ReplayTV 5504

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if you didn't jump on the dealio RossMAN mentioned, and you're thinkin' about it...do it NOW!

 

[PKPunk]

I have 3 replay tv's and they're all great. If you know that you are switching to a dish then I'd get the direct tivo. While I love replay's the direct tivo offers better picture quality because it doesn't encode the video, the direct tv simply copies the sat. feed directly on to the hard drive so you have zero picture loss. Where as the replay has to take in the video and encode to mpeg2 so you have a slight picture loss. Also with the replay you have to deal with 3 picture quality settings high (~3gig's/hour), Med (~1.5 gig's/hour) and low (~ 900megs/hour) but with the the direct tivo you only have about 1 gig/hour and it's the same quality as the live feed.

If you aren't going to a dish then I'd definately get the replay tv, I think replays are much easier to use than tivo's in terms of the onscreen guides and the remote. Also the replays let you pause shows for as long as you have space remaining on the hard disk, tivo's only let you do 30min (they may have changed this on the newer models). And the replays are easy as hell to upgrade with a new disk, my 120 hour upgrade only took 30min start to finish.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: PKPunk
I have 3 replay tv's and they're all great. If you know that you are switching to a dish then I'd get the direct tivo. While I love replay's the direct tivo offers better picture quality because it doesn't encode the video, the direct tv simply copies the sat. feed directly on to the hard drive so you have zero picture loss. Where as the replay has to take in the video and encode to mpeg2 so you have a slight picture loss. Also with the replay you have to deal with 3 picture quality settings high (~3gig's/hour), Med (~1.5 gig's/hour) and low (~ 900megs/hour) but with the the direct tivo you only have about 1 gig/hour and it's the same quality as the live feed.

If you aren't going to a dish then I'd definately get the replay tv, I think replays are much easier to use than tivo's in terms of the onscreen guides and the remote. Also the replays let you pause shows for as long as you have space remaining on the hard disk, tivo's only let you do 30min (they may have changed this on the newer models). And the replays are easy as hell to upgrade with a new disk, my 120 hour upgrade only took 30min start to finish.

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately we're not sure if we're getting DirecTV or cable TV just yet.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: PKPunk
I have 3 replay tv's and they're all great. If you know that you are switching to a dish then I'd get the direct tivo. While I love replay's the direct tivo offers better picture quality because it doesn't encode the video, the direct tv simply copies the sat. feed directly on to the hard drive so you have zero picture loss. Where as the replay has to take in the video and encode to mpeg2 so you have a slight picture loss. Also with the replay you have to deal with 3 picture quality settings high (~3gig's/hour), Med (~1.5 gig's/hour) and low (~ 900megs/hour) but with the the direct tivo you only have about 1 gig/hour and it's the same quality as the live feed.

If you aren't going to a dish then I'd definately get the replay tv, I think replays are much easier to use than tivo's in terms of the onscreen guides and the remote. Also the replays let you pause shows for as long as you have space remaining on the hard disk, tivo's only let you do 30min (they may have changed this on the newer models). And the replays are easy as hell to upgrade with a new disk, my 120 hour upgrade only took 30min start to finish.

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately we're not sure if we're getting DirecTV or cable TV just yet.

There honestly is no reason not to get it unless you dont have a south view or have 4+ TVs...

 

[RossMAN]

I'll probably buy the ReplayTV 5504 today since the DirecTV installation would be an ordeal (due to our lease) and requires a $150 deposit.

Stupid question. We have no landline phone and will be using WiFi.

If we want to transfer shows between our ReplayTV and PC, does it matter if we have 802.11b or the faster 802.11g?

 

[pulse8]

I ordered my 5040 and it should be here tomorrow.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'll probably buy the ReplayTV 5504 today since the DirecTV installation would be an ordeal (due to our lease) and requires a $150 deposit.

Stupid question. We have no landline phone and will be using WiFi.

If we want to transfer shows between our ReplayTV and PC, does it matter if we have 802.11b or the faster 802.11g?

If you want to use DVArchive to store shows on your PC or do any streaming I would recommend g.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'll probably buy the ReplayTV 5504 today since the DirecTV installation would be an ordeal (due to our lease) and requires a $150 deposit.

Stupid question. We have no landline phone and will be using WiFi.

If we want to transfer shows between our ReplayTV and PC, does it matter if we have 802.11b or the faster 802.11g?

If you want to use DVArchive to store shows on your PC or do any streaming I would recommend g.

Ok thanks.

G it is.

 

[SpazzyChicken]

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'll probably buy the ReplayTV 5504 today since the DirecTV installation would be an ordeal (due to our lease) and requires a $150 deposit.

Stupid question. We have no landline phone and will be using WiFi.

If we want to transfer shows between our ReplayTV and PC, does it matter if we have 802.11b or the faster 802.11g?

If you want to use DVArchive to store shows on your PC or do any streaming I would recommend g.

