Ngrab Lite for DreamBox

Ngrab is a Windows based application (run on the Windows PC) that will allow you to record from your DMxxx box to your PC. Using your remote control, you will find the DM files you require under the Blue Button ! Software Management | Downloads | Addons in your PLi software on your set top box. This is the Ngrab Start and Ngrab Stop plugins that you find under your Yellow Button when they have been installed.







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

- The following tutorial concerns the owners of the Dream Multimedia Receivers DM 500/56XX/600PVR/7000/7020 (not those of the latest DM 7025).
- The owners of the DM 500 , via the NGrab Streaming Utility , can bypass the Receiver's incapacity to support the installation of an internal Hard Disk and satisfy their data storage needs.
- The owners 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 Hard Disk 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 : Gemini Project (Enigma)

- A Windows Streaming Tool (for the Desktop PC) : "NGrab Lite v1.0.3" application (SF Team Tools Page)

- 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).
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B> PRELIMINARIES
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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 IP address of the Modem-router. It's up to you.
- Gateway : Set the Local 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 ISP

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FOR EXAMPLE :
*Router's Local Internal IP address : 192.168.1.1
*PC's Local 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 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
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C> CASE STUDY : DM 500 AND DATA STREAMING PROCEDURE (How to use the "NGrab Streaming" utility)
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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 (SF Team Tools Page) and install ("SetupNgrabLite.exe" file / Install Folder : CProgram 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 IPAddress : the DMBox's LAN IPAddress = 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.

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II> DMBox {the NGrab CLIENT} CONFIGURATIONS (Operating System based on Linux / DM 500 & GP2-v 4.30 MaxVar)
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 & Client Port must be the SAME <4000/4000 OR 6000/6000>
- Srv MAC : the PC's MAC Address. Two (2) ways to define it :
1st WAY : PRESS the BLUE BUTTON ("detect MAC Address") and the DMBox will AUTOMATICALLY recognize the PC's "Physical Address".
2nd WAY : ALTERNATIVELY , YOU CAN GET THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FROM THE PC'S LOCAL AREA CONNECTION STATUS :
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* 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.


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GENERAL REMARK : THE 2 SYSTEMS -SERVER (PC) & CLIENT (DM 500)- AFTER HAVING BEEN PROPERLY CONFIGURED (Steps I & II) , ARE FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND COMMUNICATE THE ONE WITH THE OTHER. THE "NGrab CLIENT" (the DM 500) , FROM NOW ON , DETECTS THE PC'S HARD DISK (c:/) AND CONSIDERS IT AS IF IT WERE "A DISK OF ITS OWN".
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III> DATA RECORDING PROCEDURE : 2 DIFFERENT WAYS
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- 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 ) 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 ) AND SELECT "Stop Ngrab recording".
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- 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".
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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 , BUT ON ONE (1) CRUCIAL CONDITION :
THE PC , DURING THE PERIOD OF THE "RECORDINGS SCHEDULE" , MUST ALWAYS BE ON THE RUN 24/7 (NO "SHUTDOWN ATTEMPTS" ALLOWED) , IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN "NGrab Server" < PC> AND "NGrab Client" . THAT WAY , THERE'S NO CHANCE FOR "RECORDING FAILURES".

Nota Bene :
IN ADDITION , VIA A STANDARD SOFTWARE APPLICATION (such as MSoft WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER ) ALREADY INSTALLED & ACTIVATED INTO YOUR SYSTEM (ON YOUR Windows based PC) , YOU ARE ABLE TO WATCH ON THE PC/TV MONITOR/DISPLAY THE RECORDED FILES OF YOUR CHOICE.

<--clyde added 4 Minutes and 41 Seconds later...-->

DBox2 is capable to record the video You are watching on the PC's harddisk. How can You set up the recording in a fastest way? This article helps You to do this time and nerve consuming procedure!
Prerequisits for the recording are:
-LAN connection (PC <-> DBox2)
-DBox WinServer program; You can download it here.UMP FileCenter
Follow this step-by-step setup procedure:
1. Download and install DBoxWinServer (dboxwinsvr.zip) program. Install it and start the application. You have to see the following window. Everything must to be O.K. here (marked with green color). Select "Use UDRec"

2. On the UDRec tab select "Record as TS-Stream" option. You can play back TS streams only with your DBox2!

3. On the Settings tab select the recording directory and enter your DBox2's IP address and port (port is usually 4000).

4. Save the settings and restart the server. The PC portion is configured. Now, You have to set up the recording on the DBox2 side. First step is to configure the recording device. It will be "server". Enter the server's IP Address (LAN address of your PC) and port (4000). Turn on "switch to spts mode before recording". This options controls the recording stream to be done in TS stream mode. TS streams You can read and edit on your PC with Sony Vegas and similar video editing programs.

Start DBox WinServer and start recording! It has to work. The TS streams will be created in the recording directory.

Playing back the recorded files on a DBox2
1. Now, You can play back the recorded video streams on the DBox2. First at all, You have to share the recording directory using a simple Windows share (NETBIOS services, CIFS mode). Select the directory You want to share and select "Sharing and security...".

A new window opens:

Here, select "Share this folder", and click OK. With this step, You have successfully set up a Windows share which is readable by the DBox2.
2. Mount the CIFS network volume on the DBox2.

Select CIFS as a network filesystem. Select your server's IP address, enter the share name, select the location where You want to mount it (usually /mnt/record or /mnt/movies). Select Yes if You want to be this share automatically mounted on every DBox2 boot. Enter your Windows username and password for a successfull connection to the CIFS share. Select "Mount now".
3. If everything went ok, select back, and check the informations on the screen. Here You can see the shares You have.

4. To check if the mount is active, select "Unmount network volume". You will see the active shares. If there are no shares, check the Windows side and the DBox2 sharing setup again. You will usually make mistakes on the DBox2 side.


Why we can't use direct file recording?
DBox2 offers a direct file recording as a recording device. So why to use a 3rd party program and why to not record directly to your Windows (write enabled) share folder? It is working. It creates TS files which You can play back on the DBox2. But when You start the recording, it stalls after a 10-15 sec, saying the network speed is not enough to transfer the RAW TS files! To prevent this, turn off O_SYNC in direct recording settings.

What is CIFS?
Short for Common Internet File System, a protocol that defines a standard for remote file access using millions of computers at a time. With CIFS, users with different platforms and computers can share files without having to install new software.
CIFS runs over TCP/IP but uses the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol found in Microsoft Windows for file and printer access; therefore, CIFS will allow all applications, not just Web browsers, to open and share files across the Internet.
With CIFS, changes made to a file are simultaneously saved on both the client and server side.