Sky Plus / TVo Machines

[HeyFellas]

Hey there guys, does anyone know if there's a way to record programmes from a Sky+ box onto a PC? I was wondering if I could rig up a scart socket or something, as my Sky+ box only holds 15-20 hours, and sometimes it's just not enough. Also I'd like to keep some things permanently, like music videos, and some of those Discovery "Massive Machines" type shows.

Failing that, does anyone know of a TVo machine (digital recorder) that can be used with Sky? All the ones I've seen so far will only work with Freeview.

Cheers for any help, fellas. :hatsoff: :wave2:

 

[HeyFellas]

No techies about? Let's try a bump, just in case. :helpme:

 

[tubuler]

No. Currently you can't offload recorded content to any external device from a cable or SAT DVR, even though the data ports are there, the software doesn't support it yet. When the option becomes available through a software upgrade, it will be downloaded to your unit automatically by service providers/cable companies.

 

[Slay]

I don't think there is any easy way to transfer footage from your skybox to your PC. certainly not via scart.

You'd need to get very specific video cards, wires and software to achieve this.

Alternatively, a much easier way would be to get a DVD recorder, so you can put your footage straight onto disc that way.

 

[HeyFellas]

^^^ Trouble is I can't find any recorder that handles Sky TV, and I really wanted the easyness of a hard drive, saves looking for discs and you can't lose shows. Can I put a digital recorder between the Sky box and TV? Or will it scramble the signal, like on my old VCR? Sorry about all these questions, but the local electrical shop is no help at all. They're probably worried about legal problems or something. :helpme: :wave2:

 

[Torre82]

^^^ Trouble is I can't find any recorder that handles Sky TV, and I really wanted the easyness of a hard drive, saves looking for discs and you can't lose shows. Can I put a digital recorder between the Sky box and TV? Or will it scramble the signal, like on my old VCR? Sorry about all these questions, but the local electrical shop is no help at all. They're probably worried about legal problems or something. :helpme: :wave2:

Very likely they scramble the signal if intercepted before it hits the screen. They really are trying to limit our options these days. Sorry.

 

[Member2019]

You can ...

You can, but it's far more complicated.

For one, the "integrated control" becomes a problem.
You can record some feeds, but the automated stop/start may not be part of that equation.

Another is the digital protections, ******* you to analog.
But recording analog is not cake, especially not when decoded HDTV (large frequency).

I'd have to see your setup and look at your equipment to find out.
I've assembled and programmed MythTV boxes here in the US using a DRM-free HDTV receiver.
But that only works for broadcast NTSC/ATSC here in the US.
The CableCard stuff has been far more of an issue, and satellite is entirely unregulated by the FCC.

 

[BlueBalls]

I havent tried to copy anything yet but isnt there a USB slot on your box I dont know if it will work but you could try to copy something on a USB then put it on your computer.

 

[Member2019]

Copying off encrypted data ...

I havent tried to copy anything yet but isnt there a USB slot on your box I dont know if it will work but you could try to copy something on a USB then put it on your computer.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of DVRs, sans TiVo Series 1, encrypted the data.
That data can only be decrypted with a one-time passphrase, which is only retrievable by sending an asymmetric encrypted block (with that passphrase) to the Smart Card.

There may be an additional, asymmetric encrypted block where that one-time passphrase can be retrieve.
It could be a master key (that is known, and/or changed less frequently -- such as if the DVR is from the content provider, like cable/sat) or one held in key escrow (unlikely for DVR technology device).

 

[shayd]

Very likely they scramble the signal if intercepted before it hits the screen. They really are trying to limit our options these days. Sorry.

Yeah you're right on the money on this one. If you really want to send it to your PC it may be more expensive than it is worth.

 

[stainedblueyes]

Cant you run it through your Sky+ as normal and then send the output to a TV Tuner card in your pc??? Like Hauppage WinTV or something similiar? I used to do it in Uni with cable, can't see why the SKY+ output to the TV would be any different.

 

[HeyFellas]

Cant you run it through your Sky+ as normal and then send the output to a TV Tuner card in your pc??? Like Hauppage WinTV or something similiar? I used to do it in Uni with cable, can't see why the SKY+ output to the TV would be any different.

Maybe so, but where do I get one and how much will it cost? Also, this is what I did with the old VCR, it still scrambled the signal. Sky boxes are very advanced with this stuff. :wave2: