ReplayTV 5504

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

I'm about to purchase the ReplayTV 5040 but have two questions:

1) Is the Infared (IR) Blaster Cable for $6.95 worth getting?
What is it, why would I need it?

2) This will be used with Comcast cable TV, can you record two shows at once?

If we end up getting DirecTV (to use with our DirecTIVO) I'll probably eBay the RPT 5040.

SpazzyChicken · Mar 12, 2004

If you are purchasing the 5040 new, then it comes with the IR blaster. You will only need it if you are using something like a digital cable box. If you are just using your tv as a tuner now, then the replay will take over, and you won't need the IR blaster.

I have a 5040, and I LOVE it!! Auto Commercial Advance RULES!!!!

Doggiedog · Mar 12, 2004

If the RPTV doesn't have an IR blaster, you will need it or else how can it change the channels on your TV or cable box?

Also, you can only record 1 show at a time since the RPTV has only one tuner built in.

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

Yes it is brand new, I think I'll purchase it just in case.

Bummer you can only record one show at once, anyway around that?

NutBucket · Mar 12, 2004

IMHO the IR blaster will control your cable box/satellite receiver (change the channels) per the programs you choose to record. And no, you cannot record two shows at once. DirecTIVO kicks its @ss. Plus, the service fee for the Tivo is $5 a month with DirecTIVO. I'm guessing that's about half of Replay. Finally, satellite is almost always cheaper (and definitely looks better).
Mommy always said I'd make a good salesman

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: NutBucket
IMHO the IR blaster will control your cable box/satellite receiver (change the channels) per the programs you choose to record. And no, you cannot record two shows at once. DirecTIVO kicks its @ss. Plus, the service fee for the Tivo is $5 a month with DirecTIVO. I'm guessing that's about half of Replay. Finally, satellite is almost always cheaper (and definitely looks better).
Mommy always said I'd make a good salesman

Thank you.

You do make an excellent salesman

I would prefer DirecTV but as part of our lease they cannot drill any holes into the property or wooden deck. The only other choice is to mount it on a post/stick which doesn't seem that secure to me. If that can be done, I would prefer DirecTIVO over ReplayTV & Cable.

BigSmooth · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Yes it is brand new, I think I'll purchase it just in case.

Bummer you can only record one show at once, anyway around that?

I guarantee that it will come with an IR blaster in the box. I have two Replays, an old Panasonic Showstopper and a new 5504 and they both came with one. There's no way to record two shows at once unless you do it on a second Replay or a VCR... there's only 1 tuner, like Doggiedog said.

SpazzyChicken · Mar 12, 2004

<< Bummer you can only record one show at once, anyway around that? >>

Ummmmm..........buy 2 replays??

<<Plus, the service fee for the Tivo is $5 a month with DirecTIVO. I'm guessing that's about half of Replay.>>

Not for those of us who got in on the $140 w/free lifetime service!

<<Finally, satellite is almost always cheaper (and definitely looks better). >>
After paying for multiple boxes (if you want them), I don't know about the cheaper part. However, I 100% agree with you on the looks better part.

Doggiedog · Mar 12, 2004

Yup. I don't pay a cent with my 3060.

bunker · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I would prefer DirecTV but as part of our lease they cannot drill any holes into the property or wooden deck. The only other choice is to mount it on a post/stick which doesn't seem that secure to me. If that can be done, I would prefer DirecTIVO over ReplayTV & Cable.

5 gallon bucket + concrete + pole = Dish stand

Sure it looks like hell, but it works

.

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Yup. I don't pay a cent with my 3060.

Same here but I want something which doesn't require a phone line (5504 can use my WiFi connection, right)?

I wonder how much I can eBay my 3060 with lifetime activation for.

NutBucket · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: SpazzyChicken

<<Finally, satellite is almost always cheaper (and definitely looks better). >>
After paying for multiple boxes (if you want them), I don't know about the cheaper part. However, I 100% agree with you on the looks better part.

In my area the premiums are exclusively on digital cable so the multiple receiver part doesn't hold much water anymore. Same $5 a month for each digital cable box and most people I know think digital cable looks worse then analog.

BigSmooth · Mar 12, 2004

I pay no monthly fees on either of my Replays.

