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#1 2007-10-28 8:16 pm

Jyri Erik
Member
From: Greenbelt, MD
Registered: 2001-04-21
Posts: 2418

DVR question

I've been thinking about getting a DVR, but since I'm cheap, subscribing to a service that knows when what I want to watch is on & then records it seems a bit much seeing as how I only record 3 shows a week.  I searched the internet for models & manuals but couldn't find anything showing what I wanted to know, so I'll ask here.

Can anyone who owns a DVR tell me if it can be used like a traditional VCR or not?  (i.e. I set a time/date/channel manuall & it records that).  If so, will it allow the "Play from the start while recording the end" feature?

Jyri

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#2 2007-10-28 10:39 pm

jb
Member
From: Melbourne, Australia.
Registered: 2004-01-04
Posts: 2179

Re: DVR question

I just bought an EyeTV Diversity. It attaches to your mac, and up to two aerial inputs, so you can record up to two channels.
I just got the antenna connected today. Everything works quite well.


They say that the most secure computer is the one not connected to the internet.
That's why security experts recommend Telstra BigPond.

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#3 2007-10-28 10:44 pm

TheOipedOne
Professional Driver on Closed Course
From: Santa Clara, CA/EWU, WA
Registered: 2004-05-15
Posts: 630
Website

Re: DVR question

We have a Tivo series 2, and it is not set up to record what it thinks we like (based on actors, genre, channel), though it can be turned on.

Right now it's set up to record about 4 shows a day- most of those shows were set up to be recorded by each time the tivo sees that it's on a specific channel (weeknights, 7 lets say) and is also set up to not record reruns. One of the shows is set up to be recorded whenever it is on, whatever channel, reruns or not.
It can of course be used like a VCR- you can put in a time, day, channel to record, and it will, or you can just hit the record now button to record what's on.

I assume that by "play from the start while recording the end" you mean you want to be able to start an hour recording, go somewhere else for half an hour, come back and watch from the beginning while its still recording? It can do that.
And of course the tivo will save about a half hour of live tv on a channel so you can go back to the beginning of that and keep watching (going back in time and/or pausing live tv is handy for skipping commercials).

And of course the Tivo comes with the guide, and a sort of internet option- with music, photos, video previews, sharing with your computer, etc... Plus you can still search for a show, or actor to see when it will be on, and choose to set it up to be recorded. You just have to update the Tivo to keep the guide and system updates going (we have ours updating wirelessly).

All in all the tivo is pretty nice and can be used however you want.


1.33 GHz 15.2" PowerBook 80GB HD 768MB RAM 10.4.11 SuperDrive "That's it. You just made my list" (Nixon's Head).

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#4 2007-10-28 10:52 pm

bratboy
laden with emotion
Royal Wombat
From: Austin, Texas
Registered: 2003-01-19
Posts: 34106

Re: DVR question

Do you have cable?

Most cable companies offer a DVR-cable box, AFAIK....


"One thing we've learned is there's a difference between being disappointed and having madmen in authority."

                                                                   --Paul Krugman

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#5 2007-10-28 11:17 pm

icebook1
That college kid
From: Virginia
Registered: 2001-05-27
Posts: 1384

Re: DVR question

I've been considering the EyeTV 250 Plus. I have a G4 Mac Mini that I could use it with so it would really be a standalone "DVR" type of thing. My parents have a TiVo and I love it, but the monthly payment isn't something I can swing right now.

The EyeTV will work with digital once that standard is mandated in 09, and it'll record HD content if your processor is beefy enough. I guess I could hook it up to my MBP if I wanted HD.

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#6 2007-10-28 11:25 pm

jb
Member
From: Melbourne, Australia.
Registered: 2004-01-04
Posts: 2179

Re: DVR question

HD can be amazing on the MBP. It requires a bit of processor to push it, but if you have the means, I'd go for it.


They say that the most secure computer is the one not connected to the internet.
That's why security experts recommend Telstra BigPond.

