Any TV tech experts?

8,068 posts 120 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 7:10 PM

We have been on Dish Network for several years. A few years ago we added an external drive for the DVR. Recently, we were able to change our internet provider going from 3 Mbps to 30. Our plan is to use firesticks, paying for whatever we currently watch a decent amount and getting rid of Dish, which has become ridiculously expensive.

The only issue is the content we have saved on the DVR drive. Is there a way to connect this in some way so that we can keep and watch those things we can't find (or find for free) on the firesticks?

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 246 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 7:15 PM

This was data saved through the Dish Network DVR software? Sounds like it might be hard to just plug and play something like that with another device.

queencitybuckeye Senior Member

8,068 posts 120 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 7:19 PM

posted by justincredible
This was data saved through the Dish Network DVR software? Sounds like it might be hard to just plug and play something like that with another device.

Yes. So you believe that it's probably saved in a proprietary format of some sort?

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 246 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 7:25 PM

I would assume so. Have you tried plugging into a PC and exploring what the data structure looks like? Assuming it's a standard external USB you should be able to see what you're dealing with on a random computer.

queencitybuckeye Senior Member

8,068 posts 120 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 7:28 PM

posted by justincredible
I would assume so. Have you tried plugging into a PC and exploring what the data structure looks like? Assuming it's a standard external USB you should be able to see what you're dealing with on a random computer.

Haven't yet, we just got the upgrade to a reasonable internet speed the other day.

justincredible Honorable Admin

37,969 posts 246 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 7:28 PM

Here we go:

https://blog.solidsignal.com/tutorials/format-satellite-dvr-recordings-stored/#:~:text=The%20files%20on%20your%20DIRECTV,%2Dray%20disc%20files%2C%20really.

Looks like they are likely encrypted mp4 files that are tied directly to your dish device.

rip34 Member

76 posts 6 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 8:43 PM

I would look at dvdfab.cn software. They have a free player that may be able to transpose the file.

Laley23 GOAT

33,369 posts 132 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 9:47 PM

There is no way that content isn’t encrypted. So it won’t just play. But, you might be able to find some free software to turn it into a standard format.

gut Senior Member

18,369 posts 115 reps Joined Nov 2009

Mon, Oct 25, 2021 9:55 PM

Or just go over to the darkside and download your content via torrent or other non-torrent sites. Just make sure to use a VPN.

brutus161 The Navy Guy

1,688 posts 24 reps Joined Nov 2009

Tue, Oct 26, 2021 7:53 AM

posted by queencitybuckeye
Haven't yet, we just got the upgrade to a reasonable internet speed the other day.

The fact that you think 30 mbs is reasonable internet speed is one of a multitude of reasons I would never move back home. This is not a knock on you, but more a knock on rural Ohio.

kizer permanente Senior Member

1,309 posts 18 reps Joined Aug 2017

Tue, Oct 26, 2021 8:01 AM

posted by brutus161
The fact that you think 30 mbs is reasonable internet speed is one of a multitude of reasons I would never move back home. This is not a knock on you, but more a knock on rural Ohio.

Not even just rural Ohio. My parents are 15 minutes from me. I have spectrum and they have a locally owned cable company that’s obviously the only one available to them. They pay $20 more a month for 50mbps than we do for 1G.

geeblock Member

1,123 posts 0 reps Joined May 2018

Tue, Oct 26, 2021 8:15 AM

if you have a firestick just download the cinema app and it has every tv show past and present.

queencitybuckeye Senior Member

8,068 posts 120 reps Joined Nov 2009

Tue, Oct 26, 2021 1:10 PM

posted by brutus161
The fact that you think 30 mbs is reasonable internet speed is one of a multitude of reasons I would never move back home. This is not a knock on you, but more a knock on rural Ohio.

To be fair, rural anywhere.

Any TV tech experts?

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