Chad Heiser Report post Posted October 31, 2018 16 minutes ago, OregonJim said: Thank you. Random is only one of many options. I've been using this program exclusively for my TV watching since I created it 6 months ago. I forgot to mention the hard part: converting (ripping) your DVD/BluRay collection to video. That took me the better part of 3 months - but it's a one-time effort. And one I needed to do anyway for fulltiming. I have a spare laptop with Linux on it all set to go for when the day comes that we find our ideal motorhome... What did you use to rip your DVD's. I'm looking for something to do this and haven't really found one I like. I have nearly 1000 DVD/BluRays I'd like to digitize. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OregonJim Report post Posted October 31, 2018 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Chad Heiser said: What did you use to rip your DVD's. I'm looking for something to do this and haven't really found one I like. I have nearly 1000 DVD/BluRays I'd like to digitize. I used HandBrake (also free, also multiplatform). All the ripping apps are slow - it's the nature of the beast. What I did to speed up the process was to use multiple computers simultaneously. I had about 5,000 DVDs to churn through. https://handbrake.fr/ Edited October 31, 2018 by OregonJim add url Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chad Heiser Report post Posted October 31, 2018 Just now, OregonJim said: I used HandBrake (also free, also multiplatform). All the ripping apps are slow - it's the nature of the beast. What I did to speed up the process was to use multiple computers simultaneously. I had about 5,000 DVDs to churn through. Thanks. I hadn't seen that one before. I will give it a shot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom_M Report post Posted November 2, 2018 There are a couple of tools I use to rip DVD and Blu-Ray discs. For DVDs I use DVDShrink. It is quite old now but works for most DVDs. For Blu-Ray and DVDs that DVDShrink can't handle I use MakeMKV. VideoHelp.com is an excellent site for information on video topics. Here's a link for DVD rippers: https://www.videohelp.com/software/sections/decrypters-dvd-rippers A How-To on using MakeMKV: https://www.howtogeek.com/161498/how-to-backup-your-dvd-and-blu-ray-movie-collection/ MakeMKV does not convert video formats, so the files created are huge. Handbrake is an excellent tool to compress these files. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ms60ocb Report post Posted November 2, 2018 On 10/31/2018 at 2:40 AM, OregonJim said: No antenna needed. No Internet needed (but it will show you local weather and news headlines every 1/2 hour if you DO have Internet). You lost me. Did I overlook the answer for where the media comes from to provide the programing. I normally watch Gunsmoke or Johnny Carson at bed time. How does that program get inside the little box called a Computer. OTA TV requires some sort of antenna even if it is a paper clip for near station. The internet may come from a Wi-fi connection or your own service but what is the third service or does the Prairie Dogs have some kind of unknown communications. Clay Still trying to learn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allentc2 Report post Posted November 2, 2018 On 10/31/2018 at 3:40 AM, OregonJim said: You do need to be fairly computer literate to set it up Deal breaker right there! Sounds cool though. I am going to try to optimize my RV for accessing the interwebz, so with luck I'll be able to do Netflix/etc. like I do now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OregonJim Report post Posted November 2, 2018 3 hours ago, ms60ocb said: You lost me. Did I overlook the answer for where the media comes from to provide the programing. I normally watch Gunsmoke or Johnny Carson at bed time. How does that program get inside the little box called a Computer. OTA TV requires some sort of antenna even if it is a paper clip for near station. The internet may come from a Wi-fi connection or your own service but what is the third service or does the Prairie Dogs have some kind of unknown communications. Clay Still trying to learn The media resides on an internal or external hard drive, just as it does at a TV station. I have 10 seasons of Gunsmoke on one of mine, as well as many hours of the "Best of Carson" that all came originally from DVDs. There are many Internet sources, such as archive.org, where you can find vintage television shows to download locally as well (some are legal, many not so much). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OregonJim Report post Posted November 2, 2018 2 hours ago, Allentc2 said: Deal breaker right there! Sounds cool though. I am going to try to optimize my RV for accessing the interwebz, so with luck I'll be able to do Netflix/etc. like I do now. Yeah, if you don't know your way around a file system or the command line, then my program is probably not for you. I wrote it so that I can watch WHAT I want WHEN I want, and not be at the mercy of the network programmers or have to rely on intermittent (at best) streaming. It worked so well for me that I decided to share it, but it's not quite as simple as a black box that you plug in and go. It does require some initial setup to tell it where all your media files are and how they're organized. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ms60ocb Report post Posted November 3, 2018 7 hours ago, OregonJim said: There are many Internet sources, such as archive.org, where you can find vintage television shows to download locally as well (some are legal, many not so much). I understand even through your saying no internet. At some time you have used internet to acrhive hours of viewing. Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OregonJim Report post Posted November 3, 2018 Just now, ms60ocb said: I understand even through your saying no internet. At some time you have used internet to acrhive hours of viewing. Clay No, actually mine came from DVDs that were converted to video. But yes, you *can* use the Internet to gather media - it is not required to use the program. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bigdon68 Report post Posted November 15, 2018 (edited) We cut the cord. We had Dish Network for about 8 years and its a wonder I don't have an ulcer. That is the most frustrating company in the world to work with and I cannot imagine Direct TV is any better. We have the Razor HD antenna on the DRV and it pulls in quite a bit of programming. However, there are those shows you just want to watch as if you were at home. We bought an AT&T hotspot (unlimited) to go along with out laptop. We have comcast (xfinity - excuse me) for our TV/Internet/Phone at home so I use their website to view programming through the laptop. Just hook your HDMI cable up to the laptop and the TV and you have the stuff you want to watch. However, their are those programs like local network news and, in our case, Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals baseball that you can only watch on your home wifi. Solution for that is to install a Remote Desktop app on your home computer and laptop. You set up your home computer as the remote computer and no matter where you are -- and because I have the hotspot which gives me a good wifi signal, you can remotely connect to your home computer from your laptop. Once on your home computer just click your comcast Icon and watch your local programming and then everyone thinks you are sitting right there in your living room. Works like a champ. Satellite was good but Streaming is the future. Any programs you have saved using your DVR at home you can watch them through your laptop setup. It may be a little confusing but now I don't have to talk to Dish Network and explain to them I want to change my service address and NOT my billing address. Enjoy the road. We do. Bigdon68 Edited November 15, 2018 by Bigdon68 spelling Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
