Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Home Theatre & HDTV => Topic started by: Krispy D on September 15, 2008, 10:03:49 AM

Title: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: Krispy D on September 15, 2008, 10:03:49 AM

I have a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 DVR issued by Comcast.  I use it mostly for my daughters favorite shows and a few shows my wife and I like to watch.  I want to pull data off it and back it up to DVD to free Hard Drive space on the DVR. Is this possible.  It seems every time I ask someone I get a different answer.  I googled it but couldn't sift through all the sites to come up with an answer. I run a Mac Mini running 10.5.4.

Help!~

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: kskreider on September 15, 2008, 10:47:51 AM

I pull off both the SD and HD material from my newer Motorola box (DCH-3416) but I am using a PC.  I think the fact that you are using an older set top box AND a Mac might be 2 strikes.  The box's connections will depend on the configuration that your provider has set. 

I would suggest reading threads over on the SVS forums and see if there is Mac info there.

Good Luck!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=386740&highlight=apple+scientific+atlanta+8300

Edit top add AVS link

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: Krispy D on September 15, 2008, 10:53:17 AM

+T heading over there now.

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: kskreider on September 15, 2008, 10:56:36 AM

If you can get it to work you will be a happy as heck.  Mine records real-time using CapVHS but I can do both SD and HD and when we had it, I was recording HD HBO without encryption.  I use HDTV2MPEG to break open the TS files and us VideoReDo to edit out commercials and set chapters/menus.

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: gewwang on September 15, 2008, 11:19:29 AM

I have the same DVR thru Time Warner cable (Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD DVR).

I've never been able to copy files off of it as data as I believe you want to do. The only thing I can do is connect a standalone dvd burner to it and use the A/V outs to record the recorded programs in realtime before I run out of DVR disc space and lose them.

There's alot of good info, mostly about the limitations of this POS in this thread:
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/288411

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: kskreider on September 15, 2008, 12:21:22 PM

Keep in mind that you can always call your provider and ask them if they have un upgraded set top box.  Our provider here in San Jose uses 2 or 3 different models based on what you are subscribed to.

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: Krispy D on September 15, 2008, 12:34:48 PM

wow, this morning I have learned that my DVR sucks balls, and that i hate my cable provider...  and to think I was happy yesterday.  Ignorance is bliss.

Title: Re: Any DVR gurus around...
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on September 15, 2008, 12:54:20 PM

Quote from: Krispy D on September 15, 2008, 12:34:48 PM

wow, this morning I have learned that my DVR sucks balls, and that i hate my cable provider...  and to think I was happy yesterday.  Ignorance is bliss.

Welcome to Time Warner...

T