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#7 2007-10-29 8:44 am

jeff-o
Artist's Rendition:
From: Waterloo, Ontario
Registered: 1999-04-10
Posts: 10020
Website

Re: DVR question

Jyri Erik wrote:

I've been thinking about getting a DVR, but since I'm cheap, subscribing to a service that knows when what I want to watch is on & then records it seems a bit much seeing as how I only record 3 shows a week.  I searched the internet for models & manuals but couldn't find anything showing what I wanted to know, so I'll ask here.

Can anyone who owns a DVR tell me if it can be used like a traditional VCR or not?  (i.e. I set a time/date/channel manuall & it records that).  If so, will it allow the "Play from the start while recording the end" feature?

Jyri

Yes, a DVR will let you do all that.  I recommend getting one with a built-in hard drive so you don't have to mess around with DVD-RWs.


"I'd rather be told, 'Have a nice day.' by someone who doesn't mean it, than 'F*** you!' by someone who does." - Lewis Black

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#8 2007-10-29 9:56 am

justine
Elitist Beer Lover
Moderator
From: Sac'to
Registered: 1999-12-23
Posts: 28763
Website

Re: DVR question

Get Tivo. Yeah, it costs, but it's the best there is. All the rest are just imitations. You also don't need to set it to record on a specific day, time or channel. Just tell it what show you want to record and it'll do it. It'll even record every one of that particular show if you want. Oh, and when i first got my Tivo, i only recorded a couple shows. Now i have like 15 'season passes'. smile

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#9 2007-10-29 12:15 pm

bratboy
laden with emotion
Royal Wombat
From: Austin, Texas
Registered: 2003-01-19
Posts: 34106

Re: DVR question

Our DVR will record by show title.  The interface isn't as nice as the TiVo, though.


"One thing we've learned is there's a difference between being disappointed and having madmen in authority."

                                                                   --Paul Krugman

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#10 2007-10-29 1:14 pm

D'Eyncourt
OMGDICTATOR
Registered: 2001-12-27
Posts: 8808
Website

Re: DVR question

I'll suggest what I did in another thread with a similar question: for such a low demand you might consider getting a DVD recorder and some DVD-RW discs, which would be a one-time cost of between $150-250 depending on what additional features you get. The only disadvantage with such a setup is that you cannot record two programs simultaneously as you can with TiVo. The model I got to replace a broken one (its DVD stopped recording after 4 years) has an adapter which will program the cable box to turn on and change to the appropriate channel.


BOYCOTT SONY

"I think the question now is not whether you went to Vietnam or whether you didn't, whether you fought in the war or fought against the war. I think the only question is whether we can find a president smart enough never to make a mistake like that again"--Molly Ivins, way back in 1992

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#11 2007-10-29 1:20 pm

DukeofNuke
Free Radical
From: Hazard
Registered: 2003-05-02
Posts: 2563

Re: DVR question

D'Eyncourt wrote:

I'll suggest what I did in another thread with a similar question: for such a low demand you might consider getting a DVD recorder and some DVD-RW discs, which would be a one-time cost of between $150-250 depending on what additional features you get. The only disadvantage with such a setup is that you cannot record two programs simultaneously as you can with TiVo. The model I got to replace a broken one (its DVD stopped recording after 4 years) has an adapter which will program the cable box to turn on and change to the appropriate channel.

What do you have, D'Eyncourt?

an adapter which will program the cable box to turn on and change to the appropriate channel

sounds like a great feature.
Also, can you use a DVD-RW, and record on it over and over?


"If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you better have a plan for dealing with his teeth."
- Tom Clancy

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#12 2007-10-29 1:44 pm

D'Eyncourt
OMGDICTATOR
Registered: 2001-12-27
Posts: 8808
Website

Re: DVR question

DukeofNuke wrote:

D'Eyncourt wrote:

I'll suggest what I did in another thread with a similar question: for such a low demand you might consider getting a DVD recorder and some DVD-RW discs, which would be a one-time cost of between $150-250 depending on what additional features you get. The only disadvantage with such a setup is that you cannot record two programs simultaneously as you can with TiVo. The model I got to replace a broken one (its DVD stopped recording after 4 years) has an adapter which will program the cable box to turn on and change to the appropriate channel.

What do you have, D'Eyncourt?

an adapter which will program the cable box to turn on and change to the appropriate channel

sounds like a great feature.
Also, can you use a DVD-RW, and record on it over and over?

