Community Newsletter: Q&A: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs
- 3/10/08 5:01 PM
dvr with cable service
by fuzzbalz - 3/1/08 10:24 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Jim, I have comcast cable and I use their hd dvr service, the unit has dual tuners and cost about 12.00 extra a month, I also have an pc that I put a couple tv tuner cards in and then i purchased the Beyond TV software from Snapstream for the channel guide software (like Tivo)except no monthly fee. Very happy with both
DVR on the cheap
by Bob Newman - 3/1/08 11:35 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
To Jim W. I have two production companies that I have run for the past four years. A direct answer to your question is looking into the software "Nero Ultra 7" or above(Ver 8). You can spend from $89.00 up to $150.00, and as part of the software you can create a DVR on your PC,for a one time purchase of the software. You may want to consider the Nero version with the "Breakout " box that allows you to connect to your VCR output, or a Camcorder. The one additional add on that I suggest is an outboard hard drive that is fast enough to store the video files. This allows for a more trouble free operation.
Keeping in mind that as of Feb.2009 you will need to consider a digital conversion box to convert Standard Def (SD) to High Def (HD) that will mount just ahead of your present VCR. I suggest you check out the web site http://www.nero.com/enu/nero8-introduction.html they even offer a demo online. Good Luck
Resourcefully Cheap!!
by burlesonbrad - 3/1/08 1:31 PM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My approach is based on key words from your question, long term cost, & practical application. As I'm sure you'll get many responses to this question, consider not my answer, but how to find THE BEST solution.
I'm sure one of your suggestions would be a VCR combo device. I'd have to recommend NEVER paying for something you'll only use once or twice. Once the tapes are on DVD, you'll probably never use the VCR again.
And, like the wife mentioned, TiVo OBVIOUSLY isn't the BEST option - TiVo IS a monthly deduction from your bank account, for a service that you can do yourself!
And here's how (Ready?)
Jim, near your computer is probably a cable outlet, right? Also, do I detect that you and the wife just might be interested in different shows?
Here's the Best Solution: Jim I went to this GREAT website called download.com. It sounds like all you really need is a solution to RECORD your shows. Simple DVD players would be adequate for viewing. I'll assume that you don't have a TV tuner in your computer, and point you to SnapStream's bundle solution which would include an adapter.
http://www.snapstream.com/products/bundle-compare.asp
Jim, once you have this, plug your cable into your computer, and ALL the problems will be solved!!
You won't have a monthly bill for a service that you can do yourself!
You can record and play WHATEVER you want.
You could send the programming to any computer networked at home. This might require a slight learning curve.
But, (the best part) you can simply record it on a DVD, and play it whenever you want!!
LONG Term Cost? (Except for actually buying it) FREE!
High Definition? GOT IT!!
Optional configuration for YOUR Lifestyle? ABSOLUTELY!
Jim, I hope this helps! I'm completely confident that if you're posting a question into CNET, you are NOT 'technology challenged'. Even 'dinosaurs' (like You & Me) can learn how to thrive in today's jungle!!
Digital video recorders
by Keith Sylvester - 3/1/08 6:42 PM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Go for Panasonic. The VHS/DVD version. They do many. I did that and Iam able to transfer all my VHS recordings to DVD's with the touch of a button. What is more I can transfer my DVD,s to VHS to pass on to friends/family who only have VHS. Look up Panasonic web site yourself. Try http://www.panasonic.com. Prices are also given.($280-$300)
I prefer to buy from a dealer, because I ask the hard questions, like "How many of this model have been returned for fixing?" "Do people come back to buy a different brand or model" If so it does not meet their needs."Which brand/model sell the most in this class" etc.
Good luck
I would go with TiVo
by waytron - 3/2/08 4:37 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I am by no means an expert in this particular field but certainly have experimented with my fair share of systems and when it is all said and done, I would go with the paid service provided by TiVo. I have gone through a half dozen or so TV tuners cards and setup numerous TV recording computers over the years and some worked better than others but in the end, I purchased ReplayTV 3 or 4 years ago. They are not selling these units any more, but at the time, Replay’s unit offered the ability to connect via your home network and TiVo used just a phone line. Also the Replay unit had the ability to automatically skip commercials (I could not live without this feature). So, I purchased 3 Replay units so that I could record different shows at the same time and all the units could be accessed from each other over the network. From time to time I go back and play with other DVR systems, including using my computers and nothing compares to the convenience and ease of use of the Replay or TiVo units. I am actually going to see if I can purchase a 4th Replay unit on ebay because there are a few times when I need to record 4 channels at once. These days with so many shows available to watch online, I am actually finding that I am starting to watch some missed episodes this way. I am with you on not adding another monthly payment, but I just have not found a better alternative as yet.
