[Ed Dantes]

Okay, so this is what's up. The wife expressed an interest in something along the lines of a TiVo, and for those who are married, you should know that there really isn't that much time between "we should look into buying a TiVo" and "I'm going to hold my breath and stomp my feet until we get a TiVo". Compound that with the fact that her birthday is around the corner, and you should get my drift.

However, I am not exactly sure that a TiVo is the way to go, largely because I can't / don't want to afford the extra $20 bucks a month on my already-high cable bill (it should not cost $120 for basic cable -- no movie channels -- a phone line and high-speed internet).

So -- is there a way to get a DVR without a monthly subscription service? Has anyone had success with this?

Basically, this is what I'm hoping to accomplish -- My wife and I have watched television shows on DVD for the last few months. While we watch these shows, the new season is airing. we would like to record the program so we can watch it at a later time... Basically, that's it. I don't really care about the "pause live TV" aspect. I just want to be able to watch a DVD, while recording a different program. Is this doable?

And is it doable to do it outside of a cable box? I get an antenna-signal for HDTV, which is cool because I can watch network sporting events in high-def.

And... how much is this going to cost me?

[Cider Jim]

Can't you also do that (watch a DVD while recording a TV program) with one of those combo VCR/DVD player recorders? That's what I have, but don't even know if they still sell them or not.

[jcmanson]

Simple solution: switch to directv. You get a free dvr when you sign up for new service and it only costs 6.99 a month for the service. OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not. I did this after already having directv so I had to pay $100 up front, and it has been well worth it.

This purchase was also one of those things the wife wanted, so I know how you feel.

[AZjonz]

Dish Network is $5 a month for the DVR after the initial free offer. And jcmanson is correct with the pausing feature, you will definitely use it. I would recommend a DVR with the pause feature. Once you use it, watching TV the old-fashioned way seems...well, old fashioned.

[kel varson]

If you like to watch tv the dvr is worth it. I pay for Digital cable so adding the DVR is only like 8 dollars more a month.

TIVO, if you can manage that, has much better features than standard dvr's. I believe it is a little more complicated to install.

[Ed Dantes]

#1) Satellite service is out of the question because I live in an apartment that faces the opposite direction needed to get a reception. It's a shame, but I do get to see some dynamite sunsets.

#2) Ideally, I'd like to have a hard drive to store the shows on, largely so I don't have to burn a DVD per show. I can save three or four before burning a DVD.

[LUconn]

OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not.

DVR will indeed change your life. It's that useful. However, if I have to pause a live sporting event. I will almost always just fast forward to live TV when I get back. I can't stand knowing that I'm watching something that already happened, even if it is just a minute ago. I somehow feel I can affect the outcome of play when watching by cheering, but I can't if it's already happened.

[LUconn]

#1) Satellite service is out of the question because I live in an apartment that faces the opposite direction needed to get a reception. It's a shame, but I do get to see some dynamite sunsets.

#2) Ideally, I'd like to have a hard drive to store the shows on, largely so I don't have to burn a DVD per show. I can save three or four before burning a DVD.

El Scorcho uses a computer harddrive and records stuff that way. So that is the answer outside of a cable box that you're looking for. aLUmnus does this too. Although I think his computer bascially came with this option built in, as opposed to him having to jerry-rig something together.

[AZjonz]

OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not.

DVR will indeed change your life. It's that useful. However, if I have to pause a live sporting event. I will almost always just fast forward to live TV when I get back. I can't stand knowing that I'm watching something that already happened, even if it is just a minute ago. I somehow feel I can affect the outcome of play when watching by cheering, but I can't if it's already happened.

Ha! and I thought I was the only one with this problem! My wife doesn't get it, but she's not in the "know".

[jcmanson]

OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not.

DVR will indeed change your life. It's that useful. However, if I have to pause a live sporting event. I will almost always just fast forward to live TV when I get back. I can't stand knowing that I'm watching something that already happened, even if it is just a minute ago. I somehow feel I can affect the outcome of play when watching by cheering, but I can't if it's already happened.

