Tivo/ReplayTV Question

[BlamoHammer]

I am finally thinking about joining the rest of modern society and adding some sort of PVR to my television watching. One of the things I've heard though is when you are watching TV through a Tivo or ReplayTV, there is an annoying lag time between the point at which you press the button on the remote and when the TV actually responds.

Is this true?

If so is there any sort of solution to get around it? I currently use DirecTV and was hoping to avoid altering how I watch TV at all except for adding the recording capabilities. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[lupohki]

No lag if you don't have a cable box .. otherwise the signal has to go to the Tivo and then the Tivo sends the signal to the cable box to change the channel.

 

[loup garou]

If you use the IR Blaster, there is a lag. As lupohki stated, the signal from the remote is sent to the Tivo, which sends it to the cable box through IR emitters set up in front of the cable box. I believe you can use the serial cable that comes with the Tivo with most directv receivers, someone correct me if I'm wrong...this should cut down the lag. Also, you could consider getting a DirecTivo, which has better audio/video quality (direct stream capture from the sat) and no additional channel-changing lag and the monthly charge is less.

 

[Argo]

DirectTV has a special reciever/pvr combo. I'd highly recommend that, since it has a lot of advantages to using a standalone box.

 

[Doggiedog]

Yes there is a lag because the PVR has to cache the video for a few seconds. At least for my ReplayTV that is.