DVR recommendations

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So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll bite. Which
ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like Best Buy and
CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or just those two
main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a DVR work with
just that, and if so, any recommendations?

If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run som third party
software to do? If so, what do you use then?
--
"... respect, all good works are not done by only good folk. For here, at the end of all
things, we shall do what needs to be done."
--till next time, Jameson Stalanthas Yu -x- <<poetry.dolphins-cove.com>>

 

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~consul wrote:
> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll bite. Which
> ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like Best Buy and
> CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or just those two
> main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a DVR work with
> just that, and if so, any recommendations?
>
> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run som third party
> software to do? If so, what do you use then?

Does DVR even work without cable? I didn't realize you could do that. I
just took the one my cable company uses.

 

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"~consul" <consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote in message
news:d8ikp1$ehe$1@gist.usc.edu...
> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll
> bite. Which ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic
> stores like Best Buy and CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV
> boxes. Are there others, or just those two main companies? I don't have
> cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a DVR work with just that, and
> if so, any recommendations?
>
> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run
> som third party software to do? If so, what do you use then?

You could get a Tivo Series 2 DVR. It works with cable, off air, satellite,
etc. I have several Tivos and I like them a lot. For more details, inquire
in alt.video.ptv.tivo. We talk about these issues in that newsgroup all the
time. Someone will be able to answers any questions you might have.

 

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On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:41:59 -0700, ~consul
<consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote:

>So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll bite. Which
>ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like Best Buy and
>CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or just those two
>main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a DVR work with
>just that, and if so, any recommendations?
>
>If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run som third party
>software to do? If so, what do you use then?

Anything that stands alone and doesn't plug into a phone line.
-Rich

 

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in article pa4qa196gl9c2l6p9nml6o75cia88mq1da@4ax.com, RichA at
none@none.com wrote on 6/12/05 9:54 PM:

> On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:41:59 -0700, ~consul
> <consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote:
>
>> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll
>> bite. Which
>> ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like Best
>> Buy and
>> CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or just
>> those two
>> main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a
>> DVR work with
>> just that, and if so, any recommendations?
>>
>> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run
>> som third party
>> software to do? If so, what do you use then?
>
> Anything that stands alone and doesn't plug into a phone line.
> -Rich

What he said.

 

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>~consul wrote:
>> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think
>I'll bite. Which
>> ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like
>Best Buy and
>> CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others,
>or just those two
>> main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA,
>can a DVR work with
>> just that, and if so, any recommendations?
>>
>> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and
>run som third party
>> software to do? If so, what do you use then?
>
>Does DVR even work without cable? I didn't realize you could do that. I
>just took the one my cable company uses.

As far as I know, any DirecTivo DVR works with DirecTV and does
not work with cable.

A Series 1 standalone TiVo works fine with just an antenna and no
cable (this is the setup I have).

Obviously, the only DVRs a cable company will offer are those
that work with cable.

Cable has a serious reputation problem with me. They haven't
convinced me yet that they can get the billing right. When you pay
the bill, the "Balance Due" is supposed to go down by the amount
of the payment. They are not supposed to add the amount of the
payment to the monthly rate.

It is possible to build a computer with TV tuner card(s), a large
hard disk, and a good video card for use as a DVR. Look for the
"MythTV" project, among others. To really work well, it needs a
source of program guide data. The software is non-trivial. It's
much more than just a large hard disk. If you decide to use this
setup, you may well want to dedicate the system to TV, rather than
trying to do other stuff on it also.

Gordon L. Burditt

 

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~consul <consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote in rec.arts.tv:

> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll
> think I'll bite. Which ones are you folks using? I look at the
> normal electronic stores like Best Buy and CompUSA, and they all
> have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or just those two
> main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be
> OTA, can a DVR work with just that, and if so, any
> recommendations?
>
> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers
> and run som third party software to do? If so, what do you use
> then?

I have a Panasonic DVR with a hard drive. They are just like VCRs, inn
that you hook them up and use them with whatever TV viewing service you
happen to have. They are designed to make the most use of cable
service, but it's not necessary. TiVo and Direct TV are NOT the only
things out there. Best Buy, in fact, has/had my VCR, though I bought
it cheaper through Amazon.

