DVR Help

[soulforge]

In recognition of the upcoming season of Battlestar galactica, and the fact that I missed the majority of Lost on Wed. at around the middle of the season I want DVR!

I'm a student so I'm low on cash which goes w/o saying. I just need a cheap option for a DVR and am looking for recommendations. One problem I have though is that I don't have a phone line. I use my cell phone for all communication.

Also for you DVR users out there is it necessary to pay the monthly subscription charge or can you forgo that and program the times in yourself?

Thanks.

 

[reveal]

In recognition of the upcoming season of Battlestar galactica, and the fact that I missed the majority of Lost on Wed. at around the middle of the season I want DVR!

I'm a student so I'm low on cash which goes w/o saying. I just need a cheap option for a DVR and am looking for recommendations. One problem I have though is that I don't have a phone line. I use my cell phone for all communication.

Also for you DVR users out there is it necessary to pay the monthly subscription charge or can you forgo that and program the times in yourself?

Thanks.

I have Cox cable and they have a DVR but I don't use theres. I use Tivo. Both options have a monthly fee associated with them. It's $12 for Tivo and a little more than that for Cox, once you factor in the increased rental fee for the new DVR/Cable box combo unit.

However, you have to either have a phone line or you have to connect your Tivo to your network in order for Tivo to update itself. If you don't have a phone line or a network, you're SOL.

The cable box, OTOH, just requires a feed from the cable company itself, no phone line needed.

 

[GlassJaw]

I have Cox cable and they have a DVR but I don't use theres

theirs

Why don't you use Cox DVR? I've been thinking about getting it and I like the fact that I don't have to buy a piece of hardware that will become obsolete in a few years. Having to tie up another phone line is a pain too. No worries with using a cable box-based DVR.

My one question though is whether you can get HD in the same box as DVR and be able to record in HD.

 

[reveal]

theirs

Why don't you use Cox DVR? I've been thinking about getting it and I like the fact that I don't have to buy a piece of hardware that will become obsolete in a few years. Having to tie up another phone line is a pain too. No worries with using a cable box-based DVR.

My one question though is whether you can get HD in the same box as DVR and be able to record in HD.

I thought that looked wrong but just brain-farted (is that a word?) it.

I don't use Cox' DVR because I can't take it with me if I move and it's cheaper.

I also like Tivo's options like being able to go online and schedule programs, so if I'm sitting at work and hear someone talk about a show or hear a commercial on the radio I can go online and schedule it.

And because I have my Tivo networked (I have it wireless but it can be wired if necessary), I don't need to tie up the phone line, the things I schedule online show up within minutes on my Tivo rather than having to wait for the one time per day Tivo makes contact through the phone line (so if a show is starting in an hour and I'm at work I can still schedule it whereas I can't with a phone line), and I can transfer recorded shows to my computer and burn them to DVD.

As far as HD goes, that's where Cox is better. Cox can record in HD where Tivo cannot unless you have DirectTV and a DirectTV Tivo, then it can.

 

[GlassJaw]

brain-farted (is that a word?)

Yes. Yes it is.

Good info on Cox DVR vs Tivo. I want to call up Cox and talk to them about DVR but I keep forgetting. For what I need, I'll probably go with Cox. Being able to "take it with me" if I move isn't really a concern for me. Being able to setup things online is cool though but HD is a requirement for me.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'm partial to the ReplayTV, myself. Very hackable, and there are some sweet third party utilities that really extend the functionality. The ability to stream from your Replay to your PC (and vice-versa) with a free java app is pretty nice.

 

[Ayrk]

If you are tech savy at all, you might consider building a MythTV box. Using KnoppMyth (a linux distro) you can easily install it on a PC, add a capture card and you should be good to go.

The benefit here is no monthly cost and the ability to burn stuff to DVD easier. It does require tweaking to get working but when it does, it rocks.

 

[soulforge]

I snagged a 40 hours tivo box at best buy for $150 with a $50 mail in rebate. I'm gonna enjoy this highly. I was considering the linux distro Myth, but I just want something idiot proof even though I am "tech savy".

 

[reveal]

I snagged a 40 hours tivo box at best buy for $150 with a $50 mail in rebate. I'm gonna enjoy this highly. I was considering the linux distro Myth, but I just want something idiot proof even though I am "tech savy".

Trust me, you'll never watch TV the same again.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

FWIW, Tivo's doing their lowest-end box for a flat $99 now (well, strictly speaking, it's $149 with an instant in-store $50 rebate).

My dad got some box that has a DVD-R built into it, with Tivo-licensed 'software'. It's not as flexible as my Replay box, but the stuff for burning directly to DVD is pretty slick (and idiot proof, apparently).