Tivo to Computer or DVD?

[robbins]

I want to somehow take a few shows that are on my Tivo and burn them to a DVD that can be watched on the computer or possibly the TV. Here is the thing...I want to do this as cheap as possible.

Here is my setup:
Tivo Series 2 Standalone Box

Home Desktop Computer with a high speed cable connection...We only have 1 computer so we don't have any routers or wireless internet or anything like that, just a computer with high speed cable internet. We also have a DVD burner on our computer.

How can I take stuff off of my Tivo and burn to a DVD or put on my computer?

Thanks in advance!

[dtreese]

cheapest way possible would be to get a router & a usb-cat5 adapter & some cat5 cable. Hook your computer & TiVo both to the router. Use some free software to burn to dvd. There's even software that will trim commercials for you, but that costs a little $.

[simonalope]

Actually, putting a second NIC in your computer and then running crossover ethernet cable to your TiVo is probably even cheaper - you can usually find an ethernet card for a desktop for all of $10, or often free after rebate.

[filburt1]

Actually, putting a second NIC in your computer and then running crossover ethernet cable to your TiVo is probably even cheaper - you can usually find an ethernet card for a desktop for all of $10, or often free after rebate.
It would require that your computer be on 24/7, though, for the TiVo to do other things like download guide data and check for remote scheduling. A router can be had for less than $10, and a non-crappy router for $20.

[Hokie-Dave]

Hmmm.. Maybe I haven't been looking around enough, but what freeware will make a video DVD? All the ones I've seen only write data.

thanks,
dave


cheapest way possible would be to get a router & a usb-cat5 adapter & some cat5 cable. Hook your computer & TiVo both to the router. Use some free software to burn to dvd. There's even software that will trim commercials for you, but that costs a little $.

[robbins]

Thanks for the replies...It sounds like all I need to do is get a cheap Router and plug a cat 5 cable from the computer to the router and from the tivo to the router?

Any cheap Router recommendations? I did a search and I've seen routers over $100. What do I need in a router to make this happen? Maybe someone could suggest an example?

Thanks!

[dtreese]

DVDStyler is free authoring software. Another step can be done for free, but isn't discussed here.

[Hokie-Dave]

I just bought a Netgear WRT624 wireless router for $49 the other week at Circuit City and couldn't be happier with it. Since then, I've also run Cat 5 to a couple rooms in my house and don't run wirelessly that often anymore, but still have that router incase I want to work with my laptop from work w/o plugging it in. If you never plan on needing the wireless part of the router, you can find some even less expensive ones.

Something like that and a $29 USB wired ethernet adapter (Linksys 200M v2 if you've got 7.2.2) is really all you'll need.

dave

[dtreese]

http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/product_info.asp?product_code=310378&pfp=cat3

This is just one example of a fairly inexpensive router. You can go cheaper, if you want to.

You'll also need an adapter like this:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=298426&pfp=cat3
to get TiVo hooked into the network. This particular one is what I use -- it is excellent. It works far better for me than the wireless routers/wired adapters I have used in the past. It also works ok with the 7.2.2 system upgrade (not all wired adapters do).

[robbins]

http://www.compusa.com/adproducts/product_info.asp?product_code=310378&pfp=cat3

This is just one example of a fairly inexpensive router. You can go cheaper, if you want to.

You'll also need an adapter like this:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=298426&pfp=cat3
to get TiVo hooked into the network. This particular one is what I use -- it is excellent. It works far better for me than the wireless routers/wired adapters I have used in the past. It also works ok with the 7.2.2 system upgrade (not all wired adapters do).

Thanks for the great examples. One question...I did not see that Dlink 524 router on the approved Tivo list...does anyone have this and are you sure it works?

[Hokie-Dave]

You will need a wireless router and a wireless adapter for your TiVo as well. Any number of routers will work, I've used Linksys and Netgear routers and have been happy with them. You just need one that will transmit 802.11g which is what the majority of them will do. As far as the adapter for your TiVo is concerned, I see alot of people recommending the TiVo branded adapter that TiVo sells directly. It is rumored to be the fastest of the bunch out there and I think it sell for about $50.

The router thats dtreasse linked to for $29 will work since it is a wireless one. As far as the adapter goes, you'll need one that is compatible which are hard to find or the one like I stated earlier that is sold by TiVo.

dave


Thanks for the great examples. One question...what does that adapter connect to? Does it have to be a longer cable beacuse our TV and computer are in seperate rooms?

[Hokie-Dave]

I don't think there is a list of approved routers, any router that transmits 802.11g as I stated should work without a problem.

dave


Thanks for the great examples. One question...I did not see that Dlink 524 router on the approved Tivo list...does anyone have this and are you sure it works?

[dtreese]

ANY router will work. It just sends signals from one place to another. It's the USB to RJ-45 (ethernet) adapter that you need to make sure works with TiVo.

[robbins]

ok, I thnk I get it. Just to make sure:

1. I will buy the DLINK 524 Router and Netgear FA120 Adapter
2. I will connect my cable modem to my router and router to my PC's ethernet card via a wired connection.
3. I will connect the Netgear FA120 to my Tivo USB port...this adapter is not physically connected to the router or anything except the Tivo.
4. I then set everything up via software etc...

Is that all there is to it? I want to make sure I am not missing anything.

Thanks everyone!

[classicsat]

You connect the FA120 to your router also.

[robbins]

Actually, putting a second NIC in your computer and then running crossover ethernet cable to your TiVo is probably even cheaper - you can usually find an ethernet card for a desktop for all of $10, or often free after rebate.

Wow, I missed this post earlier on. This seems like the cheapest solution...getting another NIC and some cable that connects to the Tivo...very interesting...I imagine the transfer speeds would be pretty good. If I did this, would I also be able to download shows to my PC via html?

Is there anything you can't do with this setup that you can do with a router and adapter?

If I get all of the funcionality from this setup then I might go that route...as long as I want to keep my computer on 24x7. I take it any old NIC would do?