DVR To M11x

I've researched and get conflicting answers. Has anyone tried to connect a DVR (FIOS) to your laptop in order to record content off DVR? If so, how???

Thanks.

 

Cannot be done with a DVR supplied by a content provider like FiOS.

The problem is DRM (Digital Rights Management). All content recorded from a DVR from a service provider like FIOS is going to be protected by DRM, which basically means that the content is scrambled / encrypted when it is stored as a raw file. In order for correct playback, you need the proper decryption key. That decryption key is available only to the DVR, which is why you can seamlessly record and playback on the DVR itself without ever knowing that this DRM technology is in place. However, trying to play back that recorded content on any other device or machine would be useless.

I know that the TiVo DVR specifically has a piece of software that allows you to play back TiVo-recorded content onto a laptop. What they are doing is essentially allowing you to copy recorded content onto a single authorized machine, and play back on that authorized machine. They are basically taking the decryption key for your specific TiVo, and exporting it into a piece of software on your laptop. This is available only with TiVo, and not with any DVR supplied by a service provider.

The only way to easily move content that you record from one computer to another is to use a home-built DVR. You basically take a machine with some kind of TV capture card, and run it through some kind of software application that acts like a DVR, like MythTV.

 

Yeah, figured as much. My goal is to backup some stuff to DVD off the DVR. I can certainly invest the $100 and just get a consumer grade DVD player/recorder but was hoping to be "slick" and burn via the M11X and external drive I already have.

Thanks.