I got the Showstopper with lifetime subscription when Target was clearing them out for like $250 a looooong time ago. Recently got in on the "mislabeled" 5504s that included a 3 year (or possibly lifetime) subscription for $150.

I've really enjoyed my Replay units. The first one had some problems, including a hard drive that died a few months ago, but I put a new, larger drive in and it works like a champ.

sygyzy · Mar 12, 2004

Tisk tisk tisk. You should have got this 12/03 Ross!

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: sygyzy
Tisk tisk tisk. You should have got this 12/03 Ross!

I know, that was a bitchin Hot Deal but back then we had DirecTIVO and I didn't know that we'd move in February!!!

Hork · Mar 12, 2004

Some questions...

Can you add a bigger hard drive to these Replays like I did for my TiVo?

What do you need to connect via wi-fi? A bridge, or just a USB wi-fi adapter?

Finally, any alternative way to get program data over the net other than the subscription service?

Ameesh · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: Hork
Some questions...

Can you add a bigger hard drive to these Replays like I did for my TiVo?

What do you need to connect via wi-fi? A bridge, or just a USB wi-fi adapter?

Finally, any alternative way to get program data over the net other than the subscription service?

1) You dont need to open your replay ever but you can if you want, there is sfotware out there that lets a computer emulate a replay so it will copy all your shows on whatever schedule you want and delete the shows off your replay so you can record everything at high quality. you can just keep adding drives to a computer instead

2) the coonection is via normal ethernet so you just have to run a normal ethernet cable , it can be wifi if you want.

3) you have to pay to get the data in the replay. (as far as i know)

BigSmooth · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: Hork
Some questions...

Can you add a bigger hard drive to these Replays like I did for my TiVo?

What do you need to connect via wi-fi? A bridge, or just a USB wi-fi adapter?

Finally, any alternative way to get program data over the net other than the subscription service?

1. Yes, easily.
2. I believe you still have to use a bridge at this time. There is a USB port, but it does not work IIRC.
3. It's a moot point, because the unit will not function at all after 10 days if you are not using the subscription service. There is no way to get around it.

Crazymofo · Mar 12, 2004

I am so pissed I missed that hot deal you guys are talking about :| Anyone know the cheapest place to get one?

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: Crazymofo
I am so pissed I missed that hot deal you guys are talking about :| Anyone know the cheapest place to get one?

Same here I wish I had jumped on it but like I said we were living in a house enjoying DirecTIVO at that time

Currently the best deal on the ReplayTV 5040 is here.

brab · Mar 12, 2004

Yeah you can forget about USB, as far as I know as of now it has no functionality...
You have to use ethernet...

Luckily my whole apartment has CAT5s going through the walls to a US Tec box with 20GB storage...
Even my door bell is hooked up via CAT5!!!

Dulanic · Mar 12, 2004

While DirecTivo kicks @ss, Replay is the next best thing, I have one and LOVE it. And it's sooo easy to throw in a 200GB HD or so and have tons of storage on it.

RossMAN · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: brab
Yeah you can forget about USB, as far as I know as of now it has no functionality...
You have to use ethernet...

Luckily my whole apartment has CAT5s going through the walls to a US Tec box with 20GB storage...
Even my door bell is hooked up via CAT5!!!

That is so freakin' awesome.

Jesta · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: brab
Yeah you can forget about USB, as far as I know as of now it has no functionality...
You have to use ethernet...

Luckily my whole apartment has CAT5s going through the walls to a US Tec box with 20GB storage...
Even my door bell is hooked up via CAT5!!!

THe USB on Series 2 will work fine now. I currently use it with a DLink USB adapter without a problem. I did have to do a little hacking on the software to get it to work correctly though. I think this has all been fixed with the current software release (4.0?)

Jesta · Mar 12, 2004

Originally posted by: brab
Yeah you can forget about USB, as far as I know as of now it has no functionality...
You have to use ethernet...

Luckily my whole apartment has CAT5s going through the walls to a US Tec box with 20GB storage...
Even my door bell is hooked up via CAT5!!!

THe USB on Series 2 will work fine now. I currently use it with a DLink USB adapter without a problem. I did have to do a little hacking on the software to get it to work correctly though. I think this has all been fixed with the current software release (4.0?)

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