Question(s) on recording (copying?) from My Sky

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HairyScot

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Master Geek

#34674 27-May-2009 19:46

Hi,

I have been reading quite a bit about this topic on this forum and others.

Given the limited capacity of the My Sky HDD I would think that a facility to back up favourite programs would be almost essential. One is allowed to back up DVDs and CDs that one has purchased and logically there would seem to be little difference between this and backing up programs recorded on My Sky.

From what I have read it would seem that to perform such a function requires either a DVD recorder or a video capture card if the back up is to a PC HDD or DVD. I assume that a direct copy to a PC HDD is not possible and that a video capture card (or USB device) is necessary.

I would welcome any comments or suggestions as to the best method.

Thanks in advance.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#218424 27-May-2009 19:56

In New Zealand you are not allowed to make copies of DVDs, not even for backup purposes.

Sky probably doesn't offer any option to create backup of your programs simply because your right to watch a program is limited and you should remove the copy you have after watching it.

LennonNZ

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#218425 27-May-2009 20:08

HairyScot: Hi,

I have been reading quite a bit about this topic on this forum and others.

Given the limited capacity of the My Sky HDD I would think that a facility to back up favourite programs would be almost essential. One is allowed to back up DVDs and CDs that one has purchased and logically there would seem to be little difference between this and backing up programs recorded on My Sky.

Um.. What law says you can make "backups" ? None in NZ afaik...

freitasm

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#218426 27-May-2009 20:09

Correct. I didn't even go there. You can "format shift" an audio CD, for personal use on a second player. That's all.

n00dy

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#218428 27-May-2009 20:17

I can copy some content from MySki HDI to my panasonic EH65 & then on to DVD, however, you can not copy or record PPV content and some selected channels

grant_k

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#218438 27-May-2009 20:50

I was under the impression that MySky outputs whatever is currently being played to the VCR SCART (as well as the TV SCART obviously). Therefore you can make a recording of what is being played by hooking up a DVD Recorder to the VCR SCART and kicking off a recording on the DVD at the same time as commencing playback on MySky.

I looked all the way through the MySky manual, but it doesn't make any mention of this. From n00dy's post it seems that it is possible, so long as you aren't attempting to record restricted content.

Alternatively, you could capture the content being played back via a Video Capture device into a PC as mentioned by the OP.

When we first got MySky, I was concerned about this and intended to backup treasured programmes to DVD. However, in the 4 years since then, we found that once the programmes have been watched we generally delete them, or occasionally save them to show to other family members a few days later, then delete them after that.

There is always so much more stuff being broadcast, it seems pointless to keep copies of stuff you have already seen, unless it's a treasured movie or something, in which case just buy the DVD in the first place. Just my 2c...

HairyScot

182 posts

Master Geek

#218440 27-May-2009 20:53

I do not want to get into debating the legalities of copying DVDs or CDs, or even of recording television or radio broadcasts.

My interest is in the technicques and equipment required to copy from My Sky to alternate storage media.

I did assume that Geekzone would be the place to get such information without the need to become embroiled in legalistic what ifs.

sbiddle

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#218442 27-May-2009 21:11

HairyScot: I do not want to get into debating the legalities of copying DVDs or CDs, or even of recording television or radio broadcasts.

My interest is in the technicques and equipment required to copy from My Sky to alternate storage media.

I did assume that Geekzone would be the place to get such information without the need to become embroiled in legalistic what ifs.

The problem is discussing the techniques to do such things puts somebody technically in breach of the copyright lawsight laws that prevent you telling people how to bypass or circumvent DRM or copyright measures.

Quite simply if you can't record the content off the composite or s-video output it's because there is copy protection included in the video signal to stop you doing this. There are ways around this and a visit to hyour local Jaycar store would lead you to the device that will allow you to do what you want to do.

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HairyScot

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Master Geek

#218447 27-May-2009 21:24

OK, point taken.
Thanks sbiddle and all others who responded.

clevedon

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#218525 28-May-2009 07:46

grant_k: When we first got MySky, I was concerned about this and intended to backup treasured programmes to DVD. However, in the 4 years since then, we found that once the programmes have been watched we generally delete them, or occasionally save them to show to other family members a few days later, then delete them after that.

There is always so much more stuff being broadcast, it seems pointless to keep copies of stuff you have already seen, unless it's a treasured movie or something, in which case just buy the DVD in the first place. Just my 2c...

Couldn't agree more, exactly what we do and we have MySky HDi and multiroom - plenty of recording capacity. All time favorites , we just get the Bluray version.

Zippity

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#218550 28-May-2009 09:29

All the Purists out there make me sick.

It is easy to copy off MySky or rental DVDs as you mentioned.

Dingbatt

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#218572 28-May-2009 10:20

Now that TV One and 2 are also going HD (plus other subscription channels in the near future ;) ) maybe a bigger HDD in the MySkyHDi box would be good. I just bought a 1TB drive for less than I paid for a 250GB drive 2 years ago, that way people wouldn't need to 'archive' anything for later viewing. Sky are always replaying stuff so loss (failure) of a HDD just means you need to look out for the next time it is broadcast.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Wizzid

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#218918 28-May-2009 19:15

Zippity: All the Purists out there make me sick.

It is easy to copy off MySky or rental DVDs as you mentioned.

I used to time shift heaps to DVD as in peak times the drive fills up and it maybe weeks before I get view stuff. TV3 and movies now won't copy to standard DVD, Unless you can pm me a workaround. I'm now erasing stuff off the Sky drive unviewed for which I've subscribed in order to check out current stuff. Bummer.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#218951 28-May-2009 20:31

I have a WinFast Digital Video recorder on my PC which is connected (via Component cable) to my DVD recorder in the lounge which in turn is connected to the MySky Box.

Recording onto my PC's HDD is a breeze

To record a programme off the MySky HDD, I just play the programme and record it via the WinFast card

Kyanar

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#219627 30-May-2009 00:59

Dingbatt: Now that TV One and 2 are also going HD (plus other subscription channels in the near future ;) ) maybe a bigger HDD in the MySkyHDi box would be good. I just bought a 1TB drive for less than I paid for a 250GB drive 2 years ago, that way people wouldn't need to 'archive' anything for later viewing. Sky are always replaying stuff so loss (failure) of a HDD just means you need to look out for the next time it is broadcast.

It's got an eSATA port. They COULD just enable that? (And to be honest, they likely will since Tivo will undoubtably have their external HDD addon)

Zippity: All the Purists out there make me sick.

As you were told (but clearly weren't listening) our stupid laws forbid even telling others how to "pirate" TV programmes etc protected by "effective copy-protection technology" (like HDCP). And other stupid laws open websites containing such information to legal liability. Telling others how to break copy protection here on Geekzone exposes Mauricio to the risk of lawsuits, etc.

Dingbatt

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#219773 30-May-2009 12:54

Kyanar:

It's got an eSATA port. They COULD just enable that? (And to be honest, they likely will since Tivo will undoubtably have their external HDD addon)

I didn't realise it had that facility. It would be great to be able to add as much storage as necessary. I assume the data is stored in such a way (encrypted) that it can only be played on a MySkyHDi so there's no threat of 'format shifting'.
Hey Sky if you're listening, you could do this before tivo arrives and provide even less reason to get one.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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