no subscription? can it handle all cable channels? Anyone know if this works with cable TV without a subscription? will it handle the higher chanels in the 500-600 range, HBO, etc on the cable? Every other DVR I looked at had a subscription like TIVO or the rental from the cable company. What am i missing/ not understanding here? what does that subscription get you that you don't get with this model? This sounds like I want it but I want to be sure. no subscription? can it handle all cable channels? Anyone know if this works with cable TV without a subscription? will it handle the higher chanels in the 500-600 range, HBO, etc on the cable?... » Read More no subscription? can it handle all cable channels? Anyone know if this works with cable TV without a subscription? will it handle the higher chanels in the 500-600 range, HBO, etc on the cable? Every other DVR I looked at had a subscription like TIVO or the rental from the cable company. What am i missing/ not understanding here? what does that subscription get you that you don't get with this model? This sounds like I want it but I want to be sure. « Show Less
2066806
Jonathan -In response to your question "I just can't figure why more cable ready DVRs aren't available without a subscription.", one reason is probably the current US patent dispute between TiVo and many DVR software/hardware suppliers like Direct TV, AT&T;, Microsoft, etc. Back in the 2000-2005 era, HDD DVR's from Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Direct TV and others were widely available in stores, and still are overseas. Hopefully we will see more of these manufacturers return to making compatable units for the North American market.Suggest you checkout the following forum devoted to the Magnavox HDD/DVD Recorders:http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12244086#post12244086 Jonathan -In response to your question "I just can't figure why more cable ready DVRs aren't available without a subscription.", one reason is probably the current US patent dispute between TiVo and many DVR software/hardware suppliers like Direct TV, AT&T;, Microsoft, etc. Back in the 2000-2005 era, HDD DVR's from Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Direct TV and others were widely available in stores, and still are overseas. Hopefully we will see more of these manufacturers return to making compatable units for the North American market.Suggest you checkout... » Read More Jonathan -In response to your question "I just can't figure why more cable ready DVRs aren't available without a subscription.", one reason is probably the current US patent dispute between TiVo and many DVR software/hardware suppliers like Direct TV, AT&T;, Microsoft, etc. Back in the 2000-2005 era, HDD DVR's from Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Direct TV and others were widely available in stores, and still are overseas. Hopefully we will see more of these manufacturers return to making compatable units for the North American market.Suggest you checkout the following forum devoted to the Magnavox HDD/DVD Recorders:http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12244086#post12244086 « Show Less
2066807
Thanks for your help and the link to the manual, Mark!Comcast does use a special box, but I talked to a tech today and he said the connections would be the same as for my VCR, I just swap out the VCR and connect the special box to the DVDR instead. Fingers crossed! :-D
2066808
I've got the same question as Jonathan -- does this DVRRecorder pick up cable channels? will it get the 500s-700s? If so, I'm ready to buy! :-DI don't get decent reception antenna only so I have to use cable, much as I hate shelling out to Comcast every month I'm stuck with them. ;-p I've been resisting TIVO b/c I don't want to pay an additional monthly subscription fee. Why would anyone pay monthly for Tivo if you can do the same thing for free with a DVDRecorder like this one?
2066809
It has NO true High-Definition recording or playback. But it does do upscaled widescreen Standard-Definition.
2066810
As Doug-R noted above, this does NOT record in High Def (the HDD in the product name is for Hard Disk Drive and has nothing to do with High Def HD). So there will be no HiDef recording to output. This DVR records only in Standard Def.
2066811
Thanks for your input. I suspect you are correct but I just can't figure why more cable ready DVRs aren't available without a subscription. It makes me think that the cable companys may have found a way to defeat recording digitally. Why on earth would so many people pay $200 or more a year for the rather small convenience of not having a TV guide, which still requires that you look things up and program. Heck, the Cable company has a guide itself, just not as conveniently. hopefully someone has direct experience with this.
2066812
I'll make a guess of an answer, but I don't have cable connected to my unit (used for broadcast stations). I would assume what's missing is the automatic scheduling of shows. In other words no built in TV guide. You'll have to find out when your show is airing and then set the recorder to record by date a time. That's how I use my recorder on broadcast TV.
