MPEG4 DVR recording time...

[brad1138]

We know MPEG 4 uses about 1/2 the space that MPEG 2 does. I counted my recordings and had 70+ hours of HD content (and some sd) stored on my 722 which says it has "55 hours". With the switch to all MPEG 4 HD are they going to change it to say ~100-110 hours?

Just curious,
Brad

 

[ka1z0ku]

I don't know any specific calculations or ratios, however I can say that I was down to about 20hours of HD left, then I deleted some older movies/TV shows, and now even after recording at least 10 more hours worth of HD content, I have over 33 hours of HD space left. I think mpeg4 does have at least some impact on file size. Or maybe the 722 is just bad at estimating remaining disk space, haha.

 

[Trek2000]

I have a 622 it records hour for hour for OTA HD. It varies from 20 minuets to 45 per hour for HD over the Dish.

 

[smoeke]

thats right about how mine does it too

 

[kstuart]

Wait for the last MPEG2-HD channels to be converted to MPEG4-HD (probably in a couple of weeks), and then those who have contacts in Engineering can suggest that the calculation be changed in the next software version.

 

[Paradox-SJ]

But what about the MPEG-2 OTA stations that many of us record from?

there would have to be some real time calulation as one records because of the mix of MPEG 2/4 content

 

[KKlare]

The best estimate is from the External Hard Drive page. Requires the USB drive pugged in to read the manage (or send) listings. (Sort order set by Recordings page choice.)

I get 900MB/hr of SD, 2100MB/hr MPEG-4 and 3900MB/hr MPEG-2 with slightly more for OTA.

Some of HDNet Movies seems to be re-encoded but some must be MPEG-2 with a MPEG-4 wrapper, i.e., no reduction in size. I'm assuming the actual channel is now MPEG-4. I'm trying re-record a lot of my storage to save space--too bad it does not de-frag automatically.
-Ken

 

[kstuart]

Some of HDNet Movies seems to be re-encoded but some must be MPEG-2 with a MPEG-4 wrapper, i.e., no reduction in size. I'm assuming the actual channel is now MPEG-4.

The MPEG2-HD channels have not been converted to MPEG4-HD yet, and so HDnetMovies is still MPEG2-HD.

The latest word is that it will be done by September 14th at the latest, but I would not be surprised to see it happen around the end of the month.

PS All content on Dish Network is re-encoded. The only possible exception is the new HBO/Cinemax MPEG4-HD channels which are provided to Dish Network as MPEG4-HD and may be passed on without re-encoding...

 

[ka1z0ku]

I've noticed that the estimated remaining time left for HD on my 722 has become less accurate lately, but in my favor. For instance, my wife recorded a 2+ hour movie from LifetimeHD a couple days ago, and it only took up about an hour and 15 minutes off of the estimate. Also, a 1 1/2 hour movie from one of the Cinemax channels only took up about 45 minutes of estimated space. I don't know if MPEG4 is responsible for this or if the 722 is just bad at math, but I'll take the extra space with no complaints.

 

[mike123abc]

I do not think they will change the displayed HD hours since OTA still takes up a lot of space.