If I had a Tivo, could I record a program then send it over to my comp00ter?

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I've seen a few hot deals on them, but never got one

From what I understand they use a hard drive and convert the video and store it for later. I assume that it uses some standard codec like mpeg2 or something no? How good is the quality? Can you get it just as good as the original?

Anyway, is there a way to interface it with a PC and move the programs over? It'd be kinda handy. I gave recording with a tv tuner (ATi TV Wonder) and it was ass and too much trouble. It'd be nice if I could just copy a file over and rename it. There any sort of output on the back? How about removing the drive and putting it in the computer (sounds like a pain). How many episodes of Seinfeld could I fit on a Tivo?

 

[dolph]

you *could*... but it'd be much easier and faster on a replay 45xx (100 mbps connection). pm me if you want more info

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

I record with my ATI AIW.

 

[MrBond]

No you can't.

There's outputs on the back, but you'd still have to capture the video to your pc with a capture card.

You'd fit 28 episodes of seinfeld on a 14 hr tivo, 60 on a 30hr, etc. That's at low quality, which is as good as a vcr.

And what hot deals on tivo's are you seeing? Everything I've seen has been fairly expensive, not to mention the monthly access charge. I've got a subscription just sitting there unused (lifetime) because two tivo's have died on me and I'll be damned if phillips is getting any more of my money for another refirb one that will last 6 months and break again.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Last I saw was at the Kmart's that were closing, 49$ for one (dunno the model, saw it over at obese money holder).

I didn't think Tivo had a subscription

Do all those thingys have them?

 

[MrBond]

All the Tivo's (made by phillips [poor quality] and sony) require a subscription to get the guide. Apparently you can use it without the guide, but I have never tried so I can't say how easy it is.

$49 isn't too bad, it's probably a 14 or 20 hour model. Good luck finding one though, I imagine at that price, they're all off to ebay now. The subscription always used to be $9.95/mo, or $200 lifetime, but now it's more. I'm not sure how much per month (I want to say $15), but it's $250/lifetime. I had a 14 hr model and it was fine for what I watched.

The Replay TV's do not have the subscription, but prices usually work out to be the same when you figure in the cost of the subscription (ie: a replaytv usually costs ~$200 more then a tivo of similar size)

 

[Murphyrulez]

Originally posted by: MrBond
No you can't.

There's outputs on the back, but you'd still have to capture the video to your pc with a capture card.

You'd fit 28 episodes of seinfeld on a 14 hr tivo, 60 on a 30hr, etc. That's at low quality, which is as good as a vcr.

And what hot deals on tivo's are you seeing? Everything I've seen has been fairly expensive, not to mention the monthly access charge. I've got a subscription just sitting there unused (lifetime) because two tivo's have died on me and I'll be damned if phillips is getting any more of my money for another refirb one that will last 6 months and break again.

Actually, you can hook up your Tivo to your cable modem, and just transfer your video files over the ethernet. Just like the ReplayTV. HOWEVER. You have to hack the Tivo open to install the network card. The Replay comes with ethernet built in.

So yes, you can send video from your Tivo to your computer, but only after a little work.