Saving NPVR MP2 .ts files to bluray/DVD for best compatibility?

[jsbiff]

Hi, this might be slightly off-topic for this forum. If so, let me know, and I can try to seek answers elsewhere.

Anyhow, I am currently in the US market, and the files created by NPVR when I record a program, are .ts files containing MPEG2 video + audio which is, I think in AC3 format (although, I don't know, can different stations broadcast in different audio formats? I'm not sure what the FCC HDTV standard specifies as supported audio codecs, but apparently, pretty much all video in the US I think is only MPEG2 video?).

So, I'm trying to think about ways to save videos. Currently, I'm having NPVR create recordings on an External USB-3 HDD, 1TB, approx 700GB free, currently. Obviously, I face two problems - if I only have a copy on a single drive, that drive can fail, and also, I will eventually run out of space.

So, I figure the natural solution is to save files to DVD and/or Blu-Ray discs (I have a BD-RW drive).

I have a few questions about that:

The most obvious thing to do (though quite possibly wrong), is just to save the .ts file directly to the Blu-ray disc as a file in the root directory (that is, use normal burning software to create a 'data' disc formatted with either ISO9660 or UDF, containing just the .ts file).

That would be fine for playback on my computer. But, would all blu-ray players be able to understand and play back the file on such a disc?

I downloaded a video conversion program called "Any Video Converter" which can convert videos from and to a variety of formats. It looks like there is a format called AVCHD, which produces *.m2ts files, which it looks like it transcodes to h.264 encoding. Is that "more compatible" with bluray players?

For smaller programs which are less than 4.5 GB (or 9.0GB in the case of a dual-layer DVD+/-R) (maybe a 1/2 hour or hour show), can I put an HD program on a DVD instead of Blu-ray disc, and play it back at full resolution on a blu-ray or HD-DVD player? Obviously, legacy DVD players from the past were all designed for SD resolutions, so I think it would be likely that none of them can output an HD signal, but would most of them at least be able to downconvert the program and play it back (that is, if it's burned on a DVD+-R disc; obviously a DVD player won't even read BD media)?

[sub]

That would be fine for playback on my computer. But, would all blu-ray players be able to understand and play back the file on such a disc?

I downloaded a video conversion program called "Any Video Converter" which can convert videos from and to a variety of formats. It looks like there is a format called AVCHD, which produces *.m2ts files, which it looks like it transcodes to h.264 encoding. Is that "more compatible" with bluray players?

For smaller programs which are less than 4.5 GB (or 9.0GB in the case of a dual-layer DVD+/-R) (maybe a 1/2 hour or hour show), can I put an HD program on a DVD instead of Blu-ray disc, and play it back at full resolution on a blu-ray or HD-DVD player? Obviously, legacy DVD players from the past were all designed for SD resolutions, so I think it would be likely that none of them can output an HD signal, but would most of them at least be able to downconvert the program and play it back (that is, if it's burned on a DVD+-R disc; obviously a DVD player won't even read BD media)?

Creating DVDs or BluRay backups of recordings sounds like a lot of hassle.

The most obvious thing to do (though quite possibly wrong), is just to save the .ts file directly to the Blu-ray disc as a file in the root directory (that is, use normal burning software to create a 'data' disc formatted with either ISO9660 or UDF, containing just the .ts file).

I'd just do that, or get a second drive or NAS to use as a backup.

[jsbiff]

Ok, thanks. You're right - converting files does sound like a lot of hassle. If I ever want to play any of these files on a blu-ray player, I should just convert the one or two I want to do that with, if the bluray player doesn't just play the .ts file as is. No point wasting a lot of time for something I may never try to do, anyhow.