--
Brandy  Alexandre®
http/www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx
Well, would you?

 

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in article 1118627424.115cd6ddc219d3eff29e9a1f9a628a86@teranews,
Brandy  Alexandre at brandy@kamikaze.orgy wrote on 6/12/05 6:50 PM:

> I have a Panasonic DVR with a hard drive. They are just like VCRs, inn
> that you hook them up and use them with whatever TV viewing service you
> happen to have. They are designed to make the most use of cable
> service, but it's not necessary. TiVo and Direct TV are NOT the only
> things out there. Best Buy, in fact, has/had my VCR, though I bought
> it cheaper through Amazon.

What model do you have? I don't see anything at Amazon that isn't a
Panasonic DVD recorder with a hard drive seemingly stuck on as an
afterthought?

 

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~consul wrote:
> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll bite. Which
> ones are you folks using?

I'm using a Toshiba RD-XS32. It's a standalone (i.e. non-subscription
service) DVR that includes a DVD recorder, like the one Brandy
mentioned. If you bought a Toshiba, you'd probably want the newer XS34,
though (or the XS52 if you want HD output, although I don't know as
much about that model). I don't get any of the neat subscription
service features, but I also don't have to pay service fees or worry
about my box's firmware being changed on me (which Comcast does, and
probably the others as well).

The XS32 only has an 80GB hard drive, which is small for current boxes
(the XS34 has a 160GB drive). I chose the Toshiba because the user
interface got good reviews (as opposed to some others, like the
Philips, which were generally regarded as being terrible), it supports
both -R and -RW discs (-RAM, too), it has plenty of inputs and outputs
(important for my complex A/V system setup), and it can "pause" live
TV. Don't underestimate the importance of the interface, especially if
you're editing or archiving to DVD.

> I look at the normal electronic stores like Best Buy and
> CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or just those two
> main companies?

Unless you want to pay at least $100 more, you don't want to buy one at
Best Buy... I got a really good price on mine at B&H (who are very
reliable). If you don't want a subscription box, most electronics
companies make a DVR. Toshiba makes TiVo-enabled models too, by the
way.

> I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a DVR work with
> just that, and if so, any recommendations?

Mine (like other standalones) doesn't care what the source is. I could
record myself playing my Playstation if I really wanted to...

I can give you a more detailed review if you need me to.

HTH

Jeff

 

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ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:

> in article pa4qa196gl9c2l6p9nml6o75cia88mq1da@4ax.com, RichA at
> none@none.com wrote on 6/12/05 9:54 PM:
>
> > On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:41:59 -0700, ~consul
> > <consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote:
> >
> >> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll
> >> bite. Which
> >> ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like Best
> >> Buy and
> >> CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or
> >> just
> >> those two
> >> main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a
> >> DVR work with
> >> just that, and if so, any recommendations?
> >>
> >> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run
> >> som third party
> >> software to do? If so, what do you use then?
> >
> > Anything that stands alone and doesn't plug into a phone line.
> > -Rich
>
> What he said.
>
If you can, you should try them out a little - finding and setting
programs, especially for catching every episode of your favorite
series, and changing the settings.

I have both a TiVo series 2 and something different supplied by the
cable co. The TiVo is very easy to use, has an excellent search
feature, but can only record one show at a time. The other one seems to
have been designed to be as difficult as possible to use, no search
capability except by sorting by time or name, and when it gets filled
up, it deletes all the future programs (hard to test that part in the
store, I'll admit) but it can record 2 shows at a time and supplies
picture in picture.

Neither makes it easy to start a program a minute late, like you need
to do after Lost.

 

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>
> It is possible to build a computer with TV tuner card(s), a large
> hard disk, and a good video card for use as a DVR. Look for the
> "MythTV" project, among others. To really work well, it needs a
> source of program guide data. The software is non-trivial. It's
> much more than just a large hard disk. If you decide to use this
> setup, you may well want to dedicate the system to TV, rather than
> trying to do other stuff on it also.
>
> Gordon L. Burditt



Beat me to it. Check out www.systm.org, and watch the second episode.
If you are a techy, MythTv may be the way to go.

