TiVo without TV?

[sschlich]

I have some rare video (kinescopes from the 1950s) that I want to preserve on a hard drive, and I wonder if a TiVo would be suitable for that. Can I buy a used TiVo and not sign up for any service, just use it as a tapeless VCR? If the answer is yes, are some flavors of TiVo better than others? For example, someone is offering a DirecTV TiVo but saying that it won't function without an active card.

I know it sounds crazy--a TiVo without the service that is the whole point of owning one--but that's what I want. At least for now!

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Steve Schlich

[bpurcell]

From what I know, you cannot transfer movies into a Tivo with only basic service. Besides, wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy a hard drive specifically for the videos?

[alansplace]

just use it as a tapeless VCR?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Steve Schlichsteve....i recommend that you check out the Toshiba RD-XS32 listed on this page with 4 other units that also fit what you are asking for at overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com/?PAGE=CATLIST&PRO_SUB_CAT=2166&PRO_SSUB_CAT=12945). i use the RD-XS32 personally. all the listed units have dvd burners as well as hard drives and they all work like vcr/dvd combos except that the vcr is repaced by a hard drive.
--
Alan :D

[moyekj]

Sounds like all you need is an analog (NTSC) PC capture card. You feed it VCR output - composite or S-video for video and stereo for audio and it will encode to an mpeg2 file on your hard drive. Certainly a cheaper way to go especially if you already have a PC at home.

[ZeoTiVo]

yep - the above replies are spot on. A TiVo is not what you need for preserving them.

Now if you do get them onto a PC and in mpeg2 format - then using TiVoToComeback with a TiVo on your TV will make for a very nice playback device along with being able to record and archive regualr shows. This would require the subscription though.

[gastrof]

I wouldn't preserve anything on a hard drive, at least not for permanent storage. Hard drives can die, and unless you have a backup already, your stored material is GONE.

I say put them on DVD.

Better yet, do both.

Keep the original too, because once High Def DVD recording is possible, that'd allow you to preserve even MORE of the original.

[sschlich]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. Be assured, I am backing up in ALL media possible. I followed Alan's advice and ordered a Toshiba RD-XS32. Exactly what I was seeking!

[mattack]

steve....i recommend that you check out the Toshiba RD-XS32 listed on this page with 4 other units that also fit what you are asking for at overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com/?PAGE=CATLIST&PRO_SUB_CAT=2166&PRO_SSUB_CAT=12945). i use the RD-XS32 personally. all the listed units have dvd burners as well as hard drives and they all work like vcr/dvd combos except that the vcr is repaced by a hard drive.
--
Alan :D

Damn, and I paid about $400 for the same one. (I actually ended up hosing the XS32 drive one time when it hung on me.. I still have a backup of the drive in hopes I can somehow recover some of it someday..)

I really wish Tivo had editing/multi-session capability, but they don't, so that's why I bought this to use along with my two Tivos.

[sschlich]

[QUOTE=mattack](I actually ended up hosing the XS32 drive one time when it hung on me.. I still have a backup of the drive in hopes I can somehow recover some of it someday..)

How do you back up the XS32 drive? I'm realizing that I will eventually need more than 160GB, and looking for a way to store "offline." I love all the Xs32's functionality, but operating it--especially "typing" names--is byzantine. If I could only connecvt it to my computer!

[davezatz]

How do you back up the XS32 drive?

It has a built-in DVD burner.

Instead of using that box, you could also get a card or accessory for a PC and do all your recording, editing, labeling, archiving there. Probably takes a little more knowledge and effort, but you have more power and flexibility.

[mattack]

How do you back up the XS32 drive? I'm realizing that I will eventually need more than 160GB, and looking for a way to store "offline." I love all the Xs32's functionality, but operating it--especially "typing" names--is byzantine. If I could only connecvt it to my computer!


Umm, the XS32 has only an 80 meg drive, and you can't just put in any other drive..

I "backed up" the drive by simply using the UNIX command dd to copy to another drive.. I even paid $40 or so off eBay to buy an *almost* identical Seagate drive hoping it would work in the XS32.. But the machine is locked to the exact drive or something.
(But I still wanted to keep a copy of the DATA in case someone figures out how to get the files off/repair it some eon.)

Though the hard drive is almost full again, I'm hoping to empty a lot of stuff off this summer, and possibly even reformat it at some point..

[Adam1115]

Umm, the XS32 has only an 80 meg drive, and you can't just put in any other drive.

only 80 MEGS?? Who on earth would market a DVR that can only record 80 minutes of programming.

I guess you can at least get on 60 minute show on there... better watch it quick!

[davezatz]

It's 80GB. I don't know how many minutes/hours that equates to.