2066813
Since I haven't used one with a cable set up, I hate to be giving any advice. Here is a link to the manual: http://download.p4c.philips.com/files/m/mdr515h_f7/mdr515h_f7_dfu_aen.pdf In the connections, it clearly shows connecting to either an antennae or a signal from a cable company. First, of course, you need to make sure your cable company doesn't require a special box to receive signals. On page 49 of the manual it indicates selecting up to channels 125 or 135 (analog or digital), so it may not do stations higher than that, but I'm not an expert!
337217
DVR is a service you pay for. I installed mine with DVR right away and they had to run two cables in from the dish so that DVR can run while you switch channels. I dont know the answer because I don know if your dish needs to be a certain type. You should call direct tv.dont expect to get more services than you pay for though, the box feeds back to them.
2061183
Yes you can use it as a Tivo but you will need a computer with Windows media center and anything recorded from stations like HBO will be encrypted and locked to the computer they were recorded on so no streaming. You will also need a cable company not a streaming company like ATT Uverse as only cable companys have the cable cards for decoding. It is nice to recorde 6 chanels at a time and you can assign say 2 of the yuners to 1 computer, 3 tuners to another and 1 to another or what ever combination you want.If you are interested I will sell mine with a cable card for 200 as we had to switch to ATT Uverse Yes you can use it as a Tivo but you will need a computer with Windows media center and anything recorded from stations like HBO will be encrypted and locked to the computer they were recorded on so no streaming. You will also need a cable company not a streaming company like ATT Uverse as only cable companys have the cable cards for decoding. It is nice to recorde 6 chanels at a time and you can assign say 2 of the yuners to 1 computer, 3 tuners to another and 1 to another or what ever combination you want.If you are interested I will sell mine with a cable card for 200 as we had to switch... » Read More Yes you can use it as a Tivo but you will need a computer with Windows media center and anything recorded from stations like HBO will be encrypted and locked to the computer they were recorded on so no streaming. You will also need a cable company not a streaming company like ATT Uverse as only cable companys have the cable cards for decoding. It is nice to recorde 6 chanels at a time and you can assign say 2 of the yuners to 1 computer, 3 tuners to another and 1 to another or what ever combination you want.If you are interested I will sell mine with a cable card for 200 as we had to switch to ATT Uverse « Show Less
20002
I have Time Warner Cable internet and TV. This modem is only for internet access. There is a separate cable box for the TV although I can get nearly 100 channels without the TV cable box. With the TV cable box is something more than 1,000 channels (of which I use about a dozen.) But, the TV cable box also provides a DVR and the on screen guide. I would check with Xfinity for their approved list of cable modems. Time Warner Cable has such a list which this one is on. Hope this helps!
1299212
I can preselect programs with Dish's TV Guide and time them just as I would with the DVR. Both are then matched to make sure the correct recording happens (although I always spare a couple minutes before and after for a program, showtimes on certain channels are always unpredictable). Both Dish and Philips allow for weekly/daily/weeklong/weekend programming, so manually it becomes a breeze after a while (until a channel decides to switch times on shows for no good reason, then it becomes a eyesore of a chore).I also use RCA cables for my DVR and programmed it to the only channel that accepts a signal (ch 4), that way I only have to worry about Dish, channel wise. EXT1 source is used for any VCR-DVR dubbing. I can preselect programs with Dish's TV Guide and time them just as I would with the DVR. Both are then matched to make sure the correct recording happens (although I always spare a couple minutes before and after for a program, showtimes on certain channels are always unpredictable). Both Dish and Philips allow for weekly/daily/weeklong/weekend programming, so manually it becomes a breeze after a while (until a channel decides to switch times on shows for no good reason, then it becomes a eyesore of a chore).I also use RCA cables for my DVR and programmed it to the only channel... » Read More I can preselect programs with Dish's TV Guide and time them just as I would with the DVR. Both are then matched to make sure the correct recording happens (although I always spare a couple minutes before and after for a program, showtimes on certain channels are always unpredictable). Both Dish and Philips allow for weekly/daily/weeklong/weekend programming, so manually it becomes a breeze after a while (until a channel decides to switch times on shows for no good reason, then it becomes a eyesore of a chore).I also use RCA cables for my DVR and programmed it to the only channel that accepts a signal (ch 4), that way I only have to worry about Dish, channel wise. EXT1 source is used for any VCR-DVR dubbing. « Show Less
121924
whatever tivo you have it will record anything HD or not but you always have to have a subscription to tivo I had a lifetime membership which was not cheap but in the end because my tivo still works was the best buy. For my new Roameo I got a lifetime membership
1671750
Tivo, like any DVR, requires a subscription fee to make it work. You can pay one fee that's good for the lifetime of the unit (not your lifetime), or a yearly fee, or a monthly. I've had Tivos for 10 years and it is SO much better than the DVR available from the cable company - very sophisticated, very easy to use, and in my opinion, very much worth it.
