How to watch recorded TV files on new TV?
Discussion
Just bought a new Tv [samsung] - my existing 6 year old sharp 65" has the ability to record freeview or freesat programs onto an external usb HDD - [Awesome feature
] - after 6 years there's a lot of recorded programs I'd like to keep/ be able to view on the new TV, surprisingly the samsung [and my PC when i plug the HDD into it via USB] doesn't recognise or allow viewing of the saved files [.ts & or .hs]. why is this ? any ideas?
>
I've tried converting the files via Handbrake & freemake to Mp4 or Mkv. but even handbrake doesn't recognise the files - what am I missing here?
>
How can I continue to view them on the new TV, or convert them to a universal video format??
>
I can't be the only person to have this problem but couldn't find any other threads on this subject
Modern tech
bring back analogue - I still have VHS tapes I recorded in early 1980's which still work fine - Duh!!
>
Hope someone can help me with this
Ta
Rene
] - after 6 years there's a lot of recorded programs I'd like to keep/ be able to view on the new TV, surprisingly the samsung [and my PC when i plug the HDD into it via USB] doesn't recognise or allow viewing of the saved files [.ts & or .hs]. why is this ? any ideas?>
I've tried converting the files via Handbrake & freemake to Mp4 or Mkv. but even handbrake doesn't recognise the files - what am I missing here?
>
How can I continue to view them on the new TV, or convert them to a universal video format??
>
I can't be the only person to have this problem but couldn't find any other threads on this subject
Modern tech
bring back analogue - I still have VHS tapes I recorded in early 1980's which still work fine - Duh!!>
Hope someone can help me with this
Ta
Rene
Samsung should recognise .ts files, but I don't see .hs listed in it's compatibility chart
https://www.samsung.com/hk_en/support/tv-audio-vid...
What size are the files typically? If they're upwards of 4GB, and your HDD is an aged one which may have been formatted as FAT32, Windows will not be able to read the files as there is a 4gb limit with FAT32. If they're smaller than that, then it must be a codec issue. Have you tried VLC player? It generally plays most video formats I throw at it.
https://www.samsung.com/hk_en/support/tv-audio-vid...
What size are the files typically? If they're upwards of 4GB, and your HDD is an aged one which may have been formatted as FAT32, Windows will not be able to read the files as there is a 4gb limit with FAT32. If they're smaller than that, then it must be a codec issue. Have you tried VLC player? It generally plays most video formats I throw at it.
carguy
many thanks for that
Tried vlc and windows media player - no joy - the 1tb external hdd must have been formatted by the Sharp tv before use? It never asked me to format it or do anything similar.
The recorded files can be seen on the PC each recorded TV program appears to have 4 files inc, a jpg of the program? the jpg can be viewed on a pc it seems like a screengrab.
>
The samsung tv doesn't recognise any of the files on the HDD it wants to [ 'preprare it' - telling me any files therein will be deleted - so I guess re-format the hdd??]
THX
Rene
Geeks
Just sen your reply what's a linux distro? I'm not tech savvy or a geek - sorry
many thanks for that
Tried vlc and windows media player - no joy - the 1tb external hdd must have been formatted by the Sharp tv before use? It never asked me to format it or do anything similar.
The recorded files can be seen on the PC each recorded TV program appears to have 4 files inc, a jpg of the program? the jpg can be viewed on a pc it seems like a screengrab.
>
The samsung tv doesn't recognise any of the files on the HDD it wants to [ 'preprare it' - telling me any files therein will be deleted - so I guess re-format the hdd??]
THX
Rene
Geeks
Just sen your reply what's a linux distro? I'm not tech savvy or a geek - sorry
Edited by rene7 on Wednesday 21st May 12:34
rene7 said:
carguy
many thanks for that
Tried vlc and windows media player - no joy - the 1tb external hdd must have been formatted by the Sharp tv before use? It never asked me to format it or do anything similar.
The recorded files can be seen on the PC each recorded TV program appears to have 4 files inc, a jpg of the program? the jpg can be viewed on a pc it seems like a screengrab.
>
The samsung tv doesn't recognise any of the files on the HDD it wants to [ 'preprare it' - telling me any files therein will be deleted - so I guess re-format the hdd??]
THX
Rene
The screengrab JPG is likely the thumbnail used for presenting the recording file onscreen, on TVs that support it. many thanks for that
Tried vlc and windows media player - no joy - the 1tb external hdd must have been formatted by the Sharp tv before use? It never asked me to format it or do anything similar.