I would go with g also. BTW- What kind of speeds do you guys see when you are transferring shows from the replay to DV Archive? Even when I turn the replay off, I only see about 1.5 mb.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: SpazzyChicken

Originally posted by: Dulanic

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I'll probably buy the ReplayTV 5504 today since the DirecTV installation would be an ordeal (due to our lease) and requires a $150 deposit.

Stupid question. We have no landline phone and will be using WiFi.

If we want to transfer shows between our ReplayTV and PC, does it matter if we have 802.11b or the faster 802.11g?

If you want to use DVArchive to store shows on your PC or do any streaming I would recommend g.

I would go with g also. BTW- What kind of speeds do you guys see when you are transferring shows from the replay to DV Archive? Even when I turn the replay off, I only see about 1.5 mb.

Ya it isnt the fastest, it got a bit faster when I upgraded my HD in my Replay to a 120GB Maxtor.

 

[RossMAN]

Dulanic - Does HD brand/size matter?

Do you know which HD brand does the best in RPT's, in terms of quiet operation and reliability?

 

[catrats]

In the ReplayTV forums over at AVSForum, the consensus seems to be for Maxtor (and maybe Seagate) with regard to quiet operation especially using the AMSet utility provided by Maxtor.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: catrats
In the ReplayTV forums over at AVSForum, the consensus seems to be for Maxtor (and maybe Seagate) with regard to quiet operation especially using the AMSet utility provided by Maxtor.

Good because I've always loved Maxtor HD's and they frequently have Hot Deals.

 

[LordSnailz]

Hey Rossman, let me know when you do get your directv subscription, I'm planning on hoping on to directv as well, so I want the best deal!!

Is the directv sig. still current?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Hey Rossman, let me know when you do get your directv subscription, I'm planning on hoping on to directv as well, so I want the best deal!!

Is the directv sig. still current?

Unfortunately it doesn't look like we're getting DirecTV just because of all the hassles with the lease and required $150 deposit.

Now I have to get rid of our 3 month old Hughes DirecTIVO DVR2 because it's of no use

Yes the DirecTV deal is still valid.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

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.

Rossman,

Heres a solution my buddy used at his apartment. Mount the DTV dish to a piece of 2x4. Take some heavy duty cable ties and cable tie the 2x4 to the deck railing.

 

[geckojohn]

Rossman: How much does this replay tv cost with a lifetime subscription? I'm thinking about getting this or a tivo...

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: geckojohn
Rossman: How much does this replay tv cost with a lifetime subscription? I'm thinking about getting this or a tivo...

If you PHONE in your order it's $119.99 + $299 = $418.99 with FREE SHIPPING.

 

[RiceARoni]

I've got a question for anyone here with a 5504.

I currently have a Dell Truemobile 1184 wireless router. I have a Linksys WAP11 but for some reason I can not get it to connect to the 1184.

I would rather just replace it all with new G equipment, but I was wondering what setups some of you guys/gals are using.

Thanks in advance.

 

[catrats]

I'm going to refer to the ReplayTV forums at AVSForum again and say that the forum favorite seems to be the Buffalo WBR-G54 router which also functions as bridge. It's the bridge functionality that allows you to connect the ReplayTV to the rest of the network. Keep in mind that you will need a router that supports WDS bridge mode and so you'll probably want to pick up another WBR-G54. At this point, the only other compatible device that has been confirmed to work with the WBR-G54 is the Apple Airport Extreme. There has also been some talk recently of the Belkin F5D7230-4 also performing well.

In summary:
Get at least two Buffalo WBR-G54 or Belkin F5D7230-4 ?one will function as a router/bridge and the other, connected to the ReplayTV, will function as a bridge.

 

[RossMAN]

Well I received my ReplayTV 5040 last week and plan on hooking it up tonight.

Another ReplayTV owner recorded 3 hours at medium quality for me. If they transfer it to me via the internet (we both have cable internet) how long will this take? The ReplayTV will be connected directly to the cable modem via ethernet, no WiFi.

I need it to finish before "The Shield" comes on tonight.

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Well I received my ReplayTV 5040 last week and plan on hooking it up tonight.

Another ReplayTV owner recorded 3 hours at medium quality for me. If they transfer it to me via the internet (we both have cable internet) how long will this take? The ReplayTV will be connected directly to the cable modem via ethernet, no WiFi.

I need it to finish before "The Shield" comes on tonight.

Depends alot on his upload speed. Shouldn't matter whether or not your on wireless(his upload cable better not be able to saturate wireless or I'm calling my telco!). My guess is his upload is around 250. That being said I'd give a gig about 9 hrs not sure what medium quality is though.

 

[RossMAN]

Damn that's slow, should have started this last night

 

[PowerMacG5]

If I have Digital Cable, and get replay, can you record a show on one channel, and watch something else at the same time?

 

[Fiveohhh]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Damn that's slow, should have started this last night

According to this an hour is about 2 gigs so 3 hrs is 6 gigs and 6 gigs x 9 hrs a gig 54hrs