Comcast HD DVR Questions.

[Guest]

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

"Randy S." <rswitt@NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:db4cnq$o70$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
>
>> There are two issues here. To *play* TivoToGo files, you need to have an
>> MPEG2 decompressor (often called a codec, but that's not technically
>> accurate, since a CoDec is a Compressor/Decompressor, and most "MPEG2
>> codecs" are just the decompression half). This is something that is not
>> free, but you may already have, because all DVD players need an MPEG2
>> decompressor, and many people have DVD players on their computer.
>>
>> To *burn* a TivoToGo file as a DVD, you need an MPEG2 decompressor *and* an
>> MPEG2 compressor (the Tivo video is stored in MPEG2, but it is not the
>> right resolution and format to be put directly on a DVD, so it must be
>> decompressed, processed, and recompressed). DVD authoring software
>> includes an MPEG2 compressor. You do not need to buy the Tivo specific DVD
>> authoring software, but if you buy another one, you should check
>> http/www.tivocommunity.com/ first to see if people have had good luck
>> getting that software to take tivo files as input.
>
> Good info Ken, but concerning playback, would just any mpeg2 codec allow you
> to play TTG files? I thought there was something that came with the Tivo
> desktop software that also enabled the whole password enabled playback
> thing. Or is that prebuilt into the media player?

There is a piece that Tivo provides that is a DirectShow filter taking a .tivo
file as input, stripping the encryption, and feeding the result into the mpeg2
codec that you must have installed. The DirectShow filter is installed with
TivoDesktop, which is freely downloadable on the Tivo website.

In theory any mpeg2 codec should be able to plug into the Tivo DirectShow
filter, but some have problems with the fact that Tivo uses non-square pixels
(my recordings at High quality are 480x480, which represents a 4:3 screen).
If the codec doesn't take well to non-square pixels, you will be left with a
smooshed picture.

Ken

 

[Guest]

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

> There is a piece that Tivo provides that is a DirectShow filter taking a .tivo
> file as input, stripping the encryption, and feeding the result into the mpeg2
> codec that you must have installed. The DirectShow filter is installed with
> TivoDesktop, which is freely downloadable on the Tivo website.

Ahh, so it's the directshow filter that Tivo Desktop includes, that
makes sense.

> In theory any mpeg2 codec should be able to plug into the Tivo DirectShow
> filter, but some have problems with the fact that Tivo uses non-square pixels
> (my recordings at High quality are 480x480, which represents a 4:3 screen).
> If the codec doesn't take well to non-square pixels, you will be left with a
> smooshed picture.
>
> Ken

Yep, I've heard reference to that problem numerous times.

--
Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:34:45 -0400, "Ken Alverson"
<USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote:

>"Sam" <ssam@dont.spam> wrote in message
>news:k34bd1dbi5j04qiqs5d2omsd726or0mmk4@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 09:27:24 -0400, "Randy S." <rswitt@NOSPAM.com>
>> wrote:
>>>John in Detroit wrote:
>>>> One of my co-workers has a TIVO, he has the interface card and is able
>>>> to save TIVO shows to his hard drive. He was imnpressed that I was
>>>> able to play my REPLAY saved shows without buying additional software.
>>>>
>>>> Now, personally. I only know what I'm told about TIVO, and the source
>>>> for the need to buy TiVo2Go was one of the computer magazines. Backed
>>>> up by Eric (My Co-Worker) Perhaps he has it wrong, I don't know
>>>
>>>It was not necessary for me to purchase any codec to view my Tivo2go
>>>video files, I believe it was included in the free Tivo desktop download.
>>>
>>>However, in order to *burn* those files to DVD it is supposedly required
>>>to buy software for around $50. There are several workarounds for that
>>>though.
>>>
>>
>> Are they really requiring you to buy a special spftware package, or is
>> that just what they're selling and you could use any DVD authoring
>> software?
>
>Tivo isn't the one selling it, Sonic is. And while I've heard of success
>using a number of different DVD authoring programs that aren't designed
>specifically for Tivo, the Sonic product actually claims support, which means
>if it doesn't work, you can complain and expect an answer. Other products
>that use DirectShow based input (and don't mind that your file has a ".tivo"
>extension) should just work, but if they don't, you may or may not get help
>from them.
>
>That said, my personal experience with Sonic MyDVD on Tivo files was that it
>produced a rather poor looking DVD (it was very jaggy on my progressive scan
>DVD player). I've heard of people having good results with Nero, but I
>haven't tried it myself.
>
>Ken
>

Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
..MPG.

