I hope this is the right forum!!

I am looking for a DVR that I can use with Over-The-Air transmissions.

I am in the processing of telling DishNetwork that I do not want to use their service. They keep going up and up and up on their prices. I see no end!!

Here are my specs:

DVD Recorder- Panasonic DMR-EZ475V

DVR- DishNetwork DISHDVR510

Antenna- ChannelMaster 3679c UHF/VHF

Roto- Channel Master 9521 IR Controller rotor/with butyl seal

Amplifer- Motorola 1 GHz amplifier with an FM filter added

Assuming that Dish will let me keep the DISHDVR510, can I use it for my DVR for my OTA? Is this technically possible?

I have been able connect the Panasonic DVR to the DISH DVR and burn a dvd, so I know they like each other.

If DISH lets me keep the DVR, what should I pay for it assuming that DISH will not let me have it for free? I have had the DVR for over three years.

If there is no way to keep and/or use the DISH DVR, is there another DVR that I can use? I want no monthly fees. I do not want TiVo, Comcast, Direct, DISH, etc. DVRs if there is a monthly fee involved!!

I would like a DVR with a large hard drive 250 G or bigger and it would be nice if also had a DVD Recorder with it.

It seems no one makes a DVR anymore. Panasonic use to, but no more.
I read about Archos TV+, but the reviews tell me it is not ready for prime time yet.

The DVR can be new or refurbished. It should have a warranty, too.

So, can some one direct me to a DVR, please!!!

Thank you

Are you OK with standard def-only? If so, then check out the Philips DVDR3575H. There's a couple of big threads here on it.

Or, if you just want to use the digital tuner you already have in the Panny, you can get an international model Panasonic or Pioneer with up to a 500 GB HDD from www.world-import.com or www.bhphotovideo.com (or better yet, a Canadian model, if you can manage to get one over here somehow). But then you'll have to manually synch-timer program both the EZ475V AND the other recorder. And the warranty on those is only 90 days labor/1 yr. parts - although they're a bit better built than the Philips to begin with, so the chances are better that you might not even need that warranty in the first year.

Otherwise, you might want to wait 'till August for the no-fee Echostar TR-50 dual-tuner, OTA DVR, since you've already got a DVD recorder. It will have a free guide which you can program through, and you won't have to set manual timers like with the others. There's a thread on it over in the HDTV Hardware subforum here.

Dish is not going to let you keep using your DVR for OTA. The minute you stop paying it will stop, including the OTA's.
I agree with Ramm, I too am waiting for the TR-50. The date keeps getting further and further away, like the cat chasing it's tail:D
Or you could go with Tivo. Either their $699 lifetime no fee package, or there monthly fee, which should be much less than dish.

To: Rammitinski and jjeff
From: joseph1949

Thank you for the replies.

I had half-forgot about the Echostar TR-50. I have received two of the converter box coupons. The "VALID THRU" date is 05/26/2008 for the two coupons. The date is a bit late for the TR-50 since it will not be out until July/2008(?). I could maybe workout a deal with them and give DISH my two coupons before the VALID DATE is up. I would then get my TR-50s as soon as they are ready to be shipped. The only possible flaw in this plan is that I do not want to buy a pig-a-poke. I would like to know how well the unit works before buying it. Consumer Reports(CR) is the only place that is testing converter boxes that I trust. As of now, they have no plans to test the TR-50. One can assume they will test the unit as soon as it is available. One can get a idea about the TR-50 when CR does a test on the TR-40(being sold now I believe). CR has said nothing about testing the TR-40, though.

CR has performed a limited test(s) on the following units:

Insigina NS-DXA1
Magnavox TB100MW9
Zenith DTT900

Of the three, CR liked the Zenith the best. CR said that they will be performing a longer test on the boxes in the near future-stay tuned!

I could solve most of my problems if I bought a new PC with the correct software and hardware. I would need the Media Center software and two or more TV tuners (standard or HD), etc. I have a old PC(Dell in Oct/99). It has been updated to Widows XP, 256 Ram, 80 G harddrive, and a 125 G external drive(for backup). I do not want to use this computer for DVR purposes. I would like to buy a new PC(from Dell or HP), but I have been putting it off because of the bad reports concering the Vista OS. I could wait for the next OS to come out, but that could take 2+ years(if I want to wait for the Security Package 2 or latter for the new OS). In any event, I may have to get the Vista OS (with SP 3, please!) and hope for the best.

