Need a PVR

[ixelion]

I currently have a satellite TV setup and I want to hook up a PVR system. My satellite provider currently provides a satellite PVR setup that has the dish and the pvr unit/reciever. But it seems expensive $300 and I don't want to be restricted to this specific provider if I ever want to switch companies. (I don't think I can use their PVR with another company's service.)

I don't want a computer as a PVR, I don't want to have to use windows or anything like that.

I always hear about Tivo but it has monthly fees, I want to avoid this.

Thanks!

 

[MrBond]

If you don't want a computer as a PVR and you don't want to pay a monthly fee, you're not going to have many options.

There are some Tivo's that have free "Tivo Basic". Tivo basic has a three day program guide instead of the two week guide that paid service has. There are other differences as well. You can also try to track down a used model with lifetime service, but you'll pay a premium for that (it will be at least $300 since that's what Lifetime service cost before they stopped offering it).

I'm not sure if they're making Tivo's with free Tivo Basic anymore. There was a Toshiba DVD player/Tivo combo unit that had it, but they've stopped making it.

Pretty much anything else is going to be computer based. I've heard that Windows Media Center is pretty slick, but I've never used it personally.

 

[Varun]

Windows Media Center is very slick, however it won't support HDTV other than OTA so that's out if you have a HD set.

Other than that you can try and rent the box from your provider so that you can give it back if/when it has problems or you switch companies. Usually it's only a couple dollars per month.

 

[potato28]

Which provider are you with? Direct TV have the PVR's that you don't have the monthly payments.

 

[mayest]

OP, you basically just said "I want a PVR, but I don't want a PVR." You cannot have what you want (excepting, possibly an old TiVo, but I have one with lifetime service and I'm pretty sure that they said that you cannot transfer the lifetime service - though that was years ago and there may be a way around it).

I think you pretty much have to choose a TV provider and take the DVR choices that they offer. Either that, or you'll have to use an HTPC, which you said you didn't want to do.

 

[RebateMonger]

Some older Dish Network PVRs don't have a surcharge for PVR use. Anyway, I'd just buy the Satellite company's PVR unit, use it, and sell it when you are done. You can probably get most of your money back when you sell it. PVRs retain their value quite well.