I currently have Time Warner cable and am using Replay TV's. I am getting an HD TV next week and need some suggestions. I want to ditch TW but I haven't had DTV for a couple of years so I'm sure their hardware has probably changed and I nave never used Dish so I'm not familiar with them. I want to obviously watch HD programs and also want to record them. I plan on having 2 tv's so I want to also be able to watch a recorded show that was recorded on the living room DVR, on the bedroom tv and visa versa. That's probably one reason I've stayed with RTV for so long. Are you able to network the DTV or Dish receivers? Also does Tivo HD receivers work flawlessly with either service. thanks.

There is no easy answer to the question of whether D* or E* are best. It is a matter of personal preference. Both offer HD DVRs and may offer local HD channels where you live. Neither has multi-room viewing as you are looking for. Dish does offer a sort of multi-room viewing where one DVR can serve 1 HD set and 1 SD set.

I can tell you that none of TiVO's current products work with satellite.

Ted

D* = DirecTV
E* = Echostar Dish Network
DTV = Digital Television (usually in reference to OTA)

As of next week when their new satellite is on the air (sept 19th), D* will have more HD content than E*. And more on the way when their next sat launches in a month or two.

What about the new Tivo series 3, how do these work with cable. Are they worth the money. Do they work better with cable than the others' DVR's. If so then I might consider staying with TW and just get a Tivo.

What about the new Tivo series 3, how do these work with cable.

The Series3 (and the TiVoHD) require CableCARD separable access control cards (or one multistream CableCARD, in the case of the TiVoHD) to access channel map data and 5C-encrypted digital cable channels.

Are they worth the money.

That's kind of a subjective question. The TiVoHD is available for $299 (or less from certain places, supposedly as low as $250 if you're lucky); however I have a Series3 box and am exceedingly happy with it.

Do they work better with cable than the others' DVR's.

I've not personally used the cableco DVRs; however, my research to date on the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD and Motorola's HD DVRs (the DCT/DCH-34xx and -64xx units) indicates most of the customers using them are not exactly impressed. They both seem to have many well known, unresolved issues, and don't tend to be exactly reliable.

If so then I might consider staying with TW and just get a Tivo.

You might inquire with your local Time-Warner branch about the availability of CableCARDs, what they'll charge, if a technician visit will be required, etc.; the pricing on the cards varies widely from locale to locale. Don't let them tell you that they don't have CableCARDs - with the advent of the integration ban, they definitely have them, and are required by federal law to have them.

What about the new Tivo series 3, how do these work with cable...More than you ever wanted to know about Tivo, over at:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/

What about the new Tivo series 3, how do these work with cable. Are they worth the money. Do they work better with cable than the others' DVR's. If so then I might consider staying with TW and just get a Tivo.

The Series 3 and TivoHD are great products. Unfortunately, investing in them is a risky proposition as many cablecos "switch" to SDV (Switched Digital Video) to free up bandwidth for additional channels. Currently Tivo S3 and TivoHD are unidirectional CableCard devices which means that they do not currently work with SDV which is a 2-way communications protocol.

Tivo says they are working on a solution to SDV. From the sound of it, it will be a USB "dongle" for the upstream communications. Working in IT, I can tell that anytime anyone suggests using a USB dongle to fix a problem, it is a reason to hire more staff, because they tend to be very problematic.

I, personally, do not trust the cablecos to NOT screw Tivo users, which is why I sadly returned my Series 3 unopened. Also, TWC in my area has had lots of CableCard problems with encrypted channels.

I would suggest you take a hard look at both DISH and DirecTV's HD-DVRs. They are not Tivos, but they tend to be a bit better than what TWC will offer.

Ted

I have an Explorer 8300HD with Cox now. I had SD DirecTV Tivo (Series 1) before. We loved that box. I switched just to get HD, and at the time, local channels were not available in HD via satellite.
I actually tried a Tivo S3 box with Cox Cable, but being unidirectional, as mentioned earlier, it is incapable of getting any pay-per-view shows. I thought this wouldn't be a problem, until they hooked it up and I discovered that NHL Center Ice (along with all other sports subscriptions) is considered PPV, and therefore not available on the Tivo. I sold it the next day and used the Cox-supplied Explorer unit instead.
Compared to Tivo, the Explorer software is... well, it just doesn't compare to Tivo. It's just plain terrible. Unreliable. Awkward. Lacking in many simple features. My wife has not forgiven me for dropping "her Tivo." I am not all that happy about it myself (but I am determined to use HD).
I am about to return to D* for the additional HD Content and the reportedly better DVR unit (the HR20). I figure it can't possibly be worse than the 8300HD.

I have an Explorer 8300HD with Cox now. I had SD DirecTV Tivo (Series 1) before. We loved that box. I switched just to get HD, and at the time, local channels were not available in HD via satellite.
I actually tried a Tivo S3 box with Cox Cable, but being unidirectional, as mentioned earlier, it is incapable of getting any pay-per-view shows. I thought this wouldn't be a problem, until they hooked it up and I discovered that NHL Center Ice (along with all other sports subscriptions) is considered PPV, and therefore not available on the Tivo. I sold it the next day and used the Cox-supplied Explorer unit instead.
Compared to Tivo, the Explorer software is... well, it just doesn't compare to Tivo. It's just plain terrible. Unreliable. Awkward. Lacking in many simple features. My wife has not forgiven me for dropping "her Tivo." I am not all that happy about it myself (but I am determined to use HD).
I am about to return to D* for the additional HD Content and the reportedly better DVR unit (the HR20). I figure it can't possibly be worse than the 8300HD.

I have both the 8300HD (Comcast) and the HR20. (And a Tivo Series 3 and TivoHD). The HR20 is light years away from the 8300. Many, many light years. I'd say the Tivo and the HR20 are comparable but in different ways; I still like the HR20 better, but because of trees, I can't get the D* in my second home :mad: . I returned one of the 8300'S for the Tivo S3 and added the THD to another TV. I kept one for PPV.

Right now I would recommend you sign up with Dish (E*). They have a brand new DVR that is AWESOME! I have been with D* using Tivo for years. Although I am a very BIG Tivo fan, I can honestly say the new Dish DVR is very comparable or even slightly better. It has a 500GB HD and an enabled USB port that supports external hard drives up to 750GB. Thats unlimited HD storage since it allows multiple external hard drives! Also, it has two SD/HD satellite tuners and one OTA tuner. It will record three HD channels at once while allowing a fourth program to be viewed! Very impressive. Worth a look!


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