The recorded files can be seen on the PC each recorded TV program appears to have 4 files inc, a jpg of the program? the jpg can be viewed on a pc it seems like a screengrab.
>
The samsung tv doesn't recognise any of the files on the HDD it wants to [ 'preprare it' - telling me any files therein will be deleted - so I guess re-format the hdd??]
THX
Rene
If you look at the files on the PC, what size are the video files? If they're not 4GB+, then it's not the file size issue so reformatting would serve no purpose (and in any event, would delete all your content).
Try looking at the files with 'mediainfo':
https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo
.. this will at least tell you what kind of files (what codec they use) they are.
Then you need to either make sure you have a player that can play that codec or else use handbrake:
https://handbrake.fr/
.. to convert them to something that a regular player can handle. Typically h264 or h265 codec
https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo
.. this will at least tell you what kind of files (what codec they use) they are.
Then you need to either make sure you have a player that can play that codec or else use handbrake:
https://handbrake.fr/
.. to convert them to something that a regular player can handle. Typically h264 or h265 codec
lucas
>
just had a re-check regarding file type and how the hdd is formatted:-
Files are .hts not .ts and .hs as I incorrectly posted. - filesize is typically 2-3 gb.
HDD is formatted in NTFS format.
VLC player doesn't list the .hts file format in the files recognised
hope this helps
rene
ps I tried Handbrake - it doesn't recognise the .hts files either
>
just had a re-check regarding file type and how the hdd is formatted:-
Files are .hts not .ts and .hs as I incorrectly posted. - filesize is typically 2-3 gb.
HDD is formatted in NTFS format.
VLC player doesn't list the .hts file format in the files recognised
hope this helps
rene
ps I tried Handbrake - it doesn't recognise the .hts files either
Edited by rene7 on Wednesday 21st May 13:36
I'm guessing the files are DRM protected (encrypted) no?
Back in The Day, I used to like the Humax Freeview boxes which let you record stuff in a way that could be copied elsewhere ... until HD Freeview came along and the recordings were tied to that box. They were .ts (MPEG Transport Stream) files too.
Edit: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/342023-Convert...
(a thread dating back to 2011 ... Gawd I feel old)
Back in The Day, I used to like the Humax Freeview boxes which let you record stuff in a way that could be copied elsewhere ... until HD Freeview came along and the recordings were tied to that box. They were .ts (MPEG Transport Stream) files too.
Edit: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/342023-Convert...
(a thread dating back to 2011 ... Gawd I feel old)
Edited by Prak on Wednesday 21st May 14:54
Prak said:
I'm guessing the files are DRM protected (encrypted) no?
Back in The Day, I used to like the Humax Freeview boxes which let you record stuff in a way that could be copied elsewhere ... until HD Freeview came along and the recordings were tied to that box. They were .ts (MPEG Transport Stream) files too.
Edit: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/342023-Convert...
(a thread dating back to 2011 ... Gawd I feel old)
This. They are encrypted and can only be replayed on the device that recorded them. Back in The Day, I used to like the Humax Freeview boxes which let you record stuff in a way that could be copied elsewhere ... until HD Freeview came along and the recordings were tied to that box. They were .ts (MPEG Transport Stream) files too.
Edit: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/342023-Convert...
(a thread dating back to 2011 ... Gawd I feel old)
Edited by Prak on Wednesday 21st May 14:54
Prak + Lordlovelength
>
WOW!!
>
Never thought or realised they maybe encrypted - seems pointless allowing you record if you can't watch the recordings on other devices
So all the recordings made can't be watched once the TV gets broken/scrapped etc.
Wish I'd known this before I recorded them, I'd have used my DVD recorder and transfered the files to Mp4. -
>
Anyone else found a way of playing these files, must be plenty of folks out there with this dilemma.
TA
Rene
>
WOW!!
>
Never thought or realised they maybe encrypted - seems pointless allowing you record if you can't watch the recordings on other devices
So all the recordings made can't be watched once the TV gets broken/scrapped etc.
Wish I'd known this before I recorded them, I'd have used my DVD recorder and transfered the files to Mp4. -
>
Anyone else found a way of playing these files, must be plenty of folks out there with this dilemma.
TA
Rene
Lordlovelength
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I'm not a tech geek though I ain't tech stupid either, how do I get/extract the 'Key' from one of the files - maybe give me a hint - please
As an old git I quite like the idea of getting a key from somewhere about which I know SFA !! will exercise my brain more than normal.
