Ferrari Mailing List: Re: AV/DVR Help Please ++++++ OT +++++ NO FERRARICONTENT++++

[Dave Mills (dmills]

If it's not completely clear, the Comcast DVR is *worse than crap*. The fact
that one gets it for free is of no use when someone's offering you crap.
They should pay you to take it, and at that, it's still a matter of
bartering the deal.

Tivo or the MS Media Center are both good solutions, depending on whether
you're more likely to record & watch TV in the living room, or on your PC.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: LarryT [mailto:l02turner [at] comcast.net] 
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 5:29 AM
To: Dave Mills
Cc: 'The FerrariList'
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] AV/DVR Help Please ++++++ OT +++++ NO
FERRARICONTENT++++

Thx Dennis,
Articulate as usual. ;-)

OK, you said, get the $299 HD version (of the Tivo box) which I'm leaning 
toward.

I assume I can hook up a computer or ext Hard drive via USB or ethernet to 
move programs from Tivo to the hard drive and eventually to a DVD?

It sounds like I will need 2 cable cards to record more than 1 channel at a 
time - which I can rent from Comcast - I assume they plug into the Tivo Box?

course, I can get the Tivo box 1st and then see what additional cards I 
eed  -

My main desktop is on the other side of the wall where the bedroom TV is - 
sounds like I could install a TV tuner card into that desktop and run a 
cable to the TV - and access all the hard drives hooked to that computer.  I

have over 1TB when all the drives are added up.  I'll have to see what cards

are costing now.

This is such a complex issue - there seems to be a lot of options - unless I

takes SteveJ's advice <<Get TiVo. However you have to swing it to make it 
work with your setup, get the TiVo>> and that's the way I am probably going 
to go.

I will probably buy the $299 HD capable Tivo - and I;ll search for a package

that might give me a free one ;-)  if I pay for several years of service --

My biggest fear is spending several hundred $$s and finding I cannot record 
more than 1 channel or cannot move programs to a computer for eventual 
recording on a DVD.  I think ya'll have provided the info needed to prevent 
that. ;-)

Merry Christmas!!

Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D)
www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts
Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil
PORSCHE POSTERS!  youroil.net
Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs
.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dennis Liu" <bigheaddennis [at] gmail.com>
To: "Larry Turner" <l02turner [at] comcast.net>
Cc: "'The FerrariList'" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] AV/DVR Help Please ++++++ OT +++++ NO 
FERRARICONTENT++++


