[bfdtv]

Last Updated: December 29, 2009

The following table compares the off-air and cable HDTV recorders available for purchase and ownership. These are the only standalone products still available that will record high-definition without a satellite subscription or cable STB/DVR rental fees.

There are satellite DVRs that can receive OTA signals, but those leased DVRs do not function without both a satellite subscription and DVR fee. Cable companies will not activate any other consumer-owned DVRs, aside from those below and the discontinued Sony DHD. The Cisco, Motorola, Pace, and Scientific Atlanta recorders sold on ebay/craigslist will not work on any U.S. cable system.

One SD recorder (Magnavox 2160) is included for comparison.

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	Magnavox H2160	TViX 6620N	DTVPal DVR	TivoHD	Moxi	Moxi v2 TRIPLE TUNER
	SD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder
PRICING
Price online	$227	$369 + HDD	$300	$220 $400 for 1TB XL	$499	$799 (Includes extender)
DVR subscription required?	None	None	None	$129/year or $399 payment to eliminate all fees	Included	Included
Total upfront cost without any future fees	$227	$400+	$300	$620 $799 for 1TB XL	$499	$799 (Includes extender)
SOURCES SUPPORTED
Off-air channels from antenna	X	X	X	X
Analog channels on cable	X			(Bugged)	($129 option)	($129 option)
Unencrypted digital channels on cable (SD/HD locals, public service)	X	X		X	X	X
Encrypted digital channels on cable (CNN, TNT, ESPN, HBO, etc)				(With CableCard)	(With CableCard)	(With CableCard)
Switched digital video channels on cable w/ tuning adapter (Issues)				X	X	X*
Display all cable channels with same numbers as cable box				(With CableCard)	X	X
Separate coax inputs for antenna and cable				X
BASIC FUNCTIONALITY
Program guide		(Limited)	X	X	X	X
High-definition picture with Dolby Digital		X	X	X	X	X
Pause, instant replay, and rewind on liveTV	X	X	X	X	X	X
Record X different channels simultaneously	1	2	2	2	2*	3*
Recording time estimate (built-in)	33 SD hours 66 SD hours (SP)		30 HD hours	21 HD hours 157 HD hours on XL	75 HD hours	75 HD hours
Recording time with plug-and-play external drive		300 HD hours*		165 HD hours 300 HD hours on XL	375 HD hours* 1000 HD w/ RAID	375 HD hours* 1000 HD w/ RAID
Record scheduling method	Timers	Timers	Timers	Name-based	Name-based	Name-based
Recorded programs are listed with program title		(Most locals)	X	X	X	X
Record one channel while you watch another live		X	X	X	X	X
Watch a previously recorded program while recording	X		X	X	X	X
Watch a recording-in-progress from the beginning	X		X	X	X	X
Remembers where you left off in every recording	X	X	X	X	X	X
Pause, replay, 30sec skip, slo mo, and multiple speeds of FF/RW	X	(All except slo)	X	X	X	X
Play recordings at 0.8 - 1.3x speed with audio	X
Skip-to-tick or comparable (i.e. skip 15+ minutes at a time)		X		X	X	X
Progress bar (on trickplay) shows current position in video	X	X	X	X	X	X
Conflict management				X	X	X
Record programs it thinks you will like using free space				X
Set default settings for single and series recordings					X	X
Closed captions on recordings	X		X	X	X	X
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Days of information	None	8 hours varies by channel	8 days in these markets	14 days	14 days	14 days
Program titles on all channels		(Most locals)	(Most locals)	X	X	X
Program descriptions on all channels			(Most locals in these markets)	X	X	X
Detailed episode descriptions, actors, and original airdate, new or repeat				X	X	X
Method of guide data delivery		antenna	antenna	Internet or phone	Internet	Internet
Source of program information		PSIP	TVGOS PSIP as backup	Tribune Media via TiVo servers	Tribune Media via Moxi servers	Tribune Media via Moxi servers
Program information available 24/7/365				X	X	X
Program information never goes out for a channel				X	X	X
No CableCard needed for info on unencrypted digital cable channels				(Requires CableCard)	X	X
LIVETV FEATURES
Buffer always active when recorder is on	X	(Only after pause)	X	X	X	X
