HDTV DVR Comparison - Consumer Owned Units

Last Updated: May 19, 2010

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 DISCONTINUED	Tivo Premiere	Moxi	Moxi v2 TRIPLE TUNER
	SD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder	HD Recorder
INTRO & PRICING
Release date	Dec 2008	Nov 2009	Dec 2008	Jul 2007	Apr 2010	Apr 2009	Nov 2009
Price online	$227	$369 + HDD	$299	$175 XL: $349	$229-299 XL: $399-499	$499	$599
DVR subscription fees required?	None	None	None	$12.99/mo or $129/yr	$12.99/mo or $129/yr	Included	Included
One-time payment as alternative to fees?	None	None	None	$299-399	$299-399	Included	Included
Total upfront cost without any future fees	$227	$400+	$300	$575 XL: $750	$598-699 XL: $698-$898	$499	$599
TUNERS	1 ATSC/QAM/NTSC	2 ATSC/QAM	2 ATSC	2 ATSC/QAM/NTSC	2 ATSC/QAM/NTSC	2 QAM	3 QAM
SOURCES SUPPORTED
Antenna: Off-air channels	X	X	X	X	X
Cable: Analog channels*	X			(Unreliable)	X	($129 option)	($129 option)
Cable: Unencrypted digital SD/HD locals	X	(Unreliable)		X	X	X	X
Cable: Encrypted digital cable channels with CableCard				X	X	X	X
Cable: Switched Digital Video compatible (Issues)				(Requires TA)	(Requires TA)	(Requires TA)	(Requires TA)*
Separate coax inputs for antenna and cable				X	X
BASIC FUNCTIONALITY
Program guide			X	X	X	X	X
High-definition picture with Dolby Digital		X	X	X	X	X	X
Pause, instant replay, and rewind on liveTV	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Record X different channels simultaneously	1	2	2	2	2	2*	3**
Recording time estimate (built-in)	33 SD hours (66 SD w/ SP)		30 HD hours	21 HD hours XL: 157 HD hours	46 HD hours XL: 156 HD hours	75 HD hours	75 HD hours
Recording time with plug-and-play external drive		300 HD hours*		165 HD hours XL: 300 HD hours	190 HD hours XL: 300 HD hours	375 HD hours*	375 HD hours*
Record scheduling method	Timers	Timers	Timers	Name-based	Name-based	Name-based	Name-based
Recorded programs are listed with program title			X	X	X	X	X
Watch one channel while you record another		X	X	X	X	X	X
Watch a previously recorded program while recording	X		X	X	X	X	X
Watch a recording-in-progress from the beginning	X		X	X	X	X	X
Remembers where you left off in every recording	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Pause, replay, 30sec skip, slo mo, multiple speeds of FF/RW	X	(All except slo)	X	X	X	X	X
Skip 15+ minutes at a time		X		X	X	X	X
Play recordings at 0.8 - 1.3x speed with audio	X
Progress bar (on trickplay) shows current position in video	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Conflict management				X	X	X	X
Record programs it thinks you will like using free space				X	X
Set default settings for single and series recordings					X	X	X
Correctly handles Daylight Savings Time (DST) changes	(Manual)	X	(Unreliable)	X	X	X	X
Closed captions on recordings	X		X	X	X	X	X
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Method of guide data delivery		antenna	antenna	Internet or phone	Internet or phone	Internet	Internet
Days of information	None	Current program (when available)	8 days in these markets	14 days	14 days	14 days	14 days
Program titles on all channels			Most locals	X	X	X	X
Basic program descriptions			Most locals in these markets	X	X	X	X
Poster images for every program					X
Detailed program descriptions, actors, original airdate, new or repeat				X	X	X	X
Program information available 24/7/365				X	X	X	X
Program information never goes out for a channel				X	X	X	X
No CableCard needed for info on ClearQAM channels				(Requires CableCard)	(Requires CableCard)	X	X
Source of program information		PSIP	TVGOS PSIP as backup	Tribune Media via TiVo servers	Tribune+Rovi via TiVo servers	Tribune Media via Moxi servers	Tribune Media via Moxi servers
LIVETV FEATURES
Buffer always active when recorder is on	X	(Only after pause)	X	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)	1 hour HD (30 mins per tuner)	3+ hours HD (1.5+ hrs per tuner)	4.5+ hours HD (1.5+ hrs per tuner)
