Open it or return it?

[ginhin]

I found a LITEON EZ_DUB external DVDRW on clearance this evening. As I've no DVD burner on the computer it came home to help back up files and photos. I then started thinking about the things I've got on my Dishnetwork 625 DVR. Is there a way to get the stuff off of my DVR onto the the EZ-DuUB so I can free up some of the memory on my DVR?

[lordsmurf]

Unless I misread, you bought a computer DVD burner.
http://www.atruereview.com/ez_dub/index.php

That does not connect to a DVR.

[Bjs]

http://ask.pvrblog.com/2004/11/dish_network_dv.html

kql > Get an inexpensive (about $175.00) dvd recorder-recommend a Lite-On 5005 model, very user friendly, simply hook up cables that come with it to one of the two TV1 outputs on the back of your pvr unit and you're good to go.

Seems dishnetwork dvr's dump recordings after 7 days .

A lot of unhappy dishnetwork dvr campers about .

----

Or a video capture device for the pc to backup recordings from the dvr .

[TBoneit]

a. I use a 501, 721, 7100 and VIP622 (HD)

Dish DVRs do not have any timers for how long to keep recordings, What will cause recordings to disappear?
1. Forgetting to Protect thge recordings and it needs the room.
2. More common thna you may think, somebody else erased it.
3. any drive corruption/problems may cause recordings to vanish.
4. Bugs in the software, It happens. Sometimes recordings vanish right after a s/w upgrade.

Have I had the above problems? Nope. Have others that I believe to be reliable had them? yes.

One other thing to remember, Only complaints are posted on websites, very few bother to go to a webaite to post my unit just works and has no problems.

More resources, www.dbstalk.com or www.dbsforums.com
dbstalk has forums for Standard Definition DVR Discussion @ http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=48

Go to the Yahoo group Dishrip, requires opening the box and probably voiding any warranty as there are security seals on the Drive. Unless you use a IDE to USB and a long USB cable to the computer and the Software PVRExplorer (Name??).

Or do what I do, feed it to a DVD recorder via S-Video.

Have I experienced recording loss? Yup The drive(s) died, not at the same time, and a 721 and a 501 had to go back to Dish for extended warranty replacement. I had at that time recordings over two years old on both DVRs. I had also of course backed them up to DVD via a Pioneer 531h. I left them on the DVRs as it was handier than having to find the right DVD.

BTW the 625 runs linux and I have heard of people using a linux on windows to see their recordings.

My understanding is that as the 625 is not encrypting the recordings that extracting them is not a violation of the DMCA. If it were then that yahoo goup and it's sister groups, Dishrip and Dishmod, would not be there. Dishmod is a handy resource of information on how to replace drives and such. It turns out that the 501 can be upgraded to 510 series size drive and have the same hours for storage and still be in dishes database as a 501 and thus no DVR fee. However only a small set of drives will work. More details at Dishmod Yahoo group.

[lordsmurf]

Yes, DISH DVRs are auto-dumping programs, and a number of people are pissed about it.

[TBoneit]

And I never have problems with programs being dumped on the units I'm running. The UPS could be the difference of course. I had a power outage this week over 4 hours duration. Even the UPS can't help with that. Once again all recordings intact.

I'd be interested in what models people are complaining about.

One of my units still in use is the first Dishnetwork DVR, Model 7100 Dishplayer, I never had the problems others had with that model either.

I have had programs erased due to stupidity on my part. On the Pioneer 531h Recorder I hit record and it erased unprotected, locked, recordings to make room. OOPS. Did the same thing on a Dishentwork DVR, Once again OOPS. Only done that twice. Now I double check and protect anything I want to keep

I'm not saying others are not losing things but it could also be user error. And I never expect anything on a hard drive to be permanent. Drives die, Its is only when not if.

[ginhin]

Thanks for the suggestions I'll have to start looking for a DVD recorder to hook to the Dish box.
I've had my dish for almost 2 years and have never had a problem with programs being dumped. A few have been deleted due to "operator error" but many have been on there since it was first installed. Made it through storms with power out for hours and all kinds of lovely things. Will the EZ dub that I've purchased copy movies that I've purchased or am I out of luck there also?

[TBoneit]

It will either go or it should tell you right away it won't go.

So far I've had no problems going to a Pioneer DVD recorder. I don't do PPV though.

Given that it is Dish I'd expect them to be the last to implement a broadcast flag.

[crazy14muzic]

Never had a problem with my dvr dumping recorded programs. But since I still have the 501 with only 35 hours of program time I have experienced that unprotected recordings will be deleted only if your dvr capacity is almost full and you still have timers set to record. Then it will dump the oldest recordings to make room for the new ones. Ive never seen it dump one in seven days unless I recorded 35 hours worth of programming in that time frame.

[lordsmurf]

These are new DVRs, as I understand it.