Looking for a DVR/PVR

[fustercluck]

The time for me getting a DVR/PVR is long past due. I've noticed around different forums that there seem to be a lot of people that are really into DVR/PVRs and know a lot about them. I don't even know what the difference is really, or if there is a big difference at all between a digital video recorder and a personal video recorder. Search engines are not good at finding answers like that - I know this type of thread is probably common, i don't care.

What i want is a DVR/PVR that works with Dish Network and that will playback recorded stuff without any loss of quality. I'd also like a DVR/PVR that could record something on another channel while i watch a different one, i don't necessarily need that feature, but it'd definitely be nice. I also don't want to pay a crapload of cash, i know i'll probably have to pay monthly, so i don't want to have to pay a lot for the unit itself. Looking for a "hot deal" i suppose. I'm very tech savy so setting it up and stuff wouldn't be a problem, and i got a few spare HDDs around, so i don't need a DVR/PVR with a lot of space at all.

 

[RossMAN]

The HTPC route is going to be significantly cheaper but won't be as easy.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/receivers/dvr/index.shtml

DISH Player-DVR 625/522 is an advanced dual tuner, two TV output satellite receiver and integrated digital video recorder (DVR). DISH Player-DVR 625/522's dual tuners and two TV outputs provide the unique ability to record two shows simultaneously as well as allow for independent viewing of live satellite TV programming and recorded events when connected to two televisions.

FEATURES:

Name Based Recording: Pick any show and the DVR will find all
new episodes and record them regardless of any changes in program
length or broadcast schedule!
Click Here for more information.

Dual satellite tuners that provide several multi-room viewing options.
Picture-In-Picture (PIP).
Includes DISH Network DVR Service that allows you to pause live TV, play,
stop, fast forward, fast reverse, skip forward... > more
120 gigabyte hard drive.
Up to 100 hours* of 100% digital video recording.
Records Dolby® Digital? when available.
Up to 9-day extended Electronic Programming Guide.
Now Available! DISH on Demand: Watch what you want, when you want. Enjoy movies and other programming any time without schedules, without waiting and without leaving your home.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/pdf/product_brochures/625_Prod_SheetWeb.pdf

 

[sygyzy]

If you have anything BUT OTA or a standard (not digital) cable setup, I recommend going with the provider's PVR. It is very cumbersome and annoying to get a TIVO or REPLAY setup with anything that uses a special box. Of course anything could be done ... for a price.

 

[Paulson]

If you have DirecTV you should get a TiVo from them from ebay... it'd be cheap, you can hack them to make them do really cool things, and you'd definitely be satisfied.

I'm not really a standalone TiVo fan, even though I have one, it just isn't feature rich when you can only record one thing at a time.

 

[Syrch]

I'd love to build an HTPC

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: Paulson
If you have DirecTV you should get a TiVo from them from ebay... it'd be cheap, you can hack them to make them do really cool things, and you'd definitely be satisfied.

I'm not really a standalone TiVo fan, even though I have one, it just isn't feature rich when you can only record one thing at a time.

I'd advise against this. I don't see what correlation having DirecTV does with getting a Tivo. If you have DirecTV there is only one GOOD idea and that is to get DirecTivo. That is, the PVR direct from the provder.

 

[fustercluck]

I'm probably just going to go with the best deal, to save some caysh. I don't want to get something i'm going to be unhappy with though, obviously.

Also, i don't need an HDTV recorder.

 

[SearchMaster]

We lease our DVR from Dish Network for $5/month. I'm not normally a renter type, but this plan worked out best for us.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

We have two Tivos and a Comcast HD DVR. The HD DVR is great because it has two tuners but it's not nearly as user friend and full featured as the Tivos.

I'll never understand why TIVO never came out with a dual tuner model. They could have owned the market but they just sat around doing nothing and got crushed by cable and SAT providers.

 

[RossMAN]

CalvinHobbes,

Do you have the Motorola HDVR from Comcast?

Have you tried hooking it up to your PC via FireWire yet?