Smoothest path from DVR to iphone?

[BigQid]

I want to buy a Tivo or an eyetv to record programs that I regularly watch and take them with me on my commute to work as I have an hour plus commute each way. I know with an eyetv I will be able to do this, but I also would like to be able to record multiple TV shows at once and schedule recordings from anywhere. Any suggestions?

 

[mac.jedi]

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IMO the smoothest path is EyeTV. I've had EyeTV for many years, but never really relied on it until now. I cut the cord a few years ago, but at the time TiVo was a better option with better features; and it was much cheaper $10 a month vs. $20 today. I only record OTA and I started to feel that paying a monthly/yearly fee for "free" TV doesn't make a lot of sense. So recently I ditched the TiVo and switched completely to EyeTV.

A few words of wisdom I'd impart would be to invest in at least one HDHomeRun Dual tuners ($89 w/o ETV bundled), I recently purchased a second one as it allows more flexibility in scheduling and watching live tv while recording up to 3 programs at the same time.

For automatically encoding to an iTunes compatible file, an Elgato Turbo.264 HD definitely helps speed up the process.

All in, you'd probably still be within the TiVo price range for the first year.

One more thing, the only semi-reliable way I've found to get TiVo files to the Mac is with iTiVo, a java based app that does the job, but it's a very long and tedious process. If you like being frustrated, than that's an option as well

Anyway, I hope this helps!

Thanks!

mac.jedi

 

[ftaok]

The eyeTV system doesn't work well with premium TV (aside from the eyeTV HD). Macs don't do cablecard, so you won't be able to record your shows from channels such as TNT, ESPN, HBO, etc.

If you are a cable/satellite subscriber, you're best option may be to get the DVR they provide (or a 3rd party DVR that has a Cablecard slot) and a component video recorder.

On Macs, you have two current options. The Hauppauge HD-PVR 1212 and the eyeTV HD. Both of these devices will take the incoming component video (analog up to 1080i) and convert it to h264. You can then convert that video file to something that iTunes can accept. Both of these devices work with the eyeTV software which has iTunes integration.

There's also an app that Steven Toth (I think he's a Hauppauge engineer) develops for recording shows using the 1212 and a Mac.

ft

Note - I do not have any of these devices ... although I have been a fence sitter on this topic for years. When and if I do get an iPhone, I may have to revisit this arena and see what the options are.

 

[EvilC5]

eyetv hd for sure, and since it does a fast encode during the recording process, you can do a show package contents of the file and drag the m4v file straight to itunes for a iphone formatted version without having to re-encode