--
Mark Lloyd
has a Replay 5xxx
http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"The idea that there is an invisible being who
created and still runs this old universe is so
childish, so obviously contrived, that it is hard to
believe anyone with even a modicum of education can
still fall for that scam."

 

[Guest]

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

> Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
> .MPG.
>

Tivo files are mpeg2 as well, they just have encryption on them to
appease the MPAA and broadcast folks. One of the first steps in hacking
the Tivo's is to disable the encryption process.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

"Mark Lloyd" <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote in message
news:tjvcd1prfj6bq1ob3d94ko6gr18hsn7n66@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:34:45 -0400, "Ken Alverson"
> <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>Tivo isn't the one selling it, Sonic is. And while I've heard of success
>>using a number of different DVD authoring programs that aren't designed
>>specifically for Tivo, the Sonic product actually claims support, which
>>means
>>if it doesn't work, you can complain and expect an answer. Other products
>>that use DirectShow based input (and don't mind that your file has a ".tivo"
>>extension) should just work, but if they don't, you may or may not get help
>>from them.
>>
>>That said, my personal experience with Sonic MyDVD on Tivo files was that it
>>produced a rather poor looking DVD (it was very jaggy on my progressive scan
>>DVD player). I've heard of people having good results with Nero, but I
>>haven't tried it myself.
>
> Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
> .MPG.

Playing the Replay files still requires an MPEG2 decoder, and burning them to
DVD requires DVD authoring software, same as with Tivo. The number of pieces
of software you have to purchase to make Replay files usable on the computer
is identical to the number of pieces you have to purchase to make Tivo files
usable.

You have a point if you are for some reason unable to use the free Tivo
DirectShow filter, for example if you are on a Mac. But on a Windows PC, the
functionality is roughly equivalent.

On the plus side for Tivo, transferring files off the Tivo and playing them on
the PC or burning them to DVD is actually a supported operation. To get the
files off a Replay, you have to use unsupported third party software. If
something goes wrong, you have to rely on community support. (Then again, the
community might be more helpful than official support)

Ken

 

[Guest]

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

In article <tjvcd1prfj6bq1ob3d94ko6gr18hsn7n66@4ax.com>,
Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:

> Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
> .MPG.
>
> --
> Mark Lloyd
> has a Replay 5xxx
> http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com

As a replay owner, you're hardly an impartial judge.

 

[john]

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

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:03:50 GMT, Jack Zwick <jackzwick@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>In article <tjvcd1prfj6bq1ob3d94ko6gr18hsn7n66@4ax.com>,
> Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:
>
>> Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
>> .MPG.
>>
>> --
>> Mark Lloyd
>> has a Replay 5xxx
>> http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com
>
>As a replay owner, you're hardly an impartial judge.

That sort of nonsense is usually the speakers' attempt to cover up
personal inadequacies.

 

[Guest]

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

Jack Zwick wrote:
> In article <tjvcd1prfj6bq1ob3d94ko6gr18hsn7n66@4ax.com>,
> Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:
>
>
>>Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
>>.MPG.
>>
>>--
>>Mark Lloyd
>>has a Replay 5xxx
>>http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com
>
>
> As a replay owner, you're hardly an impartial judge.


