DirecTV vs. Tivo Question.....

[Reeko17]

I currently have DirecTV service (1 dish, 2 receivers) and am not thrilled with a few features of the DTV service, but love the programming. Does anyone know if I can upgrade to using Tivo's service (remote/receiver) but keep the programming I have with DirecTV? If not, what would I have to do? If so, how? Thanks!

[litzdog911]

Sure. You can buy a standard Series 2 Tivo and connect it to your DirecTV Receiver. The Tivo will control channel changes on the DirecTV Receiver to record the shows you want.

Or, you can check eBay and dealers like Weaknees to buy a combo DirecTV/Tivo DVR.

[snickerrrrs]

You might try searching your local walmarts and bestbuys for a Directv R10 dvr with Tivo (there are still a few out there). They cost under $100 and are well worth it.

[dtremain]

There are lots of good reasons to use a Direictv DVR with TiVo (if you can get one)as opposed to a stand alone TiVo DVR:

1) You would not have dual tuners, even with the latest models, unless you used two Directv receivers to feed the SA. YOu would have them with a Directv DVR.
2) It would be much cheaper. Only $5.99 a month regardless of the number of DVR's.
3) Picture quality would be much better. The Directv DVR records the digital signal without encoding it from digital to analog and back to digital. Picture and sound quality of the recording is identical to that of live.

I'm not a hacker (why mess with a good thing, I say), but I understand from here that many of the features that an SA has that a Directv DVR lacks can be hacked into most of the models.

So, if I were you, I would try to get a Directv DVR with TiVo. The R-15 is not a TiVo and lacks several of its features, but if you've never had a TiVo, you might be happy with it. That is the unit you can currently buy directly from Directv. All three of the benefits I list above would be applicable to the R-15 as well.

[wolflord11]

dtremain has covered all the points well. I would like to add one further point.

With Directv if you have any PLUS, PLUS HD or PREMIER package the DVR fee is already included in them. So you do not have to pay the additional $5.99 a Month to cover the DVR Service.

You are better off to get a Directv/Tivo unit compared to a standard Directv unit. There are many on EBay.

[John T Smith]

Where to I get a DirecTv Tivo?
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316297

[Bonanzaair]

dtremain has covered all the points well. I would like to add one further point.

With Directv if you have any PLUS, PLUS HD or PREMIER package the DVR fee is already included in them. So you do not have to pay the additional $5.99 a Month to cover the DVR Service.

You are better off to get a Directv/Tivo unit compared to a standard Directv unit. There are many on EBay.


I don't know about being better off. I switched to an SA Tivo with DirecTV. Yes it's more expensive, $20. The SA Tivo passes the DirecTV signal on through so I get DirecTV programming, great picture and the latest Tivo software for only $20 a month.

True I don't get two shows recorded at one time, but honestly - I added a second SA Tivo for only $13 more a month. I grab the second program off of the second Tivo and transfer it to the Living Room and watch it there.

I guess for me for the cost of a dinner out I can have DirecTV and Tivo with TivoCast, and the KidsZone and soon Amazon Movie downloads for the month. Since I made the switch to the SA Tivos the monthly fee has gone down, it's now $17 for the first Tivo and $12 more for each Tivo after that.
I'm happy I made the switch!

Bonanza

[bidger]

Zippered D-TiVos can do MRV for a lot less than $33/mo.

[dishrich]

Zippered D-TiVos can do MRV for a lot less than $33/mo.

Not to mention the picture quality of using a SA Tivo w/an external receiver will ALWAYS be worse than an integrated D-Tivo - & he's paying MORE to boot! ;) :down:

[Bonanzaair]

Say what you want but I don't see a whole lot of difference in the picture, plus I get TivoCAST, KidZone, and Amazon Downloads with a SA Tivo. Suggest anyone trying to decide between staying with DirecTV and their DVR + products or moving to cable and the S3 or SA Tivo that they look at staying with DirecTV and using a real Tivo.

While $33 is more than what I would pay for a DTivo, I find it worth every penny not to have to call DirecTV DVR+ Support. I'll re-evaluate DirecTV offerings again in a year.


Bonanza

[bidger]

Have you ever owned/used an integrated unit to see if there was PQ degradation on the standalone? I have and it was pretty apparent.

I have standalones, but I refused to pay for an extra receiver to hook up to them because I don't see any value when I can reactivate S1 D-TiVos for the same cost. I use them for OTA. Never had any use for KidZone, don't believe I'll have much interest in Amazon Unbox after seeing Bit Torrent's going legit, and the only TiVoCast I do is C|net and it's getting to be a crapshoot whether that downloads. Thought I had it resolved, but I still haven't gotten Fridays download.

It's your cash, but I would never pay $20/mo. just for DVR functionality.

[Bonanzaair]

Have you ever owned/used an integrated unit to see if there was PQ degradation on the standalone? I have and it was pretty apparent.

I have standalones, but I refused to pay for an extra receiver to hook up to them because I don't see any value when I can reactivate S1 D-TiVos for the same cost. I use them for OTA. Never had any use for KidZone, don't believe I'll have much interest in Amazon Unbox after seeing Bit Torrent's going legit, and the only TiVoCast I do is C|net and it's getting to be a crapshoot whether that downloads. Thought I had it resolved, but I still haven't gotten Fridays download.

It's your cash, but I would never pay $20/mo. just for DVR functionality.

We just have different uses for our Tivo and I would guess I need to get my eyes tested - though I don't think so.

I wanted to offer an option for DirecTV subscribers. I had been thinking it was an all or nothing move to the DVR+ products or remain with old versions of Tivo software used in the DTivo products. The new software deletes programs with less remote clicking, has a Deleted Folder to retrieve deleted programs, TivotoGo to my IPod in addition to the previously mentioned new features. Each of us have a value point. I guess Tivo reached and tickled mine.

Bonanza

[jporter12]

There are some things that would be cool to have with the newer software of a SA TiVo, but I can't say that I'd get much use from them. My Hacked S2 DTiVo does MRV, and ty-streaming to a PC, which is all I need. I don't get to watch much TV anyway! TiVo just makes that time so much better!

[bengalfreak]

We just have different uses for our Tivo and I would guess I need to get my eyes tested - though I don't think so.

I wanted to offer an option for DirecTV subscribers. I had been thinking it was an all or nothing move to the DVR+ products or remain with old versions of Tivo software used in the DTivo products. The new software deletes programs with less remote clicking, has a Deleted Folder to retrieve deleted programs, TivotoGo to my IPod in addition to the previously mentioned new features. Each of us have a value point. I guess Tivo reached and tickled mine.

Bonanza


All of those things are available by hacking a DirecTV DVr with Tivo.

[John T Smith]

And, here is the link to the hacking forum
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24

[Bonanzaair]

All of those things are available by hacking a DirecTV DVr with Tivo.


$ 400 a year ($33 X 12) for two SA Tivos with Service doesn't break my bank - and hope it never does, latest software, no "hacking" required,helps keep Tivo in business. Sounded like a deal to me. Each to there own.

I enjoy my Tivo. I'll look at my options in a year, but for right now it was my way to keep DirecTV and not go to the DVR+ product.

Again - say what you want - I'm happy!

Bonanza

[eapeas]

I'm assuming that the DVR's that you guys are suggesting buying are the R-10's?

[goony]

I'm assuming that the DVR's that you guys are suggesting buying are the R-10's?The R10 was the last of the SD "DTivos", but any Series 2 model (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4354807&&#post4354807) will do... all can have their recording capacity boosted using commodity hard drives and all but the R10 can be "enhanced" (see the links in my signature below).