Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Part II: Advanced Hacks, Tools, and Techniques

Project Overview

This project uses a standard PC with video input and output cards to record

and play back standard NTSC video signals. We will cover how to build

a unit with just the basic time-delay recording functions, but additional

features such as live pause and a full GUI program-guide interface can be

added later. The costs should be minimal, as you probably already have an

old PC that will work well for this hack.

You will put together a PC system, load a recent version of the Linux operat-

ing system, and then load several video capture and playback utilities.

I would like to thank Russell Pavlicek for inspiring this hack. You can check

out his web site at http://www.linuxprofessionalsolutions.com/pavlicek/

tv.html.

Hardware Assembly Instructions

This project requires putting together a standard PC. You do not need to go

out and purchase the fastest PC on the market; a machine that runs at 400

MHz or faster should be sufficient for the basic functions. You may want to

get one a bit faster to ensure smooth video under all conditions.

Put together an Intel- or AMD-based PC with these components:

• 400+ MHz Celeron/AMD/Pentium processor.

• Brooktree 878-based capture card. The Pixelview PlayTV Pro card

should do the trick.

• AGP or on-board VGA video card (16-bit color depth minimum).

• PCI or on-board 10/100 Ethernet.

• A USB mouse.

• Minimum of 128 MB of memory.

• Large hard drive. I recommend at least a 60GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.

• TVator Pro. This box takes a VGA signal and converts it to a regular

TV signal. It should run about $45 and is available from http://www.

antec-inc.com/. If you have a video card that already supports NTSC

video output, you can avoid this part.

• Optional X10 video transmitter and receiver.

• Optional IR remote. This should be under $10 and would remove the

need for a USB mouse to operate the system.

• USB keyboard and VGA monitor for system build. You will remove

them for normal operation.

• Optional TV set to watch the programs.

Video Capture Cards

Almost any cheap, no-name video

capture card that says it uses the

Brooktree 878 chipset should work.

Cards with this chipset are well sup-

ported by the Video4Linux project,

upon which the software for this

system is based. The video capture

card market is very dynamic, so you

should check http://www.video4linux.

net/ before buying a card.

In general, older cards may work

better due to more mature software

drivers.

Project Overview

ch07_video.indd 130

1/21/2002 12:52:49 PM