When will someone market a non subscription based PVR?

[Staples]

I don't really watch entertainment TV a whole lot but I tape a few shows through out the week regardless and when I do have time to sit down, I find myself scanning through the tape just to find the damn show I want to watch. I would definitely like a TIVO but I don't want to pay a subscription fee. I just want a plain jane box with two hard drives, a TV tuner and video out with some decent software. It doesn't need a guide or anything. I would just like to record and title shows so that I can pick them out of a list. Nothing complicated. The idea is a real no brainer to me. I am sure there are tons of PC PVR type programs like this but I really want something simple that can be controlled 100% with a TV remote control.

I think these boxes which would be better than a VCR in any way possible would sell millions. The idea is a no brainer so why do these not exist? Is there some dumb patent keeping someone from making one?

 

[Kelvrick]

its called an older computer with an ATI all in wonder.

 

[JohnAn2112]

How about building yourself an HTPC and use something like FreeVo to record your shows?

 

[pulse8]

I believe you can get a TiVO and use it as a regular VCR without all the extra features by just not subscribing. I also could be wrong.

The other option is to build your own PVR box. I think as PVRs get more common they will probably get rid of the subscription part of it.

 

[Goosemaster]

$$ to run the service


Either way, computer based solutions such as BeyondTV, SageTV and others do not require a subscription.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: pulse8
I believe you can get a TiVO and use it as a regular VCR without all the extra features by just not subscribing. I also could be wrong.

The other option is to build your own PVR box. I think as PVRs get more common they will probably get rid of the subscription part of it.

yeah, my friends do that..the adds are quite large though.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

the money is in the service. They barely make anything off the hardware in order to get the $$$ down the line....just like cell phones

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
$$ to run the service


Either way, computer based solutions such as BeyondTV, SageTV and others do not require a subscription.

What service? All they do is provide a programming guide for the box to know when to record, yes? And they want a monthly fee? :laugh:

:heart: my HTPC

 

[scorp00]

Just get a PC tv tuner. Most come with a remote and an IR receiver.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
$$ to run the service


Either way, computer based solutions such as BeyondTV, SageTV and others do not require a subscription.

What service? All they do is provide a programming guide for the box to know when to record, yes? And they want a monthly fee? :laugh:

:heart: my HTPC

HTPCs can cost just as much, if not more, than a PVR with a lifetime subscription.

 

[torpid]

You have just described a series 1 tivo before activation. Not all series 1 units will do it though. A better and cooler system is the tivo basic thing, which I think comes with most tivo+dvd combination units.

 

[RedRooster]

Who wants a computer running either in the same room as your TV or with some ridiculous wired/wireless setup from another room? I despise computers, why would I want another one in my home?
I want what the OP wants, a simple set-top box that works like a hard drive based VCR. No more, no less.
This subscription free TIVO(without the guide features) is the only thing of interest to me in this thread. Man, do I ever hate computers.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
$$ to run the service


Either way, computer based solutions such as BeyondTV, SageTV and others do not require a subscription.

What service? All they do is provide a programming guide for the box to know when to record, yes? And they want a monthly fee? :laugh:

:heart: my HTPC

HTPCs can cost just as much, if not more, than a PVR with a lifetime subscription.

EVen so, HTPC's can be upgraded without having to deal with a total loss

 

[Arkitech]

Try looking for the original ReplayTVs if you can. They were called Showstoppers back then. I have two and they're great, I don't pay anything for guide data either.

In fact I think Showstoppers should be really cheap these days, I bought one for 20 bucks and another for 70 and that was almost 3 years ago. They still work great.

 

[amcdonald]

Is downloading tv cable shows illegal if you have cable?

 

[Parrotheader]

I couldn't agree more. As a Dish Network customer, I love my PVR 508 because I don't have to pay a subscription. All newer Dish DVRs have to pay the monthly fee (yet they don't offer any of the perks, primarily a Season Pass-style feature, that Tivo offers.) And if you're not a DirecTV customer, the Tivo monthly fee is ridiculous IMO.

This is the reason I need to get off my butt, go out and buy one of those Toshiba Tivo/DVD combo players from Best Buy before they sell out. Those come with the free Tivo Basic service which is all I need. Unfortunately, I don't think they're making any more of them. Hopefully there will be some more units that offer Tivo Basic service in the future. Or at the very least, Dish Network could offer some more advanced features with their service to help justify me paying for something that I already get for free.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Parrotheader
I couldn't agree more. As a Dish Network customer, I love my PVR 508 because I don't have to pay a subscription. All newer Dish DVRs have to pay the monthly fee (yet they don't offer any of the perks, primarily a Season Pass-style feature, that Tivo offers.) And if you're not a DirecTV customer, the Tivo monthly fee is ridiculous IMO.

