Such thing as a DVR that does this???

[GTaudiophile]

DVR:

Antenna input, capable of receiving HD OTA signal
HDMI output, capable of sending live 1080 HD content to HDTV

The actual recording aspect is less important to me. If it can record OTA content at 720p, that's good enough for me.

I have the feeling TiVo can do this, but I would prefer not to pay $19/month for a device to record the 4 or so OTA channels I watch. Can one buy a TiVo and NOT use its monthly service?

The main purpose of this device is to simply receive HD OTA signals via the standard antenna input and then send them "live" via the HDTV via HDMI.

Thanks.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Do you already have an HTPC? If so you can use a HD Homerun to do that.


If you need a standalone unit there's this, among others. Google "ota dvr" for additional alternatives.

 

[NutBucket]

I believe the Channel Master is your only choice that has no fees.

 

[GTaudiophile]

What happens with the TiVo if you don't pay the fees? Does the machine just not work?

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, its unusable. I think the most you can do is playback recorded shows.

 

[lamedude]

I use a TVX PVR to record and watch unencrypted cable. It should work just as well for OTA.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Yeah, its unusable. I think the most you can do is playback recorded shows.

Did TiVo like sue everyone else out of the DVR business or are they just the best at what they do and cornered the market?

 

[GTaudiophile]

I use a TVX PVR to record and watch unencrypted cable. It should work just as well for OTA.

Interesting. Price?

 

[GTaudiophile]

My research indicates that without a subscription, a TiVo can be used as tuner and does allow some manual recording...

 

[NutBucket]

Did TiVo like sue everyone else out of the DVR business or are they just the best at what they do and cornered the market?

Its more the latter.

I chose to go the HTPC route for an OTA DVR. Of course I use it for other things as well.

My parents have the now discontinued Dish Network DTV Pal. It works well enough...but the software is not nearly as polished as TIVO. But its easy enough to use that my parents can figure out how to program it to record shows and such. Not bad for $300 and no service charges.

 

[lamedude]

Interesting. Price?

$269 or $239 without WiFi HDD not included.

 

[Plugers]

HDHomerun $99

+ a HTPC like THIS for $220. unless you have a spare PC around, then just get a $10-$15 HDMI video card that does hardware decoding.

Quick craptastic video I made a while back showing WMC7 GUI

 

[rdb4133]

The options I can think of are the following:
1. Tivo HD with Lifetime from eBay (around $400 or less)
2. Channel Master CM-7000 ($340)
3. W7 HTPC with a AVerTV Duet (A188), Hauppauge HVR-2250, HDHomeRun, etc. (as Plugers suggested above)

The nice option to going with a W7 is you have the ability to expand it with clients like the Xbox 360 and the Ceton Echo once it's released.