>A few quick additions, since SteveJ hasn't yet jumped in.
>
> Larry, you have essentially three options:
>
> 1.  Get the Comcast DVR.  Yes, the software is not as good as Tivo, but 
> it's
> "free", but for the monthly rental fee, but compare that against the 
> monthly
> Tivo fee.  If it breaks, etc., you can get another one from Comcast for 
> free
> by walking into your local Comcast office.  And, best of all, Comcast is
> rolling out TIVO software in its boxes.  Some Boston area homes have 
> already
> gotten them, apparently, and the rollout will continue through Q2, so the
> blogs report.
>
> 2.  Use a PC laying around the house as a media center.  Can even be an
> older model - don't need much horsepower.  Lots of cheap tv tuner cards or
> even USB tuner devices, all of which come with media software.  No monthly
> rental fees, and can use massive disk drives and can record directly to 
> cds
> or dvds.
>
> 3.  Go with Tivo.
>
> Big question - are you going to watch HD or not?  If YES, then #2 is 
> pretty
> much OUT unless you spend $3k or so for a new gen high end media center PC
> that can record HD (using a CableCard), though Sony has apparently just
> released a Vaio-branded HD usb device that will work with any computer
> ($400?).  The comcast box works just hunky dory with HD, but you're 
> limited
> to 80 gigs of storage, and not upgradeable, so you're only getting 20 
> hours
> of HD recorded.
>
> And, Larry, god bless you, we all know that you will stumble across stuff
> you'll want to archive and you will run out of space inside of a month. 
> :-)
>
> So, back to Tivo:
>
> A.  The $99 tivo (Series 2) will not record HD.  Get the $299 "HD" 
> version,
> which Tivo released after the Series 3 (which also records HD) hit the
> market and flopped because it was so expensive.  The Series 3 has a few
> features tha the "HD" does not, but none of which matters to you, EXCEPT
> IIRC, the S3 accepts multi-stream CableCards, while the HD takes only 
> single
> stream CableCards, which means you will need to rent TWO from Comcast to
> record two channels simultaneously (and you will), so it'll be around $4 a
> month (plus your Tivo fee).  The Series 3 is effectively out of 
> production,
> so you may pick one up at discount for the price of the HD, which would 
> make
> it a good deal.
>
> B.  What's a CableCard?  It's basically the descrambling hardware/software
> needed to record scrambled cable channels.  With a CableCard, you no 
> longer
> need a cable box (and no need to jigger up a controller so that the Tivo
> controls the cable box with an IR blaster, etc.).  Multi-stream means that
> the card can handle two channels.  Single stream is, natch, just one, so 
> you
> need two if you want to record/watch two channels simultaneously (and, 
> yes,
> you do).
>
> C.  The Series 3 and the HD both now accept external Hard drives
> plug-and-play (eSata?), so no need to modify the box, etc.  Just buy a 
> cheap
> external HD and plug it in (though IIRC, the "HD" series might require a
> Western Digital branded version, but it's still plug and play).
>
> D.  Shop around if you only want standard def and can live with the Series
> 2; I've seen deals where the Series 2 is *FREE* if you buy the long term
> Tivo subscription.
>
> vty,
>
> --Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Greenfield [mailto:coyote [at] acme-ltd.com]
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 9:53 PM
> To: Dennis Liu
> Cc: The FerrariList
> Subject: Re: [Ferrari] AV/DVR Help Please ++++++ OT +++++ NO FERRARI
> CONTENT++++
>
> 80 hours is most likely at basic quality. If you start recording at
> 'best' quality, it will probably be half or less that.
>
> It might be enough depending ok how you use it.
>
> I forget which model I have, I think it is the basic 80 hour (I keep
> meaning to put a larger drive in it) dual tuner model.
>
> This will plug into your network. You can then install the TiVo
> desktop on your computer which will allow you to transfer them over
> the network. You can then burn them to DVD, or archive them however
> you see fit.
>
> It will also connect to the TiVo service over the net for updates and
> scheduling.
>
> Remember that if you have a cable box, that you can only record one
> channel off the cable box and one on basic cable at the same time or
> two basic channels at the same time.
>
> Setting my tivo up to recognize both the basic channels and premium
> channels on the cable box was a pain.  It only wanted to do one or the
> other.
>
> Tech support was no help, they told me I couldn't do it with my cable
> (time warner) but after muddling around with it for awhile I was able
> to get it to work the way I wanted it to.
>
> HTH,
>
> Jeff
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Dec 20, 2007, at 6:04 PM, "LarryT" <l02turner [at] comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Dave! (and Martin),
>>    Just left the Tivo site and they offer a $99 DVR with a monthly
>> plan of
>> $8.31 if paid for 3 years at a  time.
>>
>>    The basic DVR they offer looks like it will do all I want - 80
>> hours of
>> recording, record more than one channel at a time.etc.  I cannot
>> imagine I
>> would need more than 80 hours.
>>
>>   One thing, can I copy programs I record to DVD's?  That way they
>> can be
>> saved indefinately.
>>
>>    Also, is there a compelling reason to buy the more expensive DVR at
>> $300?
>>
>>    Since I know so little about this I hate to buy more than I need
>> - and
>> obversely, hate buying something and find out I need more options.
>> But as a
>> wise man once told me, "You don't know what you don't know." I have
>> to ask
>> questions ;-)
>>
>>    Mostly we record shows so we can watch them at another date.   Some
>> programs I save - like special car stuff like Top Gear, many SpeedTV
>> races,
>> etc.
>>
>>    Thanks for the help --
>>
>> Marry Christmas -
>>
>> Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D)
>> www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts
>> Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil
>> PORSCHE POSTERS!  youroil.net
>> Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs
>> .
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dave Handa" <dave [at] davehanda.com>
>> To: "'LarryT'" <l02turner [at] comcast.net>
>> Cc: "'The FerrariList'" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 4:19 PM
>> Subject: RE: [Ferrari] AV/DVR Help Please ++++++ OT +++++ NO FERRARI
>> CONTENT
>> ++++
>>
>>
>>> I HATE the Comcast DVR too!  It sucks and is not user friendly.
>>>
>>> Get a Tivo one, either standard or HD, depending on your
>>> requirements. All
>>> you need from Comcast is a cable card to allow the tuner to pick up
>>> all
>>> your
>>> channels. It might even require two cable cards if you want to
>>> watch on
>>> one
>>> channel, while recording another.
>>>
>>> I am in the same boat, I have a standard definition Tivo, and a
>>> Comcast HD
>>> DVR and the Tivo prompts are so much easier to use, and the Tivo
>>> has many
>>> more features.  Tivo even knows not to record a show that is a
>>> repeat.
>>> Comcast will record the same Mojo channel shows I like endlessly.
>>> So each
>>> week I have to go through and delete all the repeats.
>>>
>>> You will have to pay a subscriber fee to Tivo for their programming
>>> service,
>>> it is required for it to work.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: LarryT [mailto:l02turner [at] comcast.net]
>>> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 1:13 PM
>>> To: dave [at] davehanda.com
>>> Cc: The FerrariList
>>> Subject: [Ferrari] AV/DVR Help Please ++++++ OT +++++ NO FERRARI
>>> CONTENT
>>> ++++
>>>
>>> Howdy -
>>> Finally sprung for the basic digital package for my TV and now I
>>> find not
>>> having a DVR is a PITA.   Naturally renting one from Comcast is a
>>> never
>>> ending thing and we'd like to buy one- but I am having trouble
>>> buying one.
>>>
>>> Most are sold as Leasing Units - as a package with Tivo or Direct TV.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions/explanations why things are like this?  Can I buy a
>>> DVR
>>> and
>>> install it in my Comcast system - paying Comcast the req'd fee's of
>>> course.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D)
>>> www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts
>>> Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil
>>> PORSCHE POSTERS!  youroil.net
>>> Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs
>>> .
>>>
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>>
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