Buffer time for pause, replay, rewind on liveTV	6 hours SD	Unlimited (One tuner only)	1 hour HD (One tuner only)	1 hour HD (30 mins per tuner)	3-6 hours HD (1.5+ hours per tuner)	5-9 hours HD (1.5+ hours per tuner)
Number of tuners with independent liveTV buffers	1	1	1	2	2	3
Swap between multiple tuners without losing buffer or pause position				X	(Loses position)	(Loses position)
Buffer is not reset when you change the channel on a tuner	X	X
Buffer (i.e. ability to pause, replay) available when recording in background			X	X	X	X
Save entire buffer to a recording	X		X
Save only buffer for current program to recording				X	X	X
RECORD FEATURES
Records HD video without quality loss	(Records in SD)	X	X	X	X	X
Records Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound		X	X	X	X	X
Timer-based recording (records using VCR-like timers)	X	X	X	(User option)
Name-based recording (records and tracks programs by their name)				X	X	X
Record only new episodes and ignore repeats option				X	X	X
Auto-record all future programs matching a saved search (ex: all Yankees games)				X
Series manager to prioritize what is recorded when 3+ programs conflict				X	X	X
Adjusts schedule automatically when programs change their days, times, and/or lengths				X	X	X
Programs missed due to conflicts are automatically recorded the next time they air				X	X	X
Overlap protection to eliminate conflicts when programs overlap by up to 5 minutes				X
Keeps recorded history to prevent same program from recording twice				X	X	X
Restrict series recordings to a single timeslot				(Req manual timer)	X	X
Start recordings early or end late	(Schedule edit)	(Schedule edit)	X	X	X	X
Keep only the last X episodes of a show				X	X	X
Keep each recording "until I delete" or "until space is needed"			X	X	X	X
Deletes oldest recording (not "keep until I delete") when space req'd for new recording			(Bugged)	X	X	X
Record from antenna and cable channels simultaneously				X
Record composite/s-video input	X
Edit or modify recordings	X	(Only after offload)		(Only after offload)
GUIDE FEATURES
Guide implementation (with screenshot)	None	TViX style	Grid	Grid / TiVo-style	Grid / Moxi-style	Grid / Moxi-style
Grid-style guide details		1 channel Up to 5 hrs	9 channels 3 hrs per channel	8 channels 1.5 hrs per channel	6 channels 3 hrs per channel	6 channels 3 hrs per channel
Customizable favorites list				X	(Based on usage)	(Based on usage)
Picture and sound while browsing guide		X		X	X	X
Guide genre filters (show only movies, only sports, etc)				X	X	X
Create recording from program guide selection		X	X	X	X	X
View program guide without interrupting recorded playback				X	X	X
Record indicators for future programs in guide			X		X	X
Permanently delete individual channels from box		X	X	X	X	X
Displays antenna and cable channels in a single guide				X
Displays digital and analog cable channels in a single guide				X	(With analog dongle)	(With analog dongle)
Connects daily to an Internet time server to ensure accurate clock		X		X	X	X
Navigate through guide 90+ minutes at a time				X	X	X
Navigate through guide 24 hours at a time		X	X	X	X	X
Guide data available for past timeslots				X
SEARCH FEATURES
Search program titles and descriptions			X	X	X	X
Record a single program found with search			X	X	X	X
Search program titles, descriptions, actors, directors, and categories				X	X	X
Search with multiple fields and boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT)				X
Save searches with option to automatically record all future matches				X
Search available titles on Netflix, Amazon Unbox VOD, and Blockbuster VOD				X
DVR UI
High-definition user interface (with screenshot)		X	(Upconverted SD)	(SD on HD background)	X	X
Number of programs shown on recorded list screen	6	7	6	8	10	10
Recorded list shows name and date of every recording		(Only for OTA)	(Name only)	X	X	X
Recorded list can be sorted by name or date	(Date only)	(Date only)	X	X	(Name only)	(Name only)
Multiple episodes of same program grouped into folders with episode names and dates				X	X	X
Play entire folder of recordings, back-to-back with one button press				X
Single-click delete with Recently Deleted folder and undelete				X
