I recently installed a GloryStar GEOSATpro DVR1100c receiver and plugged in a 500 GB USB external hard drive formatted to FAT32 using CompuApps SwissKnife. The hard drive records the programs just fine, which I can view on my system. But when I plug the hard drive to my Windows XP computer, the files are all gibberish. They do not appear as MPEG files as the manual seems to indicate they should. I tried using VideoReDO Plus and VLC to read the files but without success. I called GloryStar tech support twice, but they don't seem to know what to do, saying I should contact the computer or hard drive manufacturer. How can I get my computer to read the files so I can edit & burn recorded programs onto DVDs?
Reading DVR USB drive files on computer
- Thread starter carcacha55
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Are there several files associated with each recording, or only one?
What is the extent on each file? ( .ts, or .mpg, perhaps?)
Have you uploaded short samples to the guys at VideoReDo to evaluate 'em?
I find it hard to believe that VRD won't deal with these files.
And hearing VLC won't read them either... that's really strange.
Are you using the latest versions of both VLC and VRD?
We'll try to get some input from the guys at Glorystar - they should have a better answer.
edit: oh, is this just some files or all files?
It's possible that different channels transmit in different video formats (you can bet on it!).
So, if you load a file into VideoReDo, what does it say the video parameters are on the file.?
Come to think of it, this last matter should be handled on the VRD forum.
What is the extent on each file? ( .ts, or .mpg, perhaps?)
Have you uploaded short samples to the guys at VideoReDo to evaluate 'em?
I find it hard to believe that VRD won't deal with these files.
And hearing VLC won't read them either... that's really strange.
Are you using the latest versions of both VLC and VRD?
We'll try to get some input from the guys at Glorystar - they should have a better answer.
edit: oh, is this just some files or all files?
It's possible that different channels transmit in different video formats (you can bet on it!).
So, if you load a file into VideoReDo, what does it say the video parameters are on the file.?
Come to think of it, this last matter should be handled on the VRD forum.
Are you stating that the file names are gibberish or that the playback of the files are gibberish?
The GEOSATpro DVR1100c files are Transport Stream MPEG2 format. There are many CODECS that are used for MPEG2 files. You need to be sure that you have recent codecs with player applications.
I use the latest version of VideoReDo VideoReDo MPEG Video Editing Software to edit, rip and lay back these recorded files. Software like Windows Player Home of Windows Essencials Codec Pack are great for playback of the programs on the PC.
The GEOSATpro DVR1100c files are Transport Stream MPEG2 format. There are many CODECS that are used for MPEG2 files. You need to be sure that you have recent codecs with player applications.
I use the latest version of VideoReDo VideoReDo MPEG Video Editing Software to edit, rip and lay back these recorded files. Software like Windows Player Home of Windows Essencials Codec Pack are great for playback of the programs on the PC.
Do these files show up with an ".ts" extension?
If so, that may be your problem - it will need to be converted before working on the computer -- although it may work in ProgDVB.
Google "TSConverter v2.5" to see if that helps.
If so, that may be your problem - it will need to be converted before working on the computer -- although it may work in ProgDVB.
Google "TSConverter v2.5" to see if that helps.
The files from both my Coolsat and Diamond are transport streams, although I seem to remember that the Coolsat files seemed to be missing some PIDs (can't remember which), which made the TSREADER display look different from other transport streams.
But VideoReDo worked with both the Coolsat and Diamond files, so I too am surprised if it wouldn't work.
I did have one recording gadget that divided the hard disk into partitions, a couple of which weren't recognized by Windows, but I think it said above that the disk was formatted by a 3rd party program, so that probably isn't the problem.
Sometimes the video is stored in multiple files, one big one that has the A/V, and some smaller ones that have other data about the file. Just make sure you're working with the big file.
But VideoReDo worked with both the Coolsat and Diamond files, so I too am surprised if it wouldn't work.
I did have one recording gadget that divided the hard disk into partitions, a couple of which weren't recognized by Windows, but I think it said above that the disk was formatted by a 3rd party program, so that probably isn't the problem.
Sometimes the video is stored in multiple files, one big one that has the A/V, and some smaller ones that have other data about the file. Just make sure you're working with the big file.
All the files on the hard drive that I recorded have names and extensions that are totally unrecognizable. Mostly little rectangles, accented letters, etc. but not a single recognizable filename or extension name. The files apparently do have data, as they vary in size from a few MB's to several GB's, as I did several test recordings. I tried renaming a file and putting an MPG extension on it, but it was unreadable to the computer.
I have no way of knowing how many files there are for each recording, but there are a lot more files than recordings I did. And the dates on each one varies from 1990 to 2045, even though the date on the DVR is set correctly, and I recorded over a span of about 3 days - but none of those dates appear. Also, there are dozens of empty file folders with gibberish names.
I cannot pull any of the files into VideoReDo or VLC, nor even copy them onto another hard drive for experimenting with them. Thanks for your time!