I would like to know if there is a stand alone device or software/device for my new PC that would automatically move my antenna to the best position(assuming I input the best position for each channel) for each channel? I would only have to key in the channel on the schedule box on the screen and the device would would move the antenna to the correct position(based on the time and day set-up on the schedule box). The device would have to interface with my rotor and Panasonic DVD Recorder and/or with my PC.

My rotor has four basic positions and from there I have to fine tune the antenna to get the best picture for each channel. As you can see this presents a problem when I schedule a number of channels to be recorded. This is not a set-and-forget procedure. I have to move the antenna by hand for each channel to get the best picture or any picture at all. This is the reason why I need an automatic device to move my antenna. Can you help me, please?

Thank you.

I had half-forgot about the Echostar TR-50. I have received two of the converter box coupons. The "VALID THRU" date is 05/26/2008 for the two coupons. The date is a bit late for the TR-50 since it will not be out until July/2008(?). It's already too late for the TR-50 as far as your coupons go. The TR-50 is a hi-def DVR not a converter box. It is not coupon eligible.

I am looking for a DVR that I can use with Over-The-Air transmissions.

Tivo Series 3 or Tivo HD.

I could solve most of my problems if I bought a new PC with the correct software and hardware. I would need the Media Center software and two or more TV tuners (standard or HD), etc. I have a old PC(Dell in Oct/99). It has been updated to Widows XP, 256 Ram, 80 G harddrive, and a 125 G external drive(for backup). I do not want to use this computer for DVR purposes. I would like to buy a new PC(from Dell or HP), but I have been putting it off because of the bad reports concering the Vista OS. I could wait for the next OS to come out, but that could take 2+ years(if I want to wait for the Security Package 2 or latter for the new OS). In any event, I may have to get the Vista OS (with SP 3, please!) and hope for the best.

I would like to know if there is a stand alone device or software/device for my new PC that would automatically move my antenna to the best position(assuming I input the best position for each channel) for each channel? I would only have to key in the channel on the schedule box on the screen and the device would would move the antenna to the correct position(based on the time and day set-up on the schedule box). The device would have to interface with my rotor and Panasonic DVD Recorder and/or with my PC.Well, last time I looked, there was still no law that said you have to have Vista on a new PC. A lot of people out there are still choosing not to. You can get (the basic, pre-2005) XP, and the Media Center software and hardware really cheap from Amazon. And you can still pre-order it with some PC's.

You could also get rid of some of Vista's bloat by trimming it down with the free, "vLite 1.1 Final" program.

Anyhow, in response to the second part, some of the new CECB ATSC converter boxes can be interfaced with a "Smart Antenna", which does something like what you're talking about. The converter boxes are only SD, of course, but it also works with certain models of older Sylvania ATSC HD tuners, if you can find one of those. Search here and online for more info on those items.

As far as exactly like you're requesting, maybe someone else here knows of such a thing.

Thank you for your replies.

I have another question.

I believe I need an distribution amplifier to go on my cable.

Here is how I am hooked-up: the cable runs from the outside OTA antenna to a Motorola 1 Ghz amplifier(with an FM Filter added) and from the amplifier to the B side of a A/B switch.

A cable runs from the DishNetwork antenna to the Dish DVR. A cable runs from the TV-out on the Dish DVR and this cable runs to the A side of the A/B switch.

A cable is connected to the middle(out) of the A/B switch and this cable runs to the outside to an one-in/four-out splitter. There are five cables connected to the splitter-one in and four out. Two of the four outs run inside to two TVs. For the other two outs- one runs inside with no TV connected to it and the fourth out runs outside for a outside TV( weather permitting). Whew!! Got all that?

Please note-at any one time only one TV is being watched.

My picture on my TV is worse if the signal goes through the one/four splitter compared to the signal that does not go through the splitter. I also know that
the A/B switch degrades the signal.

Here is the question: would a distribution amplifier help the signal if I keep everything as is. If the amp would help, where would I place the amp in the line?

Here are some facts to keep in mind:

1. In the near future I will not be getting DishNetwork. All my signals will be OTA after I stop DishNetwork.

2. I will be getting a TV digital convertor box with in the next three months.

Will the box act like a amplifier? If so, would I still need a distribution amp?

