Author Topic: Time to throw away the VCR, but what to replace it with? (Read 1238 times)

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #15 on:** January 02, 2004, 11:11:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman_SBM

I agree with grunherz there I said it.

For the visually impaired.

Chairboy · « **Reply #16 on:** January 02, 2004, 11:44:16 PM »

A clarification, when I said 'make your own PVR', I didn't mean 'watch TV on a PC', I meant 'build a PVR and make use of the TV-Out to run the output to your television.

Additionally, when I said 'download tv listings for free off the internet', I guess I neglected to mention that MythTV (which is free) can USE those listings to schedule recordings.

I apologize to those whose imaginations failed my first post.

Sancho · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2004, 12:18:07 AM »

banana, if you buy the Tivo, just take it to a friend's house and do the initial setup call there. It's a local number and only takes about 15 minutes or so of actual phone time. Then set it to update via ethernet. I did that with mine a few months back and it's worked flawlessly ever since.

One benefit of building your own PVR (ala MythTV) is you can have multiple video capture cards, one for cable and one for satellite. As I understand it they can even record both those sources at once. I don't think there's a Tivo or other PVR that can do more than one video input. Some satellite versions can record two shows at once from satellite but that's not the same thing. You could always buy two Tivos.

Tivo is so easy to setup and use I'm happy I bought it instead of spending time to build my own PVR. If you have a lot of free time and patience, then building your own PVR may be a good option. But consider that the wife and kids will appreciate a reliable, easy to use Tivo right out of the box.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2004, 08:52:46 AM »

If you had DiSH then there would be no subscription for the PVR service.

Wanker · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2004, 10:06:01 AM »

Called Directv yesterday, and they confirmed that their DVR's would be able to record from directv only. That's fine for recording off of satellite, but I also have a basic subscription to my local cable company for the local news channels.

Anyone know if DISH DVR's are able to record from DISH as well as a local cable connection?

BTW Sandman, Both my TV's (-2yrs old JVC iArt) have component video inputs, so I definately want something with component outputs. I'm using S-video connections right now, but can't wait to see the difference with component.

A "Do-it-yourself" DVR is an interesting idea, but my PC is in a completely different room from my TV's, and I'd rather just buy a commercial box that sits near the TV and doesn't look homemade.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2004, 12:20:01 PM »

banana they make computer cases now that look like vcr/cable box/tivo enclosures. Home theater PC (HTPC). http://www.avsforum.com is a good place to start.
http://tinylink.com/?LtSRQ3FT90

Halo · « **Reply #21 on:** January 03, 2004, 10:59:16 PM »

It costs an arm and a leg, but I'm pleased with Comcast cable both for computer and for TV. Finally splurged for Video On Demand, which like Tivo lets YOU control your TV schedule at your convenience in addition to freeing you from commercials.

Haven't tried recording DVDs on the setup, and doubt if I will, at least until the DVD standards settle down into one universal system.

Also waiting for HDTV sets to get MUCH more affordable. Meanwhile, the digital cable does provide a better picture than just analog. I don't think that's just hype -- the higher numbered digital channels look better to my eyes.

Eagler · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2004, 10:06:48 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Halo
It costs an arm and a leg, but I'm pleased with Comcast cable both for computer and for TV. Finally splurged for Video On Demand, which like Tivo lets YOU control your TV schedule at your convenience in addition to freeing you from commercials.

Haven't tried recording DVDs on the setup, and doubt if I will, at least until the DVD standards settle down into one universal system.

Also waiting for HDTV sets to get MUCH more affordable. Meanwhile, the digital cable does provide a better picture than just analog. I don't think that's just hype -- the higher numbered digital channels look better to my eyes.

HAlo
digital will always be cleaner looking than analog channels. As soon as cable can go 100% digital, it will help all cable customers. You can fit at least 6 digital channels in 6mhz bandwidth one crappy analog now sucks up. Not to mention cleaner transmission the digital channels & fiber hubs allow. Everything is going On Demand. We have HBO, SHowtime, Cinemax to name a few on demand now. As bandwidth is available and VOD proves lucritive, you'll see more of it. Takes a good cable system to provide streaming video needed for a trouble free VOD system. Many systems aren't there yet.

