Copying files from Humax PVR

[Bob]

The PVR is a Humax PVR Fox T2 and there are a number of programmes on it
that I wish to keep for posterity.

I tried to copy them to a Seagate USB drive but whilst it 'saw' the drive
it would not write the files to it as the format was 'not compatible'.

The drive is Seagate is NTFS format and readable/writable through Windows
and Linux OSs so what format do I need, please, to copy files to and from
PVR?

I had wondered about formatting the USB drive as FAT but not sure if that
would work either??

[Dave W]

"Bob" <B...@the.builder> wrote in message
news:UfidnYLJw6Cr4HnE...@brightview.co.uk...

The files are encrypted unless you had installed software to stop recordings
being encrypted. The only thing you can do if encrypted is to play them via
the SCART to another recorder, but they will not be in HD. The Humax drive
is in Linux format, not NTFS.
--
Dave W

[Brian Gaff]

FAT will only restrict file size. Fat 32 will but not quite as much.
Brian

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"Bob" <B...@the.builder> wrote in message
news:UfidnYLJw6Cr4HnE...@brightview.co.uk...

[Brian Gaff]

Surely though, nowadays somebody must have made a decoder for such files. In
my view this protectionism for the sake of it seems counter productive.
there has to be lots of people who lose valuable content due to the box
going bang and they cannot even copy it and view it on a different make of
box.

Brian

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"Dave W" <dave...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:os22bb$t9a$1...@gioia.aioe.org...

[Bob]

OK so I had a play with a 1gb usb thumbdrive I had lying around which is
FAT formatted.

I copied one of the programmes (Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells if you're
interested <g>) to the thumbdrive via the usb port on the Humax.

I checked it played back ok via the PVR, it did.

Next I tried it via my Linux PC. It showed 4 files and one of them
successfully plays back both video and audio tracks.

Thanks for the hints - now I'm happy!

Note that no additional decoders/software was downloaded at any time.
Maybe the old Humax PVR did not encrypt?

Someone with a more up to date one than mine may wish to try and see what
happens.

Top posted as I understand Brian Gaff uses a screen reader.

[Woody]

You need a recording material - USB stick or HDD - formatted in FAT32.

The machine will decode the encryption in the process of exporting it
to your external media so it will play back via any suitable system
including a TV with USB input.



--
Woody

harrogate3 at ntlworld dot com

[Yellow]

On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 13:15:47 +0100, Woody <harro...@ntlworld.com>
wrote:

>
> You need a recording material - USB stick or HDD - formatted in FAT32.
>
> The machine will decode the encryption in the process of exporting it
> to your external media so it will play back via any suitable system
> including a TV with USB input.

It is worth bearing in mind that a 4GB file is the largest that can be
transferred this way, so it fails for some HD movies.

But of course, HD is not unencrypted by this method anyway so I guess
that is moot. :-)

A better solution is to install the customised software and add the
utility that un-encrypts HD files and the one that makes larger USB
drives writeable.

Also, you can shrink files by up to 20% using the utility that removes
the freeview information.

[Bob]

Thanks both of you.

Yellow: What is the customised software and utility which makes larger USB
drives writable please?

[Yellow]

You get the custom software here -

https://wiki.hummy.tv/wiki/Custom_Firmware_Overview

And you can then add the features you fancy. The disk drive one is
called "ntfs-3g".

You can also control the speed of the fan, automatically rename and move
about files and set up recordings. All sorts of stuff.

I have been running the software on my Humax for years and it is
fabulous, so ask if you need help. Also, the site has excellent help
forums on Humax machines as well as this software.

[Bob]

On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 16:04:31 +0100, Yellow wrote:

> On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 08:02:55 -0500, Bob <B...@the.builder> wrote:
>>
>> Yellow: What is the customised software and utility which makes larger
>> USB drives writable please?
>
> You get the custom software here -
>
> https://wiki.hummy.tv/wiki/Custom_Firmware_Overview

Thank you - saved and to be considered!

[Dave W]

"Bob" <B...@the.builder> wrote in message

news:l6udnTxZC5PFTXnE...@brightview.co.uk...

Your Tubular Bells must have been in SD if it's not encrypted. The custom
software cannot decode encrypted files - it just stops HD recordings being
encrypted in the first place.
--
Dave W

[Roger Mills]

On 16/10/2017 13:15, Woody wrote:
> You need a recording material - USB stick or HDD - formatted in FAT32.
>
> The machine will decode the encryption in the process of exporting it
> to your external media so it will play back via any suitable system
> including a TV with USB input.
>
>
>

That's part of the story!

