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« Getting rid of cable box program guide | Main | Dish Network DVR Hard drive ERASED »

November 18, 2004

What about a non TIVO PVR?

I want to buy a PVR that works like a VCR but I don't want to pay for the content guide fees of TIVO or Replay.

Where can I buy a HD based PVR that let's me control recording on my own?
-- Mysterious Stranger

November 18, 2004 in DVR

Answers

The Toshiba DVD/Tivo combo gives you Tivo Basic for free--allows VCR like programming to record shows. You might find some still around.--toshiba was discontinuing the model. You don't get season pass and other great Tivo options but you get a lot. The unit cost $99 at one point.

Posted by: john at Nov 19, 2004 1:01:30 PM

This one looks pretty good if they can get the firmware issues straightened out. My local Walmart didn't have this model, so I ordered mine from Walmart.com for $278, but I haven't received it yet.

80 gig PVR and a DVD burner in one unit.
http://www.ilohelp.com/dvdrhd04.htm
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3182262

You can update firmware via downloads from their website. They already posted one firmware fix and according to iLo tech support, another is on the way. Apparently some people are still running into lock-up problems with the unit. You have 90 days to return it to Walmart.

Posted by: Ted at Nov 19, 2004 3:45:00 PM

There are a number of options.
The Pioneer and Toshiba TiVo units include TiVo Basic so you can use them that way without paying anything more than the purchase price. And while TiVo Basic is very limited, it is still better than the systems on most other non-sub DVRs (IMHO). And, of course, should you decide you want more you only have to sub the unit and you have all the TiVo features with the same box. (They come with a 45 day free trial too.)

An increasing number of DVD recorders also include a hard drive and act as basic DVRs. Most of the mare VCR style units - time and channel recording. But some of them use free EPG services.

And, of course, there are a number of cable box DVRs rolling out now. But most of them suck - the only units I'd be willing to try myself, today, are the Moxi based units. I've seen the SA8000 running SARA software and it is worthless. I've also seen the features on some of the basic Motorola (non-Moxi) units and they're primitive.

Posted by: MegaZone at Nov 19, 2004 5:40:40 PM

I commented on the Ilo unit here: http://ask.pvrblog.com/2004/11/i_am_looking_fo.html#c2836398

Posted by: MegaZone at Nov 19, 2004 7:27:30 PM

If you have a spare computer you could check out the MythTV project - if you wanna build one out of a computer, you could check them out.

(but I dont know if that will help you)

Posted by: kirbyMeister at Nov 21, 2004 4:07:38 PM

Tivo will work fine without the service.

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Posted by: xfcbg at Dec 23, 2004 12:20:46 PM

I've just purchased a RCA DRS7000 from Compgeeks for $119 refurb... http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DRS7000-R&cat=DVD

It works with my digital cable box although I'm unable to enter a channell higher than 125 (but I can use Guide+ and the up arrow to get the higher channels).

Posted by: Charles W Butler at Dec 26, 2004 3:39:20 PM

Panasonic has a line of DVR's that also include DVD burning functions in them. They have models with drives from 120 to 400G (the 400G model is a tad expensive, a grand at Cruthfield).

Posted by: Needy-in-NY at Dec 31, 2004 6:41:04 AM

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 PC's also support the ability to record from VCR- just use Movie Maker 2.1 with DVD Burning built-in too. No subscription fees and a good choice if you're also looking to replace/upgrade your PC.

Posted by: Sean Alexander at Jan 1, 2005 12:40:22 PM

I recently bought one of the RCA DRS7000's for $120.

well worth the money in my opinion, But it is sort of stuck in 2000 (or whenever it was made). the IR link won't work with my newer Hughes Directv reciever, and i have maxed out the 16 programming slots once allready.

but it is much better than a VCR, and about the same price. although it has come up with the "an error has occured" a few times too many on timer recordings. but i have found a way around this. just have the main menu on, instead of watching live TV.

Wish there was some way to upgrade it to todays standards.

Posted by: Dogon1013 at Jan 18, 2005 5:04:04 PM

I did some extensive surveying before I decided what to do... while I read a LOT of negatives about the Scientific Atlanta 8000 my cable company offered, I noticed it was all from spring of last year, right when it was first released. So I went for it and in the first month I am quite happy.

Be very careful about those Panasonic units (w/DVD recorder and HD). A pal got one and it turned out the "TV Guide" listing service didn't work (he has to record manually by time/cnahhel and the stuff stored on the HD lists only time/date). From the many conversations he's had with Panasonic, it sounds like they are cribbing the guide from the cable system; it may be i time they will work with most of them, but the units are pretty new. Make damn sure you can return it if it doesn't work!

Posted by: DVRdood at Feb 8, 2005 9:19:31 AM

will the rca drc 7000 work w/out a cable box?? will it get the channel guide just through a coaxial cable line from the wall?>

Posted by: Yaser at May 4, 2005 11:13:04 AM

Yes.. the RCA DRC7000 will work fine without a box.

Posted by: Jd at May 13, 2005 6:02:05 AM

I need to find out why my RCA DRC 8000 is having trouble with the new DVD+R discs. They format sometimes and not others.

What is up with this?

Thanks in advance
G3

Posted by: Gerhard Eichholz at Apr 26, 2006 3:24:26 PM

If you get an answer ,Please let me know.
This DRC 8000N is just a boat anchor. I cant get the stupid disks anywhere.
Lowell

Posted by: Lowell at Jun 25, 2006 7:04:59 PM

I own a DRC 8000 and have been only able to use 4x DVD+R's in it.
Also only certain brands will work. Unless you can update the firmware on something like this (I don't know if you can or where to get it. The RCA website is useless)then all of us are stuck with these units only able to use RW's. I phoned a few companies and no one make the 4x DVD+R's anymore.

Posted by: Stephen at Aug 15, 2006 12:49:33 PM

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