Mark may not be, but a year ago I would have been (Being as I had not
yet purchased my 1st Replay)

I hit the nets, and the company sites, read the specifications, read
user reviews, read newsgroups and ... Well here I am
--
John F Davis, in Delightful Detroit. WA8YXM(at)arrl(dot)net
"Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business"
Diabetic? http/community.compuserve.com/diabetes

 

[Guest]

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

Ken Alverson wrote:
> Playing the Replay files still requires an MPEG2 decoder, and burning them to
> DVD requires DVD authoring software, same as with Tivo. The number of pieces
> of software you have to purchase to make Replay files usable on the computer
> is identical to the number of pieces you have to purchase to make Tivo files
> usable.

Oh, I don't know... How much does the free VIDEO LAN program cost
anyway? That's the one I use to watch Replay files on my better
computers... On the lesser computer I use Core Media Player

Also the free version.

So, tell me again how many programs I have to BUY to do this

Oh yes, DV-Archive (Also free) does the file transfers

All I had to buy was a cat, well, Category 5 or better data cable
--
John F Davis, in Delightful Detroit. WA8YXM(at)arrl(dot)net
"Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business"
Diabetic? http/community.compuserve.com/diabetes

 

[Guest]

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

"John in Detroit" <Blanked@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:eHBBe.1550$dX5.1185@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
> Ken Alverson wrote:
>> Playing the Replay files still requires an MPEG2 decoder, and burning them
>> to DVD requires DVD authoring software, same as with Tivo. The number of
>> pieces of software you have to purchase to make Replay files usable on the
>> computer is identical to the number of pieces you have to purchase to make
>> Tivo files usable.
>
> Oh, I don't know... How much does the free VIDEO LAN program cost anyway?
> That's the one I use to watch Replay files on my better computers... On the
> lesser computer I use Core Media Player
>
> Also the free version.

I've heard of people using VLCplayer to play their tivo files for free as
well. I don't know if/how well it works since I haven't tried it, but there
are free mpeg2 decompressors out there (dscaler has one, for example) that
people do use.

Again, the number of pieces of software you have to purchase is the same. If
you use a free MPEG2 decompressor, then you you don't have to buy anything to
play back video from either device. But if it doesn't work, you don't have a
technical support line to call, either.

> Oh yes, DV-Archive (Also free) does the file transfers

Yes, and TivoDesktop is free as well for doing file transfers. Or, if you
prefer, there are third party clients you can use for the transfers (you still
need the TivoDesktop package to get the DirectShow filter).

Ken

 

[Guest]

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

>>Oh yes, DV-Archive (Also free) does the file transfers
>
>
> Yes, and TivoDesktop is free as well for doing file transfers. Or, if you
> prefer, there are third party clients you can use for the transfers (you still
> need the TivoDesktop package to get the DirectShow filter).
>
> Ken

Yes, and just to reemphasize, the TivoDesktop package is *free*. Can we
quit this pissing contest now? The only additional requirement that Tivo
has is the Directshow requirement, otherwise they are identical. With
Tivo you can use either the Directshow-enabled package that they
recommend or another one if you so choose. And there are free methods
(not as elegant, though), as well.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

I liked my Tivo Series-1, but they are screwing the pooch with series-2.. So
here I am as well....
If it were not for the hackers out there that gave us the utilities, then
Replay would not be as great as it is. I think most of the credit for Replay
being good goes to them.. As it did for the hackers of the series-1 Tivo's..

CW
"John in Detroit" <Blanked@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:fjxBe.2893$Ih7.1904@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> Jack Zwick wrote:
>> In article <tjvcd1prfj6bq1ob3d94ko6gr18hsn7n66@4ax.com>,
>> Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
>>>.MPG.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Mark Lloyd
>>>has a Replay 5xxx
>>>http/notstupid.laughingsquid.com
>>
>>
>> As a replay owner, you're hardly an impartial judge.
>
>
> Mark may not be, but a year ago I would have been (Being as I had not yet
> purchased my 1st Replay)
>
> I hit the nets, and the company sites, read the specifications, read user
> reviews, read newsgroups and ... Well here I am
> --
> John F Davis, in Delightful Detroit. WA8YXM(at)arrl(dot)net
> "Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business"
> Diabetic? http/community.compuserve.com/diabetes

 

[Guest]

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

CheezWiz wrote:
> I liked my Tivo Series-1, but they are screwing the pooch with series-2.. So
> here I am as well....
> If it were not for the hackers out there that gave us the utilities, then
> Replay would not be as great as it is. I think most of the credit for Replay
> being good goes to them.. As it did for the hackers of the series-1 Tivo's..