Ha! and I thought I was the only one with this problem! My wife doesn't get it, but she's not in the "know".

I'm the same way.

[kel varson]

OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not.

DVR will indeed change your life. It's that useful. However, if I have to pause a live sporting event. I will almost always just fast forward to live TV when I get back. I can't stand knowing that I'm watching something that already happened, even if it is just a minute ago. I somehow feel I can affect the outcome of play when watching by cheering, but I can't if it's already happened.

I don't do that with sporting events very often but I did with the Davidson game last weekend. It's also fun when someone comes over to the house to be watching something that they think is live and then you start fast forwarding.

[jcmanson]

OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not.

DVR will indeed change your life. It's that useful. However, if I have to pause a live sporting event. I will almost always just fast forward to live TV when I get back. I can't stand knowing that I'm watching something that already happened, even if it is just a minute ago. I somehow feel I can affect the outcome of play when watching by cheering, but I can't if it's already happened.

I don't do that with sporting events very often but I did with the Davidson game last weekend. It's also fun when someone comes over to the house to be watching something that they think is live and then you start fast forwarding.

I do this to my wife's grandmother all the time. She is 91 and just doesn't understand how it works. She always looks so puzzled. It makes me

[ALUmnus]

Ed, my computer has a built in tuner, and along with Vista Media Center, it can record whatever signal it picks up (in my case, cable tv). I'm sure you can buy something similar to work with your computer. You can then burn the show onto a dvd or watch it on the computer. Or, if you're really relevant, you can buy some wireless hdmi components for your tv, and then you play the file on your computer but watch it from your HD tv.

[mrmacphisto]

I've seen DVRs that don't require a subscription. I was tempted by one I saw at Wal-Mart in the past couple of years. It may have had a built-in TV Guide-like feature that picks up a broadcast signal for programming information, but there was no subscription fee and you could always program your recordings manually. I think it had a built-in DVD recorder for easy transfer if you wanted to use that.

Also, there are DVD recorder/TiVo combo boxes out there that come with TiVo Basic included. This means that for the lifetime of the product, you get TiVo Basic service at no extra charge. I've seen them at Best Buy and Crutchfield before.

[Ed Dantes]

I've seen DVRs that don't require a subscription. I was tempted by one I saw at Wal-Mart in the past couple of years. It may have had a built-in TV Guide-like feature that picks up a broadcast signal for programming information, but there was no subscription fee and you could always program your recordings manually. I think it had a built-in DVD recorder for easy transfer if you wanted to use that.

Also, there are DVD recorder/TiVo combo boxes out there that come with TiVo Basic included. This means that for the lifetime of the product, you get TiVo Basic service at no extra charge. I've seen them at Best Buy and Crutchfield before.

How much $$$ are we talking about for devices such as these?

[mrmacphisto]

The Humax DRT800 will run around $500. Keep in mind TiVo service is included and it has a DVD recorder.

The one I saw at Wal-Mart ran $200-$300 and was a Philips, I think, which might be a reason to exercise caution (Philips can be sketchy, especially when it comes to anything dealing with DVDs).

Odds are Wal-Mart doesn't have that model anymore, though, since I saw it probably 1-2 years ago.

*EDIT*
Upon review of Humax's website, it looks like a TiVo subscription is no longer included with their units. That sucks. $299 will get you lifetime service though.
*/EDIT*

[blwall1416]

OH, and you will use the "pause live tv" feature whether you think you will or not.

DVR will indeed change your life. It's that useful. However, if I have to pause a live sporting event. I will almost always just fast forward to live TV when I get back. I can't stand knowing that I'm watching something that already happened, even if it is just a minute ago. I somehow feel I can affect the outcome of play when watching by cheering, but I can't if it's already happened.

See, I'm the opposite. If I'm recording a game & I can't start watching it until later on....I can't fast forward to live TV. I feel like I miss too many good plays. Besides, live TV always has a delay...so you're not gonna affect the outcome as much as you'd like.

[jcmanson]

I just don't like the fact of a watching a game that is behind live tv because I know that everyone else watching already knows what happens, and I feel out of the loop.