| Author |
Message |
    
Rich
Citizen
Username: Veneto
Post Number: 7
Registered: 5-2006
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 11:21 am: | 
|
Since there are only about 4 shows in an entire week we are interested in viewing and we never seem to be around for their broadcast, my wife and I want to be able to record them and for later viewing. So it seems that we need some kind of device that can record a program without turning the television on or something that can turn the television on and record a progam then turn it off?????
We have Comcast basic digital cable (with really poor picture quality) but not a converter box. I have two converter boxes from Time Warner. We already receive the channels that we want, so there's no need to add more stations. We also use that cable for our internet connection, but not our phone.
Any advice?
Thanks |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3285
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 2:39 pm: |
|
You can get the Comcast DVR for about $10 a month. If you just want to record a few shows, and don't need all the sophisticated gobbledygook, it's a good option. |
Glock 17
Citizen
Username: Glock17
Post Number: 1058
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 4:17 pm: |
|
For four shows...I'd get a VCR. Cheap, effective, and simple. |
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 180
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 4:29 pm: |
|
there's NOTHING easier than a DVR. and I can't work anything!! I think other than air conditioning, it's about the best thing out there... |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2180
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, June 2, 2006 - 7:38 pm: |
|
My only warning about Tivo and DVR is that they will make you watch more tv. The power is addictive. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3294
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 3, 2006 - 1:02 pm: |
|
Kinda like MOL... |
Spare_o
Supporter
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 414
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 4, 2006 - 2:53 pm: |
|
We have a VCR still in decent shape if you go that route. PL me. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 108
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 3:26 pm: |
|
Definitely a thumbs up for the Comcast DVR. Worth the extra bucks, and puts you in control of what you watch, and when you watch it. That, with the nifty 30 sec skip remote control 'hack' (which you can find descriptions of elsewhere on the Internet  ) make it a breeze to watch through an hour long program in about 40 mins.
The only issue I have is that it isn't currently possible to watch a program recorded on one box from another box elsewhere in the house. I have heard that's coming down the pike though in a year or two.
That said, I'm sure people have noticed the side effects of the popularity of Tivo, Comcast DVR and the like - the advertisers are now creeping into the programming itself, with on-screen graphics, and more obvious product placement (e.g. I guess the American Idol people hired a person whose role was to ensure that the Coca-Cola logo on the judges' cups always faced the camera!)
Jason |
babymakes3
Citizen
Username: Babymakes3
Post Number: 14
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 10:16 pm: |
|
What is this "hack" you speak of? I'd love to be more efficient in the usage of my DVR,
BTW, I highly recommend going the Comcast DVR route. It's simpler than a VCR and you don't have to deal with poor tape quality or missing a recording of something. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 110
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 5, 2006 - 11:59 pm: |
|
babymakes3 - this Google search will point you in the right direction: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=comcast+dvr+30+second+skip |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1748
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 11:53 am: |
|
Comcast DVR is probably the easiest and cheapest route. We've had it for 8 months to a year now. It's easy to program and you can record two things at once if needed.
Only complaint is that we've had to have a lot more service calls (in fact they're coming again this week). We've had to have the box replaced about 5 or 6 times now. I don't know why they can't seem to get it right, but they just keep coming and replacing them after various problems we've had.
You can't do comprehensive programming with DVR -- for example, you can't tell it to search all programs and record everything with a particular actor, subject, genre, etc. But, honestly, I don't need that.
One other caveat - you will HATE commercials even more if you're watching "live" TV. I find myself trying to fast forward live TV all the time.
Speaking of live TV - another great feature of DVR is that you can pause live TV. I use this all the time so I don't miss anything. |
grownup25
Citizen
Username: Grownup_25
Post Number: 34
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 1:41 pm: |
|
also have the comcast dvr. no real complaints, but the software isn't nearly as good as tivo, as far as cusomizing your series recordings.
a funny thing though: twice i've had to get a new dvr because mine would freeze at 4.30am and 4.30pm every day. very strange.
they came quickly to replace, the only thing that really gets me about it is that you can't get anything off the thing, so if you replace your dvr you lose all you've recorded, and you can't watch your recordings elsewhere.
i find myself watching commercials on the interweb and wondering why i haven't seen them... |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 111
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 - 4:29 pm: |
|
grownup25 - there is actually a techy way to grab a high quality copy of the recordings off the DVR. Not for the faint of heart, and it does require that you have a PC with a Firewire card.
Check out the following page for details:
http://replayguide.sourceforge.net/dct6412/
Also, I believe Comcast has a deal with Tivo to roll out HD DVR boxes that use the Tivo software (which is more advanced in terms of its search and suggestion capabilities). Looks like Comcast will start to 'beta' these new boxes in select markets this month:
http://www.tivoblog.com/archives/2006/05/30/comcast-to-begin-beta-testing-tivo-s oftware/
Jason |
grownup25
Citizen
Username: Grownup_25
Post Number: 40
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2006 - 8:48 am: |
|
thanks for the tip--i'll have to give that a whirl. anyone need every episode of battlestar galactica?
hope those tivo'd boxes come soon...
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page