Record schedule shows names and dates of all upcoming programs		(Locals only)		X	X	X
Recorded history shows why programs didn't record			(Limited)	X	X	X
Free disk space estimate	X	X	X	(Recently Deleted)	X	X
No advertising of any kind	X	X	X	pause, main menu	X	X
CAPACITY EXPANSION
Hard drive capacity (internal)	160 GB	(Sold separately)	250 GB	160 GB 1000 GB on XL	500 GB	500 GB
External drive interface		USB		eSATA	eSATA	eSATA
Plug-and-play external drive expansion		Up to 2 TB		Up to 1 TB	Up to 6 TB w/ RAID	Up to 6 TB w/ RAID
Maximum recording time with plug-and-play expansion		300 HD hours		165 HD hours 300 HD hours on XL	375 HD hours (2TB) 1000 HD hours (RAID)	375 HD hours (2TB) 1000 HD hours (RAID)
Interface seamlessly integrates contents of internal and external drives				X	X	X
Contents of external drive are encrypted and inaccessible to a PC				X	X	X
Allows unlimited number of interchangeable, plug-and-play drives					X	X
Allows internal hard drive upgrades (voids warranty)	Up to 500 GB	Up to 2 TB	Up to 1 TB	Up to 1.26 TB Up to 2.1 TB on XL
REMOTE
Remote scheduling via the web and mobile phone				X	X	X
Real-time conflict management for remote scheduling					X	X
Edit and/or delete scheduled recordings online					X	X
View list of recorded programs and upcoming / scheduled recordings online				X	X	X
PARENTAL CONTROL OPTIONS
Separate, content filtered recorded list for children with PIN-protected main list				X
Require 4-digit PIN to view blocked content			X	X	X	X
Block certain channels (i.e. require PIN to tune)			X	X	X	X
Block TV programs at or above certain rating (ex: TV PG)			(If info available)	X	X	X
Block movies at or above certain rating (ex: R, NC-17)			(If info available)	X	X	X
Block unrated movies and/or TV programs			X	X	X	X
Block all programs with specific content (sexual content, violence, etc)			(If info available)	X
Parental controls temporarily disabled when PIN is entered, and then:			X	X	X	X
(a) Parental controls re-enable after channel change or recording exit			X
(b) Parental controls re-enable after a preset time period					X	X
(c) Parental controls re-enable after period of remote inactivity				X	(Uses preset timer)	(Uses preset timer)
(d) Parental controls re-enable after DVR is set to off/standby				X	(Uses preset timer)	(Uses preset timer)
Parental controls can be turned off completely (with PIN)			X	X	X	X
OFFLOAD RECORDINGS
Offload implementation		SAMBA, FTP		HTTP View 1, 2
Download all recorded files from OTA & unencrypted cable channels		X		X
Download all recorded files from encrypted cable channels flagged as CCI=0x00				X
Download all recorded files from encrypted cable channels flagged as CCI=0x02
Software to automatically download episodes of favorite series after they record				X
All recordings downloaded as is, including full HD with DD5.1		X		X
View and edit recorded files on a computer		X		X
Burn recorded files to Blu-ray disk or DVD		X		X
Transfer recordings to mobile device (iPod, ZuneHD, etc)		(W/ other software)		X
Transfer HD and SD recorded files from computer back to DVR		X		X
Format of recorded files		TS		MPG
MULTI-ROOM FUNCTIONALITY
Multi-room implementation				Transfers to other DVRs	Streams to DVRs or extenders	Streams to DVRs or extenders
Each DVR can send HD recordings to X rooms simultaneously				1	1	2
Multi-room viewing works with copy protected recordings (ex: HBO)					X	X
Pause a recording in one room and resume it in a another				X	X	X
Completed recordings can be viewed in another room				X	X	X
Recordings-in-progress can be viewed in another room					X	X
FF/REW through entire recordings without waiting for transfer					X	X
All DVRs in home can share a single series manager
Recorded programs on multiple DVRs are all combined into a single list				(Sub menu)	X	X
Network throughput sufficient to skip all commercials without delay				Sometimes	Always	Always
Set-top extenders available to view recorded programs					X	X (One extender included)
Set-top extenders can schedule, manage, and delete recordings
Set-top extenders can view EPG and liveTV using DVR's tuners					X	X
