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hackedX99
Omega Member
628 Posts |
 Posted - 10/27/2009 : 2:26:56 PM
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If you buy one of these devices is their away you can plug a computer in and get the recorded shows. If so what format would these Devices hold the shows , videos , movies ,...etc?
I am thinking they would compress them into avi or some other format you can convert?
All depends if you can somehow hookup a device to copy the files off of it?
If you cann't copy the saved movies off of it then is their a device that is like a TIVO/DVR that has a dvd burner in it. So you can take a blank dvd and record to it the shows on the TIVO/DVR.
Seems like after VHS and tape players they didn't continue the copying to external media now you can only hold it on the internal device forever or erase it and not have it.
Thanks for any help.
Maybe I am wrong about all this I don't have one yet but my friends are talking about how convinent it is. It would be even more cool if you can take the files off of it to anywhere else you want!
Also TV tuner cards allow you to watch TV on your computer is their software for these to record the TV show/movie to a avi or other file format on your harddrive. This would be a way of geting a around the TIVO/DVR issue for the moment.
Thanks |
Edited by - hackedX99 on 10/27/2009 2:33:19 PM
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hexed
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2651 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 4:15:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
If you buy one of these devices is their away you can plug a computer in and get the recorded shows. If so what format would these Devices hold the shows , videos , movies ,...etc?
I'm not 100% certain, but it's probably a transport stream dump of mpeg compressed data. That can be read by things like vlc/mplayer.
quote:
All depends if you can somehow hookup a device to copy the files off of it?
Indeed.
~
quote:
Also TV tuner cards allow you to watch TV on your computer is their software for these to record the TV show/movie to a avi or other file format on your harddrive. This would be a way of geting a around the TIVO/DVR issue for the moment.
Google "MythTV". |
Edited by - hexed on 10/27/2009 4:15:16 PM |
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dualdflipflop
Moderator
USA
7368 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 4:29:31 PM
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A TIVO for example, does compress video to MPEG (usually 2, possibly 4 in newer models). However they do put simple DRM into it, based off a number that your unit is programmed with. TIVO does have software for PCs, where you put this number in, to allow say Windows Media Player to play said files after transferring them to the PC. However, to burn said file to DVD requires removing the DRM. I know there is a Mac based application which allows you to remove said DRM, as long as you know the number the TIVO generated. If you own the device, and since the device gives you the number in the menu system. It's really not that hard.
Granted, this is not for every DVR, nor every TIVO, you really have to do your own homework on the specific model you have before attempting.
I would go with hexed on this, Google "MythTV". Set yourself up with an actual functional PVR. |
P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like with Q and R eliminated. |
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hackedX99
Omega Member
628 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 7:05:26 PM
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Ok , well I endup getting a TV tuner card so I am going to play around with that for now.
As for the TIVO/DVR I looked at the connectors on the back and they have RCA component composite HDMI ,...etc
But what I am curious of and nobody at the store knew is...
The back of some TIVO/DVR's had ethernet RJ45 jacks , RJ11 phone jacks, and usb ports?
What would this be used for?
Because if it is like some network ready ,able to share the TIVO harddrive thru dsl or a wireless router that would be cool.
Plus it would be away of copying the movie files off the TIVO/DVR.
After that you would only need to work on cracking the DRM/copyright protection and compression format stuff/converting into a supported universal format that could be played on almost anything!
As for the usb ports they had TIVO/DVR harddrives that you could plug into the TIVO/DVR to add more space for your movies. I would think if this is true then just plugging it into a usb of a computer you could accesses the mpeg 2 or 4 compressed file??? But maybe they have some special protocal that the usb drivers of a computer cann't understand duno?
At least you can always have the movie /show by buying more TIVO/DVR harddrives when the fill up. And maybe for convinence by a usb hub so you can host many TIVO/DVR harddrives on one usb.
Seems as if TIVO/DVR are a waste if you have a TV tuner card?
Because I am assuming when I start getting into the nitty gritty of TV tuners they will provided the same functionality and more then a TIVO/DVR does?
Curious if you did get a TIVO/DVR is their any benifit to buying it or leasing it from comcast like I do with the cable modem...etc?