Number of tuners with independent liveTV buffers	1	1	1	2	2	2	3
Swap between multiple tuners without losing buffer or pause position				X	X	(Loses position)	(Loses position)
Pause, replay, etc available when recording in background			X	X	X	X	X
Buffer is not reset when you change the channel on a tuner	X	X
Save entire buffer to a recording	X		X
Save buffer for current program to recording				X	X	X	X
RECORD FEATURES
Records HD video without quality loss	(Records in SD)	X	X	X	X	X	X
Records Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound		X	X	X	X	X	X
Timer-based recording (records using VCR-like timers)	X	X	X	(User option)	(User option)
Name-based recording (records and tracks programs by their name)				X	X	X	X
Record only new episodes and ignore repeats option				X	X	X	X
Custom series recordings to record by user-defined criteria				X	X
Series manager to prioritize what is recorded when 3+ programs conflict				X	X	X	X
Adjusts schedule automatically when programs change their days, times, and/or lengths				X	X	X	X
Programs missed due to conflicts are automatically recorded the next time they air				X	X	X	X
Overlap protection to eliminate conflicts when programs overlap by up to 5 minutes				X	X
Keeps recorded history to prevent same program from recording twice				X	X	X	X
Restrict series recordings to a single timeslot				(Req manual timer)	(Req manual timer)	X	X
Start recordings early or end late	(Schedule edit)	(Schedule edit)	X	X	X	X	X
Keep only the last X episodes of a show				X	X	X	X
Keep each recording "until I delete" or "until space is needed"			X	X	X	X	X
Deletes oldest recording (not "keep until I delete") when space req'd for new recording			(Bugged)	X	X	X	X
Record from antenna and cable channels simultaneously				X	X
Record composite/s-video input	X
Edit recorded video	X	(Only after offload)		(Only after offload)	(Only after offload)
GUIDE FEATURES
Guide implementation	None	None	Grid	Grid / TiVo-style	Grid / TiVo-style	Grid / Moxi-style	Grid / Moxi-style
Grid-style guide details			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	X	(Based on usage)	(Based on usage)
Picture window while browsing guide				(Overlay)	X	X	X
Guide genre filters (show only movies, only sports, etc)				X	X	X	X
Create recording from program guide selection			X	X	X	X	X
View program guide without interrupting recorded playback				X	X	X	X
Record indicators for future programs in guide			X		(Not at release)	X	X
Permanently delete individual channels from box		X	X	X	X	X	X
Displays antenna and cable channels in a single guide				X	X
Displays digital and analog cable channels in a single guide				X	X	(With analog dongle)	(With analog dongle)
Connects daily to an Internet time server to ensure accurate clock		X		X	X	X	X
Navigate through guide 90+ minutes at a time				X	X	X	X
Navigate through guide 24 hours at a time			X	X	X	X	X
Guide data available for past timeslots				X	X
SEARCH FEATURES
Search program titles and descriptions			X	X	X	X	X
Search results sorted by name or popularity			(Name only)	X	X	(Name only)	(Name only)
Search program titles, descriptions, actors, directors, and categories				X	X	X	X
Search with multiple fields and boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT)				X	X
Save searches				X	X
Record all future matches of a saved search (examples)				X	X
Search available VOD titles on Netflix, Amazon, and Blockbuster				X	X
DVR UI
High-definition DVR interface (with screenshot)		Some menus	Upconverted SD	SD on HD background	X	X	X
Picture window in menus / Can it be hidden or turned off?			(Most) No, always on		X Yes, can be disabled	X No, always on	X No, always on
Number of programs shown on recorded list screen	6	7	6	8	9	10	10
Recorded list shows name and date of every recording		(Only for OTA)	(Name only)	X	X	X	X
Recorded list can be sorted by name or date	(Date only)	(Date only)	X	X	X	(Name only)	(Name only)
