I have an HD DVR from Direct TV. The unit has at least one (maybe 2) USB ports on it. I overheard a guy the other day stating that he was downloading TV shows from his DVR to his computer. When I had it installed I asked the guy what they (USB ports) were for and he told me they did nothing. I don' have a laptop at home but does anyone know or have you ever hooked a computer to your DVR and tried to navigate the hard drive and transfer the files to your computer. I think I heard that Lenox (sp ?) is the operating system that the DVR uses.

SWRules

This is possible but you need special hardware to do it. You could use an ATI all in wonder card or a video capture card.

Perm

you dont need special hardware. you need a linux computer and a us b cable. then it is a matter of breaking the firmware on the DVR and letting it be used as an external hard drive as well as a DVR then you could save the DVR recordings toyour computer.

I have an HD DVR from Direct TV. The unit has at least one (maybe 2) USB ports on it. I overheard a guy the other day stating that he was downloading TV shows from his DVR to his computer. When I had it installed I asked the guy what they (USB ports) were for and he told me they did nothing. I don' have a laptop at home but does anyone know or have you ever hooked a computer to your DVR and tried to navigate the hard drive and transfer the files to your computer. I think I heard that Lenox (sp ?) is the operating system that the DVR uses.

SWRules[/b]


maybe i can help.....first do you have XP MEDIA CENTER or HOME or PRO? MEDIA CENTER can do this WITHOUT the DVR......secondly the DVR has those USB ports for XBOX and GAMECUBE to record and play online games......third just plug in the USB and see what box opens in the puter.....it should give you choices.....you can probably save shows to yer desktop or C drive or VIDEO FOLDER or etc.......it might open the CAMERA AND SCANNER WIZARD.....i will look online as well as you should at DIRECT TV to see what they say also.....i currently do this and burn TV to DVD with XP MEDIA CENTER 2003 and 2005 editions.....i love it....got all the PLANET EARTH things......old F-TROOP shows....LOST IN SPACE.....AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CONCERTS....etc.....you might already have what yer lookin for

maybe i can help.....first do you have XP MEDIA CENTER or HOME or PRO? MEDIA CENTER can do this WITHOUT the DVR......secondly the DVR has those USB ports for XBOX and GAMECUBE to record and play online games......third just plug in the USB and see what box opens in the puter.....it should give you choices.....you can probably save shows to yer desktop or C drive or VIDEO FOLDER or etc.......it might open the CAMERA AND SCANNER WIZARD.....i will look online as well as you should at DIRECT TV to see what they say also.....i currently do this and burn TV to DVD with XP MEDIA CENTER 2003 and 2005 editions.....i love it....got all the PLANET EARTH things......old F-TROOP shows....LOST IN SPACE.....AUSTIN CITY LIMITS CONCERTS....etc.....you might already have what yer lookin for[/b]
I dont think Direct TV will help because they dont want people doing this. I spoke with one person from Direct and he said it cannot be done. However several people have talked about doing it so for some reason they dont want it to happen.

I dont think Direct TV will help because they dont want people doing this. I spoke with one person from Direct and he said it cannot be done. However several people have talked about doing it so for some reason they dont want it to happen.[/b]


right....cause their way you pay a fee....my way its free.....you did not answer me as to what OS you have XP MEDIA CENTER????? see if you have that then you don't need the DVR and then they get less......you just take a cable splitter and split it after the direct tv box.....one to tv one to puter....take DVR back and lower bill....did you plug into USB???? what box opened? i will find out about those USB ports and what they are for...what OS ya have though?

heres yer answer

http://ask.pvrblog.com/2004/10/dish_dvr_usb_co.html

you can read from 04 to now as it evolved....but go to DON MEJIA post 6:36:06 4/27/2007 for steps on how to......but WOW......i been doin this since 03 a hell of alot easier with XP MEDIA CENTER PC......you only have until december to but one.....screw vista it sucks......this is super easy with a NVDIA CARD like GT 7300 LE or somethin......it looks like it was just for a future upgrade and its gettin there slowly.....what a pain in tha ###.....glad i didn't go DIRECT TV.....i just bought the basic cable from WOWWAY and XP MEDIA CENTER....it gets all info and tv shows from

http://www.zap2it.com/

just enter zip code of different area to view games that are blacked out or over seas and have PC record it and burn it if you want.....thanx for asking this as i now know to stay away from DIRECT TV....man you guys are gettin HOSED...let me know how it goes or what ya got and i can guide hookup real easy like....i read alot of that stuff so maybe you should to as you learn what they all went through

Thanks for the link. I havent read all the way through it yet but I will. Right now I only have a desktop and I have a brother that is a computer nut and is going to build a laptop with a large hard drive and the Linux as I was told this was what I would need. I was hoping I could get a computer that I could hook to the USB and do the work and not have to make mods to the DVR itself, Ill keep you up to date once we start messing with it.