[monicab1979]

Is there an EASY way to get my tivo'd shows onto my pc? i saw this on another page, but i wasnt sure how easy it was. Everything sounds very "techie" to me...and i dont know if im quite up to techie speed.

TiVo CacheCARDTM With Network Interface

Can i just install this thing and somehow get the shows on my pc?

HELP!

 

[rbtravis]

What kind of Tivo do you have? Is it a series 1 or 2

 

[JimSpence]

Does your PC have a video card that can accept analog inputs? If so, then just play the show to your PC in the same manner as you would to save to a VCR. Then using authoring software such as Roxio you burn a DVD if needed.

 

[stevel]

The only "EASY" way is what Jim describes. Anything else requires pulling the hard drive and installing extra software, plus a network adapter of some sort. Also, if this is for shows already recorded, you have an additional, time-consuming task ahead of you.

 

[monicab1979]

I dont mind if its only for shows recorded in the future. The background of why i ask is that i am purchasing an Archos 605 160GB PMP. And i bought the DVR Docking station for it, but i heard if you had TIVO there would be no need. but then i come here and realize that getting the TIVO'd shows off of the TIVO is near impossible for us lay people. I am still at work, so i have not checked which series i have, but i have has it at least 4 years. maybe 3.5...its one unit, a receiver and tivo. busting it open and changing things seems risky. and if i buy a burner, it defeats the purpose. i want to watch the shows for the first time on my PMP not after i watched it on the TV and recorded it real time onto a dvd. does that make sense? i do have another tv, that has a receiver and no tivo, and maybe i can hook up the docking station to that...but its SUCH a hassle right now, i dont know what to do....

 

[monicab1979]

oh and i have a dell laptop, and not an expensive one....it only has 40 total gb. but up until now, its served its purpose!

 

[stevel]

Go to the Underground section of the forum and start reading.

Does your TiVo have USB ports on the back? If so, it's a "series 2" and can use, with some work, one of a number of USB network adapters. If not, it's a Series 1 and the TurboNET adapter is more appropriate.

 

[monicab1979]

According to my manual i just looked at, it says i have 2 USB ports in the back. I think its an RCA DVR40.

i dont know what you mean about the underground..??

 

[JimSpence]

The TiVo Underground on this forum.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=8

 

[monicab1979]

I went to the underground and had NO clue where to start! i am not an IT person...and it sounds like everyone on here is. am i out of luck?

 

[Dkerr24]

I went to the underground and had NO clue where to start! i am not an IT person...and it sounds like everyone on here is. am i out of luck?

Pretty much, unless you're willing to put in a number of hours reading and studying. I ran into the same problem here years ago, many folks would give just vague ideas of what I needed to do, but little real info.

Here's some more places to read if interested: google 'hinsdale howto', 'tytools', 'tivo zipper' for a start.

JimSpence provided you with the 'easy' way to transfer shows to a PC. It is slow (realtime), but it does work.

 

[stevel]

Keep in mind that even when you learn what to do, it is a process that requires you to partially disassemble your TiVo, attach the hard disk to a PC, boot from a special Linux CD and enter some Linux commands. You can render your TiVo unusable if you make a mistake, and you also make it difficult to apply software updates, such as the one promised for next spring.

I'm not trying to scare you off or say it's not worthwhile - I've done these things to my DTiVos for years - but I am a computer engineer, understand what is being done, and am comfortable with the process and the risks. It sounds as if you are not.

 

[bengalfreak]

It sounds to me that the best choice for you would be to get the docking station. That way you can record things on your DTivo and then dump them to your Archos thru the docking station, or you can record live TV directly to the Archos itself again thru the docking station. The docking station costs about $70 on Amazon and you'd have close to that much in it if you went the extraction route plus a ton of time reading and learning.

 

[monicab1979]

Hey Bengal...

Do you have an archos? I just heard one of the problems is is that the docking station wont change the channel on your receiver, so if you arent on the channel you want to record, it wont record it. Seems like a waste of 80 bucks if it wont even record my shows!

i ordered the archos in august, and have been waiting ever since for it to arrive. i hope its worth t he money and the wait!