My Sky HDi Download to Computer

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imnottechy

18 posts

Geek

#102653 18-May-2012 22:14

I'm a beginner to tech and I need to download shows of the Myskyhdi

I have a DVD Recorder but I have no idea what to do.

HELP

keewee01

1737 posts

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#627570 18-May-2012 22:35

Sky content is protected and I am not sure if it is even possible to download it off the HD (I seriously doubt it). I also believe that if it is possible, then it is illegal for anyone to tell you on here how to do so!!

imnottechy

18 posts

Geek

#627587 18-May-2012 23:20

I'm not sure (I repeat I am not sure) but I think it's legal if it's for personal use

Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#627588 18-May-2012 23:22

I have never heard a way to download content off a MySky HDi box, and I doubt there will be a legal way soon.

keewee01

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#627593 18-May-2012 23:33

imnottechy: I'm not sure (I repeat I am not sure) but I think it's legal if it's for personal use

It is not legal, even if for personal use. You need to circumvent protections and that is definitely illegal.

jamesweather

49 posts

Geek

#627632 19-May-2012 09:20

I used to do it regularly using a scart/composite cable from the MySkyHD to a Philips DVD recorder.
Works fine.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#627666 19-May-2012 11:19

Logically I see no reason why it can't be done.
The MySky is connected to the TV (Composite, Component or HDMI) and provides a perfect picture.
So if the same output (Composite or Component) is connected to the DVD recorder it should record just as well.
Only disadvantage is it will only record in real time.
There may perhaps be a problem with encrypted content such as pay per view or HD? As I don't have MySky I can't say.
I tried recording pay per view movies from my Pace decoder to my recorder a few years ago but that doesnt work. Just get a message about being unable to record the content. All other content records OK via Scart to Composite connection.

hairy1

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#627680 19-May-2012 12:27

The mysky uses macrovision copy protection which you can google (while playing content). Most video recorders and DVD recorders respect the macrovision and will not allow you to record the content or if they do it is all jumbled. Some recorders ignore the macrovision (such as some of the hauppauge devices) and allow recording of the content. This will be in breach of the T and C's of your Sky agreement.

Cheers, Matt.

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JimmyH

2886 posts

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#627770 19-May-2012 19:10

There are other posts on here which show how to do it.

The easiest is to junk the MySky and just connect a regular sky box to your recorder. They work fine and you don't need to circumvent anything - they Sky guy even provided the cable for my recorder, connected it, and tested it to make sure it was working as part of the install.

SD off a MySky is (I understand) fairly easy, you just need a video stabiliser between the Sky box and your recorder. They go for less than $100, and I recall that Jaycar used to sell them, which is where I got mine when I transferred my VHS collection to disk. However, I don't have a MySky, so maybe another GZer can confirm it works?

HD is harder, and more expensive, should be possible. You need a computer, a HD capture device (Google Hauppauge HD PVR and Hauppauge Colossus as examples, there are others), and something to get rid of the HDCP (google HDFury). Assuming you already have a suitable computer, you are looking at circa $6-700(*) for the extra kit. This sort of setup is what I will be moving to when I do my HT upgrade, currently planned for some time early next year.

Note: I'm not a lawyer. For the avoidance of doubt, the above is for discussion purposes only. Make your own decisions around whether you are prepared to do this, and take legal advice if you are worried.

* The HD Fury seems to be the gold standard for HDCP stripping from my research. There are cheaper units for around $80 that "should" work also, such as this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-Component-Converter-Supports-Lifetime/dp/B002C7CCJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337411286&sr=8-1

Kyanar

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#628049 20-May-2012 20:32

JimmyH: There are other posts on here which show how to do it.

The easiest is to junk the MySky and just connect a regular sky box to your recorder. They work fine and you don't need to circumvent anything - they Sky guy even provided the cable for my recorder, connected it, and tested it to make sure it was working as part of the install.

SD off a MySky is (I understand) fairly easy, you just need a video stabiliser between the Sky box and your recorder. They go for less than $100, and I recall that Jaycar used to sell them, which is where I got mine when I transferred my VHS collection to disk. However, I don't have a MySky, so maybe another GZer can confirm it works?

HD is harder, and more expensive, should be possible. You need a computer, a HD capture device (Google Hauppauge HD PVR and Hauppauge Colossus as examples, there are others), and something to get rid of the HDCP (google HDFury). Assuming you already have a suitable computer, you are looking at circa $6-700(*) for the extra kit. This sort of setup is what I will be moving to when I do my HT upgrade, currently planned for some time early next year.

Note: I'm not a lawyer. For the avoidance of doubt, the above is for discussion purposes only. Make your own decisions around whether you are prepared to do this, and take legal advice if you are worried.

* The HD Fury seems to be the gold standard for HDCP stripping from my research. There are cheaper units for around $80 that "should" work also, such as this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-Component-Converter-Supports-Lifetime/dp/B002C7CCJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337411286&sr=8-1

Stripping HDCP would violate the new provisions in the copyright act. Very much illegal. Same for using a Video Stabliser to strip Macrovision from the SD signal. Also illegal. You are permitted to strip protections from content only if it's for the purposes of interoperability (and no, recording content from your DVRs hard drive to permanent media is NOT interoperability, in fact that's flat out illegal too!) or for permitting the playback of legally obtained media with region protections (i.e. stripping region codes from DVDs is OK in NZ).

JimmyH

2886 posts

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#628637 21-May-2012 22:43

I'm not terribly worried about it:

1. It doesn't strike me as particularly unethical (given that I am actually paying circa $100/month for the content feed, and it enables me to accumulate what I am paying for until I have time to watch it). It's certainly more ethical than downloading from torrents, which I don't do, and I don't share the recorded material around either.

2. It's no more illegal than ripping CDs that you owned to your iPod used to be until very recently - and no one worried about that.

3. Probability of detection is vanishingly close to zero, there is noting to detect. Probability of prosecution if detected also very low - it's legally no worse than someone who hangs onto a video tape after they have watched it once (and you have never, ever, ever done that - right?).

In summary, it's a bad law which is anti-consumer and in practice targets something that essentially does no harm, because the US government was swayed by the campaign contributions of a few big media companies and put pressure on our government. Just like the MP3 player example, which they moved to legalise once it became pervasive, it's worthy of being treated with contempt until it goes away.

NB: illegal != wrong.

Kyanar

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#628660 21-May-2012 23:22

True, but sharing info on how to do it here opens Geekzone up to legal liability if angry government types felt like being prats - hence why it's against the FUG you agreed to. So, um, don't do it.