How do I get video off my DVR onto my Computer?

Question

I have a Scientific Atlantic Explorer 8300HD DVR. The back has two USB slots and I have a usb flash drive. Is it possible to load the video clip to the flash drive and transfer it to my computer?

Answer 1

The most direct route would be a video capture card on your computer (Like an ATI TV Wonder of Hauppage WinTV) and running the DVR output to that.

The USB port is used for communications device like modems & network cards- unless you found a full operating system for the DVR, I don't see it recognizing USB flash drives.

Answer 2

You need to have a fair amount of computer knowledge (specifically unix/linux) to do it. The reason why is that Directv has turned off the usb ports and the video is encrypted.

Here is a general overview.

1) remove the hd from the Tivo and install it on your PC.
2) Boot into linux, mount the tivo drive and enable the USB Ports
3) put the HD back in your tivo, add it to your network and telnet in via your pc.
4) make your changes to remove the encryption/telephone update requirements, etc.
6) Transfer the movies to your pc.
7) edit out the commercials.
8) burn the movies to disk.

I am going to give you a link that automates a lot of the process but I STRONGLY suggest you don't do it unless you are completely sure you understand whats going on during everystep of the process. If you screw this up you void the warrenty and turn your box into an expensive paperweight.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=265929

Answer 3

You'll need to make a DVD copy of the content and then play it on the computer or copy it to your hard drive. The intermediary would be a DVD recorder, unless you have a video input to your computer, where it could be recorded.