Other then possible being able to use it with different TV providers. |
Edited by - hackedX99 on 10/27/2009 7:15:20 PM |
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dualdflipflop
Moderator
USA
7368 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 7:33:06 PM
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| It depends on the DVR. Typically phone line or network ports are for network updates, such as what shows are playing on what channel and when. Stuff like that. USB can either be for wireless attachments (like with older TIVO models), however some boxes use USB for patching firmware. Alternatively firmware patches may be applied by serial ports, however that would be on older devices generally. Firmware updates are usually done by the manufacturer. I don't do firmware hacks, you'd have to search around for that trash on your own. USB has never been used, to my knowledge, for accessing hard drive information like stored video. |
P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like with Q and R eliminated. |
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hackedX99
Omega Member
628 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 7:51:44 PM
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quote:
Typically phone line or network ports are for network updates, such as what shows are playing on what channel and when. Stuff like that. USB can either be for wireless attachments (like with older TIVO models), however some boxes use USB for patching firmware
won't the updates come over the coaxial cable thru the settop box and to the TIVO? or do updates come from a cable modem thru a linksys router to the TIVO.
same thing for the phone line jack but with dsl modem instead.
If this is true then updates would only be avaible if you had dsl or cable modem with the same provider as the TIVO/DVR uhhhhhhh little confused on what the benifit ....
as for the usb I have seen harddrives for the dvr /tivo that allow it to add more space using these external harddrives. At least in bestbuy they had them and they told me it was to had more harddrive space to store movies onto for the TIVO/DVR.
However they couldn't tell me if you could access them thru a computer (plug them into a usb port of a computer and get something). Maybe / maybe not.
As for the firmware issue you brought up that they use usb or serial port then these ports on the back of the TVIO/DVR are useless or only useful for the manufacture.
But how many times are you going to bring your tivo/dvr in to upgrade the firmware. Lets try never.
At bestbuy they did sell TIVO/DVR but they all said with no access card included. Does your TV provider physically give you an access card to use the TIVO with them and you change it if you change TV providers.
Or is this something they have to come to your house and update the firmware by connecting to usb. I don't know I just don't see you ever updateing the firmware.
Curious about how the access cards work though?
I know if you lease a TVIO/DVR from comcast you don't have to go thru all this crap... Is their some builtin card in these ones... |
Edited by - hackedX99 on 10/27/2009 8:01:28 PM |
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dualdflipflop
Moderator
USA
7368 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2009 : 9:17:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
won't the updates come over the coaxial cable thru the settop box and to the TIVO? or do updates come from a cable modem thru a linksys router to the TIVO.
An Internet connection of some kind.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
same thing for the phone line jack but with dsl modem instead.
Dial-up modem only.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
as for the usb I have seen harddrives for the dvr /tivo that allow it to add more space using these external harddrives. At least in bestbuy they had them and they told me it was to had more harddrive space to store movies onto for the TIVO/DVR.
Device depending. Man, you're really good at asking general questions that depend entirely on hardware. To make a general statement in response however... Typically the USB is not for expanding hard drive space.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
However they couldn't tell me if you could access them thru a computer (plug them into a usb port of a computer and get something). Maybe / maybe not.
Who's they, the salesman at retail store? If so, they know nothing, if sales rep for DVR company, they know nothing... you have to look at serious tech specs. Sometimes it pays to have a friend on the inside, or know how to social engineer the tech department of such a company.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
As for the firmware issue you brought up that they use usb or serial port then these ports on the back of the TVIO/DVR are useless or only useful for the manufacture.
Only to the manufacturer usually. They have firmware updating tools. Typically software on PC that they control in-house.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
But how many times are you going to bring your tivo/dvr in to upgrade the firmware. Lets try never.
Refurbish models usually see the manufacturer a second time in life. That is when they would flash the firmware, do updates, reset the system to defaults, etc.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
At bestbuy they did sell TIVO/DVR but they all said with no access card included. Does your TV provider physically give you an access card to use the TIVO with them and you change it if you change TV providers.
Or is this something they have to come to your house and update the firmware by connecting to usb. I don't know I just don't see you ever updateing the firmware.
One or the other... usually a card is mailed. Smartcards are cheap.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
Curious about how the access cards work though?
I know if you lease a TVIO/DVR from comcast you don't have to go thru all this crap... Is their some builtin card in these ones...
It's just a card with information on it to allow downstream to the box. Depends on the card, network (ie. cable, sat, fiber), the box, all sorts of things. |
P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like with Q and R eliminated. |
Edited by - dualdflipflop on 10/27/2009 9:51:54 PM |
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hackedX99
Omega Member
628 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 1:02:17 PM
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Thanks it helped.
