Can you transfer recorded programs from the v-box to PC? - BT Vision

cjt2323 · 26-08-2007, 18:55

I recently subscribed to BT Vision and very quickly succumbed to temptation and opened it up. Inside I found a 160GB western digital hard drive attached to the ‘motherboard’ by an IDE cable. After attaching the drive to my pc, and some searching around, I found what seemed to be my recordings made from the TV.

I attempted the play the files on the players installed on my computer (Quicktime, Real, Windows media, Nero Showtime and VLC) but only vlc actually opened the file and the pictures and audio were severely garbled, but this at least confirmed that they were the files I was looking for.

Each of the files are exactly 1GB in size and have the file extension “.slc”. After searching at length, I can’t seem to find any codec that will support this format nor any reference to what it actually is.

Does anyone know what this file format is and how to play it on PC?

Homesdale · 26-08-2007, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjt2323

I recently subscribed to BT Vision and very quickly succumbed to temptation and opened it up. Inside I found a 160GB western digital hard drive attached to the ‘motherboard’ by an IDE cable. After attaching the drive to my pc, and some searching around, I found what seemed to be my recordings made from the TV.

I attempted the play the files on the players installed on my computer (Quicktime, Real, Windows media, Nero Showtime and VLC) but only vlc actually opened the file and the pictures and audio were severely garbled, but this at least confirmed that they were the files I was looking for.

Each of the files are exactly 1GB in size and have the file extension “.slc”. After searching at length, I can’t seem to find any codec that will support this format nor any reference to what it actually is.

Does anyone know what this file format is and how to play it on PC?

Why do you want to play it on your PC anyway?

paradisiac · 26-08-2007, 20:11

why would you take it apart and void all warrenties

if you want it on a pc wait for the usb to be enabled and external HDD support

playmarbles · 26-08-2007, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradisiac

why would you take it apart and void all warrenties

if you want it on a pc wait for the usb to be enabled and external HDD support

Give the guy a break, he can open his box and want to copy things to his PC if he likes.

Sometimes, if you haven't got anything useful to say, it's best to say nothing.

cjt2323 · 27-08-2007, 06:28

Firstly, I want to have the files on my pc so that I can archive the programs that I’ve recorded and also play them in locations away from the V-box at my leisure.

Secondly, I’m not fussed about warranties because I didn’t have to break any seals to get to the drive but mainly because I’m reckless.

Lastly, thanks playmarbles, very good point!

airprox · 27-08-2007, 09:50

Apart from which, it's already been done before (taking the box apart), I think within weeks of BTV becoming available... some folk have put in different HDD's and disconected the fan. Some people are just born tinkerers!

As for the file format... no help I'm afraid, I'd imagine they're protected anyway with some sort of DRM rubbish. The only way that I've heard so far, to may archives is to wire up the output to a stand alone DVD recorded... I don't have the ability to do this so don't have the details... maybe a search of the forums would help.

Dozy · 27-08-2007, 11:35

OP: Its possibly a proprietary file type developed by Microsnot and BT, likely to be multiplexed in some way that would need to be demuxed before getting to the payload of video and audio inside.... if you could then sort out the DRM , all in all it will likely be a little time before some geek figures it out and unwraps it. Impressed that VLC tries to play it but it is amazing software.

What does VLC report with its stream/file info facility?

kelv1979 · 27-08-2007, 14:36

Don't know if it'll help at all but have you tried GSpot for Identifying CODECs?

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

EvilCensor · 09-11-2008, 13:50

Old news now probably but Windows Media player will play them almost glitch free.

airprox · 09-11-2008, 14:20

Woah there... old news? First I've herad of it... are you saying that WMP will now play BTV recorded files? When did this happen, do you have any sources to this info?

Cheers
Alun

wildmind · 09-11-2008, 15:51

My understanding of the system is as per the comments above - with a proprietary DRM implentation that locks the recordings to the hardware device (I had heard someone tried to move hard drives between boxes as an "experiment" and this lost all recordings until the drive was returned to the original box but I don't know if that is true or not)

I would be very surprised if WiMP could play the files and would definitely to know if anyone has tried this and had success or failure and also the source of this claim as it's definitely a new one!!!

I wonder if the poster is confusing the XBox360 access feature that is due to arrive "soon" with the ability to play in WiMP?

maffw · 04-02-2009, 18:27

I've got Windows Media Player 11 with ffdShow installed and it will play the .slc files OK, just rename them .mpg

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm

maffw · 05-02-2009, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by maffw

I've got Windows Media Player 11 with ffdShow installed and it will play the .slc files OK, just rename them .mpg

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm

Further to this, Windows Media Player reports that it is using the "CyberLink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD7)" to playback the video. As far as I know this is included in the K-Lite decoder pack:

http://www.codecguide.com/download_mega.htm

among other sources.

Imorrison · 05-02-2009, 13:20

if you are looking for a program that will play damn near anything then look at VLC http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

it is superb and as yet I have not maanged to stump it with a codec that it can't play

BTW - it is also freeware!!

edgexedge · 05-02-2009, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by maffw

I've got Windows Media Player 11 with ffdShow installed and it will play the .slc files OK, just rename them .mpg

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm

er, how have you got the files from the vision box onto a pc?

maffw · 05-02-2009, 15:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgexedge

er, how have you got the files from the vision box onto a pc?

