Tivo vs. Cable DVR

[rdlaub]

I currently own a Humax 80 hour box and I am in the market for a second device. I am debating whether to get a new Tivo or a box offered by my cable company which is Cablevision of NJ.

The new pricing structure for Tivo is prompting me to consider this other alternative. Has anyone used a one of boxes offered by the cable companies and what do you think of them vs a Tivo

[jacksonian]

This really depends on what your local cable franchise is offering. I have TWC and so does my buddy 1.5 hours away, but we have totally different DVR systems. His is *really* close to TiVo functionality and interface (missing only a couple of features). Mine on the other hand is awful, can't stand the interface, very clunky to use (but it does have SATA hard drive expandability).

So you need to test out what your local cable co. is offering, maybe a friend has one? Or since you lease the box, there usually aren't a lot of fees and it's easy enough to try the box for a month or two and see if you like it.

[atmuscarella]

rdlaub,

I think you should look more closely at the TiVo pricing options, when you are adding a second box not much has changed other than no lifetime. Basically you are paying under $100 after rebate for the box and 6.95 per month for the service.

Also if you let us know what your setup is and what you want to accomplish people could give you some good recommendations.

Good Luck,

atmuscarella

[aus1ander]

I currently own a Humax 80 hour box and I am in the market for a second device. I am debating whether to get a new Tivo or a box offered by my cable company which is Cablevision of NJ.

The new pricing structure for Tivo is prompting me to consider this other alternative. Has anyone used a one of boxes offered by the cable companies and what do you think of them vs a Tivo

As already mentioned, if you already own a Tivo box, the options on Tivo.com are not in your best interest. You are much better off buying a Tivo from a store (a DT is about 100 bucks after rebate, depending on where you buy it) and paying $6.95/mo with the multi-service discount.

[HiDefGator]

Having two different boxes in your house might drive you nuts. Two different interfaces, two different remotes, etc. Much smoother with two boxes that have the same interface, whichever way you go.

[cwerdna]

To the OP, if you do try out whatever random DVR your cable provider is offering, please do post about your experiences vs. Tivo and what software it's running.

[rdlaub]

It sounds like the consensus is that since I can get the multi unit discount at $6.95 oer month, Tivo is the way to go.

With 2 Tivos and a wireless network, how easy or difficult is it to transfer shows from one Tivo to the other.

We generally like to watch in the bedroom, but the second unit would be in the living room.

Actually if I get the dual tuner tivo and put that in the bedroom I probably will never need to use the first one. So really all I need is one dual tuner unit.

Hmmmm!

[aus1ander]

It sounds like the consensus is that since I can get the multi unit discount at $6.95 oer month, Tivo is the way to go.

With 2 Tivos and a wireless network, how easy or difficult is it to transfer shows from one Tivo to the other.

We generally like to watch in the bedroom, but the second unit would be in the living room.

Actually if I get the dual tuner tivo and put that in the bedroom I probably will never need to use the first one. So really all I need is one dual tuner unit.

Hmmmm!

If you're currently paying 12.95/mo on your current Tivo and you're out of the 1 year contract, buying a DT to replace your current unit might be worth it. If you want to have the ability to watch your shows on other TVs, though, you might as well buy another single tuner.

Transferring shows between Tivos is easy and pretty fast, if you have a G network.

[ZeoTiVo]

If you're currently paying 12.95/mo on your current Tivo and you're out of the 1 year contract, buying a DT to replace your current unit might be worth it. If you want to have the ability to watch your shows on other TVs, though, you might as well buy another single tuner.

Transferring shows between Tivos is easy and pretty fast, if you have a G network.


huh, since the dual tuner is only 100$ after rebate and the same 6.95 - WHY get a single tuner now adays ?


as for watching shows on other TVs. you can look at ways to see the TiVo elsewhere. I used to use AVcast www.crossbarmedia.com that will send the TiVo output and remote commands along the exisitng coax wire. It works great and I used it a lot.

now though I have a TiVo on each TV and a wired network and use MRV exclusively and the avcast simply to pipe DVDs and my PC screen around the house

[atmuscarella]

rdlaub:

As long as you have SD TV and don't plan on going to HD TV within the next 12 months I would be hard pressed to find any reason not to stay with the current TiVo models. If you have HD TV or are going to buy one it might be worth trying the Cable DVR or waiting for the Series 3 TiVo to be release.

For analog cable I would think the new Series 2 Dual Tuner is the way to go. I just shopped around a little and the best price I found was $80 shipped after rebate from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ER5G58/sr=8-1/qid=1149271835/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4841106-6317637?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

If you don't like them this site had them for $82 shipped after rebate

http://www.abtelectronics.com/scripts/site/site_product.php3?source=pg&id=23325

Good Luck,

atmuscarella

[Sirshagg]

huh, since the dual tuner is only 100$ after rebate and the same 6.95 - WHY get a single tuner now adays ?


Only if you want to use and Antenna instead of cable or sat.

[aus1ander]

huh, since the dual tuner is only 100$ after rebate and the same 6.95 - WHY get a single tuner now adays ?


