stand alone dvr's???

victorb17 · 08-19-2007, 09:20 PM

I finally decided to get a dvr the other day and have been looking around for them. I have been gravely dissapointed (i think). It appears the only options are 1. from my service provider 2. tivo 3. replay 4. some dvd combo.

Is there no stand alone dvr that just can pause, rwd, record at a date and time. that requires no service charge. I think it's rediculous another monthly charge. Thanks.
Victor

Scott_J · 08-20-2007, 09:36 AM

I have a DVD recorder with hard drive (essentially, a DVR that also creates DVDs) that uses TV Guide Plus for the guide. There is no monthly charge for the guide info. Honestly, the guide isn't the most up-to-date out there, and it doesn't have info for every channel. But you get what you pay for. If you want a DVR without a monthly fee, I believe getting one with TV Guide Plus is the only option.

Michael Harris · 08-20-2007, 11:48 AM

Another option is to make one out of your PC using a video capture card, such as those made by Hauppauge and software such as Beyond TV or Sage TV. I have setup using the Haupauge Win TV 250 and Beyond TV. Purchase of the BTV allows you to access their program guide for no fee and allows recording by putting in a channel number and time frame.

Bob_M · 08-20-2007, 01:22 PM

>Is there no stand alone dvr that just can pause, rwd, record at a date and time. that requires no service charge. <
I have the same question, can you use a Tivo without paying the service charge?

Thanks Bob

David Norman · 08-20-2007, 07:55 PM

None of the newer TIVO's can do this, but some of the older units can function as essentially a VCR. Many of the Series 1 units can be programmed and used as a manual recorder. You probably need to check the individual units for such functionality, but TIVO eliminated this potential somewhere in the Series 2 models.

I think the Toshiba and Pioneer DVD/TIVO can be used with what used to called "TIVO Basic," but I don't think those models are still produced.

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victorb17 · 08-20-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott_J

I have a DVD recorder with hard drive (essentially, a DVR that also creates DVDs) that uses TV Guide Plus for the guide. There is no monthly charge for the guide info. Honestly, the guide isn't the most up-to-date out there, and it doesn't have info for every channel. But you get what you pay for. If you want a DVR without a monthly fee, I believe getting one with TV Guide Plus is the only option.

who makes this? Thanks

Scott_J · 08-20-2007, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victorb17

who makes this? Thanks

Mine is a Philips (this model). The reviews at Amazon aren't great, but I haven't had problems with it in the 1.5 years since I bought it. The main complaint I have is that every once in a while, it'll suddenly change channels automatically (though it's never happened during recording, just while watching TV).

The TV Guide Plus is available in other products, too.

Bob_M · 08-21-2007, 09:14 AM

>None of the newer TIVO's can do this, but some of the older units can function as essentially a VCR. <

Interesting, so your options are a DVD with a built in hard-disk or a Tivo/DirectTV device with a monthly subscription?

I didn't find too many DVD's with hard disks up on Amazon. Even the suggested model above is no longer sold. Are these a dieing breed?

thanks Bob

David Norman · 08-21-2007, 05:59 PM

I think most of them have been d/c. A couple years ago there were numerous models from Pioneer, Toshiba, Philips, and Panasonic that were either TIVO based or worked off of a free EPG. I think Sony also had some models.

Pioneer 810H, 433/533H, 520h dvr 640H
Toshiba rd-xs34, rs-tx60
Panasonic dmr-eh series --50, 55, 65, 85, 95 etc mainly differing in HDD size.

I think there were a couple more from 2005 andd maybe 2006, but I'm not sure there were any 2007 models.

Bob_M · 08-22-2007, 03:46 PM

>I think most of them have been d/c<
Why is that David? thanks Bob