Comments on: Cord Cutters: How to Turn Your Roku Into a DVR

By: Mike E.

Mike E. — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 01:36:46 +0000

Does this only work with the EyeTV? Does Roku have something similar for the HD Homerun devices or with other DVR software (Windows Media Center, SageTV, MythTV, etc)? I just set up a full-on HTPC, but a Roku that could work with an HD Homerun would be very interesting.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:45:16 +0000

Janko,

Yes. Just like we add in XBMC as a source drive for media which ia available on Network

By: Janko Roettgers

Janko Roettgers — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:46:54 +0000

You can’t schedule any of these things through the Roku, but EyeTV offers a neat interface on your computer that does the trick, including naming the files the right way. Check out this episode for a quick intro to EyeTV: http://gigaom.com/video/cord-cutters-eyetv-one/

By: ProgGrrl

ProgGrrl — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:39:48 +0000

Intriguing! BUT – this video doesn’t say how to record shows… how are the show files named, is that automatic? Can it record things while you are away from it, or do you have to be home to hit record when the show starts, and hit stop when it’s over? One of the major functionalities of a real DVR is its ability to show you the entire day’s (week’s) TV schedule; you pick what you need; it does the rest. How much of that process can this hack actually handle?

Anyhow, a great hack.

By: Janko Roettgers

Janko Roettgers — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:36:53 +0000

Do you have an EyeTV device like the one shown in the video? This won’t work without it.

By: Janko Roettgers

Janko Roettgers — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:35:44 +0000

You mean to play content on your Roku? Depends on your router, I’d say. There are several channels that can stream content from your local network, but most of them either require a dedicated application installed on your computer, or files to be shared through a web server. Most routers don’t have web servers, but simply share as Windows (SMB) shares. You might be able to connect to the drive from your computer and then stream from there… it’s a good question though, I’ll look into it. Or maybe anyone else has any ideas?

By: sam

sam — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:12:23 +0000

Janko,

Is there a way to connect to External Hard drive which is on the network connected to the wireless router.

By: Pawel Tomasz Dlugosz

Pawel Tomasz Dlugosz — Wed, 25 May 2011 07:49:52 +0000

Definitely worth a try (I’m tempted) but Roku’s interface does get a bit in the way of actually watching live tv. I mean, that’s not what it was designed for so… no surprise.

By: Pawel Tomasz Dlugosz

Pawel Tomasz Dlugosz — Wed, 25 May 2011 07:49:52 +0000

Definitely worth a try (I’m tempted) but Roku’s interface does get a bit in the way of actually watching live tv. I mean, that’s not what it was designed for so… no surprise.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:11:16 +0000

Does this work without a mac or an iphone? I have Nowhere in my channels, but I can’t figure out how to get live channels or how to make the dvr work.