PVR Explorer Pro

[Anole]

For those of you with Dish PVR satellite receivers, there is a new tool for getting the mpeg off your drive.
I currently use the PVR Explorer ver 1068 which does a good job, but now in beta test there is....
(note: support for new PVR models ! )

PvrExplorerPro is an application that is designed to transfer Mpeg2
recordings from you pvr’s HDD. And convert them into a program stream
usable by many programs from editors to DVD authoring applications.

System requirements:
OS: Microsoft Windows, 2K / XP (home or Pro), 2003, Vista.
Apple MAC OS X 10.2 or greater.
Linux KDE environment kernel 2.6.4 or greater.

RAM: 256MB min, recommended 512.
HDD: Application requires ~500K, but it is recommended that you
have >20GB of free space to hold and edit you mpeg files outputted by
PvrExplorerPro.

PvrExplorerPro currently recognizes Dish Network receiver model
numbers: 501,508,510, 522, 625 and their equivalent BelView models.
But this does not limit it to these model numbers in the future.

They even formed yet another Yahoo group to focus on the new version, PVRExplorer.
If you use the current version, you won't have any trouble using the new one.
Extraction speed is 2x or 3x faster than before.
Of the few shows I've converted from my first run with it, VideoReDo has had nothing bad to report.
No fixes have been applied by VRD.
DVD Labs has had nothing to say, either, other than the usual "this is not full DVD format" which you ignore.

One three-hour movie I burned had two very tiny visual glitches in it.
Normally, VRD would have had to fix something or take action at those places.
Not this time. VRD gave it a clean bill of health.
This is a major improvement in extraction (and repair) technology.

Catch? The Beta version has a limited life.
Price? Free as all the previous one.

...try it, you'll like it...

 

[Anole]

update

Latest update news on the program:

From: "pvrexplorerpro" <pvrexplorerpro@...>
Date: Fri Apr 21, 2006 10:49 am
Subject: PvrExplorerPro Source Code Uploaded!

First, I would like to thank every one who has contributed to the
evolution if this program and group. I have decided to open source the
pvrexplorer-pro software. I have uploaded the source to the files
section of the PvrExplorer group, I also have created a project for it
on SourceForge, you can get it at,
http://Sourceforge.net/projects/pvrexplorer-pro

Due to several factors, one being that I cannot devote the time needed
to get this software to the next level, and also the heavy hand of the
FBI and Uncle Charley coming down to try and squash this effort, I did
not wish that this software be buried.
There for I would wish those developers out there to get involved and
continue the efforts, The more copies of the source in peoples hands
will help preserve it.

Thanks Again.

The latest version at the Yahoo site was: 2020
The latest version at the SourceForge site is: 2021
However, the actual version number doesn't seem to be well marked on the application, so be careful when downloading, that you have/keep/use the latest.

 

[Anole]

ver 2030

PvrExplorerPro_Win_2030.zip

Fixed several crashes and bugs,
added suport for the 622 model with HD video Extraction.

I find that a bug introduced in the previous version, having to do with inserting the video program info into the file name, has been fixed.
(things like episode name, or if a movie, a long description and actor list)

Don't know details, but the info claims it will now extract from the Hi-Def Vip 622 PVR.

As for the features that support my PVR 508, I've used it for several weeks, and find it a bit more robust.
Speed continues to be about the same: between a minute and two minutes per 1-hour show (~1gb or so).

 

[mkmpanic]

via the ethernet port?

i also am trying to pull some recordings from my vip 622. once i download the application do i connect computer to dvr via ethernet cable or do i need to pull the hard drive out of the dvr housing?

any guidance would be appreciated.

thank you

 

[Anole]

no, not via ethernet

I have a 508, and only wish I had a Vip 622 hi def receiver.

You'll have to get that info from the PVRexplorer group at Yahoo.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PVRExplorer/
I've not really been following the threads on that receiver.

If I didn't mention it above, you have to have a Yahoo email account to join.
Also, don't just go there and ask . . . read through the info they have.
Yea, I know, it's not organized worth a #$%^ !
More like a bad Newsgroup than a decent forum.
But, your answer is there.

 

[xski]

PVR Explorer

mkmpanic,

Yes, you'll have to power down and pull the drive. On occasion, windows sees that the disk doesn't have some marker that windows looks for (sorry, forgot the message) and asks if you'd like to mark the disk.

JUST SAY NO!!

Let me save the curious a bit of time: having windows mark the disk will basically blow it away. when you put it back into your receiver, its seen as a new disk and you'll have to go through a reformat/reload... not to mention that you've lost your recordings.

-jmr

 

[SatDoug]

Please Help: Dish Vip622 USB external drive and decoding TSP files

Hi All:
Looking for some guidence.
I recently activated the USB port on my Vip622, which allows me to off load & restore recorded programming.
After copying a 1 hour program, I used a copy of Linux on my laptop to copy the .tsp file to a windows partition.
So now I have the .tsp file in Windows, and run PVRExplorerPro 2030 (latest version), and open the .tsp file. After about a minute, I get the message: "Possible Encrypted Stream: Unable to Extract Program".
Any suggestions or ways around this? I am 'guessing' the way to use PVRExplorer via direct connect to the PVR hard drive does not have (assuming) encryption that may get added when copying to an external drive via the USB port? Is there any way to get around this?
Thanks!

 

[Anole]

oops, sorry for the delay.
Not sure what happened (the what I know, but it's the why I do not) to your post.

I cannot help ya on this, and suggest you see my post #5 above for better direction.

So far as I know, you cannot take anything off the external USB hard drive and edit/process it.
Though... you can bet the best minds are working on it!
Data on external storage is encrypted and locked to that particular receiver.
You can't even see the show on your other Vip622.

 

[brainy smurf]

drat... had my hopes up. i have alomst a terabyte of vids from rave droped onto a number of external hard drives and was hoping i could just simply transfer them. knew it coulndt be that easy


i'll have to try pulling the hd though, that could prove useful.

Let me save the curious a bit of time: having windows mark the disk will basically blow it away. when you put it back into your receiver, its seen as a new disk and you'll have to go through a reformat/reload... not to mention that you've lost your recordings

.

this sparks a keen bit of interst....i didnt know you could put a new disk into your dvr and have it formatted by the dish receiver. has anyone tried putting a stock disk out of the computer store into thier dvr as a way to get more storage? aka getting a 500 gig or 1 tb ide drive and using it to replace the 120 gig that comes stock with the system? this could prove useful for holding lots of hd stuff between rips or as a means to get all the stuff thats been archived off the external and back to a rippable form.

if anyone has done this, let me know. i'm curious to try if it works

brainy

 

[Anole]

My posts to this thread concern use of 501, 508, and 510 PVRs.
That's what I have.
The way those receivers work is totally different from the newer generation of PVRs, such as the 622.
So, what works for one doesn't necessarily apply to the other family.

For the 5xx series, only hard drives whose parameters are written into the firmware of the receiver, will work.
This means you don't put in just any arbitrary drive and expect success.

This forum is not the definitive authority on video extraction.
I suggest you use the Yahoo Groups listed above for more info.

 

[zaphod7501]

One of the limitations that I have heard of is the type of drive has to match. ATA100 vs ATA133 (ATA33, 66, etc). In other words, an ATA100 drive has a chance of working but ATA133 probably won't. Another problem could be firmwares that are locked to brands that no longer exist due to mergers and acquisitions (ie Maxtor).