Need your help - DVR

CrimsonPaw

CrimsonPaw

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Hey gang, I need your help. I'm thinking of getting the wife a DVR for Christmas (actually it's for her an me, I'm sick of missing House because of school) but I'm looking for feedback on brands to stick with or avoid. I would prefer to stay away from a system that requires a monthly fee (I'm a cheapass, hence I'm looking here) but I'd like to use either a scheduled recording or be able to bring up a Show/Time listing guide.

Currently I have simple extended basic cable. No digital, no satallite, no dish; just extended basic cable. I'd like to record a program while watching something else. I'm thinking that we shouldn't need any more than 25 - 30 hours worth of recording time (especially since my TV viewing is about 4 hours a week right now).

Thanks in advance all!!

Crim
 
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IMO, you should just spring for the dvr service from your cable provider. It's the simplest way to do it and you don't get stuck buying hardware you probably won't want down the line. There is no contract so you can just shut it off at anytime. Who is your cable provider?
 
[quote name='klwillis45']Who is your cable provider?[/quote]
I'm through Mediacom. I may look into that since a buddy told me that it's only like $5 per month to get the box. The kicker is that I think they only have it available for their digital service.
 
If you don't want a monthly fee (or high prepaid fee), you'll be going with a PVR setup via PC. Pay the minimal upfront cost of the TV tuner card, use a free front end program like MediaPortal or GBPVR, and that's it. This, of course, is only an option if you can/do have a PC hooked up to your TV.
 
Any way you go, it’ll have some extra cost, but you have a lot of options. I have personally used all the ones below and have settled with the MediaCom option.

Tivo is the best – hands down, but pricy.

The HTPC option is pricy at first and takes a lot of work to set up, but you get free service after it’s up. I used BeyondTV on a WinXP box. BeyondTV is almost as good as Tivo, especially if you get the remote with it. The PC was noisy and bulky and to record shows while you watch another requires another video capture card. Eventually I got tired of messing with it and went with MediaCom -- and a Mac. :)

The MediaCom box has great quality and can record two shows at once. You also get to have the PVR in the cable box so it isn’t taking up space and if it quits working, trade it in and get another. It’s main problem is the interface. IT SUCKS!!! You do get used to it, though. The price is a digital cable box rental and about $6 a month for the service.

Here’s a review of the MediaCom box: http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/11/comcast_hd_dvr_.html
(Comcast uses the same PVR box.)
 
i'm in a similar boat, but i dont know what i have to do.

I had Direct TV Tivo but i bought that before they broke up, and i'll be me moving to a an area with Time Warner transitioning to Comcast. The thing is if i'm patient enough for the comcasst/tivo dela to seal and get what will likely be a swell Tivo deal from comcast (because yes the cable DVR's interfaces really do suck) or cave and buy a Tivo series 34 box, at least they have full dual tuner recording now........
 
I live in Southern California and recently purchased an awesome satelite package from Dish Network. This package was $199.99 for the setup and everything. This pays for the DVR, set up, and warranty.

Here are the specs on the DVR:

The ViP622 DVR™ is cutting-edge TV sophistication with a digital video recorder and high-definition receiver that supports two TVs. It’s another example of DISH Network setting the standard for better TV.


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Supports two TVs – one HDTV and one SDTV

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Record up to 200 hours of standard-definition programming, up to 30 hours of high-definition programming, or a combination of the two1

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View and record HD over the air digital2

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TV1 display supports four resolutions: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i

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TV2 display resolution is 480i
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HD content is down-converted

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Two Satellite tuners allow you to select from two viewing options
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Single Mode: Picture-In-Picture (PIP) available on any TV
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Dual Mode: Independently view and record programming on two televisions

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Supports Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

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Widescreen Electronic Program Guide with easy search features

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Convenient On-Screen Caller ID3 with history

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DishHOME Interactive TV for watching six screens at once and on demand entertainment, games, shopping, news, sports, weather and customer service

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I also purchased the GOLD package for $69.99 / month. Then an extra $10 / month for local channels and $5.00 / month for the DVR rental. I spend a total of $85.00 / month and get over 27 HD channels, 240 regular channels and all my local channels.

Hope this information was helpful.

jrthomp

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Tivo's great, but they eliminated lifetime (which broke even after about 2 years) and raised the price unless you get a two or three year contract. Still might be worth looking at if you want something that works well and has no setup issues (and won't ever miss recordings).

Second choice would be a PC-Windows Media Center or whatever. The cable boxes are expensive (unless you're already getting digital), and don't work that well (and don't let you transfer shows off of them, etc.), so personally that would be my last choice.
 
Well, I think I'm going to go with Tivo. I can get 3 years for 299 (which ammounts to roughly $8 and some change per month) versus that $17+ that Mediacom wants to charge me. There you go Mrs. Crim, that's your big gift (or one of them).
 
[quote name='CrimsonPaw']Well, I think I'm going to go with Tivo. I can get 3 years for 299 (which ammounts to roughly $8 and some change per month) versus that $17+ that Mediacom wants to charge me. There you go Mrs. Crim, that's your big gift (or one of them).[/quote]
If you get one, I recommend getting a DT Tivo, which allows you to record two shows at once. Well worth the money from the regualr Tivo box.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']If you get one, I recommend getting a DT Tivo, which allows you to record two shows at once. Well worth the money from the regualr Tivo box.[/quote]
I just ordered one off of Tivo.com and it's a DT. What's nice is that the new ones have the ability to move shows onto your portable devices and laptops. I may have to move some shows over to my PSP when I get the Tivo.
 
[quote name='CrimsonPaw']I just ordered one off of Tivo.com and it's a DT. What's nice is that the new ones have the ability to move shows onto your portable devices and laptops. I may have to move some shows over to my PSP when I get the Tivo.[/quote] I recommend you check out TVHarmony at http://www.tvharmony.com . I've used it for months, and as it's not perfect, it does a good job, plus it's free.

The DT has an Ethernet port on it, so you can hook it into your network via that, or a USB wireless adapter. If you go the USB adapter route, I recommend the Tivo-branded 802.11G, because it'll do WPA encryption with the new 8.1 software.
 
Check out the Tivocommunity forums for more info on stuff you can do with Tivo2Go if you need help with that :D

I stick stuff on my iPod more than I expected, and transfer stuff to watch on a computer almost daily.
 
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