Record TV using NGrab, an idiot's guide (made by idiots, for idiots)

Dreambox and Dreambox-like-device users will probably have tried NFS already, but NGrab offers a more robust stream capturing alternative.

What you will need:

1. A Dreambox (or a poor imitation)
   
2. NGrab
   
3. A PC to install it on
   
4. Some disk space

I'm assuming for this part that you have added your Dreambox to your home network

Browse to the following location on your Dreambox menu:
Setup > Expert Setup > Ngrab Streaming Setup

• for "Srv IP address" enter the IP of the PC where you will be setting up NGrab
  
• then click on detect MAC address
  

Install NGrab on your PC, anywhere you like. You can download NGrab (for Windows) from here
You can run it as a normal program, or start it as a service (I can't be bothered running it as a service). To configure NGrab, start the program (or service), then right click its icon in your system tray

From there, go to:

• "Einstellungen", "dBox Einstellungen" and enter the IP address of your Dreambox
• make sure the port matches the port settings in Ngrab Streaming Setup on the Dreambox
• in "Dateisystem Einstellung", browse to the folder where you want to store your recordings
• Click OK when done

There are many other options you can play about with, but this is the bare minimum you need to get your first TV stream down on disk.

Finally, browse your EPG on your Dreambox, choose a program you want to record, hit menu, Timer, and add a timed event. Set the event type to NGrab, hit OK and off you go.

Recordings will cost you about 1GB per 40 minutes of recording.
The default format is m2p, but you can change that. I record directly onto an 8GB flash drive, so I can take it with me.
I have yet to detect a single flaw in the recordings I've made, and I don't have the latest hardware by any means.

The New Dreambox is on the way

Coming in March 2008? Maybe not...

Here's the blurb:

The DM 8000 provides pure state of the art technology: two CI slots, two DVB-S2 tuners (MPEG-4) plus two additional slots for twin tuners, which are freely selectable via plug & play depending on the reception path preferred (satellite, cable, terrestrial). In addition, the box provides a reader for CF and SD cards.

The rear panel of the Linux box provides two Scart sockets, an S-Video output as well as an HDMI and a YUV connection (up to 1080i), complemented by two USB interfaces. An additional USB connection is provided on the front panel. Of course, the box also comes equipped with a 100 Mbit full duplex network connection.

Recording and archiving of HD material is no problem at all with the Dream DM 8000. It can be optionally retrofitted with a hard drive (SATA support) as well as with a DVD burner. A Mini PCI slot as well as the large OLED display round off the full range of features.

Now when it is coming? Unveiled in May 2006, Dream-Multimedia have been frustrated by licensing problems pushing the release date further and further out. The latest is that it will be on the market in June for about €800. Until then, you'll just have to pay for SkyHD :(