I also have a question about DTV (i.e direct tv )
Is this any better then cable tv.
I.E cheaper or more channels better ones ,...etc
Or better quality ...etc (guess that would depend on where your localed if you have alot of interference ,...etc but on average?)
I am assuming that DTV is broadcasted over the air digitally and not analog?
Other then dtv and cable tv is their any other tv providers that are not either dtv or cable providers. Where is the phone company equivalent to tv? I mean we have cable providing phone , internet and tv. But the phone company provides phone , internet, wheres the equivalent to the TV????
We have VOIP comcast
but we should have phone TV if the phone company wants to compete.
I guess they would need a bigger bandwith line then the standard telephone line to host as many channels.  |
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dualdflipflop
Moderator
USA
7368 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 3:17:07 PM
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Quality is similar, as well as reliability. As far as channels, you can sign up for more channels. The satellite services typically offer more in the way of sports packages and movie channels, for quite a price.
Subscription satellite TV is typically broadcast digitally, the tuner takes care of the rest. Some satellite coverage areas still have analog free-to-air channels, but still require equipment of some sort.
There's always airwaves. You can receive quite a few television channels over VHF/UHF, some even in high definition, free as in beer too. Just need an antenna, and a good vantage point for it to be stationed. Most HDTV sets have decoders to receive such channels without impressive hardware too. It's a good way to get a few local channels.
Some phone companies do have television packages. Look up FIOS. They rival all with awesome PPV and On Demand services. Sure it's not POTS, but it's a phone company.
On another note:
Not always but, VOIP compression can potentially affect your Data/Fax modem activities in your other thread. |
P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like with Q and R eliminated. |
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hackedX99
Omega Member
628 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 7:57:05 PM
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quote:
Some phone companies do have television packages. Look up FIOS. They rival all with awesome PPV and On Demand services. Sure it's not POTS, but it's a phone company.
On another note:
Not always but, VOIP compression can potentially affect your Data/Fax modem activities in your other thread.
Wow I heard about FIOS for internet but didn't know they used it for TV. Stands to reason it would be good for TV broadcasting since it is really fast. And you can do WDM for your multiplexing/demultiplexing which is a benifit when seperating the channels.
I am assuming they have VOIP phone service over FIOS as well. (thru a verizon or something)
When I orignal was asking the question I was excluding the wireless phone providers and mainly interested if the old hardline phone providers broadcasted tv. Guess they cann't with the bandwidth restrictions on telephone cat3 wire.
Also stands to reason that mobile phones should soon have built in TV tuner or other TV capabilities to pickup broadcasted TV and maybe even beable to plug them into a 52in HDTV and display it. <--probably already do that I am unaware of.
As for FIOS I didn't think they fully installed fiber optic lines to everybodies house yet. (or at least some parts of the local loop)
Can alot of people get the FIOS service?
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dualdflipflop
Moderator
USA
7368 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 11:11:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
I am assuming they have VOIP phone service over FIOS as well. (thru a verizon or something)
Yes, I believe that's how it works. Call the company though...
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
When I orignal was asking the question I was excluding the wireless phone providers and mainly interested if the old hardline phone providers broadcasted tv. Guess they cann't with the bandwidth restrictions on telephone cat3 wire.
Using POTS copper would be a serious difficulty trying to send video signal over to subscribers. That's why they don't do it. Wireless is a different monster.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
Also stands to reason that mobile phones should soon have built in TV tuner or other TV capabilities to pickup broadcasted TV and maybe even beable to plug them into a 52in HDTV and display it. <--probably already do that I am unaware of.
You can get video on a phone, some phones can hook into TV sets, the phone can't stream HD content due to several limitations from processor capabilities to network bandwidth... why you're not capable of watching broadcast television on your phone mainstream yet is because of the business hasn't grown into it yet. That's a very big YET though. It's coming soon.
quote:
Originally posted by hackedX99
As for FIOS I didn't think they fully installed fiber optic lines to everybodies house yet. (or at least some parts of the local loop)
Can alot of people get the FIOS service?
Not everyone, you can check on the Verison website however. They will tell you if there's fiber in your area. |
P.S. This is what part of the alphabet would look like with Q and R eliminated. |
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TVIO , DVR ,... ?
