Ways to download shows off of my DVR to my computer?

Wow, clear and specific would take pages if we knew all of your equipment / software. Assuming that you don't want them archived in HD it can be done. Good luck if you want to keep the HD picture.

Here is how I do it

1) Record show on HD DVR
2) S-video out to my Panny DVD Recorder capturing on DVD-RAM disc
3) Import video into editing program (VideoRedo)
4) Import edited video into DVD authoring program (Ulead DVD Movie Factory)
5) Make menus / chapters and burn to DVD.

Lately, I've been having more fun recording the show on my PC in HD and then making an HD DVD on a DVD9 disc (~80 minutes) and maintaining the HD quality (only works with OTA or clear QAM cable channels)

Audio cables (L/R) into his video capture card. I do the same thing.

Except I capture direct to harddrive with my Hauppauge WinHVR-1600. I used to do this with a WinPVR250 - worked pretty well there too.

You might also want to check out the 2 HD PVR threads in the HTPC section.