The only reason i say that is because a DT is about 30-40 dollars more and thats equivalent to 4-5 months of service at the MSD price, especially if he doesn't see himself using both tuners to resolve conflicts.

[rdlaub]

I actually have a lifetime subscription on my current model.

I have Digital cable. does that mean the dual tuner will not work. I'm a little confused by that.

Also, as for network, I am currently using a wireless network coming off my computer for updates to Tivo. Will this wireless network also transfer programming from one Tivo to the other?

[aus1ander]

I actually have a lifetime subscription on my current model.

I have Digital cable. does that mean the dual tuner will not work. I'm a little confused by that.

Also, as for network, I am currently using a wireless network coming off my computer for updates to Tivo. Will this wireless network also transfer programming from one Tivo to the other?

The DT can tune to: 2 analog channels at once --OR-- one analog channel and one digital channel at once. It cannot tune to two digital channels at once. Most people with digital cable and the DT hook up their 1-99 channels through the analog coaxial connection and use the cable box only for premiums or other digital channels.

If your cable company requires a cable box to view channels 1-99, then a DT will likely be no better than a ST as it cannot tune to two digital channels at once. Luckily, this is a very rare situation among cable operators. The way to check this is to bypass your cable box and see what channels your TV can tune to.

As for the networking question, do you have a router? If you do, then yes, you will be able to easily transfer programming from one Tivo to the other, assuming both are Series 2 units.

[LostCluster]

A DT unit can control almost any digital cable box, but it of course can only get one signal out of it. The second tuner can still tune any analog unencrypted station so there's still some value in the dual tuner feature.

Of course, as soon as 2009 your cable company may drop analog technology altogether, at which point the DT unit will have no advantage over a standard S2 model.

[stujac]

Having two different boxes in your house might drive you nuts. Two different interfaces, two different remotes, etc. Much smoother with two boxes that have the same interface, whichever way you go.

That's so lame. I've got 3 different dvr's in my system and have NO problems. All you need is a good universal remote, like the MX500.

Tivo Series 1
Motorola 6412
Panasonic E95

[TiVo Troll]

I currently own a Humax 80 hour box and I am in the market for a second device. I am debating whether to get a new Tivo or a box offered by my cable company which is Cablevision of NJ.

The new pricing structure for Tivo is prompting me to consider this other alternative. Has anyone used a one of boxes offered by the cable companies and what do you think of them vs a Tivo

They're all different. Mine is Comcast's MS box (http://www.microsoft.com/tv/FoundationEdition.mspx) which is OK, but others are reputed to be terrible. (I also have other DVR's including two Series 2 single tuner TiVo's.)

This is yours (http://www.io.tv/index.jhtml?pageType=dvr). For $10. monthly, if it's available without a contract commitment, why not try it and see what you think?

[Stainless Steele]

I would alway pick a tivo...i might have to have 2 or a dual tuner but i would still pick tivo

[jfh3]

With 2 Tivos and a wireless network, how easy or difficult is it to transfer shows from one Tivo to the other.

Very easy. And for wireless, your best bet is the Tivo branded Wireless G adapter (designed to offload some of the work from the Tivo, so you'll get near wired speeds).

[cwerdna]

They're all different. Mine is Comcast's MS box (http://www.microsoft.com/tv/FoundationEdition.mspx) which is OK, but others are reputed to be terrible. (I also have other DVR's including two Series 2 single tuner TiVo's.)

This is yours (http://www.io.tv/index.jhtml?pageType=dvr). For $10. monthly, if it's available without a contract commitment, why not try it and see what you think?
If that's what the OP will really be getting, it looks like SARA which most people have said is terrible.

[JorSha00]

rdlaub,

Speaking from experience, I would just go straight to buying a TiVo brand DVR instead of going thru the hassle of trying the cable co. DVR and eventually returning it, as it is far from comparable. However, if you must try the cable co. DVR, they usually let you return them within 30 days without paying a contract cancellation fee...I would ask first though.

My experience...
My first DVR was a DTiVo. When we switched from DirecTV to cable, I asked Charter Cable for TiVo and they said "no problem." I came home to find a MOXI DVR setup (don't know what software). Apparently the Charter rep I spoke with didn't know that TiVo is a brand and not all DVRs are "TiVo"...or at least she pretended like she didn't for the sake of selling me the cheap MOXI DVR and getting more business. Anyways, I decided to give MOXI a try since it was already hooked up and it was dual tuner like my DTiVo. It was horrible!!! There was a long wait every time I pushed a button for the screen to change...if I saw one more "Please Wait..." banner, I was gonna throw the DVR out the window! :mad: Also, the menus are confusing and hard to maneuver thru. Within a few days I decided I couldn't handle it anymore...I called Charter to cancel it, went to the nearest Best Buy and bought a Series 2 TIVO. I was more than willing to compromise the dual tuner feature of the MOXI DVR in order to have my TiVo back. Now I have the Dual Tuner TiVo and I couldn't be happier. :)

To sum it up...once you have used a TiVo brand DVR, it's pretty much impossible to switch to any other DVR brand. But try if you must...and please report back on your experience if you do, as I know many others are struggling with the same decision that you are.

