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View SlideshowDigital Video Recorders (DVRs) change the way you watch TV, freeing you from the shackles of network schedules. Instead of sitting down at a certain time, to watch a certain show, these boxes continually collect all the shows that interest you. Then, whenever you’re inclined, you flip through the menus and watch what you want.
But which HD-DVR should you get? You can buy an HD TiVo, but it’s also likely that your broadband or satellite company offers an HD-DVR on monthly rental. They may even offer a DVR loaded with TiVo software. Each option has its pros and cons, and choosing the best for you will depend on your priorities.
The Basics
All HD-DVRs can record two programs on different channels while letting you view a previously-recorded show. You record a program by entering the title (or finding it in a program grid), and let the DVR find the episodes for you. You can filter by channel, or by first-run vs. rerun, and adjust start/end times for programs that run early or late. All DVRs also have simple search capabilities, letting you hunt by title, time and channel.
Most broadband companies offer Motorola DVRs. They come in different models but generally run the same software. Comcast also offers these same boxes loaded with TiVo-developed software. This isn’t the same software that runs on native TiVo boxes, but it goes above and beyond the standard Motorola software to introduce many elements of the TiVo experience.
TiVo sells a few different boxes varying in capacity and secondary features. The boxes are reasonably priced, but come with subscription fees. The big difference here is that you own the box and rent the service.
Features: Disk Space
Motorola DVRs come in two capacities: 120GB and 160GB. This is gobs of space for standard-definition TV, but will hold only 12-20 hours of HDTV. Your experience will vary because shows with more action take more space. Alternately, TiVos can be purchased with up to 1TB of storage, and there are many ways to expand your TiVo capacity. TiVo sells an external drive, third-party companies provide upgrades, and the tech-savvy can upgrade the box themselves. Edge: TiVo
Programming Power
TiVo’s built-in program search capabilities are the best in the business. They include “Wishlists” that will record any future shows with specific actors, genres, or keywords, and a suggestion facility that records shows you might like based on your preferences. Also, TiVo uniquely lets you treat showings of the same program on different channels separately. Thus, you could require that first-run “Law & Order” broadcasts be saved until you delete them, whilst letting reruns on USA be deleted as they age. The TiVo software on the Comcast boxes retain most of these capabilities. Edge: TiVo
Convenience
Broadband company DVRs typically require no upfront fees, and can be swapped out if they fail, or when a better model comes along. TiVos have to be purchased, you have to sign-up separately for service, and if the unit breaks, it’s up to you to get it fixed.
Re: moving an external drive around from DVR to DVR - that sounds like a 1980s solution! With Tivo, you can browse your other Tivo(s) right from the “Now Playing” menu, and transfer shows from one Tivo to another over your home wifi/wired network. It’s called “Multi-Room Viewing”, or MRV. You can even download them to your personal computer or your iPod and watch them on there, if you wish (I’ve never seen the point of watching TV or movies on my iPod though).
Certain models, 625, and other other newer units also have a usb port on the back that allow up to a 750gig hard drive to be added, they charge a one time to activate it. The nice theing is if you have more then one recivier that has usb ports you can take the Hard drive and move it between the receivers allowing you to watch whats on the hard drive on any receiver. The down side when you set it up it formats its specificly for the Dish receiver, so the computer can’t see it to copy files off it.
Still a very cool feature…
Ken Lawson
The motorola DVR has the ability (if your cable company enables the feature) to use E-sata external drives from its USB port to expand storage
I believe that Dish network is making a converter box that also acts as a basic dvr to record over the air broadcast. I believe that they are still making them. I have not read any reviews on them yet. I think they are the only ones who make a converter box like that.
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Lets see, moving a hard drive with a entire collection of a show or movies around, the house,, vrs going back to vcr tapes…that stretch and/or break….
When they come out with a server style sat receiver that will serve a whole houseful of tvs and share content between the tvs allowing any tv to see the pvr hard drive and watch it,,, not to mention connecting the wireless network and allowing material from the net or your nas storage to play on the tvs, through the sat receiver, we’ll be in business. until then, moving a hard drive around is still a pretty good option, and a huge step up from the vcr.
As for the tvio and its mrv, I think I just described it. with extra features.
Tivio may not be a option for some people, who have satellite or other situations, many may just LIKE their Dish dvrs and want to stay on that platform.
Ken Lawson
lawsonreport.info