DVR Download to PC

[goodka24]

I've read so many threads about how to download to your computer - my eyes are burning.

I know I'm asking a repeated question, but I want to stop searching if I am unable to download my recordings to my PC.

I have DirecTV, Hughes SD-DVR40. Am I able to get my shows from my DVR to my computer? If so, what do I need? And how do I do it? In your opinion what is the best way to accomplish this? (I don't think I can hack my Tivo, so that is not an option.)

I really appreciate anyone helping me.

[litzdog911]

Without hacking you cannot "download" your Tivo's recordings to your PC. If your PC has a video capture card and software, though, you can "record" your Tivo's shows from the Tivo to your PC. Connect the Tivo to your PC's video capture inputs just like you would connect a VCR.

[Dkerr24]

If you were to hack your Tivo with the 'zipper', then you just connect your Tivo to your home network via a USB to Ethernet connector and download the mpeg2 files to your PC using programs available (TyTools is the one I use).

The zipper unlocks the encoding on the Tivo, and any programs recorded after that encoding is removed are no longer 'locked'... they will play back as regular mpeg2 files on a PC. Files recorded by the Tivo BEFORE the zipper is applied are still locked and cannot be copied. I know, I tried :(

Once on your pc, you can watch them or burn them to DVD.

[roydarc]

If you were to hack your Tivo with the 'zipper', then you just connect your Tivo to your home network via a USB to Ethernet connector and download the mpeg2 files to your PC using programs available (TyTools is the one I use).

The zipper unlocks the encoding on the Tivo, and any programs recorded after that encoding is removed are no longer 'locked'... they will play back as regular mpeg2 files on a PC. Files recorded by the Tivo BEFORE the zipper is applied are still locked and cannot be copied. I know, I tried :(

Once on your pc, you can watch them or burn them to DVD.
I have zippered my units and have them connected to my network. Once I get them to the computer is the quality still there? And if I want to save them to DVD will I lose any of the quality? My wife like the "old" movies and would like me to be able to back them up to DVD for her.

[ForrestB]

There's absolutely no quality lost when you transfer a show from a Zippered DirecTivo to your computer. The shows are digitally recorded on the DirecTivo and transferred digitally to your computer.

[JimSpence]

The quality may suffer based on whatever encoder is used for burning the show to the DVD.

[goodka24]

How does a video converter work? I am not techy enough to hack my Tivo, so what is the next best option, DVD Recorder?

Thank you.

[viruseater]

I have zippered my units and have them connected to my network. Once I get them to the computer is the quality still there? And if I want to save them to DVD will I lose any of the quality? My wife like the "old" movies and would like me to be able to back them up to DVD for her.

This isn't like recording to a tape, then playing that tape and recording to the other. There's quality loss each time. We're talking about a digital file that can be copied thousands of times and the quality doesn't change. You're not copying signals youre copying files.

So unless you compress things using a converter (which you do to record to DVD but you can do this correctly and it'll be great), there will never be any loss of quality

[litzdog911]

How does a video converter work? I am not techy enough to hack my Tivo, so what is the next best option, DVD Recorder?

Thank you.

If you haven't understood the last few posts in your thread, then a DVD Recorder is your best option. Just follow the Tivo Manual instructions for connecting to a VCR, since your DVD Recorder will act just like a VCR.