Copying Sky Movies/Other

[Fed]

This post may not make much sense to non-UK residents.

I'm registered to Sky Movies at the minute. It's a pretty good service but I don't benefit very much due to work and other commitments. However, as my other half does get a lot of use out of it, I can't just cancel.

From reading up a few things, apparently Sky offers the ability to burn media to discs. Has anyone done this before? I'm thinking of making copies of various shows and films that are of interest and store them for later use. The only issue I see is the media I'm burning to. Obviously if I'm burning 10 things a week and you take that over the course of six months or a year - that's a lot of media. I'm thinking of just using a re-writable disc (and rip to my NAS) but would like other people's opinions.

Also, if burning discs is the only option, can anyone recommend a DVD recorder?

 

[chenks]

From reading up a few things, apparently Sky offers the ability to burn media to discs.

no they don't.

unless of you course you mean connecting your sky box to a dvd recorder and recording them to disc in "real time", ie you have to play them on your box and record to DVD. this only lets you burn in standard definition (so no HD).

 

[KevinC867]

This is what I am using as my modern day VCR: www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-1212-Definition-Personal-Recorder/dp/B0018LX0DY The software that comes with it is for PCs, but there is a great Mac program available to control it: www.hdpvrcapture.com

It works very well for recording HD programs from the component video output of my dvr. I often post-process the output files with HandBrake to create files that can be played on my iPad and ATV.

If the Sky box does not have component outputs, you can find an HDMI to Component converter.

 

[chenks]

This is what I am using as my modern day VCR: www.amazon.com/Hauppauge-1212-Definition-Personal-Recorder/dp/B0018LX0DY The software that comes with it is for PCs, but there is a great Mac program available to control it: www.hdpvrcapture.com

It works very well for recording HD programs from the component video output of my dvr. I often post-process the output files with HandBrake to create files that can be played on my iPad and ATV.

If the Sky box does not have component outputs, you can find an HDMI to Component converter.

this still requires you to record it whilst playing it in real time.
if you're doing that then why not just watch it.

 

[KevinC867]

this still requires you to record it whilst playing it in real time.
if you're doing that then why not just watch it.

I usually record shows while I am doing something else. I set a timer for the the end time and come back and start the next recording. The TV can be turned off while the recording is happening. The shows can later be watched on an airplane, or with the family in the vacation cottage. Sometimes the purpose is to archive the recording, so I don't lose it when the DVR disk fills up.

It would be great if there was a way to directly grab an un-encrypted file from the DVR, but mine certainly doesn't allow that.

 

[chenks]

surely in this case it would simply be quicker to find a torrent and download it !

 

[KevinC867]

surely in this case it would simply be quicker to find a torrent and download it !

I don't do torrents.

 

[chenks]

I don't do torrents.

why not? you're already breaking the copyright rules by burning to DVD to archive etc.