SR1

 

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in article 130620050152158834%cmn-nospam@houston.rr.com, Mark Nobles at
cmn-nospam@houston.rr.com wrote on 6/12/05 11:52 PM:

> ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> in article pa4qa196gl9c2l6p9nml6o75cia88mq1da@4ax.com, RichA at
>> none@none.com wrote on 6/12/05 9:54 PM:
>>
>>> On Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:41:59 -0700, ~consul
>>> <consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> So many of you folks extolled the virtues of the DVR, and I'll think I'll
>>>> bite. Which
>>>> ones are you folks using? I look at the normal electronic stores like Best
>>>> Buy and
>>>> CompUSA, and they all have TIVO or DirectTV boxes. Are there others, or
>>>> just
>>>> those two
>>>> main companies? I don't have cable, so everything I do would be OTA, can a
>>>> DVR work with
>>>> just that, and if so, any recommendations?
>>>>
>>>> If it is essentially a harddrive, does any one use their computers and run
>>>> som third party
>>>> software to do? If so, what do you use then?
>>>
>>> Anything that stands alone and doesn't plug into a phone line.
>>> -Rich
>>
>> What he said.
>>
> If you can, you should try them out a little - finding and setting
> programs, especially for catching every episode of your favorite
> series, and changing the settings.
>
> I have both a TiVo series 2 and something different supplied by the
> cable co. The TiVo is very easy to use, has an excellent search
> feature, but can only record one show at a time. The other one seems to
> have been designed to be as difficult as possible to use, no search
> capability except by sorting by time or name, and when it gets filled
> up, it deletes all the future programs (hard to test that part in the
> store, I'll admit) but it can record 2 shows at a time and supplies
> picture in picture.
>
> Neither makes it easy to start a program a minute late, like you need
> to do after Lost.

I checked out the reviews on the Panasonic DVRs on Amazon and was pretty
horrified.

 

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ANIM8Rfsk wrote:
> Patty Winter wrote:
> >
> > I got a Sony DVR/HDD a couple of months ago and have been impressed
> > with it. It has TV Guide's electronic program guide built in, although
> > I've only used it once or twice because most of the recording I've done
> > has been from DirecTV rather than cable. Oh, my model is the HX900.
>
> Can you just use it like a VCR without a phone connection if you want?

It's a standalone unit with no phone jack at all, AFAIK. For the DVR's
TV guide feature to work, the cable provider has to offer the generic
guide service (encoded somewhere in the cable RF bandwidth). It's
usually "TV Guide On-Screen" from what I've seen, and any compatible
device (TV, DVR, etc) can read it. Certain cable providers won't
provide it, though.

Last time I looked at that model, it was overpriced, by the way, and
didn't have the features of some of its less-expensive competitors...

Jeff

 

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In article <130620050152158834%cmn-nospam@houston.rr.com>, Mark Nobles
<cmn-nospam@houston.rr.com> wrote:

> I have both a TiVo series 2 and something different supplied by the
> cable co. The TiVo is very easy to use, has an excellent search
> feature, but can only record one show at a time. The other one seems to
> have been designed to be as difficult as possible to use, no search
> capability except by sorting by time or name, and when it gets filled
> up, it deletes all the future programs (hard to test that part in the
> store, I'll admit) but it can record 2 shows at a time and supplies
> picture in picture.

That's why I like my DirecTiVo. It can record two shows at a time in
the original DirecTV quality (which I admit can be lacking sometimes).
It's easy to use. It starts deleting the *oldest* shows that haven't
been marked for permanent keeping when the drive gets full. And I have
mine installed with a hacked version of the TiVo OS that allows all
sorts of useful things, like not needing to phone home (useful when you
no longer have a land line), 30-second commercial skip (takes me about
6 seconds to go through a long commercial break) and automatically
switching to a certain channel every weeknight to watch a show I don't
normally record.

 

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In article <BED31B05.381C2%ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net>,
ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>
>I checked out the reviews on the Panasonic DVRs on Amazon and was pretty
>horrified.

I got a Sony DVR/HDD a couple of months ago and have been impressed
with it. It has TV Guide's electronic program guide built in, although
I've only used it once or twice because most of the recording I've done
has been from DirecTV rather than cable. Oh, my model is the HX900.


