Is there a current Freesat recorder with the capability or can be updated with the capability to archive SD and HD recordings to PC etc?
Regards,
Lt. Dang

Not a current one, afaik the Humax Foxsat-HDR whith the custom firmware extension software is the only one.

Other than that the a PC (HTPC) based solution or a generic free to air satellite box is the only solution I know of.

Thanks, is there a decent generic free-to-air satellite recorder with this capability that anyone can recommend?
Regards,
Lt. Dang

Depends how much you want to spend. Look at the Humax icord models for instance.

Thanks, took a look at the iCord and it gets a mixed reception from users. Humax are still selling Grade A Foxsat HDR boxes so I've ordered one of them. It seems to have a good set of streaming capabilities too. I will do a HDD and firmware upgrade when I get it.
Regards,
Lt. Dang

To do everything you want you will have to install the custom firmware add on with the web interface from AV forums. Largest disk you can add without having to set up the formatting and partitioning yourself is 1TB.

I archive SD recordings from a standard Humax Foxsat-HDR to an external USB HDD then convert the *.ts files to MP4 in original format/quality on my PC using DVDVideoSoft MP4 Video Convertor (free but watch out for PUPs) which I can then use on/stream to almost any device. Android devices can use unconverted *.ts files with MX Player.

It's worth mentioning that, whichever route you choose (standard USB export, hack with ftp, etc) the transfer is quite slow. Something like 2x real time for HD recordings, faster for SD recordings. Copies which would take seconds or tens of seconds between HDDs on a modern PC take minutes or tens of minutes. You don't have to sit and watch it (though if you're using the standard USB transfer, you can't do anything else on-screen while it's copying), but if you're also going to cut adverts out (VideoRedo Tv Suite) and/or re-encode things, you've got yourself a nice new time consuming hobby.

Cheers,
David.

107 minute HD movie from Channel 4 (7.89GB) took 38 minutes to ftp to my laptop. I make that about 0.37 times real time.

Yes I have a 1TB drive ordered. I will do that upgrade first and then do the firmware with the HD encryption patch. This will allow me to ftp HD content via my network and has the advantage of not locking up the box while the transfer is taking place.
Regards,
Lt. Dang

Bought the Foxsat HDR and installed the 1TB drive which was pretty straightforward. Then did the firmware upgrade with Raydon's excellent code. The web Ui it adds is very powerfull. Installed Nowster's patch and used the web UI to add a samba client. Can now see the Foxsat 1TB drive across my network like any normal drive. So can copy SD and HD recordings acros the LAN to my media player and PC and can stream any recordings or live TV to tablets etc whilst still recording 2 channels and watching another recording on my TV. Makes the Sky+ box look pretty limited really!
Regards,

Lt. Dang