How can I successully compress and/or convert Tivo files that will still play on Tivo?

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NZRobin

153 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 75838 24-Jan-2011 12:06

Ok, just recently got the network package for my Tivo as my Tivo hard drive is full and I wanted to download from it so I could free up space. Trouble is my computer only has only 235GB of free space which is now full. What to do? I figure that even if I get a one or two TB drive at the present rate it wouldn't be too long before it too was full as well.

So what about compression? Is there a way that i can compress the files and still keep the quality on my 54" plasma AND still be able to stream back to Tivo to watch without having to spend ages to reconvert each time?

I've read about the pyTivo and kmttg but I'm not sure if they will do what I'm trying to achieve.

How does everyone else store these ever expanding files for easy reuse?

Thanks for you input

Robin

JimmyH

2179 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 823

Reply # 430551 24-Jan-2011 13:24

Get a NAS box. A four-bay NAS box costs in the mid-hundreds of dollars, will allow bucket loads of storage (adding up to 4x2TB drives for 8TB!) which should take a while to fill. It will also allow you to back up your computer etc.

NZRobin

153 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 430630 24-Jan-2011 16:13

Would I be able to play straight from a NAS to my Tivo or TV? Could one use something like WD MYBook World Editions as a cheaper alternative?

TivoTimmy

23 posts

Geek

Reply # 430723 24-Jan-2011 20:43

You'll need to do some research around whether this is do-able for your NAS, Tivo uses the 'calypso' protocol to transfer which is reasonably rare (proprietary?).

In a standard PC config the Tivo Desktop software transcodes and sends it to the Tivo.

Not aware that any NAS will do it off-the-shelf.

Unless you re-share the NAS using a PC running Tivo Desktop or pyTivo.

Kiwi1971

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

Reply # 430872 25-Jan-2011 09:15

If you are looking at a NAS, it sounds like you would benefit from a high def media player with a built in HDD & NAS support. Transferring to and from the TiVo is a very [read painfully] slow process and isn't at all optimal for the type of viewing you describe.

I recently bought a Playon HD which ticked all of my boxes as far as viewing downloaded content and I am sure it supports TS files as well as it will play DVD ISO or DVD folders as though it was playing the disc. Downside is that I think it only supports up to 1.5TB but there is a 2nd version due out soon which may handle more. That is just one suggestion but there are loads of other media drives offering large storage and NAS support. You should be able to copy from the TiVo to the NAS drive but play them directly through the Media player immediately without having to copy or buffer most of the file to the TiVo if not all of it.

In all seriousness, it sounds like you need to have a clear out more than anything :o). I can't imagine what you are keeping that would completely fill your TiVo and your PC HDD.

catdog

57 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 430957 25-Jan-2011 12:12

You could upgrade the Tivo harddrive (by either buying the external 1TB addon, or by replacing the internal drive), which gives you 300+ hours of recording from memory.

catdog

57 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 431183 25-Jan-2011 21:03

Edit: With a 1.5TB drive installed, Tivo reports a recording capacity of 637 hours for HD or 1273 hours for SD