Programmes recorded in SD will indeed be decrypted when you copy them to
a USB drive. Programmes in HD won't. These require an extra step
(assuming that you're not using the custom firmware).

You need a utility called Foxy - see
https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/foxy-an-hd-recording-backup-utility-for-the-hdr-fox-t2-now-released.240/

There are 4 files associated with each recording. One of these (.hmt)
needs to be modified by Foxy before being copied to a USB drive. This
causes the HD recording to be decrypted just like SD recordings.

--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

[Yellow]

On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:04:14 +0100, Roger Mills <watt....@gmail.com>
wrote:

>
> On 16/10/2017 13:15, Woody wrote:
> > You need a recording material - USB stick or HDD - formatted in FAT32.
> >
> > The machine will decode the encryption in the process of exporting it
> > to your external media so it will play back via any suitable system
> > including a TV with USB input.
> >
> >
> >
> That's part of the story!
>
> Programmes recorded in SD will indeed be decrypted when you copy them to
> a USB drive. Programmes in HD won't. These require an extra step
> (assuming that you're not using the custom firmware).
>
> You need a utility called Foxy - see
> https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/foxy-an-hd-recording-backup-utility-for-the-hdr-fox-t2-now-released.240/
>
> There are 4 files associated with each recording. One of these (.hmt)
> needs to be modified by Foxy before being copied to a USB drive. This
> causes the HD recording to be decrypted just like SD recordings.

That method is now out of date now and instead you can just install the
'auto-unprotect' package and it all gets sorted automatically.

I also have all new recording set to automatically de-encrypt when they
have been finished recording, which is a built-in feature of the custom
software.

I do this for two reasons. First, so I can then use the web interface to
copy files to the USB drive as the Humax does not automatically de-
encrypt files when you copy this way. And second, the actual file
transfer is then quicker.

[Davey]

On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 06:43:02 -0500
Bob <B...@the.builder> wrote:

> OK so I had a play with a 1gb usb thumbdrive I had lying around which
> is FAT formatted.
>
> I copied one of the programmes (Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells if
> you're interested <g>) to the thumbdrive via the usb port on the
> Humax.
>
> I checked it played back ok via the PVR, it did.
>
> Next I tried it via my Linux PC. It showed 4 files and one of them
> successfully plays back both video and audio tracks.

The act of downloading the programme via the usb port automatically
decrypted it, so the thumbdrive has the full set of 4 files which play
on any suitable device. The subtitles are included in this set.

I have my Humax networked to my PC, and if I wish to copy a programme
over to the PC, I first use the Custom Software to decrypt the
programme, and then copy it to the PC using an FTP protocol. I have
never tried this with an HD programme, so cannot comment on what needs
to be done to make this happen.

--
Davey.

[Yellow]

It is exactly the same except you need to add the "auto-unprotect"
package to the custom software. This then automatically does whatever it
needs to do to the HD recording when has finished being recorded.

[Davey]

I have that already installed, and am currently recording The One Show
on BBC 1 HD, so will play with this later. (It will be deleted once it
has served its purpose!).

--
Davey.

[Davey]

Am copying the decrypted files (3 of them only) to the PC right now.

One other thing to add is to check any and all programmes copied to the
PC, by whichever means. Occasionally, a decrypted programme will not
play, for some unknown reason, and also sometimes programmes will be cut
short, possibly by scheduling conflicts. It's worth discovering these
things early, then you might have chance to re-record the programme.

And yes, the decrypted and copied HD recording of The One Show looks and
sounds ok on the PC. Now to delete it.

--
Davey.

[Norman Wells]

On 17/10/2017 19:28, Davey wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:54:34 +0100

>> It is exactly the same except you need to add the "auto-unprotect"
>> package to the custom software. This then automatically does whatever
>> it needs to do to the HD recording when has finished being recorded.
>
> I have that already installed, and am currently recording The One Show
> on BBC 1 HD, so will play with this later. (It will be deleted once it
> has served its purpose!).

