How can you offload HD content from T-W Cable Motorola HD-DVR?

[TheFaze]

This might have been asked before, but I've done some searches and I can't find anything relevant on this forum. I've done some searches online and some methods require a Mac, which I don't have.

Basically, I have a Motorola HD-DVR from Time Warner Cable, and I would like to be able to offload some recorded HD content. I can easily copy SD content by outputing to a DVD recorder, but this can't be done for HD content.

Does anyone have any suggestions about this? As you know HD content takes up more space on the DVR, so getting rid of it from the DVR is necessary, but still being able to keep it would be great.

As for my set up:

Motorola HD-DVR from Time Warner (don't know the model number offhand)
Sony WEGA XBR 36" CRT (hooked up via component cables, 480i/p, 1080i)

other stuff:
Sony 250GB PS3
Philips DVD player/recorder
Sony DVD/VCR

If there's anything else anyone needs to know, just ask.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated!

[BrahmaBull]

Originally Posted by TheFaze

This might have been asked before, but I've done some searches and I can't find anything relevant on this forum. I've done some searches online and some methods require a Mac, which I don't have.

Basically, I have a Motorola HD-DVR from Time Warner Cable, and I would like to be able to offload some recorded HD content. I can easily copy SD content by outputing to a DVD recorder, but this can't be done for HD content.

Does anyone have any suggestions about this? As you know HD content takes up more space on the DVR, so getting rid of it from the DVR is necessary, but still being able to keep it would be great.

As for my set up:

Motorola HD-DVR from Time Warner (don't know the model number offhand)
Sony WEGA XBR 36" CRT (hooked up via component cables, 480i/p, 1080i)

other stuff:
Sony 250GB PS3
Philips DVD player/recorder
Sony DVD/VCR

If there's anything else anyone needs to know, just ask.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated!

A lot of these DVR's have firewire ports on them that were designed by the manufacturer(Motorola), to offload video content.

Unfortunately, most cable companies disable these ports. Probably due to copyright agreements.

Worth looking into, as I haven't in awhile.

[IMind]

It's actually illegal for them to disable the firewire port on the DVR. That doesn't mean that some companies don't play games. Here's a link with links to all the pertinent info on how to record off of the firewire port. I've done it.. it works okay. It's a bit tricky and very "hacky" but it's doable.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_...a_DVR/Firewire


Some cable companies also play games with encryption flags so you might not be able to get some content.

[Krandor]

One other option you can look at if you really want to offload HD content is switch to the TivoHD. They have built in support for moving stuff from your DVR to your PC.

[TheFaze]

Originally Posted by IMind

It's actually illegal for them to disable the firewire port on the DVR. That doesn't mean that some companies don't play games. Here's a link with links to all the pertinent info on how to record off of the firewire port. I've done it.. it works okay. It's a bit tricky and very "hacky" but it's doable.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_...a_DVR/Firewire


Some cable companies also play games with encryption flags so you might not be able to get some content.

Thank you for the link, I'm gonna try out some of that stuff as soon as I get a chance.