Recorded list distinguishes between watched and unwatched programs					X
Multiple episodes of same program grouped into folders with episode names and dates				X	X	X	X
Play entire folder of recordings, back-to-back with one button press				X	X
Single-click delete with Recently Deleted folder and undelete				X	X
Record schedule shows names and dates of all upcoming programs		(Locals only)		X	X	X	X
Recorded history shows why programs didn't record			(Limited)	X	X	X	X
Free disk space estimate	X	X	X	(Recently Deleted)	X	X	X
No advertising of any kind	X	X	X	pause, main menu		X	X
CAPACITY EXPANSION
External drive interface		USB		eSATA	eSATA	eSATA	eSATA
Plug-and-play external drive expansion		Up to 2 TB		Up to 1 TB	Up to 1TB	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	190 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	X
Contents of external drive are encrypted and inaccessible to a PC				X	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	Up to 2.2 TB	?	?
REMOTE SCHEDULING
Schedule recordings via web and mobile phone				X	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 recordings online				X	X	X	X
PARENTAL CONTROL OPTIONS
Separate, content filtered recorded list for children				X	(Only in SD UI)
Require 4-digit PIN to view blocked content			X	X	X	X	X
Block certain channels (i.e. require PIN to tune)			X	X	X	X	X
Block TV programs at or above certain rating (ex: TV PG)			(If info available)	X	X	X	X
Block movies at or above certain rating (ex: R, NC-17)			(If info available)	X	X	X	X
Block unrated movies and/or TV programs			X	X	X	X	X
Block all programs with specific content (sexual content, violence, etc)			(If info available)	X	X
Parental controls temporarily disabled when PIN is entered, and then:			X	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	X	(Uses preset timer)	(Uses preset timer)
(d) Parental controls re-enable after DVR is set to off/standby				X	X	(Uses preset timer)	(Uses preset timer)
Parental controls can be turned off completely (with PIN)			X	X	X	X	X
OFFLOAD RECORDINGS
Offload implementation		SAMBA, FTP		HTTP View 1, 2	HTTP View 1, 2
Download all recorded files from OTA & unencrypted cable channels		X		X	X
Download all recorded files from encrypted cable channels flagged as CCI=0x00				X	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	X
All recordings downloaded as is, including full HD with DD5.1		X		X	X
View and edit recorded files on a computer		X		X	X
Burn recorded files to Blu-ray disk or DVD		X		X	X
Transfer recordings to mobile device (iPod, ZuneHD, etc)		(W/ other software)		X	X
Transfer HD and SD recorded files from computer back to DVR		X		X	X
Format of recorded files		TS		MPG	TS/MPG
Network throughput for recorded file downloads		25Mbps		9 Mbps	60Mbps
MULTI-ROOM FUNCTIONALITY
Multi-room implementation				Transfers to other DVRs	Transfers to other DVRs	Streams to DVRs or extenders	Streams to DVRs or extenders
Network throughput for multi-room				16-24Mbps	70-90Mbps	?	?
Each DVR can send HD recordings to X rooms simultaneously				1	1	1	2
Multi-room viewing works with copy protected recordings (ex: HBO)					(Not at release)	X	X
Pause a recording in one room and resume it in a another				X	X	X	X
Completed recordings can be viewed in another room				X	X	X	X
Recordings-in-progress can be viewed in another room					(Not at release)	X	X
FF/REW through entire recordings without waiting for transfer					(Not at release)	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)	(Sub menu)	X	X
Network throughput sufficient to skip all commercials without delay				Sometimes	Always	Always	Always
Set-top extenders available to view recorded programs						X	X
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			(Not at release)	X	X
DIVX support		Up to 1080p		(Requires PC)	Up to 1080p	Up to 480p	Up to 480p
MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1 support		X	(Not enabled)	X	X	X	X