Dana
Wayland Computer
Exploit less-known features of your cable provider for best
by jnriopel - 3/2/08 4:53 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When Vista came out, Ialso wanted to buy a computer with a TV tuner inside such that I could ditch my old VCR because of the hassle I continuously faced of cataloguing what I had taped, having to manually check the TV Guide all the time, programming the thing to record, and having to fast-forward or rewind to get to the show I wanted to view. I also thought I needed two tuners to watch one thing while recording another, so I hit the stores with my requirements in mind. An obstacle I faced in the big surface places was that the computer dept personnel did not really know how a the software woud be able to change the channels of my set-top box (I had recently bought a second-hand HD decoder to replace my older digital cable box.) And when I asked the TV dept. how I could interface with the computer, I also received blank stares. Bleeding-edge, as you say. Then I came across an add for refurbished equipent from a warehouse, where I found an HP Media Center PC with Vista Home Premium, and a TV Tuner built-in, and bonus 21-inch LCD screen. I'll spare you the details of my various experiments, but I now have what I thnk is a great solution. Here's how I set things up and what it allows me to do:
I put the computer near the 43" DLP TV and cable receiver.
- I connected the S-Video out of the decoder to the input of my TV, and the analog sound.
- I connected the computer DVI video Out to one of the TV's input, and the computer digital audio out to my 5.1 audio amp.
- Then I connected the decoder's hi-def component video directly to the TV (it has no HDMI input.) and the digital audio out of my decoder to my 5.1 audio amp.
- Finally, I hooked up the plain old coax coming out of the decoder also to the TV, I'll explain why shortly.
Now the magic happens. By the way, I am in Canada, your mileage may vary. When I fired up Media Center, a wizard walked me through the setup, correctly interfacing with someplace on the internet where the TV Guide for my digital cable provider resides. And here is the missing piece of the connectivity thatmy TV and computer salesmen seemed to ignore: the computer came with a slim wire that connects to the computer at one end, and at the other end is equipped with an infra-red emitter. The idea is you put this right in front of the infra-red receiver on your decoder, and with the wizard in Media Center, you can specify parameters which will allow the computer to in effect replace your standard decoder's remote and allow the computer to change the channels directly on the decoder. I wondered before how the computer would be able to change channels, as unlike analog tuners in the computer, the channel selection isnt done by the tuner in the computer. But I digress. So now I can:
- Use the full power of Media Center and integrated TV guide to select TV shows and series I want to record, and optionally burn to DVD if I deem it worth ot or edit with Movie-Maker to cut out the commercials. And watch said shows on the TV, naturally.
- Watch DVDs I put in my computer in full HD with 5.1 audio.
- Choose the component input on my TV to watch shows in HD when I want with full 5.1 audio
- Lastly, Choose the analog input on my TV and watch one of the many standard analog broadcasts regardless of what the cumputer might be taping from the digital line-up at the same time.
Couch-potato heaven!
Oh: about the VHS recording point:
by jnriopel - 3/2/08 5:05 AM In reply to: Exploit less-known features of your cable provider for best by jnriopelForgot to mention that when I occasionally needed to convert a VHS tape to digital, I put the VHS player near my decoder, and moved the S-Video and audio cables from the OUT of my decoder to the OUT of the VCR. Then I told Media Center to record, and hit PLAY on the VHS. Once the whole tape had finished, I was able to simply import it into Movie Maker and use its features, along with DVD Maker to create a very professional-looking and high quality DVD with fancy menus and all you could wish for, for no additional cost. QED
DVD's Are Not HD
by Winchester257 - 3/8/08 4:39 PM In reply to: Exploit less-known features of your cable provider for best by jnriopelUnless you have a monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or higher,then you are not watching movies in HD.Even if you are,the benefit of "Full HD" compared to 720p HD is not apparent unless you watch on an HD screen at the very least 46".The C Net people say 55" minimum.
Awesome answer jnriopel
by finnigan - 3/24/08 2:36 PM In reply to: Exploit less-known features of your cable provider for best by jnriopelAwesome answer. Could I contact you by email for more info?
DVR
by revrend - 3/2/08 8:49 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I do know what you mean about TiVo and paying for that service,after being able to record for free all these years. You can buy a rather inexpensive dvd recorder that will record tv shows or you can get one like i got that you can record through dvd and like mine through it's on board hard drive which is 80 g's enough space for most shows plus more and what's more it's free,i hope this helps......
Dinosaurs unite!
by TedTexas - 3/2/08 9:29 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
VCRs are not "gone." You'll be able to buy high-quality analog video equipment and supplies for at least the next few years, probably for long after. In fact, as folks dump their analog video equipment to adopt digital video, there'll be plenty of good quality used items available at attractive prices.
You described two potential uses for digital video recorder: (a) as a tuner for watching broadcast programs; and (b) to record broadcast programs. And you'd like to be able to do those simultaneously. I suggest that if you have analog equipment that accomplishes these tasks, there's no need to replace them with digital versions. Nor is there any need to go to the expense and bother of transferring your analog video library to digital format.