What is it that bothers you about the Series 2? If anything the hacks
are easier and better on the S2 than the S1, I would think.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

In article <eHBBe.1550$dX5.1185@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com>,
John in Detroit <Blanked@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Ken Alverson wrote:
> > Playing the Replay files still requires an MPEG2 decoder, and burning them
> > to
> > DVD requires DVD authoring software, same as with Tivo. The number of
> > pieces
> > of software you have to purchase to make Replay files usable on the
> > computer
> > is identical to the number of pieces you have to purchase to make Tivo
> > files
> > usable.
>
> Oh, I don't know... How much does the free VIDEO LAN program cost
> anyway? That's the one I use to watch Replay files on my better
> computers... On the lesser computer I use Core Media Player
>
> Also the free version.

Tytools is free for TiVo

>
> So, tell me again how many programs I have to BUY to do this
>
> Oh yes, DV-Archive (Also free) does the file transfers
>
> All I had to buy was a cat, well, Category 5 or better data cable

 

[Guest]

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

I think most people have problems with Tivo's willingness to jump in bed
with the other side of the digital rights folks. Seems like they are on the
opposite side of the fence from their customers. And adding advertising to
the menus was just plain cruddy! The ability to stream from one unit to the
other in real-time is the big advantage of Replay over Tivo in my opinion.
Unless they have changed the need to first download a show completely from
one unit to another to play it.

CW
"Ken Alverson" <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote in message
news:db6d94$gco$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
> "Mark Lloyd" <mlloyd@5xxxmail.com5xxx> wrote in message
> news:tjvcd1prfj6bq1ob3d94ko6gr18hsn7n66@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:34:45 -0400, "Ken Alverson"
>> <USENET.Ken@Alverson.net> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Tivo isn't the one selling it, Sonic is. And while I've heard of success
>>>using a number of different DVD authoring programs that aren't designed
>>>specifically for Tivo, the Sonic product actually claims support, which
>>>means
>>>if it doesn't work, you can complain and expect an answer. Other
>>>products
>>>that use DirectShow based input (and don't mind that your file has a
>>>".tivo"
>>>extension) should just work, but if they don't, you may or may not get
>>>help
>>>from them.
>>>
>>>That said, my personal experience with Sonic MyDVD on Tivo files was that
>>>it
>>>produced a rather poor looking DVD (it was very jaggy on my progressive
>>>scan
>>>DVD player). I've heard of people having good results with Nero, but I
>>>haven't tried it myself.
>>
>> Another example of TiVo being inferior to Replay. The Replay files are
>> .MPG.
>
> Playing the Replay files still requires an MPEG2 decoder, and burning them
> to DVD requires DVD authoring software, same as with Tivo. The number of
> pieces of software you have to purchase to make Replay files usable on the
> computer is identical to the number of pieces you have to purchase to make
> Tivo files usable.
>
> You have a point if you are for some reason unable to use the free Tivo
> DirectShow filter, for example if you are on a Mac. But on a Windows PC,
> the functionality is roughly equivalent.
>
> On the plus side for Tivo, transferring files off the Tivo and playing
> them on the PC or burning them to DVD is actually a supported operation.
> To get the files off a Replay, you have to use unsupported third party
> software. If something goes wrong, you have to rely on community support.
> (Then again, the community might be more helpful than official support)
>
> Ken
>

 

[Guest]

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

CheezWiz wrote:
> I think most people have problems with Tivo's willingness to jump in bed
> with the other side of the digital rights folks. Seems like they are on the
> opposite side of the fence from their customers. And adding advertising to
> the menus was just plain cruddy! The ability to stream from one unit to the
> other in real-time is the big advantage of Replay over Tivo in my opinion.
> Unless they have changed the need to first download a show completely from
> one unit to another to play it.