WMA Pro 7.1 audio support		X			X
Full 1080p output on PC video files		X			X	X	X
Browse network shares without PC software		X
Transfer PC videos to DVR for viewing		X		X	X
Stream PC videos to DVR for viewing		X		(Limited)	(Limited)	X	X
Play music stored on computer elsewhere in home	(DVD only)	X		X	X	X	X
View pictures stored on computer elsewhere in home	(DVD only)	X		X	X	X	X
Play videos, music, or view pictures while recording TV	(DVD only)			X	X	X	X
NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Wired network connection		100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps	100Mbps
Wireless network connection		802.11n	(Requires bridge)	($39 option)	($39 option)	(Requires bridge)	(Requires bridge)
Connects daily to an Internet time server to ensure accurate clock		X		X	X	X	X
Download software updates using network connection		X	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	X
Amazon OnDemand SD/HD with "TV Passes"				X	X
Blockbuster OnDemand SD/HD				X	X
Roxio CinemaNow					X
Vudu OnDemand HD and HDX
Netflix SD/HD streaming				X	X	SD only (Requires PC)	SD only (Requires PC)
Youtube		X		X	X	(Requires PC)	(Requires PC)
CONNECTIONS
HDMI	v1.1	v1.3	v1.1	v1.1	v1.3	v1.3	v1.3
Component / S-Video / Composite	X/X/X	-/-/X	X/-/X	X/X/X	X/-/X	X/X/X	X/X/X
Maximum native output resolution	480p	1080p	1080i	1080i	1080p	1080p	1080p
High-definition output through HDMI and component?		(HDMI only)	X	X	X	X	X
Downconverts HD video to SD over s-video and composite	X	(Composite only)	(Composite only)	X	(Composite only)	X	X
Native output mode to output all video as is without conversion				X	X	X	X
All HD and SD outputs active simultaneously			X	X	X
Allows 16:9 anamorphic output through SD connections	X	?	X	X	X
Coax passthrough for TV tuner	X		(When off)
Firewire (IEEE 1394)
HARDWARE DETAILS
System chip	?	Realtek RTD1283	STMicro STi7109	Broadcom BCM7401	Broadcom BCM7413	Broadcom BCM7400	Broadcom BCM7400
Processor Details	Single-core 133MHz(?)	Single-core 400MHz	Single-core 266MHz	Single-core 300MHz	Dual-core 400MHz	Dual-core 350MHz	Dual-core 350MHz
Graphics Details	2D only	2D only	2D only	2D only	2D + 3D (Supports OpenGL)	2D + 3D (Supports OpenGL)	2D + 3D (Supports OpenGL)
System memory	32 MB (?) SDRAM	256 MB DDR400	160 MB DDR400	256 MB DDR400	512 MB DDR2-800	256 MB DDR2-800	512 MB DDR2-800
Hard drive (internal)	160 GB	(Sold separately)	250 GB	160 GB 1000 GB on XL	320 GB 1000 GB on XL	500 GB	500 GB
Power consumption	33W (in use)	20W (in use)	22W	38W	26W	32W	32W
ENERGY STAR certified					X
OTHER
Multistream CableCard slot A single "M-CARD" supports all tuners with digital cable				X	X	X	X
Supports wired and wireless USB keyboards					X
Requires phone line? Requires Internet connection?	No	No	No	(Req Internet or phone)	(Req Internet or phone)	(Req Internet)	(Req Internet)
Supports cable company OnDemand	No	No	N/A	No	No	No	No
Built-in DVD writer	X
WARRANTY
Parts warranty	One year	One year	90 days	One year	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	TiVo.com 2 years for $30 3 years for $40
Cost to repair/replace after warranty expires	?	$369	$300	$150	$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	Free for three years $199 after three years	N/A	N/A
SCREENSHOTS
Recorded list			View	View 1, 2, 3	View 1, 2, 3, 4	View	View
Browse TV					View 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Program guide		View	View 1, 2	View 1, 2		View 1, 2	View 1, 2
Program info			View	View	View 1, 2	View	View
Record schedule			View	View
Search			View	View 1, 2	View 1, 2, 3, 4, 5	View 1, 2	View 1, 2
Main menu			View	View	View	View	View
Progress bar			View	View		View	View
Create recording			View	View	View	View	View
Record options			View	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	View 1, 2, 3
VIDEO DEMOS		View		View	View 1, 2	View	View
DISCUSSION THREADS	View	View	View	View	View	View	View