It has already served its purpose. It has been broadcast and it has
filled up its allotted slot. It is useful for nothing else. Delete it
now and extend your life by its duration at no cost

[Roger Mills]

On 17/10/2017 06:16, Yellow wrote:
> On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:04:14 +0100, Roger Mills<watt....@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> On 16/10/2017 13:15, Woody wrote:
>>> You need a recording material - USB stick or HDD - formatted in FAT32.
>>>
>>> The machine will decode the encryption in the process of exporting it
>>> to your external media so it will play back via any suitable system
>>> including a TV with USB input.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> That's part of the story!
>>
>> Programmes recorded in SD will indeed be decrypted when you copy them to
>> a USB drive. Programmes in HD won't. These require an extra step
>> (assuming that you're not using the custom firmware).
>>
>> You need a utility called Foxy - see
>> https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/foxy-an-hd-recording-backup-utility-for-the-hdr-fox-t2-now-released.240/
>>
>> There are 4 files associated with each recording. One of these (.hmt)
>> needs to be modified by Foxy before being copied to a USB drive. This
>> causes the HD recording to be decrypted just like SD recordings.
>
> That method is now out of date now and instead you can just install the
> 'auto-unprotect' package and it all gets sorted automatically.
>

It is indeed unnecessary if you are using the custom firmware but - as
far as I am aware - still works if you don't wish to muck about with the
firmware for any reason.

[Yellow]

Good advice and having lost stuff in the past, I now always check that
backed up programmes are what I expect and are viewable to the end on
the drive where I have transferred them.

>
> And yes, the decrypted and copied HD recording of The One Show looks and
> sounds ok on the PC. Now to delete it.

Good stuff. :-)

[Yellow]

On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 22:11:59 +0100, Roger Mills <watt....@gmail.com>

wrote:
>
> On 17/10/2017 06:16, Yellow wrote:
> > On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 22:04:14 +0100, Roger Mills<watt....@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> On 16/10/2017 13:15, Woody wrote:
> >>> You need a recording material - USB stick or HDD - formatted in FAT32.
> >>>
> >>> The machine will decode the encryption in the process of exporting it
> >>> to your external media so it will play back via any suitable system
> >>> including a TV with USB input.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> That's part of the story!
> >>
> >> Programmes recorded in SD will indeed be decrypted when you copy them to
> >> a USB drive. Programmes in HD won't. These require an extra step
> >> (assuming that you're not using the custom firmware).
> >>
> >> You need a utility called Foxy - see
> >> https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/foxy-an-hd-recording-backup-utility-for-the-hdr-fox-t2-now-released.240/
> >>
> >> There are 4 files associated with each recording. One of these (.hmt)
> >> needs to be modified by Foxy before being copied to a USB drive. This
> >> causes the HD recording to be decrypted just like SD recordings.
> >
> > That method is now out of date now and instead you can just install the
> > 'auto-unprotect' package and it all gets sorted automatically.
> >
>
> It is indeed unnecessary if you are using the custom firmware but - as
> far as I am aware - still works if you don't wish to muck about with the
> firmware for any reason.

Fair enough, but I would still recommend the installation of the
firmware because it is really really good. :-)

[Davey]

I beat you to it by an hour or more. It's gone, somewhere, but nowhere
near me.

--
Davey.

[Davey]

To me, it is essential. I cannot imagine life without it!

--
Davey.

[Roger Mills]

Yes. Just to be clear, I use the custom firmware myself - but was
commenting for the benefit of anyone who may not wish to do so.

[Mark]

I used humaxrw. YMMV.

[Davey]

On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:34:46 -0500

I know this is late, but I just looked at my HDR-FOX T2 User's Manual,
and it gives the following information for USB storage devices:

Ext3: Read, Copy (Digital TV/Radio, MP3, JPEG, XviD)
FAT: Read, Copy (Digital TV/Radio, MP3, JPEG, XviD)
NTFS: Read (MP3, JPEG, XviD)

I always use a FAT32 drive if I ever need to transfer to USB.

--
Davey.

[Bob]

On Wed, 18 Oct 2017 16:42:51 +0100, Davey wrote:

> On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:34:46 -0500 Bob <B...@the.builder> wrote:
>> The drive is Seagate is NTFS format and readable/writable through
>> Windows and Linux OSs so what format do I need, please, to copy files
>> to and from PVR?
>>
>> I had wondered about formatting the USB drive as FAT but not sure if
>> that would work either??
>
> I know this is late, but I just looked at my HDR-FOX T2 User's Manual,

A Manual - you have a Manual!! Damn - I should have thought of that...

