BBC iPLayer - hopefully simple question!

john_s_2

Hi, sorry if this is an oft-asked question (I did have a bit of a search). I did try the iPlayer Help screens but didn't get very far.

I'm a complete iPlayer noob. My dad has asked me to download a series of six programmes as he can't get to the internet this week, and they run out before then. So I've done this (after installing it).

What, if anything, can I, or do I need to, do so that I can stick them on a USB stick and give them to my dad to watch when I next see him?

I know where they're saved so I know what files I need to give him. But I have a nagging doubt it's gonna be that simple.

Thanks in advance for any advice! :-)

bat999

john_s wrote: »

What, if anything, can I, or do I need to, do so that I can stick them on a USB stick and give them to my dad to watch when I next see him?

... But I have a nagging doubt it's gonna be that simple.

Hi
I'm not sure whether it's possible to transfer the files that have been downloaded using the BBC iPlayer.
Perhaps I'm wrong though.

I think that you need to download the files using different software.

For Windows there is a program named 'iPlayer Downloader'.
From here:-http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/

I use a program with Linux named 'get_iplayer'. Maybe you can run it with Windows too.
From here:-http://www.infradead.org/get_iplayer/html/get_iplayer.html

When the files are downloaded with these programs they are mp4 files that can be watched on a computer using VLC or maybe Windows Media Player.
They can also be used with portable players such as iPods. :cool:
And they can be copied onto a USB stick.

alanrowell

With both these pieces of software you are downloading the version intended for ipods and the like - if you want a HD version then you will have to look elsewhere

john_s_2

Thanks for that. So it seems they are tied to my PC and can't easily be transferred, ie they're not designed to be transferable.

Fair enough. My dad told me not to worry about it if it was too much hassle. This definitely falls into the 'too much hassle' category!

Thanks again.

JustPassingBy

alanrowell wrote: »

With both these pieces of software you are downloading the version intended for ipods and the like - if you want a HD version then you will have to look elsewhere

You mean, I'll have to stop downloading in HD quality with get_iplayer using the --mode option?

JustPassingBy

john_s wrote: »

I know where they're saved so I know what files I need to give him. But I have a nagging doubt it's gonna be that simple.

Why don't you copy one over to a USB stick and see if you can play it on your machine?

john_s_2

Well, success of some sort. It seems I can download a WMV version within seven days of the broadcast. Fortunately it is this particular episode my dad wants. And I've just played it on a different PC to the one I downloaded it on. So I'm guessing it will play on his.

Although I had to upgrade Windows Media Player, which seemed to take an unnecessarily long time.

I'll keep the other files I downloaded and see if they work on his as well (I think he already has the iPlayer installed).

totalsolutions

Dear John
iPlayer downloader is not BBC iPlayer.
You do not need to download anything like iPlayer software from the BBC
You do not need to sit and watch iPlayer films, etc when there are on a schedule for 7 days.

As mentioned you really do need iPlayer Downloader from https://www.po-ru.com.
This will get files from the BBC in mp4 video format and can be saved, copied, moved and watched at any time now or in the future whenever you like as many times as you like and burned to a CD/DVD.

luci

Does anyone know what size of file a one hour programme is?

JustPassingBy

luci wrote: »

Does anyone know what size of file a one hour programme is?

It depends on the quality. About 660MB for flashvhigh.

totalsolutions

Nearer 225MB