3. I have a Panasonic DVD Recorder that I will be recording the OTA channels. The recorder is not next to any one of my two main TVs(the two TVs connected to the one/four splitter). The recorder is where I have my entertaiment hub. The hub has a TV(an old fashion CRT model) that I use as a monitor to determine the best OTA siginal when using the antenna rotor. The Motorola amp is located at the hub as is the Dish DVR and the A/B switch. There is approx. 50' feet of cable from the OTA antenna to the hub and 50' of cable from the hub to the outside splitter. There is 15' of cable from the Dish antenna to the Dish DVR. There is 25' of cable from the one/four splitter to each of the inside TVs.

4. I can replace the one-in/four-out splitter with an one-in/two-out splitter.

Would this help the signal (with or without the distribution amp and with only one TV being on at any one time)?

5. Besides the convertor box I will also be getting a replacement DVR to replace the Dish DVR. The new DVR could be an ECHOSTAR TR-50 if the reviews are good.

6. There is a good chance I will keep using the A/B switch after stopping DishNetwork.

So with all of this in mind, do I get a distribution amp(and where do I place it in the line) now or do I wait to get the convertor box and the new DVR and see what develops?

If I can use a distribution amp, can you recommend the type, model, and brand? I live close to a Radio Shack store.

Please note that I do not need a distribution amp for the TV located at the entertainment hub.

Thank you

What model of Panasonic DVD recorder do you have?

If you want it to be able to change the channels on the converter box, it will have to have an IR blaster (so far codes have been found that will control the Zenith/Insignia and the RCA boxes - the Digital Stream possibly, also).

Otherwise, the boxes have no way of changing channels on their own. None of them have any kind of built-in timer. Only the Echostar TR-40, which won't be out 'till at least July, will have one.

(FYI: the only newer DVD recorders which have IR blasters are the LG's. Also, no, none of the converter boxes act as amplifiers really. Maybe very mildly at most)

joeseph1949,

I have a similar situation and a distribution amp works wonders. I have an antenna which feeds into a Radio Shack high-gain amplifier. It comes out of the amp to a 3/1 passive splitter which leads off to the kitchen, exercise room and family room. The kitchen/exercise rooms have only 1 tap, the coax feeds directly into a single TV. Picture is excellent for both digital and analog. The family room feeds the cable into a 4-way powered splitter (amp) which doesn't add much gain but just compensates for the loss due to the split. I bought this at Best Buy. The 4-way powered splitter feeds a TV, E-85 DVDR and 2 VCRs. Many nights, all 4 are running and PQ is excellent.

These amps are both several years old so giving you model numbers would be meaningless. Go to Radio Shack first, make sure any amplifer you get will support higher frequency for digital signals. I know the R-S amp I have works with digital but I've never tested the 4-way powered splitter for digital. It was only $20 at BB. I bought it as an experiment for my analog feeds and the experiment worked very well. Without these amplifiers my signal is too weak to feed all the inputs and I get crappy PQ. With the amps the picture is very clear and as good as analog gets.

I'm a little confused about what your Motorola 1GHZ amp is for. Is it a mast mount pre-amp? If it's a distribution amp you really don't want to have 2 distribution amps in series. It would be ok to have a mast mount preamp followed by a distribution though.

I would either get a distribution amp with a built in 4 way splitter(real common) or get a 20+ db distribution amp before your 4-way. Note any unused ports on a splitter should have a terminating resistor installed somewhere on the line. If you don't you risk various problems from a untapped port. It's better to have it hooked up to a TV, even if not using it, than just leaving the cable hanging. Terminating resistors are only a couple bucks or less.
I recently purchased a 4-way splitter/amp from Home depot. I hooked it up for a friend and it seems to work just fine. Less than $20. I think it was GE or maybe Philips brand. Radio shack is also a good place to look. Make sure it's for UHF or capable of 900MHZ. Most of the digital channels lie in UHF.

Thank you for your replies.

For Rammitinski:

I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ475V DVD Recorder. I got it at Costco. Please see my first post for a list of my equipment.

You talk about a IR blaster and codes for a Zenith/Insignia and the RCA boxes, etc. Does this mean I can get a IR blaster and one of the boxes that you mentioned and have a means to change the channels on their own?

Please explain how this well work esp. with my Panasonic DVD Recorder.