All sat channels are digital, thus the superior quality over most cable co's. One good thing sats are doing is getting joe six pack away from the "Cable ready" tv set mentality...forcing him to use a set top box.

They just released the digital boxes with DVR built in. Can watch one channel while recording two others. Makes any tv picture in picture capable. Nice but not as fast or customer friendly as TIVO.

and if you think digital is good, wait until you get HD. We have about a dozen channels now on Hi-Def including inDemand shows.

and can't forget about Road Runner ... sats can't do that either

been a cable guy since 79 ... pre MTV (and most other programming)

Halo · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2004, 11:11:55 AM »

Hi Eagler,

Yeah, we have that cable-provided DVR recorder, and it's great. Although tempermental ... sometimes have to fiddle with it to make it remember what it is supposed to be doing.

We're now supposedly in some sort of quasi almost HDTV mode with the digital cable, but I realize I'll eventually have to get a genuine HDTV to get the full thrills. I want a 42- or 48-inch wide screen thin screen HDTV for about $900 -- is that unreasonable?

Oh. Well, maybe by 2008.

Chairboy · « **Reply #24 on:** January 04, 2004, 11:16:42 AM »

Digital cable is not even quasi HDTV. It has 1/2 the quality of the lowest HDTV signal (480p).

Some unethical cable companies have tried to equate digital TV with HD, and it's a real shame because some people have fallen for it.

Digital cable is, at best, good VHS quality with digital audio.

Eagler · « **Reply #25 on:** January 04, 2004, 02:19:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
Digital cable is not even quasi HDTV. It has 1/2 the quality of the lowest HDTV signal (480p).

Some unethical cable companies have tried to equate digital TV with HD, and it's a real shame because some people have fallen for it.

Digital cable is, at best, good VHS quality with digital audio.

wrong again cboy
1080i here with 5.1 sound - if the movie/show is broadcast in that format. sorry we don't upconvert on our own - yet

that is all the locals, discovery hd, showtime, hbo, 2 indemand movie channels, ESPN HD to follow...

starting a beta test this month with the new Scientific Atlanta HD-DVR 8000 series set tops.. DVR HiDef - can your tivo/sat_dvr do that?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #26 on:** January 04, 2004, 04:50:30 PM »

banana, to answer your question. I have DiSH and opted for the local channels over the SAT connection. It was a $5.00/month add on.

No reason for you to have cable. You should be able to get local stations over DiSH.

The cable company here converted to digital last year and they are already having serious outage problems. Seems when the cable layers put in the fiber, they only buried it 2 inches in the ground, and did not use jacketed fiber. You can pretty much guess what has happened.
Just walk in the yard and you can hear cable shattering under your feet when the ground is damp.

JB73 · « **Reply #27 on:** January 04, 2004, 04:54:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
banana, to answer your question. I have DiSH and opted for the local channels over the SAT connection. It was a $5.00/month add on.

No reason for you to have cable. You should be able to get local stations over DiSH.

The cable company here converted to digital last year and they are already having serious outage problems. Seems when the cable layers put in the fiber, they only buried it 2 inches in the ground, and did not use jacketed fiber. You can pretty much guess what has happened.
Just walk in the yard and you can hear cable shattering under your feet when the ground is damp.

but what about high speed intardnet??

from my experiance DSL no match for cable stability and speed. (at least from freinds in the same suburab community)

Skuzzy · « **Reply #28 on:** January 04, 2004, 04:58:55 PM »

And cable Internet service around here is a joke. It is all area dependent JB.

JB73 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2004, 05:02:58 PM »

cc that .. this suburab is decent in the fact there arent a ton of users so my speed is great. real stable too... but prolly in 2-3 years it will be like any other city... unstable and unreliable

will keep it runing while it lasts !