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Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

#1
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3/31/09 at 1:15pm
  • Joined: February 2001
  • Location: Livonia, MI USA
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My DirecTivo box died recently and they replaced it with one of their newer DVRs (R22-100) that supports the "Media Share" function. The online documentation makes it sound like it only works with Intel Viiv software, but I understand from others that it works with Macs, too. Does anyone have any experience with this? What software did you use? Any pitfalls I can avoid?

I already have the DirecTV DVR hooked up to my DSL for On Demand and such, so I am really just trying to figure out how to set-up my iMac (Intel processor running OSX Leopard if that matters) - so that it will be recognized by Media Share for music and slideshows.

Thanks!

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#2
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3/31/09 at 4:42pm
  • Joined: April 1999
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

The DirecTV boxes work great with the Elgato Eyeconnect software on the MAC.

EyeConnect

You can download and install the trial verison for free. After a few days...any of the video features will stop working without authorizing the program, but the audio streaming of MP3 and aiff files continues to work great for free for anyone.

Many video files for the MAC are of course saved as QT (.mov) files and the DirecTV box does not like that container format. So...if you are wanting to stream video files...you will have to convert and store them on the MAC as a Divx file (.avi).

Regards,
Brian W. Ralston

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#3
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3/31/09 at 4:51pm
  • Joined: February 2001
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian W. Ralston
The DirecTV boxes work great with the Elgato Eyeconnect software on the MAC.

EyeConnect

You can download and install the trial verison for free. After a few days...any of the video features will stop working without authorizing the program, but the audio streaming of MP3 and aiff files continues to work great for free for anyone.

Many video files for the MAC are of course saved as QT (.mov) files and the DirecTV box does not like that container format. So...if you are wanting to stream video files...you will have to convert and store them on the MAC as a Divx file (.avi).
I'm told that the DirecTV box works with mpeg 2 (and possibly mpeg4) files as well, although it can be finicky about file names (e.g. .ts files may have to be re-named .mpg or something like that). In any case, I would be using it primarily for music and photos.

Thanks!

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#4
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4/1/09 at 8:42am
  • Joined: February 2001
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

I have it working, although my DVR has twice frozen and had to be reset while streaming material.

Even though it is not my main interest, does anyone have a comprehensive list of video file formats, codecs, and naming conventions accepted by the DirecTV DVRs with media share? I have confirmed that MPEG-2 transport stream files with an extension of either "mpg" or "mpeg" will work.

Regards,

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#5
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4/6/09 at 8:55am
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_McAlinden
I have it working

Care to share your setup?

My HR22-100 is setup to access the internet and OnDemand services. All is well vis-a-vis the network connection (AirPort Extreme). I have a MacBook running Tiger (10.4.11), connected wirelessly via my AirPort network, which sports the EyeConnect mediashare server. On the Mac's System Preference pane, EyeConnect sees and identifies the "DirectTV Mediashare Renderer" at the IP address reported on the HD22-100 Network menu. However, the "Music Photos and More" menu item does not appear in the menu. Is there some sort of port routing or assignment, or firewall setting I need to further configure?

I did try to plug the MacBook into the AirPort router so there was a physical connection with the HR22 and still no "spontaneous" recognition of the EyeConenct server.

Any help would be appreciated as to your exact setup.
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#6
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4/15/09 at 10:02am
  • Joined: February 2001
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

My home wireless is through a very basic Netgear wireless G router that I had with my PC before I replaced it with an iMac. I have to "bootcamp" into Windows when I want to reconfigure it. The DVR is hooked up to a Linksys Dual-Band Wireless N Adapter. My iMac is a relatively new one running Leopard. My access to the "Music, Photos, and More" is somewhat spotty, and I occasionally have to turn the Eyeconnect software on and off to get the DVR to recognize it.

Conclusion: The "Media Share" feature is not quite ready for prime time, but fun when it works.

Ken McAlinden
Livonia, MI USA

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#7
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4/21/09 at 8:52pm
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

THanks. My guess is that you are correct and likely Eyeconnect is not compatible with the HR22-100 and Tiger. I think Leopard adds a number of enhancements that Eyeconnect exploits and indeed they recommend Leopard.
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#8
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6/24/09 at 9:51am
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

Found this thread and perhaps you can answer this question...

My friend has a DirecTV DVR and he wants to transfer recorded
shows to his MAC and then record it to a DVD.

I am certain the DVR has an ethernet port out.

MediaShare is mentioned here as is EyeConnect. What can be
used here for the intended purposes?
Ronald J Epstein
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#9
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6/24/09 at 9:18pm
  • Joined: March 2000
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Re: Anyone here using DirecTV DVR Media Share feature with a Mac?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein
Found this thread and perhaps you can answer this question...

My friend has a DirecTV DVR and he wants to transfer recorded
shows to his MAC and then record it to a DVD.

I am certain the DVR has an ethernet port out.

MediaShare is mentioned here as is EyeConnect. What can be
used here for the intended purposes?

Sorry, discussion of this sort is prohibited by the forum owner . Seriously, I have an old DirecTiVo, and in order to transfer files from it you have to do some serious hacking of the machine. I don't think the current DTV models make it any easier, if it is even possible. Transferring shows from a DVR to a computer in the same quality as it was broadcast is generally forbidden, with the exception of OTA recordings, as those are unprotected to begin with. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong on any of this.)

-Christian

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." (Benjamin Franklin)

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