DVR Love Thread.

[AlienCraft]

Ok, since my split shift schedule isn't abating anytime soon, I've taken to recording my favorite shows and watching in one long glorious session. The happy ending is I can watch a series from start to finish, (Breaking Bad for example) and go back and clear things up ifg I missed something.
Today, I'm catching up with Top Gear (UK). Top Gear USA is an infantile copy and not worth watching. :$ :hmm: :\

Got to make some more coffee.
Discuss.

 

[BornStar]

They're great unless the name of the show changes.

 

[nsafreak]

They are indeed quite awesome. I have a pair of dual tuner Dish network satellite DVRs (one 722k and one 625) so I can record as many as 4 shows at once and if I bought an OTA module for the 722k I could up that to 6 programs at once although 2 of them would be OTA. One of the really nice things about these units is that I can program them from a website or an Android app and with the 722k I can even stream live or recorded programming to my phone since I have one of their Sling adapters hooked up to one of its USB ports. I've been working a lot of late nights myself so it keeps me from missing my favorite shows.

 

[olds]

I couldn't do without a DVR. I do not watch live TV. Unless I am in a hotel. Then I'll probably watch something on HBO that I have seen a bunch of times. At home, I record it and watch it later. Even football.

But, I have comcast and their DVR sucks. I'll probably build a new gaming/HTPC rig with dual tuners and use that as a DVR. See sig...

 

[Leros]

I just watch shows that are a bit older. I watch them on DVD or Netflix. I don't need a DVR, though I mostly watch tv this way because I can't stand waiting a week between episodes.

 

[SKORPI0]

I've been recording HDTV shows to my PC (Windows/OS X) via fire wire since early 2005. TV shows, movies, documentaries, concerts, cartoons , some sports (Super Bowl). I usually record live, and via DVR if/when some shows are on at the same slot (no repeats for some). If the show comes out later on in Blu-ray format I'll buy them, or borrow them from the local library. Probably have about 75TB 720p/1080i since then.

Captures since Oct 21st, about 358GB. :\

 

[nageov3t]

They're great unless the name of the show changes.

yeah, Amazing Race kills me with that.

but outside of that, I love my Tivo... I bought one when I started working a 4 pm - 12 am shift, before they were super commonplace and it's practically indispensable.

I used to use an HTPC, but ultimately, the noise and upkeep were too annoying for me to feel like dealing with.

 

[Doppel]

i can't believe there are still people who watch tv and put up with commercials. I preach to these people whenever I get the chance, but most people appear not to realize how incredible DVR is until they have it. They simply don't believe it nor can they even sufficiently imagine how much better their entire life will be with it.

 

[MotionMan]

Live sports, especially the NFL, is mostly what keeps me from cutting the cord.

I have an AppleTV2, two Roku's and Netflix streaming that I use very often.

MotionMan

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I have a htpc I use to record ota tv (free), a streaming only Netflix acct ($8 a month), and a ($20 a month) dsl internet connection.
That is cheap entertainment.

 

[Baked]

I had my first DVR experience with Verizon FiOS TV. It came with the Motorola 500GB DVR. It's nice and all, but I'm simply too busy to even setup the programming.

 

[MarkXIX]

I have a TiVO Premium and Windows 7 MCE w/ Ceton quad tuner card and a 2TB hard drive. I never miss a show in my house.

 

[nageov3t]

how do all you guys with HTPC's deal with the noise? it drove me batshit insane when I used to have one to have a desktop running 24/7/365 in the middle of my living room.

 

[MarkXIX]

how do all you guys with HTPC's deal with the noise? it drove me batshit insane when I used to have one to have a desktop running 24/7/365 in the middle of my living room.

Easy, it stays downstairs and my Xbox 360s do all the work on the TVs in the house.

 

[Leros]

how do all you guys with HTPC's deal with the noise? it drove me batshit insane when I used to have one to have a desktop running 24/7/365 in the middle of my living room.

My computers are barely audible. I only use slow, quiet 120mm fans. It often requires getting third party heatsinks, but it keeps things quiet.

 

[BoomerD]

I used to think DVR's were a stupid idea...until I got one. Now, I'd hate to give it up.

