DVR Question

[drdave17]

This morning i went to twc close here to my house and I asked about DVD Recorder. They said that their box will record only a maximum of 2ch and you have to be watching at least one channels that's been recorded. Not exactly what I want. I know that Tivo Roamio offers recording of four recordings at once but I would like to know if there is maybe a better investment maybe buy a box that will allow me to record without a subscription and one that won't confine me only to the channels been recorded.

If not what is a good option for something I can rent?

My setup again is Time Warner Cable Box Motorola Interactive Digital Communications Model DCT 2524/1632/AL with a Toshiba Analog TV/DVD/VCR Combo which I will be getting rid of once I get my new tv.

Thanks again for any help folks

 

[nsafreak]

Insofar as renting that's going to vary from area to area and depend on your cable provider. From what I've heard Time Warner typically rents out some pretty horrible Scientific Atlanta DVR boxes. Insofar as boxes that don't require a subscription to work I'm not aware of any out there. There used to be Moxi 3 tuner units but I'm not finding them on Amazon anymore at least. If you're willing to invest the cash you could put together an HTPC with a CableCARD tuner such as Ceton which will allow you to record up to 4 channels (I believe Ceton is working on a card which will allow up to 6). Keep in mind however that this is going to be a more pricey initial investment since the Ceton cards are about $200 by themselves. They also have limitations such as not being able to access your provider's On Demand content (unless they allow regular web access) and you'll likely have to order PPVs via phone.

 

[Matt1970]

You have to be watching either one of the 2 channels that are recording or something already recorded on your list. You can also split the cable before it gets to the box and switch to the other input while your 2 shows are recording.

 

[boomhower]

If your open to satellite you can record 5 channels with DirecTV's Genie, I love mine. Time Warner also offers whole home DVR which you can take multiple DVR's and kinda combine them together. Each box can play the recording of the other boxes. Downside is it can get expensive.

 

[drdave17]

>>You can also split the cable before it gets to the box and switch to the other input while your 2 shows are recording.<<

The cable only get's fed from the box itself otherwise I only get local channels no cable.

@nsafreak Moxi seems to require a broadband connection which I do not currently have. I will also need to check if they have a Multi&#8211;stream CableCARD they can provide me.

Seems like Ceton have a box http://cetoncorp.com/products/infinitv-6-ethernet/ but it also appears I need internet.

I do have a great laptop Windows 7 (i7) however but it would be nice to do all this w/o internet. At least for now.

Thanks folks!

 

[nsafreak]

Doing it without internet is going to be really, really tough. The main reason that the third party DVR boxes need access to the internet is because they get their guide data that they use for setting up recordings from the internet. I'm not sure if the design specifications for CableCARD call for being able to get guide data from the CATV provider in a standard format or not but that's the reason they need the internet connection. The boxes that TW provides don't need internet access since they get fed the guide data in the same stream as the TV programming. Is there a particular reason you want to do this without internet access?

 

[drdave17]

The reason is because I don't have internet but I am open to suggestions. It will only be for me.

Thanks

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

The reason is because I don't have internet but I am open to suggestions. It will only be for me.

Thanks

If you have a smart phone and a fairly decent data plan you could always set up a wireless hotspot to provide internet access to your laptop in order to download the guide data for WMC. It's only an intermittent download and isn't a lot of data so it wouldn't eat up much from your plan. Then you would be able to use a Ceton or HD Homerun Prime without needing a dedicated internet connection.

 

[drdave17]

I am so glad I am asking these questions and I appreciate your help/advice. I am so new to this. Thanks for your patience.

Currently I have a Page Plus with my cell and only 500mb of data.

I can get online not too far from my house to get this done but you are saying that once I am set up I won't eat up my data? Or do you recommend a better data plan?

I have a Smart Phone just a Droid X2 right now. I use Easy Tether (paid version) when I am at home but with extreme care. I connect via usb though.

Also I assume you mean TWC?

Thanks much

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I am so glad I am asking these questions and I appreciate your help/advice. I am so new to this. Thanks for your patience.