> and it gives the following information for USB storage devices:
>
> Ext3: Read, Copy (Digital TV/Radio, MP3, JPEG, XviD)
> FAT: Read, Copy (Digital TV/Radio, MP3, JPEG, XviD)
> NTFS: Read (MP3, JPEG, XviD)
>
> I always use a FAT32 drive if I ever need to transfer to USB.

Thanks Davey, a helpful reminder that I should always RTFM before asking
a dumb question.

[Dave W]

"Bob" <B...@the.builder> wrote in message

news:jpKdnWeg6do393XE...@brightview.co.uk...

Only an Ext3 device can cope with files larger than 4GB.
--
Dave W

[Max Demian]

Actually >=4GB to be exact. <g>

--
Max Demian

[Davey]

Since I installed the CF, I have rarely had to transfer to a USB stick,
as everything normally goes straight over the network t or from the PC
via FTP.

--
Davey.

[PeterC]

I tried to copy 1 hr. of HD to USB. FAT32 said 4GB max. so tried ext3 It
started to copy but, after a reasonable time, I extrapolated to the point
where oil, coal and gas would run out before it finished!
Still haven't figured out how to see the Hummy Foxsat HDR from the PC.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway

[Davey]

With my Freeview Humax, I followed the instructions for the CF and it
worked exactly as described.
Without the CF, I would have no idea.

--
Davey.

[PeterC]

On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:01:20 +0100, Davey wrote:

>>> Only an Ext3 device can cope with files larger than 4GB.
>>
>> I tried to copy 1 hr. of HD to USB. FAT32 said 4GB max. so tried ext3
>> It started to copy but, after a reasonable time, I extrapolated to
>> the point where oil, coal and gas would run out before it finished!
>> Still haven't figured out how to see the Hummy Foxsat HDR from the PC.
>
> With my Freeview Humax, I followed the instructions for the CF and it
> worked exactly as described.
> Without the CF, I would have no idea.

Right - just one thing: what is the CF?

[Davey]

As described elsewhere in this thread:

https://wiki.hummy.tv/wiki/Custom_Firmware_Overview

--
Davey.

[PeterC]

OK, thanks. I used to have that on a couple of years ago but reverted to the
standard version. After that I ran in a Cat 5e cable (thw wireless is turned
off in the router - not much point in it for one device!).
I'll have another go. When I couldn't copy the HD file I wondered about
transferring it via the cable.

[Davey]

On Fri, 20 Oct 2017 09:04:38 +0100

PeterC <giraffe...@homecall.co.uk> wrote:

> On Fri, 20 Oct 2017 05:53:52 +0100, Davey wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 21:41:24 +0100
> > PeterC <giraffe...@homecall.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:01:20 +0100, Davey wrote:
> >>
> >>>>> Only an Ext3 device can cope with files larger than 4GB.
> >>>>
> >>>> I tried to copy 1 hr. of HD to USB. FAT32 said 4GB max. so tried
> >>>> ext3 It started to copy but, after a reasonable time, I
> >>>> extrapolated to the point where oil, coal and gas would run out
> >>>> before it finished! Still haven't figured out how to see the
> >>>> Hummy Foxsat HDR from the PC.
> >>>
> >>> With my Freeview Humax, I followed the instructions for the CF and
> >>> it worked exactly as described.
> >>> Without the CF, I would have no idea.
> >>
> >> Right - just one thing: what is the CF?
> >
> > As described elsewhere in this thread:
> >
> > https://wiki.hummy.tv/wiki/Custom_Firmware_Overview
>
> OK, thanks. I used to have that on a couple of years ago but reverted
> to the standard version. After that I ran in a Cat 5e cable (thw
> wireless is turned off in the router - not much point in it for one
> device!). I'll have another go. When I couldn't copy the HD file I
> wondered about transferring it via the cable.

Summarising some of what has been said already, you need to have the CF
installed, to have the 'auto-unprotect' package working, and to then
record your HD program. Then, connect to the Humax via the network and
the CF, and you should be able to decrypt the programme, and then
transfer it to your PC. If it is already on there, but not decrypted,
you can probably transfer it to your PC, but it will be unplayable. You
could, however, delete it from the Humax, and restore it later, to the
same Humax, which should then be able to play it. I think. My head
hurts.

Good luck.

--
Davey.

[PeterC]

OK, thanks for that. I'll try it when IGART. The latest version for Foxsat
is on a USB stick somewhere.