Decrypting_TS_TiVo_files

Decrypting TS TiVo Files

For series 4 or later TiVos using TiVo To Go (TTG) protocol you have the option of downloading TiVo files in Program Stream (PS) container or Transport Stream (TS) container.

TiVo Desktop terms TS downloads as "Fast Transfer" downloads.
kmttg configure->Program Options tab has Download TiVo files in Transport Stream format option to enable TS downloads.

THE PROBLEM

The tivodecode program normally used for decrypting .TiVo files does not work properly for TS .TiVo files. If using tivodecode to decrypt TS .TiVo files you will typically see errors such as the following:

TiVo Private Data : Unmatched Stream ID: No error
ts_handle_tivo_private_data failed: No error
processing frame: No error

THE tivolibre SOLUTION (ALL PLATFORMS)

Thanks to Todd Kulesza (AKA user fflewddur in TCF forums) there is a platform independent Java based solution for decrypting TS TiVo files called tivolibre: https://github.com/fflewddur/tivolibre
For recent versions of kmttg tivolibre is built into kmttg and you simply need to enable this option to use it for decrypting TiVo files:
Configure--Program Options--Decrypt using tivolibre instead of tivodecode
NOTE: tivolibre works to decrypt both PS and TS TiVo files.

THE DirectShow Dump SOLUTION (WINDOWS ONLY)

Windows users have option of using DirectShow Dump (DSD) program for decrypting .TiVo files instead of using tivodecode. The advantage of DSD is that it works with both PS and TS .TiVo files. The disadvantages are:

• Only runs on Windows platform
• Requires at least a partial install of TiVo Desktop, which is achieved by first fully installing TiVo Desktop and then uninstalling and choosing option to keep partial install.

However if you must use TS .TiVo files and you are using Windows platform then you can configure kmttg to use DSD to decrypt instead of tivodecode. If you meet the above listed requirements then you can configure kmttg to use DSD instead of tivodecode as follows:

• Make sure you are using latest Windows version of kmttg and tools
  • Help->Update kmttg
  • Help->Update tools
  • Restart kmttg if you updated tools
• Under kmttg config->Program Options enable Decrypt using DirectShow Dump instead of tivodecode option.

THE VIDEOREDO SOLUTION (WINDOWS ONLY)

Windows users also have option of using VideoRedo (VRD) for decrypting .TiVo files instead of using tivodecode. The advantage of using VRD is that it works with both PS and TS .TiVo files. The disadvantages are:

• Only runs on Windows platform
• Requires at least a partial install of TiVo Desktop, which is achieved by first fully installing TiVo Desktop and then uninstalling and choosing option to keep partial install.
• Non-free software

However if you must use TS .TiVo files and meet the above requirements and have a VRD installation, then you can configure kmttg to use VRD to decrypt instead of tivodecode as follows:

• Make sure you have configured kmttg with location of your VRD installation. Consult [VideoRedo_configuration]
• Under kmttg config->VideoRedo enable Decrypt using VideoRedo instead of tivodecode option