[TiVo Troll]

If that's what the OP will really be getting, it looks like SARA which most people have said is terrible.

It (http://www.io.tv/index.jhtml;jsessionid=U4VSABFG2GKJACQFSALSFEQ?pageType=dvr# rec)does (http://www.pvrcompare.com/sciatlimages.html).

But that's my point. When given the opportunity to evaluate a DVR product by personally using it for a month for $10. with no further obligation I'd be a fool not to!

It's fun to check things out and compare them, especially DVR's, which in many ways are the most interesting developments in TV since the VCR. There is no DVR which is best for all users' applications, although some are certainly much better than others.

If one DVR were to offer:
(1) TiVo's reliability and specificity in selecting programs to record,
(2) TiVo's stability in displaying "trick play" functions with the right offsets for FF-RW speeds;
(3) ReplayTV's no fiddle set-up 30 second skip,
(4) RTV's easy-to-read EPG,
(5) RTV's potentially HD sized recording buffer;
(6) Philips HDRW 720/17's ability to selectively record any part of an extended recording buffer (which remains after changing channels),
(7) Panasonic's DMR-E85's extensive editing capabilities when recording to HD and/or DVD's,
(8) and Panny's ability to FF @ 1.3 x realtime with normal pitched audio when playing back;
(9) LG's LRM-519's ability to record on external USB HD's;
(10) Motorola's DCT 6412 hi-def dual tuner,

it would approach being a no compromise absolute "best" DVR (until something else came along!)

[retired_guy]

I've used TiVo as well as a Comcast DVR for quite a while and have developed "rules-of-thumb" type answers for this issue based upon the type of TV people are using and/or plan to use.

If you have SD television and don't plan on HD for a couple years, get the TiVo. It's more reliable software, easier to use, functionally richer, particularly for multiple DVRs and/or a PC; a consistent user interface with your existing TiVo is important if you have mutiple people using the controllers as I do.

If you have or or planning to have HD TV with screen size 30" or less, stick with TiVo. HD won't improve things much unless you watch really up close or have exceptional eyesight.

30" to 40" HD within a couple years. This is a grey area. I'd get the TiVo but for many, the HD would be worth it.

40" inch or greater HD set. That's where I fall, with a 62" set. There's a significant benefit of HD for large sets like this which, for me, overcame the limitations of the IGuide Motorola 6412. We use the Cable company DRV for essentially only HD and TiVo boxes for everything else, including duplicate recording or things on the IGuide system due to its lack of reliability. But my wife doesn't like HD; she says she doesn't find looking in people's pores that appealing. Wha'ch gonna do?

With the next generation TiVo so close, things are getting more complex. A strategy of getting the cable company box and replacing it with a new Series 3 TiVo late in the year for anyone with HD could make sense. That's what I plan to do; don't expect this plan to be cheap, however.

[cwerdna]

My experience...
My first DVR was a DTiVo. When we switched from DirecTV to cable, I asked Charter Cable for TiVo and they said "no problem." I came home to find a MOXI DVR setup (don't know what software). Apparently the Charter rep I spoke with didn't know that TiVo is a brand and not all DVRs are "TiVo"...or at least she pretended like she didn't for the sake of selling me the cheap MOXI DVR and getting more business....
You actually already indicated what software: Moxi. Thanks!

retired_guy indicated he has iGuide on his Motorola 6412. Cool.

[TiVo Troll]

I've used TiVo as well as a Comcast DVR for quite a while and have developed "rules-of-thumb" type answers for this issue based upon the type of TV people are using and/or plan to use.

If you have SD television and don't plan on HD for a couple years, get the TiVo. It's more reliable software, easier to use, functionally richer, particularly for multiple DVRs and/or a PC; a consistent user interface with your existing TiVo is important if you have mutiple people using the controllers as I do.

If you have or or planning to have HD TV with screen size 30" or less, stick with TiVo. HD won't improve things much unless you watch really up close or have exceptional eyesight.

30" to 40" HD within a couple years. This is a grey area. I'd get the TiVo but for many, the HD would be worth it.

40" inch or greater HD set. That's where I fall, with a 62" set. There's a significant benefit of HD for large sets like this which, for me, overcame the limitations of the IGuide Motorola 6412. We use the Cable company DRV for essentially only HD and TiVo boxes for everything else, including duplicate recording or things on the IGuide system due to its lack of reliability. But my wife doesn't like HD; she says she doesn't find looking in people's pores that appealing. Wha'ch gonna do?

With the next generation TiVo so close, things are getting more complex. A strategy of getting the cable company box and replacing it with a new Series 3 TiVo late in the year for anyone with HD could make sense. That's what I plan to do; don't expect this plan to be cheap, however.

Series 3 TiVo will be a way to go for hi-def if price isn't a consideration and the cable company's dual tuner DVR is a little less than utterly!

But why bother with hi-def if you only need a TV with a screen size under 30"? A 4x3 27" TV presents a really good picture right now for under $300 with a digital ATSC tuner, and older 27" sets are still available with analog NTSC tuners only, for under $200. EDTV (480p) sets with 16 x 9 aspect ratios are available for under $500.