We're about to drop Comcast. Our 1-year Alchemy package price ($89/mo) has expired and Comcast now wants $180/mo. So...DirecTV, AT&T for phone and DSL again... Total will still be under $100/month (plus taxes and fees)

I just printed up the list of programs currently in the DVR programming...93 separate shows. Some are just seasonal shows, and MOST are HGTV/Bravo/Food Network crap that my wife watches, but there are a few shows that I have recording...just because I want to watch them...and a few that record because we both watch them...but MOST of them are her crap.

 

[Linflas]

how do all you guys with HTPC's deal with the noise? it drove me batshit insane when I used to have one to have a desktop running 24/7/365 in the middle of my living room.

Mine is actually pretty quiet, I have it on all the time and don't really notice any noise coming from it. All I really use it for is to save stuff off the DTV DVR that I want to keep.

 

[AlienCraft]

I couldn't do without a DVR. I do not watch live TV. Unless I am in a hotel. Then I'll probably watch something on HBO that I have seen a bunch of times. At home, I record it and watch it later. Even football.

But, I have comcast and their DVR sucks. I'll probably build a new gaming/HTPC rig with dual tuners and use that as a DVR. See sig...

We have Comcrap and I think it's ok. What am I missing? I suppose buying a TIVO would solve some issues, but basically the big thing is to have a UPS on them so you don't lose the settings if power drops. :\

 

[nageov3t]

We have Comcrap and I think it's ok. What am I missing? I suppose buying a TIVO would solve some issues, but basically the big thing is to have a UPS on them so you don't lose the settings if power drops. :\

models could vary widely... I spent a week with a Comcast dvr before returning it and buying a Tivo.

it crashed frequently, was extremely slow, and had no way to search for a show by title.

 

[Leros]

We have Comcrap and I think it's ok. What am I missing? I suppose buying a TIVO would solve some issues, but basically the big thing is to have a UPS on them so you don't lose the settings if power drops. :\

Doesn't TIVO also require you pay a monthly fee?

 

[AlienCraft]

Doesn't TIVO also require you pay a monthly fee?

Only if you want the whole service, iirc. It will function as a stand alone unit but it's been over 5 years since I've played with one. I'm sure there's something.

 

[BoomerD]

But, I have comcast and their DVR sucks. I'll probably build a new gaming/HTPC rig with dual tuners and use that as a DVR. See sig...

I agree about Comcast's DVR. It works, but the interface is the worst of the ones we've had.
U-Verse's DVR had the most polished interface, gave the most/best info about shows, and always recorded on time...Dish Network was only slightly worse, but Comcast's is terrible. Shows get "clipped" all the time because either the show's time is off...or the STB time is off...and no way to change the time in the box...PLUS, it skips shows on a fairly regular basis. Some shows just won't record by program...I have to manually set them to record. <dunno why, neither does Comcast>

I'm about to find out about DirecTV's DVR.

 

[Leros]

Only if you want the whole service, iirc. It will function as a stand alone unit but it's been over 5 years since I've played with one. I'm sure there's something.

What's the difference between full service and standalone? I thought you had to pay for the guide.

 

[nageov3t]

What's the difference between full service and standalone? I thought you had to pay for the guide.

my understanding is that without paying for the service, you can pretty much only use it like a vcr... eg, you tell it the hour, day, and duration and it will record (but no season passes, skipping repeats, etc... and the "tivo suggestions" feature can be surprisingly nice if you're just looking for background noise or you run out of stuff to watch -- it was a lifesaver a couple months ago when I had power but no cable/internet all weekend because of a hurricane)

 

[olds]

I have my 3 (could be 4) year old gaming rig hooked up to my TV and basically use it as a "HTPC". But it's mostly just a way to get online content. I use it as my main PC.
It runs 24/7 (SETI) and the fan noise has never bothered. It's not real noticeable.
http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15
Asus P5B-Deluxe/E6600 CPU/8800 GTS /4 GB DDR2/550 w PSU/OS is Vista.
I am going to build a real HTPC just as soon as I hook up an antenna and see what I can get OTA.

I don't care for the comcast DVR interface or the fact that I had to program a 30 second skip (should be native) and the fact that it locks up all the time on recorded programs. I had a first and second generation Tivo but I was afraid to use them. I am sure comcast would screw up the cable card set up on purpose.
And my TIVO did act as a VCR without the guide. Till I updtaed it and started getting nag screens telling me to sign up.

Unfortunately for us, comcast is the only high speed internet provider where we live.