.168.1.1)
*DMBox's <DM> LAN IP address : 192.168.1.3
*Gateway : 192.168.1.1 (the router's Local IP address)
*Nameserver : 192.168.1.1 (the router's LAN IP address) OR the ISP's Primary IP address

C> CASE STUDY : DM 500 AND DATA STREAMING PROCEDURE (How to use the "NGrab Streaming" utility)

I> DESKTOP PC {the NGrab SERVER} CONFIGURATIONS (Operating System based on Windows XP)

a> Define (create) a folder named "DMBox RECORDINGS" (path of your choice) , in order to store the Data files created during the NGrab Streaming Procedure.
b> Download (http://sfteam.anfy.cz/tools.htm) and install ("SetupNgrabLite.exe" file / Install Folder : C\Program Files\"NgrabLite") the "NGrab Lite v1.0.3"
application.
c> Run the program (activate the application) : Start/All Programs/"NgrabLite" Folder/"NgrabLite" Application. The program has now added a GREEN ICON on your System Tray (NgrabLite connected to your system).
d> RIGHT Click on the PROGRAM'S ICON and SELECTION of the "Setting" Option :
* "Target Folder" : SELECT the Folder already created on the PC's Hard Disk ("c:\DMBox RECORDINGS")
* "DBox-Setting" : - DBox IP-Address : the DMBox's LAN IP-Address = 192.168.1.3
- Port (Listen-Grab) : the NGrab (Streaming) Communication Port = 4000 (standard) OR 6000

PRESS THE "OK" Option , IN ORDER TO APPLY THE NEW CONFIGURATIONS. The Windows Streaming Tool , reactivated , is now ready to use.

II> DMBox {the NGrab CLIENT} CONFIGURATIONS (Operating System based on Linux / GP2-v 4.10 Max Var)

Menu / Setup / Expert Setup / Ngrab Streaming Setup / "Ngrab Server" Options :
- Srv IP : the PC's LAN IPAddress = 192.168.1.2
- Srv Port : the NGrab (Streaming) Communication Port = 4000 (standard) OR 6000
ATTENTION : Server Port <PC> & Client Port <DMBox> must be the SAME <4000>
- Srv MAC : the PC's MAC Address. PRESS the BLUE BUTTON ("detect MAC Address") and the DMBox will AUTOMATICALLY recognize the PC's "Physical Address".
ALTERNATIVELY , YOU CAN GET THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FROM THE PC'S LOCAL AREA CONNECTION STATUS :
* Start / Control Panel / Network Connections / Local Network Connection / "Local Area Connection Status"
* Click on the "Support" tab / Click on "Details" / " Network Connection Details" : "Physical Address" (MAC Address)
After having got the information , YOU CAN MANUALLY ENTER (via THE DMBox's TELECOMMANDER) THE SERVER'S (the PC's) MAC ("Physical") ADDRESS.

GREEN BUTTON , IN ORDER TO SAVE AND APPLY THE NEW SETTINGS. The Linux Streaming Tool , reactivated , is now ready to use.

GENERAL REMARK : THE 2 SYSTEMS -SERVER (PC) & CLIENT (DM 500)- AFTER HAVING BEEN PROPERLY CONFIGURED (Steps I & II) , ARE FULLY FUNCTIONNAL AND COMMUNICATE THE ONE TO THE OTHER. THE "NGrab CLIENT" (the DM 500) , FROM NOW ON , DETECTS THE PC'S HARD DISK (c:/) AND CONSIDERS IT AS IF IT WAS "A DISK OF ITS OWN".

III> DATA RECORDING PROCEDURE : 2 DIFFERENT WAYS

- INSTANT RECORDING

* GO TO DMBox and SELECT the Channel you want to record from.
* PRESS THE YELLOW BUTTON (Plugins) OR PRESS THE BLUE BUTTON (Blue-Panel / Plugins <Tools>) AND SELECT "Start Ngrab recording".

The "NGrab Streaming" process has been activated. The data file created (file's extention ".mpg") during the process is stored on the PC's Hard Disk , right into the "NgrabLite folder" (c:\"DMBox RECORDINGS").

If you wish to TERMINATE the process , PRESS THE YELLOW BUTTON (Plugins) OR PRESS THE BLUE BUTTON (Blue-Panel / Plugins <Tools>) AND
SELECT "Stop Ngrab recording".

- RECORDING via TIMER

* GO TO DMBox and SELECT the Channel you want to record from.
* PRESS , via the telecommander , THE "Menu" Option" : SELECT "Timer" , PRESS the "OK" Button ("Timer List").
* PRESS THE "Add" (GREEN) Button , in order to DEFINE the " Year/Month/Date/Time (Beginning & Stop) & Channel" for the desired recording.
* SELECT the appropriate "Timer Type".

There are 3 Timer types : i> Switch , ii> Record DVR & iii> Ngrab. YOU MUST DEFINE the "Ngrab" as the DEFAULT "Timer type" , in order to activate the DMBox's "Ngrab streaming" capabilities.
PRESS THE GREEN ("Apply") BUTTON , IN ORDER TO SAVE THE ABOVE SETTINGS and CLOSE THE Timer Edit Window.

YOU ARE NOW READY TO SAVE YOUR RECORDINGS DIRECTLY FROM THE DMBox TO THE HARD DISK OF YOUR DESKTOP PC.
IN ADDITION , VIA A "SOFTWARE APPLICATION" ("MEDIA PLAYER" ALREADY INSTALLED AND ACTIVATED ON YOUR PC) , YOU ARE ABLE TO WATCH ON THE PC/TV MONITOR/DISPLAY THE RECORDED FILES OF YOUR CHOICE.

REMARK :
The above tutorial has been successfully tested with the following Media Players :

1> Windows Media Payer 11
2> Nero ShowTime 3 (Ahead Nero Burning Rom 7.x.x.x. Premium Edition + Nero Mega Plugin pack 1.0)
3> InterVideo WinDVD 8 Platinum
4> Elecard MPEG Player

The sound is stable and synchronised. In case you experience "Sound Problems" (no Sound Synchronisation or no Signal Sound) , download from the Official Site (Media Player's Manufacturer) and install on your PC the latest associated Audio Codecs (Plugins).