A more concise comparison of the DTVPal DVR, Moxi, TiVo Premiere, and DirecTV DVR is linked HERE. This is not a comprehensive feature breakdown; it only lists and compares those features that differ between the four products.

Another DVR sold online is the Channel Master CM-7000PAL. This is a rebadged DTVPal DVR with a longer warranty for an extra $100 MSRP.

Notes

* On most cable systems, installing a CableCard allows one to receive digital versions of all cable channels, thus eliminating the need for analog tuners.

* Third tuner is disabled and unusable 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.

reserved

Future questions regarding specific devices should be asked in the appropriate thread. The thread for each product is linked at the very top of the table; just click the product name to display its thread.


The DTVPal DVR only works with signals from an antenna. It does not work with cable or FiOS.

There are distribution systems you can use to send the signal from the TiVo (or any other STB/DVR) to another room with full remote access. The best is probably the combination of the Slingcatcher and Slingbox. The Slingbox takes the A/V output and remote signals (using an IR blaster) from the TiVo or any other device, and makes them available on another TV with a Slingcatcher. The Slingcatcher effectively mirrors any device connected to a Slingbox, albeit with loss to picture quality and remote responsiveness.

Call your local Best Buy to see if they have any Slingcatchers left for $99. That product is $199 online, but many stores have (or had) them for $99. If you can find one for $99, then also find a Slingbox Solo or a Slingbox HD. As mentioned above, there is quality loss with this method, so it's most suitable for a third room with a non-HD display.

Another alternative would be some sort of media streamer device, if you are willing to give up liveTV. You could set your PC to download all recordings from the TiVo to a networked hard drive, and then access and play those recordings from a media streaming product like the WDTV Live. Ask in the TiVo thread if you want more information on that.

AVS has a dedicated forum for HTPC solutions. There are some excellent PC software solutions for recording local channels and analog channels, such as Windows Media Center, SageTV, and BeyondTV.

This is a table comparison of standalone DVR products, i.e. consumer electronics devices that do not require PC setup, maintenance, or any kind of PC, Windows, or keyboard navigation to use. They consume 1/4 to 1/6 the electricity of the typical HTPC during recording and playback, although using sleep mode will minimize PC consumption. Picture quality on standalones is generally superior to HTPCs, most of which are not setup to handle the proper color conversion from YPrPb (used by HD content) to RGB (used on computers) output; that is correctable through the right hardware and software, but it increases setup complexity.

If you don't mind the setup and maintenance, which varies in time and effort by platform, then PC software and tuner solutions add TiVo-like DVR functionality for locals and analog channels to an existing PC for a fraction of the price. Unfortunately, cable channels (i.e. non-locals) are available only in encrypted digital form on more and more cable systems, including FiOS, RCN, and soon all Comcast systems. This trend will continue, as other large MSOs plan similar analog->encrypted digital transitions over the next two years.

At this time, only one PC tuner is available to support encrypted digital cable -- the ATI OCUR ($200-$250). That single-tuner product is discontinued and requires a CableCard to support every PC tuner, unlike standalone CE devices which support multiple tuners with a single CableCard. Ceton will address that limitation with their four-tuner CableCard device for Windows 7 Media Center, slated for release by March 31 @ $399. Some $250-$300 dual-tuner solutions for W7MC, including a new CableCard HDHomerun, are expected in 2H 2010.

Specific discussion on Windows Media Center, BeyondTV, and SageTV, as well as the Ceton tuner mentioned above can be found in the AVS Home Theater Computers forum.

The Channel Master CM-7000PAL is a rebadged DTVPal DVR, albeit with a one-year (instead of 90-day) warranty for an extra $100 MSRP.

Sears has an exclusive on the DTVPal DVR, so the CM7000 DVR is what you will find at other online retailers. Crutchfield and SolidSignal are both taking preorders.

The Channel Master CM7000PAL is a rebranded DTVPal DVR for an extra $70-$100 with one-year warranty. The hardware and software is identical to the DTVPal DVR listed in the table.