Take the hard drive out, plug it into a PC, or even a IDE USB drive caddy, and you can read it in Windows (or indeed another other O/S seeing as it's FAT).

You need a T10 Torx bit to undo all the screws.

edgexedge · 05-02-2009, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by maffw

Take the hard drive out, plug it into a PC, or even a IDE USB drive caddy, and you can read it in Windows (or indeed another other O/S seeing as it's FAT).

You need a T10 Torx bit to undo all the screws.

ive just read your other post, about changing the hdd

i assume all the programmes youve been able to watch are the same as the Derren Brown one, ie recordings of fta tv.
if so, it looks like theres no drm involved.

maffw · 06-02-2009, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgexedge

ive just read your other post, about changing the hdd

i assume all the programmes youve been able to watch are the same as the Derren Brown one, ie recordings of fta tv.
if so, it looks like theres no drm involved.

Yes, all the video on the box is recordings off Freeview.

26-08-2007, 18:55	#1
cjt2323 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Manchester Services: BT option 3, BT Vision, Virgin Media Posts: 2	Can you transfer recorded programs from the v-box to PC? I recently subscribed to BT Vision and very quickly succumbed to temptation and opened it up. Inside I found a 160GB western digital hard drive attached to the ‘motherboard’ by an IDE cable. After attaching the drive to my pc, and some searching around, I found what seemed to be my recordings made from the TV. I attempted the play the files on the players installed on my computer (Quicktime, Real, Windows media, Nero Showtime and VLC) but only vlc actually opened the file and the pictures and audio were severely garbled, but this at least confirmed that they were the files I was looking for. Each of the files are exactly 1GB in size and have the file extension “.slc”. After searching at length, I can’t seem to find any codec that will support this format nor any reference to what it actually is. Does anyone know what this file format is and how to play it on PC?

27-08-2007, 06:28	#5
cjt2323 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Manchester Services: BT option 3, BT Vision, Virgin Media Posts: 2	At the risk of going slightly off topic… Firstly, I want to have the files on my pc so that I can archive the programs that I’ve recorded and also play them in locations away from the V-box at my leisure. Secondly, I’m not fussed about warranties because I didn’t have to break any seals to get to the drive but mainly because I’m reckless. Lastly, thanks playmarbles, very good point!

27-08-2007, 11:35	#7
Dozy Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 12	OP: Its possibly a proprietary file type developed by Microsnot and BT, likely to be multiplexed in some way that would need to be demuxed before getting to the payload of video and audio inside.... if you could then sort out the DRM , all in all it will likely be a little time before some geek figures it out and unwraps it. Impressed that VLC tries to play it but it is amazing software. What does VLC report with its stream/file info facility? Last edited by Dozy : 27-08-2007 at 11:40. Reason: addition

26-08-2007, 20:11	#3
paradisiac Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: cornwall Services: sky world, sky talk, sky broadband max, freeview Posts: 418	why would you take it apart and void all warrenties if you want it on a pc wait for the usb to be enabled and external HDD support

27-08-2007, 09:50	#6
airprox Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Services: BT Broadband Option3, BT Vision, BT Anywhere, BT Broadband Talk, BT FON Posts: 680	Apart from which, it's already been done before (taking the box apart), I think within weeks of BTV becoming available... some folk have put in different HDD's and disconected the fan. Some people are just born tinkerers! As for the file format... no help I'm afraid, I'd imagine they're protected anyway with some sort of DRM rubbish. The only way that I've heard so far, to may archives is to wire up the output to a stand alone DVD recorded... I don't have the ability to do this so don't have the details... maybe a search of the forums would help.

27-08-2007, 14:36	#8
kelv1979 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2	Don't know if it'll help at all but have you tried GSpot for Identifying CODECs? http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

09-11-2008, 13:50	#9
EvilCensor Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2	Old news now probably but Windows Media player will play them almost glitch free.

09-11-2008, 14:20	#10
airprox Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Services: BT Broadband Option3, BT Vision, BT Anywhere, BT Broadband Talk, BT FON Posts: 680	Woah there... old news? First I've herad of it... are you saying that WMP will now play BTV recorded files? When did this happen, do you have any sources to this info? Cheers Alun

09-11-2008, 15:51	#11
wildmind Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Earth Services: BT Total (Opt3), BTVision, Sky, Vista Ultimate Posts: 409	My understanding of the system is as per the comments above - with a proprietary DRM implentation that locks the recordings to the hardware device (I had heard someone tried to move hard drives between boxes as an "experiment" and this lost all recordings until the drive was returned to the original box but I don't know if that is true or not) I would be very surprised if WiMP could play the files and would definitely to know if anyone has tried this and had success or failure and also the source of this claim as it's definitely a new one!!! I wonder if the poster is confusing the XBox360 access feature that is due to arrive "soon" with the ability to play in WiMP?

04-02-2009, 18:27	#12
maffw Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 12	I've got Windows Media Player 11 with ffdShow installed and it will play the .slc files OK, just rename them .mpg http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm

05-02-2009, 13:20	#14
Imorrison Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 84	if you are looking for a program that will play damn near anything then look at VLC http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ it is superb and as yet I have not maanged to stump it with a codec that it can't play BTW - it is also freeware!!