Also, I copied several formats of video files from the computer to the hard drive, which the GloryStar GEOSATpro DVR1100c is supposed to be able to play on my TV. That doesn't work either. But my computer can read them fine off the USB external drive.
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The filenames are all gibberish. There are no .TS or .MPG filename extensions on any of the recorded DVR files.
I had a simular problem - maybe even the same - but I have not gone back again. I formated the drive in WindowsXP for FAT32 and then recorded on the DVR. Looked good, Played back on DVR, but when I tried to use on the PC it did not work. Then I went back to the DVR and all the files were trashed. SO --- I reformated the drive with the DVR, recorded a few files, checked them on the computer, but the only programs I had could not read them, but when I went back to the DVR they were still OK.Not sure what that means.
We have read on some forums that certain hard drives require the receiver to format the drive. Even though the drive has been FAT32 formatted by Swiss Knife, it may require formatting the drive with the receiver before recording. We understand that this does not provide a solution for current recordings, but it may provide a solution for future recordings.
Please download the latest VideoReDo beta release for full file read and write capabilities. See thread:
http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=7781highlight=geosatpro
Changing the extension does not address the file header information.
Please download the latest VideoReDo beta release for full file read and write capabilities. See thread:
http://www.videoredo.net/msgBoard/showthread.php?t=7781highlight=geosatpro
Changing the extension does not address the file header information.
Will receivers with a dvr function generally save both audio streams for programming that has more than one audio source available?
FTA MPEG2 DVRs usually will record multiple audio tracks and closed captioning in the TS file.
I recorded 90% of one of the network HD NFL games this week on my Coolsat (darn thing cut off the last 4 minutes, I think because it numbers files 0-9, and can't do 2 digit numbers, but I ended up missing the winning drive... fooey).
But anyway, those feeds generally have multiple audio streams, and the first one is some strange Dolby-e or something like that, that we can't play. Anyway, it only recorded ONE audio stream, but somehow figured out which one was the proper audio stream. I'm more confused re how VideoReDo figures out which stream is Audio and Video, because there is no PAT or PMT in the recorded TS (Coolsat calls them .TP0 files), but it does.
I'm not sure how I could have gotten it to record multiple audio streams.
My Diamond, however, back when it was somewhat working on the high speed feeds, recorded TWO of the audio streams, including the one that we can't play. It also recorded a file which didn't have any PAT or PMT, so I'm not sure how VideoReDo knew which to use.
One other thing is that it looked like the Diamond left the PIDs the same as they were on the sat feed, however it looks like the Coolsat re-numbered the PIDs for some reason (this is from feeding the recorded files into TSREADER, and trying to remember what the actual A/V PIDs were).
That's good news. I study languages for a hobby, being able to review the English audio track would be a nice thing.
On The VS Pro the Hdrive is formatted by the receiver and partitioned with a Linux majority. If you want to pull the files off with a Windoz computer you have to move the file(s) to the Windoz side of the partition. This is done with the receiver, in the menu section. Unfortunately once moved to the Windoz side you can't move them back, at least I haven't figured a way.
For the true blue Winders folk, you could always use a Linux Live CD to boot into Linux without installing on your precious Windows PC. The couple of live CDs I've used included support for FAT & NTFS formatted drives...
Just a thought...
Just a thought...
echo, Echo, ECHO !
With SatelliteAV and GloryStar1 answering in this thread, it'd be wise to pay attention to what they say.
It's pretty obvious this whole matter of reading and processing the file has been resolved by the VideoReDo guys. - :up
Now, anyone having a problem reading the file names off the external drive, should probably try plugging the drive into a different port or computer.
Could be related so some software currently loaded onto the computer.
I've had difficulty getting drives recognized, if the power-up or plug-in order wasn't just so.
And, different versions of Windows react differently, too.
Sounds like a local problem.
With SatelliteAV and GloryStar1 answering in this thread, it'd be wise to pay attention to what they say.
Glorystar1 said:
Change Log - VideoReDo TVSuite - 3.1.5.567 said:
Ed Taylor @ VideoReDo Forum 11-10-2008 said:
DanR @ VideoReDo Forum said:
It's pretty obvious this whole matter of reading and processing the file has been resolved by the VideoReDo guys. - :up
Now, anyone having a problem reading the file names off the external drive, should probably try plugging the drive into a different port or computer.
Could be related so some software currently loaded onto the computer.
I've had difficulty getting drives recognized, if the power-up or plug-in order wasn't just so.
And, different versions of Windows react differently, too.
Sounds like a local problem.
Thanks guys - formatting the hard drive from the receiver solved the problem. Now my recordings appear as .TS files, which Video ReDo easily converts to MPEG files. Amazingly, it only takes 3 minutes to convert an hour-long recording! I wish the manual would be more clear on this type of issue, or it could be part of the troubleshooting section.
Thank you for your input. We have added additional USB information for the new manual that will be available for the next production run. You may download an updated GEOSATpro DVR / DSR Manual at http://www.satelliteguys.us/fta-manuals/
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