They do seem a bit more DRM tolerant then Replay, but most of that is
trying to expand into being able to *officially* support things like
Tivo-to-go. The reality of situation at this point is that the MPAA
folks and the like have paid enough high powered lawyers to fool enough
Judges to support them the majority of the time. Try to fight it, and
you get slammed like when Replay (was it Replay, or another DVR that has
since gone out of business?) enabled shows to be sent to other Replay
owners. Nice idea, scuttled by the lawyers. Tivo has appeased the big
boys just enough that they can get away with TTG officially.

The ads in menus thing is minor, at least at this point, very easy to
ignore. They've tested a feature or two that could be annoying, but so
far nothing has come of it. You could make the "slippery slope"
argument, but so far Tivo's actually been pretty friendly to the
customer, especially as to hacking tolerence, etc. Compare that to a
company like Directv who intentionally disables many of Tivo's more
advanced features (TTG, networking) because they're completely in bed
with the Media conglomerates.

--
Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

John in Detroit <Blanked@sbcglobal.net> writes:

> Oh, I don't know... How much does the free VIDEO LAN program cost
> anyway? That's the one I use to watch Replay files on my better
> computers... On the lesser computer I use Core Media Player
>
> Also the free version.
>
> So, tell me again how many programs I have to BUY to do this

To play something pulled off a TiVo using TTG? None.

Use the FREE TivoDesktop.

The FREE DirectShowDump utility.

And the FREE VLC.

--
Rich Carreiro rlcarr@animato.arlington.ma.us

 

[Guest]

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

Primarily their implementation of show sharing between units. I think they
went in the wrong direction there.
Replay's streaming functionality is much more useful. Of course, TIVO
implemented actual file downloads, so I cant say Replay beat them on that..
"Randy S." <rswitt@NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:db73kp$11v8$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
> CheezWiz wrote:
>> I liked my Tivo Series-1, but they are screwing the pooch with series-2..
>> So here I am as well....
>> If it were not for the hackers out there that gave us the utilities, then
>> Replay would not be as great as it is. I think most of the credit for
>> Replay being good goes to them.. As it did for the hackers of the
>> series-1 Tivo's..
>
> What is it that bothers you about the Series 2? If anything the hacks are
> easier and better on the S2 than the S1, I would think.
>
> Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

>>CheezWiz wrote:
>>
>>>I liked my Tivo Series-1, but they are screwing the pooch with series-2..
>>>So here I am as well....
>>>If it were not for the hackers out there that gave us the utilities, then
>>>Replay would not be as great as it is. I think most of the credit for
>>>Replay being good goes to them.. As it did for the hackers of the
>>>series-1 Tivo's..
>>
>>What is it that bothers you about the Series 2? If anything the hacks are
>>easier and better on the S2 than the S1, I would think.
>>
>>Randy S.
>
> Primarily their implementation of show sharing between units. I think
> they went in the wrong direction there.
> Replay's streaming functionality is much more useful. Of course, TIVO
> implemented actual file downloads, so I cant say Replay beat them on
> that..

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe MRV (moving shows
between units) requires a fully transferred file to begin playing. You
can play the show as soon as a minimal amount has transferred. And I do
believe that most people's networks (including wireless) can transfer
shows between units well beyond real-time rate, so once started you
shouldn't have to wait at all. I believe the MRV transfers are quicker
than TTG transfers because no decryption is required.

--
Randy S.

 

[Guest]

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

"CheezWiz" <cw@here.not.there> wrote in message
news:QsWBe.1677$j21.933@news01.roc.ny...
> Primarily their implementation of show sharing between units. I think they
> went in the wrong direction there.
> Replay's streaming functionality is much more useful. Of course, TIVO
> implemented actual file downloads, so I cant say Replay beat them on that..

I'm not sure what you're saying here. I start a transfer and watch it while
it copies to my Tivo.

Ken