Tivo..or not Tivo

[3GMusic]

Hi there~

Hopefully one of your gazillion forums is appropriate for this kind of inquiry, but I don't know which (if any) so please excuse any mis-post.

I'm getting ready to have DirectTV installed and am wondering whether to do "TIVO" thing or try to build my own digital recorder. I assume it's essentially a PC with fast/large storage, plus some kind of software and tuner or other connection to a video source (DirectTV).

Is this trickier than it sounds? Can anyone suggest any resources on this subject so I can decide whether to dive in or chicken out?

Thanks~

-G

[NightbladeXX]

DirecTV's DVR's are NOT Tivo's anymore they are their own (DirecTV Brand) that utilizes their own proprietary software not nearly as nice as Tivo's, but its the same thing with like cable's digital DVR's as Comcast uses their own modified Motorola's software on their boxes as well.

As far as using a computer to do the DVR functions, it works, and if you have never used a Tivo Box itself, you'll feel alot better about it. While the computer gives you alot more possibilites as far as your options and sharing the media.

A stand alone Tivo box gives you alot too, not as much, but alot, but its a stand alone box, and you can set it up to control a DirecTV box or Cable.

Another problem is HDTV, if you want HDTV you are pretty limited to DirecTV's HD DVR, but their box as far as I know doesn't allow sharing the media to a computer

Enter in Slingbox, and it changes the complexity of the whole question all over again.

[3GMusic]

Thanks, Nightbladexx - now, to clarify, I currently have Time Warner cable, with one "HD" box. TW bought out Adelphia here. I never thought anything could make Adelphia look good, but Time Warner has managed to do it. The lousy quality of both the broadcast and interface, along with the somewhat limited storage capacity is the main incentive for my search.

So HDTV IS a requirement...when you say I'm limited to DirectTV's box (if I go with DirectTV) - does that mean..

well, let me phrase it another way...I'm open to whatever possibilities and combinations are available;

I guess I'm seeking advice for a flexible, high quality (HDTV) solution that will give me "TIVO-like" capabilities, whether it's a computer+software, or TIVO, Slingbox, or whatever. One of the drawbacks of the recorders I've used is that we have to watch the recorded show on the system that recorded it. I've heard someone has a feature that allows viewing the material on a separate TV - and that would be great.

I'm not familiar with "slingbox", but I'll definitely have to check it out. Along with that added variable, there is yet another one, because I heard that Verizon is close to my area with the installation of their "FIOS". I have heard the fiber system has great speed and hi-def bandwidth, so IF it's close, it would probably be my choice over DirectTV. My quest for a scheduling/recording system would still hold, though.

-GGG

[NightbladeXX]

Verizon's Fiber to the Home is only going to be deployed to brand new subdivisions, they and AT&T and have no plans to run fiber to existing homes, as the cost is double that of new construction and not to mention the permit bs.

back to your original ?'s

If you choose to go with DirecTV if you want HDTV and a DVR you will have to use their HD DVR box, which will not give you the media sharing capabilities, but you could use a Sling Box to view your recorded media over your computer it pretty cool

Your other option is a new series 3 Tivo with the Dual Cable Card slots, which will allow the Tivo to get the Digital and HD channels from Time Warner, and just maybe TW will start offering all the analog channels in digital like Comcast does then you wouldnt have the crap ass picture that you do now

[3GMusic]

Good stuff! Thanks for the direction - I'll go do my homework on the Tivo and the Sling Thing.

Have a good one~

-GGG