Currently I have a Page Plus with my cell and only 500mb of data.

I can get online not too far from my house to get this done but you are saying that once I am set up I won't eat up my data? Or do you recommend a better data plan?

I have a Smart Phone just a Droid X2 right now. I use Easy Tether (paid version) when I am at home but with extreme care. I connect via usb though.

Also I assume you mean TWC?

Thanks much

Tethering would work too. The guide data updates are only a few megabytes per week so it wouldn't eat up much of your data plan. However, if you regularly take your laptop somewhere with Wi-Fi access you can always do the updates there instead.

WMC = Windows Media Center. In order to keep the TV guide data up-to-date, WMC needs to download that information. Normally WMC downloads up to 14 days of guide data so as long as WMC can download that data once a week or so, it should stay relatively current.

 

[drdave17]

Thanks so much I really appreciate your help.

 

[drdave17]

Still have not got a box. Did not know that you also had to pay them a subscription fee. and for at least one year like Tivo. So I found this box. From the reviews it sounds like it will let me record broadcasts without having to pay a subscription fee to anyone.

You can record one channel at a time but that's ok for now. Better than nothing at all. Then you can still record to HD and hopefully to my own external HD when I need to.

Does anyone know of a better box maybe less expensive?

Here is the one I found at Walmart
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-H...ble-6/26934923

 

[drdave17]

I mean this one sorry...

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-DVR620...0+DVD+Recorder

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Tivo does require a subscription fee for guide data. A cable card tuner that uses Windows Media Center (like the Ceton InifiniTV or HD Homerun Prime) does not have any subscription fee for guide data. You only pay for the cable card from your provider, and a few providers don't even charge a fee for having one cable card.

For the Magnavox DVR in your link above I'm pretty sure that is only for OTA (over the air) broadcasts. If so, it won't tune cable channels because it uses a different broadcast format.

The Toshiba is a DVD-R/VHS combo. It's not a DVR.

 

[drdave17]

From my researches I will settle for the HDHomeRun Prime.

Someone said they can get the box to work without a Smart TV but the mfg said it needs one. Anyway that is my problem. I will try and buy the cheapest one for now if I cannot get it to work with my analog. I cannot afford anything expensive right now.

Thanks a million for the help folks.

It is TRULY appreciated

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Not sure what you mean by getting the box "to work without a Smart TV." Hopefully you are aware that the HD Homerun Prime is not a stand-alone box. It must be used in conjunction with a computer using either Windows Vista or Windows 7 and Windows Media Center.

 

[Midwayman]

To run a 3rd party box you either need to buy a tivo and pay a subscription fee (or lifetime activation) or build a HTPC. The standalone DVR market is pretty dead. Ceton was making one, but it got canceled. There was another one based on WMC that got turned into WOW's ultra TV. (maybe other markets too.)

Your HDhomerun prime will require a windows 7 or 8 PC with windows media center and internet access if you really want to get the most out of it. Since the homerun is a network tuner you can access it with your laptop, but do you even have a home network if you don't have internet access?

You might be better off just renting the TWC dvr until you get your situation worked out with net access and can build a dedicated machine for the DVR duties.

 

[drdave17]

>>Not sure what you mean by getting the box "to work without a Smart TV." Hopefully you are aware that the HD Homerun Prime is not a stand-alone box. It must be used in conjunction with a computer using either Windows Vista or Windows 7 and Windows Media Center.<<

Yes I am aware sorry for the mix up. I meant Smart TV if I want to view my programs because their box won't work on my analog tv. That is what the Silicon Dust Rep told me though someone that have a box said they got it to work on analog tv but this was over a year ago.

For DVR duties I am considering (now considering this) a cheap Win7 or Vista /WMC PC if I can afford it.

Excuse my amature knowledge and wavering decisions. I am still trying to get the concept solid in my head folks.

>>until you get your situation worked out with net access and can build a dedicated machine for the DVR duties<<

What would this cost? Might be something to consider. Any links to learn how to get this done will be great. If not I can google np.

Thanks for your patience folks