I'll note that I haven't had to use the programming feature because that DVD recorder is positioned on the cable before the cable box. I didn't even know it had this feature until I took it out of the box. I'll let you know what model it is when I get home--it is a non-major-brand recorder from Best Buy.

Yes, I use the RW discs multiple times. I've been using a pack of Memorex DVD+RWs that my sister got by accident (she has a DVD recorder which can only use DVD-RWs) which have been problematic: so far a couple weren't able to record at all, and some seemed to have a problem spot at the start of the recording area so that sometimes I had to skip over the first section and "rewind" the recording to the start of the program to watch, although most of these discs have been OK. I think that this may be a case of a bad batch since previously I used a pack of Memorex DVD-RWs (note the "-") without any such problems. Either has a limited number of recordings, but at about 50 cents or less per disc this is a minor expense (certainly much less than a monthly DVR fee).


BOYCOTT SONY

"I think the question now is not whether you went to Vietnam or whether you didn't, whether you fought in the war or fought against the war. I think the only question is whether we can find a president smart enough never to make a mistake like that again"--Molly Ivins, way back in 1992

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#13 2007-10-29 5:28 pm

Jyri Erik
Member
From: Greenbelt, MD
Registered: 2001-04-21
Posts: 2418

Re: DVR question

justine wrote:

Get Tivo. Yeah, it costs, but it's the best there is. All the rest are just imitations. You also don't need to set it to record on a specific day, time or channel. Just tell it what show you want to record and it'll do it. It'll even record every one of that particular show if you want. Oh, and when i first got my Tivo, i only recorded a couple shows. Now i have like 15 'season passes'. smile

One question.  How does it know when my show is on if I don't get their subscription plan? 

Jyri

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#14 2007-10-29 5:38 pm

justine
Elitist Beer Lover
Moderator
From: Sac'to
Registered: 1999-12-23
Posts: 28763
Website

Re: DVR question

Jyri Erik wrote:

justine wrote:

Get Tivo. Yeah, it costs, but it's the best there is. All the rest are just imitations. You also don't need to set it to record on a specific day, time or channel. Just tell it what show you want to record and it'll do it. It'll even record every one of that particular show if you want. Oh, and when i first got my Tivo, i only recorded a couple shows. Now i have like 15 'season passes'. smile

One question.  How does it know when my show is on if I don't get their subscription plan? 

Jyri

Well, you'd have to subscribe, but it's worth it.

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#15 2007-10-29 6:24 pm

Random User
One of those Internet guys
From: Houston, TX
Registered: 2002-06-17
Posts: 1151

Re: DVR question

Don't you also have to have a phone line attached to the Tivo box so that it can dial home for updates to the tv schedules?


"Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt." - Steve Jobs

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#16 2007-10-29 7:03 pm

justine
Elitist Beer Lover
Moderator
From: Sac'to
Registered: 1999-12-23
Posts: 28763
Website

Re: DVR question

Random User wrote:

Don't you also have to have a phone line attached to the Tivo box so that it can dial home for updates to the tv schedules?

Or an internet connection. I think RobertoB has his connected to his net connection and not his phone line, but i could be wrong. I'm pretty sure you can connect through a mobile phone, too, but again, i could be wrong.

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#17 2007-10-29 10:24 pm

pottymouth
Uncreative
Moderator
From: JP, MA
Registered: 2002-02-06
Posts: 17411
Website

Re: DVR question

Last I checked, you only needed the phone line for setup. After that it could use a standard network connection.

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#18 2007-10-30 4:12 am

D'Eyncourt
OMGDICTATOR
Registered: 2001-12-27
Posts: 8808
Website

Re: DVR question

DukeofNuke wrote:

[snip]
What do you have, D'Eyncourt?

an adapter which will program the cable box to turn on and change to the appropriate channel

sounds like a great feature.
[snip]

It's an LG DR787T. Here are some details.


BOYCOTT SONY

"I think the question now is not whether you went to Vietnam or whether you didn't, whether you fought in the war or fought against the war. I think the only question is whether we can find a president smart enough never to make a mistake like that again"--Molly Ivins, way back in 1992

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