Some people are only interested in basic cable, i.e. the $15/mo plan from the cable company.

Aside from locals, digital tiers are almost always encrypted and unavailable without digital cable and a CableCard.


Digital simulcast, also known as analog-digital simulcast or "ADS," is available to the vast majority of digital cable subscribers. That said, it still isn't available everywhere. In perhaps 20-25% of markets, "ADS" also requires a Cisco SDV tuning adapter which supports a maximum of two tuners.

A significant percentage of cable customers (roughly 1/3) still don't have digital service. Not every customer with extended basic (i.e. 50-60 analog channels) has or wants to pay for the encrypted digital tier. Many are content with the analog cable channels + unencrypted HD locals. I understand that digital versions of the analog channels are available for a negligible premium (ex: $0 to $6/mo) for many, but that is not the case for everyone.

Many living in apartments, condominiums, and communities receive the full lineup of analog channels as part of their monthly rent, association, and/or maintenance fees. In these cases, the individual tenant or owner often has no direct relationship with the cable company, so they are forced to pay full price for digital cable if they want digital versions of those channels. That is on top of what they are already required to pay to their landlord or association.

The Moxi does not support analog channels out of the box. I can't mislead members and suggest that Moxi offers that feature when it does not. I made it clear that Moxi supports both unencrypted and encrypted digital channels. The line item for encrypted digital channels even mentions CNN, TNT, USA, ESPN, and HBO. I just added an additional note at the bottom, and I am open to suggestions as to how I might rephrase feature descriptions.


As a guesstimate, ADS might be available on 65% of U.S. cable systems without a SDV tuning adapter and 90% with a tuning adapter. That may be the vast majority, but it still leaves millions of customers without access to digital versions of their analog channels. As an example, virtually no Comcast customers in VA and MD (my area) have ADS.

By digital service, I am referring to anyone with a digital box. That's around 2/3 of cable customers. The rest go straight to their TV without any kind of box.

Many of these customers receive the analog versions of CNN, TNT, USA, etc, but they are not entitled to any kind of digital box or CableCard, because of how the contract was negotiated by their apartment complex and/or condominium association. Each resident is a customer of their building/complex and has no direct ties to the cable company; they have no account to authorize for digital service.

A resident can contact their cable company and subscribe to digital basic service to get the digital versions of their analog channels, but they have to pay the full price of service (i.e. $60/mo), not the $0-$6 premium it would normally cost over the analog service they already receive as part of their rent and/or maintenance fees.


I am quite familiar with ADS, and the transition to digital-only equipment and cable service. I've posted about it for years.


By definition, analog cable customers don't have a digital box. If they had a box, they would be digital cable customers, regardless of whether they pay for a separate tier of digital-only channels. This is the definition used by cable companies when reporting numbers of analog and digital cable subscribers; it has nothing to do with premium tiers, only whether the customer has a box.

I had ADS at my former residence. Extended basic analog cable was around $60/mo, and "digital basic" with digital versions of the same channels was $62/mo. This $2/mo premium for "digital basic" entitled the customer to their choice of a digital box or a CableCard. Without that digital basic tier, the customer couldn't receive the encrypted digital versions of their analog cable channels with a CableCard.


That's correct.

Over on the TiVo forums, you can read about a number of such systems. The current TiVo HD software has a bug that causes analog channels to periodically "go out." This problem causes havoc for customers on cable systems without ADS. The issue is mentioned and linked in the comparison table.

The TiVo Premiere doesn't ship for three weeks (eta early April).

I added the TiVo Premiere to the list, but some details are still unknown.

Yes.

Of the DVRs in the table, only the Moxi and the discontinued TiVo Series3 (and maybe the TiVo Premiere) have the hardware necessary to support PIP. Neither has demonstrated PIP support in software.

Decoding a second HD channel requires a substantial amount of memory and memory bandwidth. Both tend to be in short supply on DVRs, and most manufacturers would rather use their resources to support enhanced multi-room functionality.

DVB-T is not used in the United States for television service. Those products are intended for overseas markets.