1094499
Tivo states that wireless connections are not supported and that both the DVR and the Stream have to be connected to the same wired network. My Stream is connected directly to my router and works fine. My DVR is connected via an A/V power line Ethernet connection. That being said, I'm sure Amazon would allow you to return it if your setup doesn't work.
2181633
Unless your main dvr has some sort of DLNA functionality, I'm going to lean towards no. You most likely are not going to able to watch recorded shows.
2092852
I have a dvr through directv. I'm thinking about getting this toshiba dvd recorder. Let me make sure I understand... If I have a show recorded on my dvr, I can then record it to a dvd in my dvd recorder? But while the dvr'ed show is being recorded to dvd, I cannot watch a different show? Is this correct?? Thank you anyone for your help. I have some shows that have been on my dvr for a long time now that I occasionally like to rewatch and would much rather have them on dvd so hopefully this toshiba dvd recorder is what I need.
438948
My the DirecTV unit I use doesn't have a DVR. Not sure what you're asking. Do you mean a separate DVR from the DTV unit? If so, I don't know. When I purchased this Nyrius unit, I purchased an additional DirecTV remote (about $8 or so on Amazon), which enables me to keep a remote in each room, controls both TVs. So if I switch it in my bedroom, it'll switch in the kitchen, and vice-versa. The unit is pointed AWAY from the DirecTV unit and TOWARDS the tv in my bedroom. Hope you can find the answer you need.
1381289
The DVR is junk It lasted about 6 months The tv guide is only good for a few days in advance. If you want a good DVR for your antenna Check on TIVO. When the channel master died I through it away and switched to TIVO and I've been happy ever since.
1000522
Does either unit record from cable, being able to record copy protected channels like HBO?Wow..no remote with that AVerMedia..that does blow..Is it that much different / better, the video quality of AverMedia over the Hauppauge HD-PVR?
1602418
@Otis: Yes, you're paying for the right to use the device. Tivo refers to this as "DVR Service". Without DVR Service, you essentially have little more than just a tuner. It won't even function as a dumb VCR without the monthly fee. In part the monthly fee is used to subsidize the low up-front cost of the hardware, but if you own the Tivo for more than a couple years then you'll be paying far in excess of what was reasonably used to subsidize the hardware. In a practical sense, you are paying for program guide data and software updates. Since the box is cryptographically locked down, you don't have any alternate choice for guide data nor can you install alternate software. So, you pay Tivo to use the device, take it or leave it, it is what it is.
1817735
I use this with Directv to expand my DVR recording capabilities. It has worked very well. I had a problem with it about 6 months after I purchased it where it wouldn't work. We had lots of data on it that we didn't want to lose. I sent it back to them and they were able to fix it without losing our data. I was very pleased with there service. I am not familiar with Tivo.
2104764
The Tivo would replace your Comcast DVR. You will have to go into Comcast to exchange the Comcast DVR for a CableCard that goes into the back of the Tivo. Comcast will generally credit you for the cost of the cablecard when you return your original box so no extra monthly fees from them. You will however need to pay the monthly Tivo subscription fee. I found it worthwile since the Comcast box can only record 2 shows at a time and the interface on the their guide is terrible. The only issue you may have is Xfinity On-Demand. The Tivo's only support a few cities so far. I am in Chicago (one of their largest markets) and we still do not have on-demand on the Tivo. I end up using my Xbox for on-demand until Comcast rolls out in Chicago.
1594670
The Channel Master DVR+ is designed for use as an OTA (over the air) antenna based DVR. It is an excellent product, it's only limitation is it receives and records channels that can be received with an antenna. The channels in question are subscription cable channels and as such, are not received by a normal TV antenna set up. You will be amazed at what you can get with a quality antenna. We are well pleased with the over 55 channels we receive, many in HD. No compressed signals or sound, EXCELLENT PICTURE. This DVR records HD and SD TV, and also has the ability to pause, rewind, and fast forward TV. I have a 1TB Seagate USB drive plugged into it, which provides over 100 hours of HD recording capability. Now the best part, No monthly rental fees !!!!!!!!!!! Hope this helps.