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Recording TV in the modern world


DanSteely

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Prob not the forum but here goes...

 

So I want to record TV programs for later editing on a PC and saving the resultant recording as a MP4/MKV or similar.

 

I have a smart TV but it does not have a record feature so a need a solid state recording device, I guess with a timer facility, like old school VCR's

 

Question: Is this a feature of current 'TV sticks' or if not what kind of device do I need to search for?

 

Many thanks in anticipation.

Edited by DanSteely
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'PVR' is probably what you need to look for.

 

Personally I highly recommend the Humax HDR Fox T2. Well regarded as one of the best. Discontinued but available second hand. It has a built-in FTP server which you can use to transfer files across networks if desired. You can also install custom firmware which is well supported with plenty of useful features.

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I am happy user of Plex as media server at home and although it's not a facility I use, I understand that it will act as a PVR as well. There is a list of supported tuners on this page;

https://support.plex.tv/articles/225877427-supported-dvr-tuners-and-antennas/

If you already have the PC, this might be a route to consider.

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I have a smart TV but it does not have a record feature so a need a solid state recording device, I guess with a timer facility, like old school VCR's

 

Just check whether it can have an external hard drive added to give you the recording feature... quite a few (including my LG) do?

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May be no longer relevant but my fairly old Humax FoxSat (Satelitte) PVR 'encodes' HD recordings and you have to fiddle about to transfer them off the box.

 

There are plenty of websites detailing how you do this and modding the boxes to add storage, FTP servers and whatnot to them

 

David

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I have a smart TV but it does not have a record feature so a need a solid state recording device, I guess with a timer facility, like old school VCR's

 

Just check whether it can have an external hard drive added to give you the recording feature... quite a few (including my LG) do?

 

Even if it does have this feature it may not be of use to you. Samsung TV's encode the files so they can only be read on the TV. They can't be exported into your computer. I would imagine other manufacturers have the same restriction.

Edited by Peter F
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Thanks chaps. Those were just the pointers I needed..

 

I should have said that my TV has a Plex client built in and I've setup the Plex server on a PC with media files on a NAS and it all works really well.

 

After your suggestions I've done some reading and discovered a device called HD HomeRun from SiliconDust that essentially is a network PVR that has two tuners and steams output across the network.

 

It fully integrates with Plex (providing you have a paid account) and one should be landing tomorrow from Amazon.

 

This leads me to a related question about home network topologies and optimisation.

Can anyone suggest a friendly (possibly UK centric) home networking forum?

Edited by DanSteely
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Thanks chaps. Those were just the pointers I needed..

 

I should have said that my TV has a Plex client built in and I've setup the Plex server on a PC with media files on a NAS and it all works really well.

 

After your suggestions I've done some reading and discovered a device called HD HomeRun from SiliconDust that essentially is a network PVR that has two tuners and steams output across the network.

 

It fully integrates with Plex (providing you have a paid account) and one should be landing tomorrow from Amazon.

 

This leads me to a related question about home network topologies and optimisation.

Can anyone suggest a friendly (possibly UK centric) home networking forum?

 

 

Might want to look at reddit.com/r/homelab its not "uk" centric but lots of uk people and quite many people in various levels of madness

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Another approach is a bog standard PVR from Currys or the like (to do the timer recording) and either a cheap stand-alone HDMI capture device (often call game recorders) or an HDMI capture card. It's then a case of old-school hitting play on the DVR and record on the capture device.

 

Copy protection may get in the way.... look up HDMI splitters ;)

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Even if it does have this feature it may not be of use to you. Samsung TV's encode the files so they can only be read on the TV. They can't be exported into your computer. I would imagine other manufacturers have the same restriction.

 

Ah yes - the TV HD content won't be accessible. The Humax recorders I have can be made to share recordings etc.

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I still await the IP recording device to arrive...

 

I have to admit, the channel I most want to record is Talking Pictures (Freeview Ch 81) for the old British movies which, in many cases, are of good technical quality.

 

Notwithstanding the story telling, the black & white composition of the shots and the lighting is often really good. Long shot lengths vs today's blink of an eye shot length

 

The young film makers of today could learn a lot.

 

To make myself sound even older I often get 3/4 though a modern film and can't find a reason to watch the final quarter.

 

All effect and zero story.

 

I'll get my coat..

Edited by DanSteely
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Hi all, Just to report back on this.

 

The Silicondust HDHomeRun Connect Duo arrived from Amazon. The box is tiny and has sockets for power, TV antenna and RJ45. The self setup took about 20 minutes.

 

Following that it was found by the Plex server and could be accessed by the various Plex clients.

 

From within Plex a new page appears 'Live TV & PVR' and within the page a timetable of TV channels and programs is displayed. Click on an entry give you the option to watch now, or if it's in the future, record later.

 

The resultant recordings are labeled .ts and can be viewed within Plex or VLC or other media players.

 

I've been messing about doing simple edits of topping/tailing and hacking out adverts and transcoding using NCH's Video Pad editor with good results.

 

The PVR box has two tuners so 2 programs can be viewed or recorded simultaneously. I was worried about the increased network traffic would lead to drop outs but thus far this hasn't happened or been apparent.

 

The PVR cost £99.99 and the Plex pass membership was £32.00.

 

Again, thanks for your help.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by DanSteely
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