Patty

 

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in article d8kkki$g2p$1@bolt.sonic.net, Patty Winter at
patty1@wintertime.com wrote on 6/13/05 11:52 AM:

> In article <BED31B05.381C2%ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net>,
> ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>>
>> I checked out the reviews on the Panasonic DVRs on Amazon and was pretty
>> horrified.
>
> I got a Sony DVR/HDD a couple of months ago and have been impressed
> with it. It has TV Guide's electronic program guide built in, although
> I've only used it once or twice because most of the recording I've done
> has been from DirecTV rather than cable. Oh, my model is the HX900.
>
>
> Patty
>
>
>

Can you just use it like a VCR without a phone connection if you want?

 

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In article <1118625255.355245.218180@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
zaryzary2003@yahoo.com wrote:

> Does DVR even work without cable? I didn't realize you could do that. I
> just took the one my cable company uses.

Why wouldn't a DVR work without cable? The ones that the cable
companies provide are built into the cable converter boxes, but
standalone DVRs like TiVo and ReplayTV connect the same way that a VCR
does. They work with cable, satellite, or OTA antennas. One thing they
have that many VCRs don't have is an "IR Blaster", an infrared emitter
that sends channel-changing signals to the cable or satellite box.

--
Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA

 

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In article <BED23867.37FB9%ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net>,
ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:

> in article 1118627424.115cd6ddc219d3eff29e9a1f9a628a86@teranews,
> Brandy  Alexandre at brandy@kamikaze.orgy wrote on 6/12/05 6:50 PM:
>
> > I have a Panasonic DVR with a hard drive. They are just like VCRs, inn
> > that you hook them up and use them with whatever TV viewing service you
> > happen to have. They are designed to make the most use of cable
> > service, but it's not necessary. TiVo and Direct TV are NOT the only
> > things out there. Best Buy, in fact, has/had my VCR, though I bought
> > it cheaper through Amazon.
>
> What model do you have? I don't see anything at Amazon that isn't a
> Panasonic DVD recorder with a hard drive seemingly stuck on as an
> afterthought?

I think he's talking about Showstopper, which was Panasonic's rebranded
ReplayTV. They stopped selling them several years ago.

--
Barry Margolin, barmar@alum.mit.edu
Arlington, MA

 

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in article barmar-FB695D.19272813062005@comcast.dca.giganews.com, Barry
Margolin at barmar@alum.mit.edu wrote on 6/13/05 4:27 PM:

> In article <BED23867.37FB9%ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net>,
> ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> in article 1118627424.115cd6ddc219d3eff29e9a1f9a628a86@teranews,
>> Brandy  Alexandre at brandy@kamikaze.orgy wrote on 6/12/05 6:50 PM:
>>
>>> I have a Panasonic DVR with a hard drive. They are just like VCRs, inn
>>> that you hook them up and use them with whatever TV viewing service you
>>> happen to have. They are designed to make the most use of cable
>>> service, but it's not necessary. TiVo and Direct TV are NOT the only
>>> things out there. Best Buy, in fact, has/had my VCR, though I bought
>>> it cheaper through Amazon.
>>
>> What model do you have? I don't see anything at Amazon that isn't a
>> Panasonic DVD recorder with a hard drive seemingly stuck on as an
>> afterthought?
>
> I think he's talking about Showstopper, which was Panasonic's rebranded
> ReplayTV. They stopped selling them several years ago.

ah

thanks

but

brandy is a he?

 

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In article <BED32FC7.38211%ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net>,
ANIM8Rfsk <ANIM8Rfsk@cox.net> wrote:
>in article d8kkki$g2p$1@bolt.sonic.net, Patty Winter at
>patty1@wintertime.com wrote on 6/13/05 11:52 AM:
>
>> I got a Sony DVR/HDD a couple of months ago and have been impressed
>> with it. It has TV Guide's electronic program guide built in, although
>> I've only used it once or twice because most of the recording I've done
>> has been from DirecTV rather than cable. Oh, my model is the HX900.
>
>Can you just use it like a VCR without a phone connection if you want?

Not sure what you mean by "if you want." It has no telephone connection
at all. So if you want a phone connection (I don't know what for), this
one won't meet your needs.


Patty