PC MEDIA
DLNA compliant		X			X	X
Native DIVX support		X		(Requires transcoding)	X	X
Native MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1 support		X	(Not in software)	X	X	X
Browse network shares without PC software		X
Transfer PC videos to DVR for viewing		X		X
Stream PC videos to DVR for viewing		X		(Limited)	X	X
Play music stored on computer elsewhere in home	(DVD only)	X		X	X	X
View pictures stored on computer elsewhere in home	(DVD only)	X		X	X	X
Play videos, music, or view pictures while recording TV	(DVD only)			X	X	X
NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Wired network connection		100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps
Wireless network connection		802.11n	(Requires bridge)	($39 option)	(Requires bridge)	(Requires bridge)
Connects daily to an Internet time server to ensure accurate clock		X		X	X	X
Download software updates using network connection		X	X	X	X	X
Ticker bar to show headlines, stock ticker, sports scores on screen					X	X
Subscribe to specific RSS video feeds and podcasts				X
Amazon OnDemand SD/HD with "TV Passes"				X
Blockbuster OnDemand SD/HD				X
Roxio CinemaNow					(Coming in 2010)	(Coming in 2010)
Vudu OnDemand HD and HDX
Netflix SD/HD streaming				X	Netflix SD (Requires PC software)	Netflix SD (Requires PC software)
Youtube		X		X	(Requires PC software)	(Requires PC software)
CONNECTIONS
HDMI / Component	X/X	X/-	X/X	X/X	X/X	X/X
S-Video / Composite	X/X	-/X	-/X	X/X	X/X	X/X
High-definition output through HDMI and component?		(HDMI only)	X	X	X	X
Downconverts HD video to SD over s-video and composite connections	X	(Composite only)	(Composite only)	X	X	X
Native output mode to output all video as is without conversion				X	X	X
All HD and SD outputs active simultaneously			X	X	(Only in SD mode)	(Only in SD mode)
Allows 16:9 anamorphic output through SD connections	X	?	X	X
Coax passthrough for TV tuner	X		(When off)
HARDWARE DETAILS
Product release date	Dec 2008	Nov 2009	Dec 2008	Jul 2007	Apr 2009	Nov 2009
System processor	?	Realtek RTD1283 (400MHz)	STMicro STi7109 (266MHz)	Broadcom BCM7401 (300MHz)	Broadcom BCM7400 (350MHz)	Broadcom BCM7400 (350MHz)
System memory	32 MB (?)	256 MB	160 MB	256 MB	256 MB	512 MB
Hard drive	WD1600AVBB		WD2500AAJS	WD1600AVBS WD10EVVS in XL	?	?
Tuners (built-in)	1 ATSC 1 QAM 1 NTSC	2 ATSC 2 QAM	2 ATSC	2 ATSC 2 QAM 2 NTSC	2 QAM	3 QAM
Multistream CableCard slot				X	X	X
Power consumption	33W (in use)	20W (in use)	22W	34W	32W	32W
OTHER
Requires phone line? Requires Internet connection?	No	No	No	(Req Internet or phone)	(Req Internet)	(Req Internet)
Supports cable company OnDemand	No	No	N/A	No	No	No
Built-in DVD writer	X
WARRANTY
Parts warranty	One year	One year	90 days	One year	One year	One year
Extended warranty available?	Walmart.com 2 years for $20 3 years for $29		Sears.com 2yr for $45	TiVo.com 2 years for $30 3 years for $40
Cost to repair/replace after warranty expires	?	$369	$300	$150	$75 + parts cost	$75 + parts cost
Cost to transfer lifetime service to a replacement DVR	N/A	N/A	N/A	Free for three years $199 after three years	N/A	N/A
SCREENSHOTS
Recorded list			View	View 1, 2, 3	View	View
Program guide		View	View 1, 2	View 1, 2	View 1, 2	View 1, 2
Program info			View	View	View	View
Record schedule			View	View
Search			View	View 1, 2	View 1, 2	View 1, 2
Main menu			View	View	View	View
Progress bar			View	View	View	View
Create recording			View	View	View	View
Record options			View	View	View	View
Manage/edit programs to record			View	View
Network video playback				View 1, 2
Multi-room viewing				View 1, 2
Offload recordings				View 1, 2, 3
VIDEO DEMOS				View	View	View
DISCUSSION THREADS	View	View	View	View	View	View

Notes

* Triple-tuner Moxi functions as a dual-tuner DVR when a Cisco STA1520 SDV tuning adapter is connected. Moxi does not exhibit this limitation with the Motorola MTR700 tuning adapter.

* Moxi allows recording of one analog channel when the $129 USB analog dongle is connected. The analog dongle is treated as a separate third or fourth tuner, all of which can be used at the same time.

* This capacity assumes use of 2TB external drive.