Once you've taken the plunge and installed the custom firmware ('CF') it's completely transparent. The CF includes a web interface and a utility called
auto-unprotect.
Auto-unprotect runs in the background on the Humax, resetting the various flags that normally prevent the Humax from exporting HD files. You access the web interface from your PC's browser by pointing it at the Humax's IP address (e.g. 192.168.0.
nnn) - it looks like an ordinary web page. One option lets you see the files saved on your Humax:
Click the OPT+ button and select the Download option. Then it's just like any other web download. Speed depends on how your Humax and PC are networked - wired networking on both ends helps a lot - about 10 minutes for a 1-hour HD file on my 100Mb wired connection. That's around 4GB.
The only other point to mention is that you need to turn Content Share on in the Humax's menu. You don't need ftp or any complicated gymnastics to clear flags and you don't need to copy the file to a USB drive in order to decrypt it.
If you don't want to network, the basic principle is to copy the file you want to an external USB drive, then physically take the drive to the PC to play the file. But you run into all sorts of problems with HD files and limited compatibility of filing systems on the Humax and the PC. The problems can all be overcome, but believe me, the CF route is much more elegant.