DirecTivo and recording to DVD

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Jeff wrote:
> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it in
> some special Direct TV format?
>
> What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?
>
> Thanks.
>

Jeff, without hacking the box, you can record to a DVD recorder only by
utilizing the analog outputs and the "save to VCR" feature. Your
recording will be analog, but I would expect that the quality would be
quite a bit better than standard VCR tape, though less than pure digital.

If you hack the box you can enable direct digital recording over a
network if you so desire. Hacking it is not terribly difficult, but it
does take some familiarity with linux and PC hardware.

Randy S.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <W_ope.81014$NC6.55788@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net>,
"Jeff" <jeff@falsepart.com> wrote:

> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it in
> some special Direct TV format?

Yes

>
> What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
>
> Jeff Stevens
> Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
> jeff@stevens.com

Simplest way is to use the record to VCR and hook it up to a DVD
recorder. Then you get VCR quality due to the analog conversion,
and 2 hours per DVD.

Best way is to hack the machine:

http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_hacksleeper.php...

Which keeps the recording digital all the way for excellent quality and
4.5 hours per DVD.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
> http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_hacksleeper.php...

Does this work with the new DirecTiVo software being rolled out?

(I don't have a DTivo at the moment, being a UTV owner, but if that does
and I get one then I'll want to hack it).

--
Stephen Harris
usenet@spuddy.org
The truth is the truth, and opinion just opinion. But what is what?
My employer pays to ignore my opinions; you get to do it for free.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Jeff wrote:
> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it in
> some special Direct TV format?
>
> What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?
>
> Thanks.
>
To add to what others have said here: DirecTivo is different from the
rest of the Tivo boxes in that, as I understand, DirecTV Tivo boxes do
not support TiVo-to-go (No transferring shows via a network connection
to your PC) and the digital recording format is the one DirecTV uses
straight off the satellite, not anything "standard".

You can "Hack" the DirecTivo units, but yous gots to be smart...

The simplest way is to record out of thew analog ports in the "record to
VCR" mode. Use the S-video cable for best video quality. You have no
choice with audio...

Ack

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Jeff" <jeff@falsepart.com> wrote in message
news:W_ope.81014$NC6.55788@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net...
> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it in
> some special Direct TV format?
>
> What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?

I just installed this setup this past week. I purchased a Magnavox combo DVD
Recorder/VHS VCR. Thus far, I have recorded three shows from Tivo, the 3
season finales on 5/22/05, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, and Extreme
Makeover. I used the one hour setting for two shows, and the two hour
setting for one show. I recorded these shows for a friend, so I didn't watch
the full shows, I did watch a little bit. I found that DVD picture quality
was much better than expected. I was pleasantly surprised. I used SVideo
cabling, and left/right audio, rather than RF, which would degrade the
picture. Sadly, you cannot capture digital sound on any consumer-level DVD
recorder, since none of them have digital audio inputs (almost all have
digital audio outputs), so you will be left with analog sound. Any other
questions, feel free to ask.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <1dj58d.lff.ln@spuddy.org>,
usenet@spuddy.org (Stephen Harris) wrote:

> Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_hacksleeper.php...
>
> Does this work with the new DirecTiVo software being rolled out?


No, for the new 6.2 software a good starting point is here:

http://www.dellanave.com/projects/tivo/62slices.html

>
> (I don't have a DTivo at the moment, being a UTV owner, but if that does
> and I get one then I'll want to hack it).

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
> usenet@spuddy.org (Stephen Harris) wrote:

> > Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_hacksleeper.php...
> >
> > Does this work with the new DirecTiVo software being rolled out?

> No, for the new 6.2 software a good starting point is here:

> http://www.dellanave.com/projects/tivo/62slices.html

If I'm reading that correctly, then that's more of a guide for upgrading
a hacked 3.x or 4.x version to 6.2 software, retaining settings and
shows. I was thinking more of how to a howto for hacking an
unadulterated system which already has 6.2 on it.

Heh, I guess I could always go backwards and use an older image and then
upgrade that :-)

--
Stephen Harris
usenet@spuddy.org
The truth is the truth, and opinion just opinion. But what is what?
My employer pays to ignore my opinions; you get to do it for free.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Thank you. That is very helpful.