The only strong arguments I see for moving to digital are: (a) you don't have analog equipment suitable for these tasks -- in that case, I see it as a matter of cost and benefit for analog versus digital; (b) you intend to produce video content for something other than personal playback -- editing is far simpler with digital and distribution pretty much requires digital; or (c) you have excess money for which you have no other use. In that last case, post a response and I'll put together a fantastic digital video setup for you, with only a minor consulting fee. 
As a proud dinosaur, I have a VHS player-recorder, a Hi-8 camcorder, a DVD player for new pre-recorded items, a rabbit-eared television, a turntable for my many vinyl records, a fifteen-year-old car, and three large full tool boxes. (Many of those tools belonged to my father and grandfather. I'll be passing all of them on to my children.)
I have done it all, and I have 2 cents to toss into the ring
by massimj - 3/8/08 2:46 AM In reply to: Dinosaurs unite! by TedTexasI started out with TIVO many years ago. I had bought a lifetime subscription on one of the receivers, so the cost has avergaed out to nearly nothing by now. I had transfered the lifetime to a newer duel tuner series two TIVO when TIVO made the offer the second time. I love TIVO.
Before I had come to realize how well TIVO worked, I dumped my cable and went to DISH Network and their DVR. The Dish DVR is not a TIVO, but it will work good enough for someone who has never experienced a TIVO. After a year on Dish, I built my first media PC that did everything. Yes, this cost way too much, I soon realized that I could have paid for a new Tivo Series three and 5 years of service and had money left over with the money it takes to build a good media PC. The media PC had increased capabilities, and was a fine substitute for TIVO. I used Beyond TV, and Beyond Media as software for the media PC. Beyond TV has features that rival a TIVO, but being a PC, had a high level of troubled days requiring a high level of computer support. I am a computer tech by trade so this was not a problem. The average person would get tired of all the support that the home media PC would need. The PC can record two HD channles from anatenna or cable, and two more standard def cable channels. It had DVD recording, and playback. With a live internet feed I had access to weather info, online streaming content from sites like Live365, and much more.
I have two DVR/DVD recorders that work as well as any VCR ever did. That should sum it up for you as not being in the same leage as anything else.
I had a Comcast PVR for a few years, and once you get use to it, it is not so bad, but you will miss your TIVO. The happiest people that use any of the DISH, Comcast, or host of other DVRs' are people who have never had a TIVO.
I dumped Dish and went back to all TIVO devices. The three year contract on the extra receivers cost me $6.95/month each. TIVO bills this by the month, so there is no big yearly fee like XM does on their multiyear contracts.
Once you use a TIVO, and explore the features, you will get hooked and nothing else will do.
If you are going to bother recording TV, you must like it. TIVO will give you the most bang for the buck in terms of how much effort you put into using it, versus how much you use it.
Dish user
by aalake - 3/8/08 10:31 AM In reply to: I have done it all, and I have 2 cents to toss into the ring by massimjI have had Dish for a long time and run everything thru my Panasonic ES-45V which does not have hard drive but records to VCR or DVD and transfers VCR to DVD. I subscribe to every existing movie channel and, now that I am retired, I should cut down on the $111/mo cost but I want everything too. I don't really understand what TiVo is or if it exists around here. Is it a satellite service provider like Dish? Or does it work along with a satellite service? I want to get HD soon and would like a hard drive thing with DVD creating capacities, separate from what Dish offers because I know they (and all other service providers) do not offer DVD creation but - they do offer Sirius Radio which has the Met Opera Channel which I can't give up. BTW I do not consider NetFlcks an option because when I love a movie I have to own it.
TIVO - proprietary to the extreme
by anna3333 - 3/9/08 2:07 PM In reply to: I have done it all, and I have 2 cents to toss into the ring by massimjI have a TIVO and I do like it (although some of the functions make no sense: like not being able to start a program LATE as well as early - or stop a program EARLY as well as late, or being able to CHOOSE which program to "clip or delete" and by how much - this is programming that is downloaded to your unit - they should be able to fix that).
However, I want more hard drive space and have been told that I might have problems because of the proprietary stuff TIVO puts on the hard drive to try to force you to buy a new unit (and a new contract, since the contract goes with the unit instead of just the time you purchase) instead of putting a larger hard drive in the unit you bought from them.
I don't care about the "voiding warrantee for opening the unit" because there is no warrantee left anyway. I just don't want to ruin my unit.
Any help with this?
thanks,
Anna
TIVO - proprietary to the extreme answer
by jaceknet - 3/10/08 7:04 AM In reply to: TIVO - proprietary to the extreme by anna3333you can change the hard disk for bigger one. it is very simple, it takes about 15 min. but if you chage by yourself you will loose all your recordings, and you will have to do TiVo setup from the begining. it takes about one hour. i did it by myself i had original HD 80GB and I've changed for 160GB and i reget that i did not change for 360GB. i was afraid that it will not work. but it works. you can get more info on tivo forum. and remember that your subsrciption belongs to motherbord not to HD. good luck
jaceknet
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