Uses of Philips PVR DSR704 without DTV

[lewis2979]

What are the various uses/methods of using Philips PVR (Tivo) DSR704 when I don't have Direct TV any more??? WISH LIST: 1A) Can I use it as a recording device with different cameras and then replay on TV? I want to record deer/elk in the wild using still or video cameras with motion detectors!!! 1B) Can I change/modify the Satellite IN or RF IN connections into RCA input jacks? 2) Can I adapt to record/time shift/pause/skip my local terrestrial TV signal? PLEASE POST OTHER CREATIVE APPLICATIONS to use Tivo machines without their Direct TV or Dish subscriptions. Thanks.

[litzdog911]

The DirecTV DVRs are pretty useless without DirecTV satellite service. They can only receive/record DirecTV signals, so you can't use them with external video sources like video cameras. Your best bet is to sell the Philips DVR on eBay and buy a standalone Tivo.

[captain_video]

It makes an excellent paperweight.

[Dkerr24]

It doesn't make a very good jackstand for your car :(

[T1V0]

I have an unsubbed SD-DVR40 with 440 hours, and since its superpatched, I can use it as an MRV server for my other units. Its not connected to the satellite feed at all, and I can still transfer shows between it and my other tivos, and use tivoserver to add other content from my pc. Music and picture sharing still work as well. If you can ignore the nag screens, it can be pretty convenient.

[puffdaddy]

As T1V0 states, with the proper hacks, you can use it as a media client. I have a unit that I use just for audio, and once you learn the correct sequence of keypad presses, you can start playing an mp3 songlist on from your PC without even having a montior plugged in or a remote.

[litzdog911]

As T1V0 states, with the proper hacks, you can use it as a media client. I have a unit that I use just for audio, and once you learn the correct sequence of keypad presses, you can start playing an mp3 songlist on from your PC without even having a montior plugged in or a remote.

The original poster wasn't asking to do those things, though. The simple answer to the original question is that DirecTV DVRs can only be used with DirecTV signals, not video cameras or other external video devices.

[mr.unnatural]

He also asked what he could do with it without having DirecTV service. I believe the HMO features fall into that category. He could use it with tivoserver and upload programming to the DTivo and also set up multiple hacked units to share said recordings via MRV.

[the-sloth]

i popped the drive out of my old DSR6000 and put it in my desktop computer and i use it as a repository for my automated backups that run nightly. i still have D*, i just didn't have a need for an that old thing.. so i might as well use the drive. :)