A DVR not tied to cable or subscriptions?

[MrNick]

I am getting ready to ditch cable. I bought an antenna today, and it works and looks great. The picture is better than cable HD! My last tether to my comcast provider is my DVR. Are there any DVRs out there that just record the signal when scheduled to do so?

My main concern is that I don't want a DVR subscription fee, contract or any other stuff, and I don't want to pay more than $200 for the box.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Boomer]

Probably not the answer you are looking for but you can easily make your PC a DVR. There are numerous PC/TV tuners and software packages available. I don't know what a PC HD tuner runs but I imagine it'd be under your $200 point.

[FlyingDutchman]

VCR is only thing that will record for free. Check out ebay for used Tivo's that already have lifetime subs on them. I want to go this way soon...Sick of how expensive cable is and its going up Jan. 2009.

[epluribus]

I have an old Panasonic DMR-HS2 that does that. Records to onboard hard drive or burns DVDs, multi-format. Otherwise works just like a VCR.

Just google DVR (http://www.google.com/search?q=+DVR&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1) and you'll find tons.

--Ray

[MudPies]

vista has it built in. You can buy dozens of other programs that will do this. You may just need a coax > digital converter. My home theater amp has digital out that will hook up to my computer, I just don't.

You can also get them sometimes from the show's website, but you might break some obscure rule if you use one of the hundreds of programs that will record flash videos.

[Boobala]

Search eBay for "TiVo + Lifetime Subscription"

A Series 2 TiVo + Lifetime Subscription can be had for less than $300.

Edit:

What a TiVo can do that other DVRs cannot.

Download movies and television shows from Amazon.com (Small fee from Amazon)
Download movies from Netflix.com (no additional fees) (TiVoHD only)
Order a Pizza from Dominoes
Remote can be programmed for a 30 second skip forward. (Ideal for skipping commercials)
Transfer data (Movies/Pictures/Music) to/from PC.
Access web data (weather, news, etc...)

.

[cram]

digital converter and windows media or vista will help.
they are also easier to expose to outside control. My friend can record stuff remotely on his home computer.
his dad was flying out to see him during a patriots playoff game.
He logged in via his phone and set it for record.

[Grun]

I am getting ready to ditch cable. I bought an antenna today, and it works and looks great. The picture is better than cable HD! My last tether to my comcast provider is my DVR. Are there any DVRs out there that just record the signal when scheduled to do so?

My main concern is that I don't want a DVR subscription fee, contract or any other stuff, and I don't want to pay more than $200 for the box.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

If you find something let me know. Seems like it should be easy, but there is literally nothing with HDTV receiving/recording capability. Sure you can do it with a computer or pay Tivo, but why should I have to? What happened to the concept? I had heard that Tivo somehow patented the process. But it seems like someone should have a solution that works again off the air for HDTV reception/recording. All that's really necessary is a box, a tuner and a hard drive. What's going on?

[MudPies]

With as many weekend pedal builders here, I bet someone could enclose all the needed components in a sweet swirl box.

[jammybastard]

find a used Replay TV box on EBay.
I've got one from 5 years ago, added a new hard drive to it, and it works great.

[moody07747]

Probably not the answer you are looking for but you can easily make your PC a DVR. There are numerous PC/TV tuners and software packages available. I don't know what a PC HD tuner runs but I imagine it'd be under your $200 point.

yea we do that right now but you need to run a cable box with it...
install a TV Tuner card and a good sound card such as the M-Audio 2496 and install Linux. A program called MythTV is outstanding and works very well.

You will want to install some storage. my current rig has a 300GB drive but I want to upgrade to a 1TB soon so I can save all of the Mythbusters episodes and other great shows I have recorded over the years.

[MrNick]

If you find something let me know. Seems like it should be easy, but there is literally nothing with HDTV receiving/recording capability. Sure you can do it with a computer or pay Tivo, but why should I have to? What happened to the concept? I had heard that Tivo somehow patented the process. But it seems like someone should have a solution that works again off the air for HDTV reception/recording. All that's really necessary is a box, a tuner and a hard drive. What's going on?

This is what I am beginning to learn. It seems so simple, but no one is catering to it. :FM

[MrNick]

What happens if you buy a TIVO, but don't sign up for the service? Can you just schedule recordings without the TV guide type setup, or is a TIVO worthless without the service?

Really, I've just had it with cable and dont want to do to dish either. I remember when cable was $15 a month 10-15 years ago. Now, my tv bill alone is over $100. In lean times, I am ditching the non-essentials. The only channel I will miss is ESPN. For movies, I can get netflix for $8 a month.

[Boomer]

yea we do that right now but you need to run a cable box with it...

He wants to record Over-the-Air HD using the antenna he just installed. No reason to have a cable box, just an HD PC tuner.

[Boomer]

What happens if you buy a TIVO, but don't sign up for the service? Can you just schedule recordings without the TV guide type setup, or is a TIVO worthless without the service?
I believe Series 1 and non-Tivo brand early Tivo units will allow you to record without subscription service but anything Series 2 and newer (and HD is newer) won't work without the Tivo service (or so I'm led to believe).

[Boobala]

What happens if you buy a TIVO, but don't sign up for the service? Can you just schedule recordings without the TV guide type setup, or is a TIVO worthless without the service?

Really, I've just had it with cable and dont want to do to dish either. I remember when cable was $15 a month 10-15 years ago. Now, my tv bill alone is over $100. In lean times, I am ditching the non-essentials. The only channel I will miss is ESPN. For movies, I can get netflix for $8 a month.

You can record just like a primitive VCR. You can schedule recording by date & time. You'd probably be better off getting $20 VCR (TiVo doesn't do VCR Plus+ codes).

Like I said before there are lots of Series 2 TiVo's on eBay with LIFE-TIME SERVICE (service is tied to the box, not the owner) for less than $300.

[MikeMcK]

I haven't tried Freevo, but this Linux project has been in development foir awhile. I don't even know if it's turnkey enough so that you don't have to be a Linux expert to use it, but here's a way to try it out:

http://freevo.sourceforge.net/download/live.php

[DownByLaw]

These are great machines. I got my wife one 9 years ago with a lifetime subscription and it has been flawless. Easily the most reliable electronic device we've ever owned. Still on original hard drive, but I'll probably update it at some point.

Patrick

find a used Replay TV box on EBay.
I've got one from 5 years ago, added a new hard drive to it, and it works great.

[Big Boss Man]

You can get a TV tuner PC card that can record HDTV for less than $100. Broadcast HDTV typically has the best quality because cable and satellite compress their signals.

[Shine]

I use torrents and this

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=318

It uses my computer as a server and can play hd shows in 1080 to the wireless receiver hooked up to an hdmi cable to my tv.

[live-I-evil]

Search eBay for "TiVo + Lifetime Subscription"

A Series 2 TiVo + Lifetime Subscription can be had for less than $300.

Edit:

What a TiVo can do that other DVRs cannot.

Download movies and television shows from Amazon.com (Small fee from Amazon)
Download movies from Netflix.com (no additional fees) (TiVoHD only)
Order a Pizza from Dominoes
Remote can be programmed for a 30 second skip forward. (Ideal for skipping commercials)
Transfer data (Movies/Pictures/Music) to/from PC.
Access web data (weather, news, etc...)

.

The eBay TiVo route really is a good choice if you ask me. DVR and lifetime sub for under 3 bills, now that's that I'm talking about.

[TD_Madden]

MythTV and your PC.