A few DVR questions

[unreal.freak]

The wife wants a DVR for her B-Day. Im looking to get a few questions answered so i can get the best DVR for the $$.

1) Will I have to subscribe to any service to use a DVR with my satellite?
2) Where is a good place to start looking for a DVR, that wont try to sell me a subscription? (if a subscription isnt necessary)
3)What is a good brand/model?
4) What can i expect to spend on a quality DVR?


Thanks for any help.

Peace,
Tommy

 

[mtrycrafts]

The wife wants a DVR for her B-Day. Im looking to get a few questions answered so i can get the best DVR for the $$.

1) Will I have to subscribe to any service to use a DVR with my satellite?
2) Where is a good place to start looking for a DVR, that wont try to sell me a subscription? (if a subscription isnt necessary)
3)What is a good brand/model?
4) What can i expect to spend on a quality DVR?


Thanks for any help.

Peace,
Tommy

May want to look into a Philips DVDR 3575H/37.

 

[BMXTRIX]

The wife wants a DVR for her B-Day. Im looking to get a few questions answered so i can get the best DVR for the $$.

1) Will I have to subscribe to any service to use a DVR with my satellite?
2) Where is a good place to start looking for a DVR, that wont try to sell me a subscription? (if a subscription isnt necessary)
3)What is a good brand/model?
4) What can i expect to spend on a quality DVR?


Thanks for any help.

Peace,
Tommy

Most people get DVR service directly from the satellite provider and it generally has a monthly charge associated with it. The downside is obviously the monthly charge. The upside of it is that it fully integrates the program guide into the service. My cable DVR allows me to select new first run episodes only so that it automatically will record everything that comes on the air for the first time and I never miss a show (more or less).

Depending on who your provider is, the rates vary, but the big expense with satellite companies is often the upfront cost of the DVR.

Montly, is typically 10 bucks a month to maintain for as long as you use the service.

DVRs for satellite are available in SDTV and HDTV versions, generally I would say that you really, really should only be looking at HD versions.

DirecTV sells their HD DVR for $199, but will give it to you for free (it appears) with a 1 year service plan. Call them if they are who you use.

I would not go with a DVD recorder or external hard drive unless you want to buy something which may only rarely be used.

We use our DVR almost 100% of the time for TV viewing and I can't even tell you how many hours of commercials I've missed in the last year of TV watching.

 

[TLS Guy]

The wife wants a DVR for her B-Day. Im looking to get a few questions answered so i can get the best DVR for the $$.

1) Will I have to subscribe to any service to use a DVR with my satellite?
2) Where is a good place to start looking for a DVR, that wont try to sell me a subscription? (if a subscription isnt necessary)
3)What is a good brand/model?
4) What can i expect to spend on a quality DVR?


Thanks for any help.

Peace,
Tommy

Unless you use a DVR provided by your satellite provider, I can guarantee your wife will not be happy with you, and you will dismissed to the dog house.

 

[unreal.freak]

Unless you use a DVR provided by your satellite provider, I can guarantee your wife will not be happy with you, and you will dismissed to the dog house.

LOL thats funny. And very good advice. I dont really want to rack up any more monthly charges at this time. Im considering getting an over the air TV antenna and going satellite free. We find ourselves only watching a few programs anyway. she mainly wants the DVR for recording NCIS when the baby wont let us watch it. It seems almost a waste to me, but i usually buy her whatever she wants, because she doesnt complain when i buy new firearms, RC cars, and whatnot. Thanks for the input.

Peace,
Tommy

 

[Rickster71]

Hi Tommy, if your getting more than basic Sat. service;
I'd check to see if the shows your wife wants record are offered with the basic satellite service, and down grade the service, and get the DVR with the money you've saved.

I've found that in the economic times we're in now, cable and satellite provides are willing to 'deal,' rather than losing a customer.
Keep the wife happy!
Regards,
Rick

 

[Midcow2]

IMHO get the satellite DVR service

The wife wants a DVR for her B-Day. Im looking to get a few questions answered so i can get the best DVR for the $$.

1) Will I have to subscribe to any service to use a DVR with my satellite?
2) Where is a good place to start looking for a DVR, that wont try to sell me a subscription? (if a subscription isnt necessary)
3)What is a good brand/model?
4) What can i expect to spend on a quality DVR?


Thanks for any help.

Peace,
Tommy

Adding on to what others said, I have the DishNetwork DVR and it costs $6.95 a month. It fully integrated into DishNetwork. You can be watching a show and press REC to record the rest of the show. Any show you are watching is bascially also going thorugh recording and can be paused and resumed up to an hour back. You can search through the TV guide and record one-time, all shows or just new shows. All of this integration is pretty phenomenal and I am not sure you get that with an external DVR. If you get Tivo you get something similar to what DishNetwork ( and I assume DirecTV is similar) but you have to pay a Tivo fee.

Now realistically $6.95/month versus $199 purchase is a 28 + month payout.


You can add an external USB 2.0 drive 40 Gb to 750GB and save additional TV recording ( $39.99 one time activation fee).


IMHO "If you want to be happy for the rest of your life.." get a satellite DVR sponsored service

Good luck!

MidCow2