Thanks for ur help this far
Rene
>
I'm not a tech geek though I ain't tech stupid either, how do I get/extract the 'Key' from one of the files - maybe give me a hint - please
As an old git I quite like the idea of getting a key from somewhere about which I know SFA !! will exercise my brain more than normal.
Thanks for ur help this far
Rene
I may be mistaken but I think the decryption key will be on the TV, not in the file. It's not something I would attempt personally as strangely enough it's not going to be trivial. This kind of thing is one of the points of the TPM module that is a requirement for Windows 11 - a secure store for secrets that even you as the "owner" are not allowed to know.
The point of recording TV is to give you some ability to time-shift content. Whereas previous recording tech (VHS etc) involved some loss of quality in the process, capturing a digital TV stream and recording it to disk gives you a perfect copy which, if unencrypted, gives you the ability to copy it as many times as you like with no degradation. So the encryption is there to protect the rights of the original content producer - they don't want films/sports events being shown on TV (which may include subscriptions or pay-per-view etc) and then being sold in perfect quality on DVD at a boot fair or stuffed on file-sharing sites on the internet.
It sucks for you as the consumer in this specific instance but it's probably the fairest compromise - allow you to record for your own convenience but not for long-term storage or unrestricted sharing.
The point of recording TV is to give you some ability to time-shift content. Whereas previous recording tech (VHS etc) involved some loss of quality in the process, capturing a digital TV stream and recording it to disk gives you a perfect copy which, if unencrypted, gives you the ability to copy it as many times as you like with no degradation. So the encryption is there to protect the rights of the original content producer - they don't want films/sports events being shown on TV (which may include subscriptions or pay-per-view etc) and then being sold in perfect quality on DVD at a boot fair or stuffed on file-sharing sites on the internet.
It sucks for you as the consumer in this specific instance but it's probably the fairest compromise - allow you to record for your own convenience but not for long-term storage or unrestricted sharing.
The AI summary of a quick search suggests the following:
"To unencrypt .hts Humax video files, you can use the FOXY utility to modify the .hmt file, which contains metadata about the recording, to remove the encryption flag. After modifying the .hmt file, you can copy the recording to a USB drive or another location, and it will be decrypted during the copying process."
I've had a ~50% success rate with such summaries so make of that what you will.
I'll bet that relies on the original hardware though....
"To unencrypt .hts Humax video files, you can use the FOXY utility to modify the .hmt file, which contains metadata about the recording, to remove the encryption flag. After modifying the .hmt file, you can copy the recording to a USB drive or another location, and it will be decrypted during the copying process."
I've had a ~50% success rate with such summaries so make of that what you will.
I'll bet that relies on the original hardware though....
rene7 said:
lucas
>
just had a re-check regarding file type and how the hdd is formatted:-
Files are .hts not .ts and .hs as I incorrectly posted. - filesize is typically 2-3 gb.
HDD is formatted in NTFS format.
VLC player doesn't list the .hts file format in the files recognised
hope this helps
rene
ps I tried Handbrake - it doesn't recognise the .hts files either
A bit of internet searching reveals that .hts files are encrypted (ie they have DRM). You likely will have a hard time converting them unless you can find software that circumvents the protection.>
just had a re-check regarding file type and how the hdd is formatted:-
Files are .hts not .ts and .hs as I incorrectly posted. - filesize is typically 2-3 gb.
HDD is formatted in NTFS format.
VLC player doesn't list the .hts file format in the files recognised
hope this helps
rene
ps I tried Handbrake - it doesn't recognise the .hts files either
Edited by rene7 on Wednesday 21st May 13:36
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/366091-hts-for...
Bald chap
will have a look at your FOXY suggestion. After another trawl online I can't see any evidence that anyone's been able to transfer .hts file to another format Wish I'd known this before I started recording with the the hdd. I could have recorded them onto DVD RW and ripped the dvd to Mp4. which Is what I'll have to do with the the new TV Or dig out & fetch the VHS recorder to the main viewing room. 4K or FHD quality are not required for my recordings
Thanks to everyone who posted in this thread
Rene
will have a look at your FOXY suggestion. After another trawl online I can't see any evidence that anyone's been able to transfer .hts file to another format
Wish I'd known this before I started recording with the the hdd. I could have recorded them onto DVD RW and ripped the dvd to Mp4. which Is what I'll have to do with the the new TV Or dig out & fetch the VHS recorder to the main viewing room. 4K or FHD quality are not required for my recordingsThanks to everyone who posted in this thread
Rene
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