This is the reason I need to get off my butt, go out and buy one of those Toshiba Tivo/DVD combo players from Best Buy before they sell out. Those come with the free Tivo Basic service which is all I need. Unfortunately, I don't think they're making any more of them. Hopefully there will be some more units that offer Tivo Basic service in the future. Or at the very least, Dish Network could offer some more advanced features with their service to help justify me paying for something that I already get for free.

better get on it, they're back to $199 with a $100 rebate

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
$$ to run the service


Either way, computer based solutions such as BeyondTV, SageTV and others do not require a subscription.

What service? All they do is provide a programming guide for the box to know when to record, yes? And they want a monthly fee? :laugh:

:heart: my HTPC

HTPCs can cost just as much, if not more, than a PVR with a lifetime subscription.

EVen so, HTPC's can be upgraded without having to deal with a total loss

a set top box without a subscription and just a hard drive as the OP described can be upgraded just as easily. unfortunate we don't have anything like that available right now.

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Try looking for the original ReplayTVs if you can. They were called Showstoppers back then. I have two and they're great, I don't pay anything for guide data either.

In fact I think Showstoppers should be really cheap these days, I bought one for 20 bucks and another for 70 and that was almost 3 years ago. They still work great.

i sold my showstopper with the free guide 2 years ago...

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: RedRooster
Who wants a computer running either in the same room as your TV or with some ridiculous wired/wireless setup from another room? I despise computers, why would I want another one in my home?
I want what the OP wants, a simple set-top box that works like a hard drive based VCR. No more, no less.
This subscription free TIVO(without the guide features) is the only thing of interest to me in this thread. Man, do I ever hate computers.

This guy has what I intended. I am a computer addict. I'd love to watch TV but I can't because once I touch a computer that has internet, I will start looking at forums and waste the time I could have to watch TV. I want a set top box, not a computer.

 

[RossMAN]

Here are a few alternatives:

• 1) Buy an old PVR which already has lifetime activation, eBay listings. Back in the Hot Deals gravy train days I bought a ReplayTV 3060 for $265 which includes FREE LIFETIME activation. 4 years later it still works.
• 2) Buy a combo Toshiba TIVO/DVD Player which includes FREE Basic TIVO
• 3) Build an HTPC which is the most cost effective method. Check this out. If you have a spare computer around just buy a TV Tuner Card with PVR software and enjoy NO MONTHLY FEES!

If you want a ghetto HTPC (like I have), buy the Leadtek Expert for $52 but it doesn't do hardware encoding.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Try looking for the original ReplayTVs if you can. They were called Showstoppers back then. I have two and they're great, I don't pay anything for guide data either.

In fact I think Showstoppers should be really cheap these days, I bought one for 20 bucks and another for 70 and that was almost 3 years ago. They still work great.

Ok, I will certainly look for one of these. The only concern I have is that the hard drives are old so they are either slower (as well as the CPU which slows down scanning) than the new ones or old and on their last legs. But at least you are in the right direction. VCR and HTPC is out of the question.

 

[RossMAN]

Wow ReplayTV 5040 with lifetime activation isn't cheap, auctions are ending around $399.

 

[Staples]

Thanks Ross.

You are right about the pricing. I have been looking through some of the listings and they are not cheap. Seems many say lifetime activation, a $300 value and just that pushes the price up tremendously.

I guess I could go with a HTPC if it would save a lot of money but I need a fast hard drive (I didn't want this but I guess maybe I should look into it). I have a mini Shuttle AXP 2000+ system with 512MB of RAM. Bought it to use it as a server but I never wound up using it. I also have an ATI TV Wonder Pro with remote. I need a TV out card though. So it looks like a hd plus a TV outcard would cost me a max of $200. I am still warry of these things. Something I have learned from my modded Xbox and working with linux all these years is that a very small quantity of open source software is very user friendly. I am afraid just to even tackle HTPC because I just assume that it probably has a complicated setup and then doesn't even work very well in the long run.

 

[RossMAN]

What open source software are you referring to? MythTV?

If you want the easiest solution, here's what I would do:
1) Buy the Hauppauge PVR350
2) Buy the BeyondTV 3.5 or SageTV 2.0
3) Install TV card and software
4) You're done and no monthly fees!