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
jeff@stevens.com


"Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:kmApe.9335$hg.4373@fe12.lga...
>
> "Jeff" <jeff@falsepart.com> wrote in message
> news:W_ope.81014$NC6.55788@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net...
>> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it
>> in some special Direct TV format?
>>
>> What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?
>
> I just installed this setup this past week. I purchased a Magnavox combo
> DVD Recorder/VHS VCR. Thus far, I have recorded three shows from Tivo, the
> 3 season finales on 5/22/05, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, and
> Extreme Makeover. I used the one hour setting for two shows, and the two
> hour setting for one show. I recorded these shows for a friend, so I
> didn't watch the full shows, I did watch a little bit. I found that DVD
> picture quality was much better than expected. I was pleasantly surprised.
> I used SVideo cabling, and left/right audio, rather than RF, which would
> degrade the picture. Sadly, you cannot capture digital sound on any
> consumer-level DVD recorder, since none of them have digital audio inputs
> (almost all have digital audio outputs), so you will be left with analog
> sound. Any other questions, feel free to ask.
>

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

>> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it
>> in
>> some special Direct TV format?
>
> Yes
>

Not sure what you mean:
"Yes" I can record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder OR
"Yes" it is in some direct TV format and therefore I cannot record it?

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
jeff@stevens.com


"Jack Zwick" <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:jackzwick-C4E948.20032607062005@newssvr11-ext.news.prodigy.com...
> In article <W_ope.81014$NC6.55788@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net>,
> "Jeff" <jeff@falsepart.com> wrote:
>
>> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it
>> in
>> some special Direct TV format?
>
> Yes
>
>>
>> What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Jeff Stevens
>> Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
>> jeff@stevens.com
>
> Simplest way is to use the record to VCR and hook it up to a DVD
> recorder. Then you get VCR quality due to the analog conversion,
> and 2 hours per DVD.
>
> Best way is to hack the machine:
>
> http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_hacksleeper.php...
>
> Which keeps the recording digital all the way for excellent quality and
> 4.5 hours per DVD.

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

This is a dumb question but if I do not ask it I'll never know.

I have a Hughes 40 DirectTV tivo. If I replaced its HD with a larger one,
will things go crazy every time Tivo upgrades its software?

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
jeff@stevens.com



Jack Zwick wrote:
> In article <1dj58d.lff.ln@spuddy.org>,
> usenet@spuddy.org (Stephen Harris) wrote:
>
>> Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_hacksleeper.php...
>>
>> Does this work with the new DirecTiVo software being rolled out?
>
>
> No, for the new 6.2 software a good starting point is here:
>
> http://www.dellanave.com/projects/tivo/62slices.html
>
>>
>> (I don't have a DTivo at the moment, being a UTV owner, but if that
>> does and I get one then I'll want to hack it).

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

* Jeff Wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

> This is a dumb question but if I do not ask it I'll never know.
>
> I have a Hughes 40 DirectTV tivo. If I replaced its HD with a
> larger one, will things go crazy every time Tivo upgrades its
> software?

No, it will work just fine. Of course you cant just go buy a HD and
drop it in, there are a few steps necessary to make it work.

http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/

--
David

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

* Jeff Wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

>>> Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder
>>> or is it in
>>> some special Direct TV format?
>>
>> Yes
>>
>
> Not sure what you mean:
> "Yes" I can record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD
> recorder OR "Yes" it is in some direct TV format and therefore I
> cannot record it?
>

Well, both are true but not necessarily pertanent to your question.
If you were trying to get the HD out and RIP the Tivo files, youd
have an issue but thats not really what you were asking. You can
always record any analog signal that is sent to the TV regardless of
the format of the files on the Tivo, you can record them over an
analog connection without issue, other than a slight difference in
picture quality.

--
David

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Ack" <acker_dackerly@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:gbtpe.1978$%j7.323@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
> Jeff wrote:
> > Can I record what I have on my DirectTV Tivo to a DVD recorder or is it
in
> > some special Direct TV format?
> >
> > What would the quality be? That of a tape VCR or better?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> To add to what others have said here: DirecTivo is different from the
> rest of the Tivo boxes in that, as I understand, DirecTV Tivo boxes do
> not support TiVo-to-go (No transferring shows via a network connection
> to your PC) and the digital recording format is the one DirecTV uses
> straight off the satellite, not anything "standard".
>
> You can "Hack" the DirecTivo units, but yous gots to be smart...

Hacking the DirecTivo isn't really too hard. I'm good with computers but
pig-ignorant about Linux. Still, I had no problem installing the hacks and
now I routinely transfer video from the DirecTivo to my computer and either
drop them on my laptop to watch on planes when I travel, or burn them to
DVDs.



>
> The simplest way is to record out of thew analog ports in the "record to
> VCR" mode. Use the S-video cable for best video quality. You have no
> choice with audio...
>
> Ack