Variable Files Sizes?

Channels DVR Server
#1

First off: Thank you thank you thank you for the fantastic software! I’ve purchased both the Apple TV and iOS apps and I have now subbed for the DVR service. Everything works flawlessly, and the UI cannot be beat. I’ll be ditching TiVo in a few months when my yearly sub expires.

My question: Why are recordings for hour-long hd shows sometimes saved as significantly different file sizes? I have several different hour-long hd shows recorded and the mpegs are anywhere from 4 to 6.2gb! It seems to be similar across series though, so perhaps it has something to do with the channel itself?

I’m looking to purchase a new hard drive and was just trying to guesstimate an approximate hour/gb for hd recordings.

Thanks again!

#2

Some cable channels have switched over to h264, which uses less than half the space of mpeg2. Local stations like FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC and PBS are still in mpeg2 everywhere.

On my.hdhomerun.com if you click into your hdhomerun and then into channel lineup, you can see “AVC” listed next to channels which have been upgraded.

1 Like
#3

I'm trying to decide on the size of HDD I need. It looks like all my programs are recording in 1080i. Ballpark, what is the average size of a 1 hour program?

#4

For OTA/cable MPEG2, I have observed ~5GB/hr. For streamed TVE (H.264/AVC), it can be as low as 0.5GB/hr.