What I think I will need is a DVR that will change the channels for me. Now you have to understand that I have to preset the antenna via the rotor for each channel that I want to record. I may get lucky and get more than one channel on a rotation (example: PBS and NBC). I live in a center of four cardinal positions where I point the antenna. If I point the antenna to one of the cardinal positions (the rotor is preset for four directions) I still have to fine tune the antenna to get a good picture for one station. The possiblity of me getting a good picture on two stations with one fine tuning is slim-very slim. For me to get a good picture I have to do two things: move the antenna to a cardinal position and fine tune the antenna to get a good picture on a station. If I lived in a big city I would not have this problem. I would set the antenna once and get a good picture on a number of stations. The cable industry was created for people like me.

My problem is that I watch maybe three to six hours of TV per week. I am paying Dish approx. $44/month for this. I think this is way too much money and I can see it only going up and up and up in the future. I do not wish to pay Dish any more money. I do not want to pay anyone a fee so I can watch TV (i.e. TiVo). NO MORE FEES!!!!!!!!!

A DVR that can change channels for me is a mute point. I will have to change the channels-period. All I need is a DVR that has a big hard drive and the ability to add on external hard drives. It would be nice if it had a easy way to enter a schedule to record a show. But remember I still have to move the antenna to get the station. If the DVR had a good DVD Recorder that would be great also. The odds of someone finding a good DVR/DVD Recorder package is slim and none. In my opinion, if someone came up with such a package they would be sued by TiVo (i.e. Dish was sued by TiVo for having a DVR-only unit which was using TiVo's patents) and by the Movie Industry. No, a good DVR/DVD Recorder package is far in the future-if ever.

I just want a DVR that will work with my Panasonic DVD Recorder.

Thank you.

For Kelson:

I was planning to get the Radio Shack Bidirectional Cable-TV amplifier(Model: 15-2505) or their 1-to-4 Bidirectional Cable-TV Amplifier(Catalog #: 15-2506). I live next door to a Radio Shack store. The closest Best Buy store is 25 miles from me. I will be going to Radio Shack first. I will be using your information when I go to the Radio Shack store. I am thinking that I will wait and get my convertor box and DVR before buying the amplifier. I want to see how things shake out before buying the amp. In the mean time, I can by-pass the A/B switch and the one/four splitter if I want the best possible picture!

Thank you.

For jjeff:

The Motorola amp. is inside and it is connected to the cable from the OTA antenna. This amp. is my main amp. I need a distribution amp.(see my message above for Kelson) because the signal coming from the Motorola amp. is degraded because of a A/B switch and a one-in/four-out splitter downstream from the Motorola amp. I live three miles from a Home Depot store. I will see what they have. In the future, I will only be using the minimum splitter for my needs(i.e.-one-in/two-out). I will get a terminating resistor(s) if necessary. Like Kelson, I will use your information when I go buy a distribution amp!

Thank you.

All I need is a DVR that has a big hard drive and the ability to add on external hard drives. It would be nice if it had a easy way to enter a schedule to record a show.The TR-50 is the only fee-less DVR that can accept an external hard drive that I know of. It'll also have an 8-day guide which you can program recordings through.

But nothing will help you with having to move the antenna - that's the big problem with using recorders OTA. All you can really do is try a multi-directional antenna.

As far as the IR blaster, you can't just "add" one to your particular model. The capability has to be built into the unit first. Like I said, only the newer LG's, and some of the older model recorders have it. Pannies used to have it, but not for a couple of model lines now.

But nothing will help you with having to move the antenna - that's the big problem with using recorders OTA. All you can really do is try a multi-directional antenna.How will a rotor antenna work with a digital tuner? Don't you have to do a channel scan for the digitals. And from what I've read, if it doesn't pick it up on the scan you cannot add a channel like you can with analog. Is that not true?

So every time you rotate the antenna do you have to do another channel scan?

I wasn't referring to using a rotor. I was talking about using an antenna which is specifically made to receive signals from multiple directions (I really should've said "omni-directional" ones, since that's what they're officially called). Those are often not very reliable, though. Especially in dense areas (multipath) and at distances past 25 miles. And most are only really "bi-directional" in opposite directions.

In answer to your questions, some tuners will let you punch in the channel (the "real" channel # - then it will change automatically to the virtual one when it picks up the PSIP). You'd just have to turn the antenna to get it in and program it in - and it will stay in there. All of my standalone HD tuners will either let you do that or re-scan in new channels without deleting the others (my Pio plasma's tuner won't, though). But then turning the antenna is the problem for recording. A rotor, of course, won't help at all then.