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Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
#274787 10/13/09 12:15 AM
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So I have been thinking about buying a DVR box of some type. If I can get one with a cable card reader I can save about $15 per month from my cable company and in addition to hopefully finding a dvr with a larger hard drive.

Any suggestions for DVR boxes?

I see that amazon has this Tivo box on sale for $470. Looks really nice. I would like to spend about half that much tho if possible.


-David
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
terzaghi #274828 10/13/09 12:35 PM
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No advice as mine is Bell ExpressVu. However, I will say that once you have one, you can never do without. I am now actually watching the 4-6 shows per week that I record instead of missing them and once you get used to skipping commercials, you get spoiled and can no longer watch live TV.

If I had to give one up, I'd give up my HD channels long before my DVR/PVR.


With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
terzaghi #274829 10/13/09 12:39 PM
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 Originally Posted By: terzaghi
I see that amazon has this Tivo box on sale for $470. Looks really nice. I would like to spend about half that much tho if possible.


I would go for it. That's a great price considering it has the larger HD capacity. All DVRs are addictive, but the TiVo interface is the best / most user friendly.

My TiVo is my favorite part of the theater, and the one part of it I wouldn't want to give up!


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
MarkSJohnson #274832 10/13/09 02:15 PM
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Damn. Now I can't get the Tivo click-pop sound out of my head.

Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
pmbuko #274834 10/13/09 02:42 PM
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I'd get a regular TiVo HD and then an add on drive later on if you find the capacity isn't high enough.

I halfheartedly recommend the lifetime subscription. I would strongly recommend it, except for the fact that it costs $400 now.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
Ken.C #274835 10/13/09 02:51 PM
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TiVo/DVRs are my favorite tech development of the last ten years. Better than iPods, smart phones, GPS, everything. You'll love it.


Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
medic8r #274839 10/13/09 03:31 PM
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One option could be to wait a few more months until digital cable tuner with CableCARD are available to regular DIY HTPC consumers. Recently at CEDIA EXPO 2009 was announced the lift of some restrictions like OEM BIOS requirement and DRM. So hopefully they should start to be available soon, though I have no idea how soon. You could try something like this in the meantime. I’ve been tempted to try it but decided to wait.

 Quote:
Better than iPods, smart phones, GPS, everything.


Everyone I’ve known that have a Tivo swear by it as the greatest thing ever, I don’t know, I’ve had DVRs and yeah they are great and all but come on, better than a cell phone or GPS?


The sailor does not pray for wind, he learns to sail. --Lindborg
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
terzaghi #274841 10/13/09 04:11 PM
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I took an old computer, TV Tuner card and 320G Hard Drive and put it in an HTPC case. Installed Linux and MythTV. Voila.

Works great for me, and its its very user friendly but the install, set-up and troubleshooting (when things break) are for nerds only.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

Thanks
snazzed

Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
snazzed #274843 10/13/09 04:27 PM
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I have a httpc w/ Win7 MCE + HDHomeRun. It works well enough but it sucks not having channels like discovery, ESPN and CSN on HD. Configuration can get frustrating; Comcast is constantly moving channels around so I have to keep adding them manually every few weeks. Also, the WAF not as high as a DVR or tivo. I think once the CableCrd tuner issue gets sorted out and they become available, a htpc is best way to go. Right now, I going back to the Comcast DVR.


The sailor does not pray for wind, he learns to sail. --Lindborg
Re: Thinking abotu buying a DVR box
JaimeG #274844 10/13/09 04:41 PM
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WAF was very good on the MythTV. The remote control and interface are very "appliance like" and not at all technical. I imagine it is similar to a TiVo, but I've never actually seen one. \:\)

For channel listings, you have to buy a subscription to an online listings service ($20/yr) and the MythTV PVR then grabs listings via internet. On the rare occasions that our channels have moved, they get automatically updated within 24 hours.

Apparently with the right Tuner card, MythTV will do HD (get a bigger hard Drive), but the setup is more involved.

Ok, thats my last post about it unless people have specific questions. Don't want to sound like a raving fanboy!

snazzed

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