HDTV DVR Comparison - Consumer Owned Units - Page 3

TViX M6620N price down, it's now $399 with 2TB HDD installed.

Kei, I think if you want the OP changed you may need to PM someone like Ken H (a moderator) since we haven't seen Bfdtv in almost a year
I agree your news is something that should be reflected in the OP.

Hmm, that's a shame. He's done a great job putting that list together. I'm not too concerned about making the changes, but hope all is well with bfdtv.

bfdtv: I noticed that the table in your first post does not show an X in the box for "program guide" under the "Basic Functionality" topic. The TViX 6620N does have a guide for over-the-air broadcasts. "Method of guide data delivery" shows "antenna", which is true. "Create recording from program guide selection" and "Record indicators for future programs in guide" should also include X's. I have not reviewed the entire table for errors because I received my TViX 6620N only yesterday. See my post under "Official DVICO TViX M6620N HD (ATSC/QAM) Tuner Topic".

What's the difference between the 6620N and 6620NP? Thanks.

Actually, there isn't really a P version, the M6620N+ which uses an updated version of the RTD1283DD chip that supports HD-Audio bitstreaming. Otherwise, the units are identical.

I'm pretty sure he used that description to denote there were no external EPG service available. IceTV is available to users in Australia, so the units are capable, but the license fees are pretty high in the US.

Excerpted from Multichannel News

Comcast Scraps TiVo Set-Top Deal, But Will Open VOD Tap

Cable Operator Will Help Promote TiVo Premiere DVR Solution With Retail, Marketing Support

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 5/9/2011 10:03:44 AM

Comcast terminated its set-top software development agreement with TiVo -- ending more than six years of work trying to offer the TiVo user interface as an option to customers -- while the MSO has agreed to open its video-on-demand library to users of TiVo Premiere DVRs bought at retail.

Comcast has agreed to provide access to Xfinity TV On Demand content, with more than 25,000 titles in 80% of its footprint, on TiVo Premiere set-tops in "many of its largest markets." The first is expected to be the San Francisco Bay Area, but the companies didn't announce expected timing of the rollout.

How about someone adding this Zinwell/Brightview model to the list since it's been available for over a month?:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1337412

Tivo lifetime service prices have increased (to $499/$399)

Needs to be updated on the chart.

Should also list that the TiVo Premiere (the "TiVoHD" model listed is not current) has gone down to (no more than) $99, now, too (people can then add it up for themselves and see that the overall price for the TiVo/lifetime fee combo has actually gone down by $100).

And also that the monthly fee has been increased to $19.99.

Really, that whole chart needs to be updated. There is also a new Maganavox 515 with slightly different features now (in fact, there was also a 513 model in-between, and even a later, 2160 "A" version - that's how long it's been since it's been updated). The DTVPal has now also changed over to the Channel Master CM-7000. Anyone wanna volunteer? Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the original creator of that chart will ever be returning at this point.

With the advent of integrated HD graphics with in the new generation of Intel processors, HTPCs are now a viable option for free OTA or clear QAM recording. I just sold my DTVpal after building one with an Avermedia dual tuner card. The guide in Windows Media Center is pretty decent and you get 1080i reception with DD surround sound. Of course, you can also do much more than just watch and record TV with an HTPC

PC's are power hogs using around 3x the current of a dedicated DVR. Though you can do more with them, it's surely not cost effective for time shifting.

The typical power draw for HTPC use is around 40-60 watts, depending on the processor. A DVR with a decent video processor + HD may draw bit less, but probably not very much.

Most of the PC's I have measured draw between 80-120 watts depending on activity. Laptops draw 30-35 watts, I don't know where your figures come from and what towers you are referring to except for cheap store bought PC's with mini ATX boards and integrated everything.

Right... integrated everything... Sandy Bridge i3 or i5... for example:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...s_6.html#sect0
1080p playback: ~23 W. The system they used there lacked a disk drive, so add 5W or so for that and perhaps another 5W for a dual tuner card.

More examples:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1334483

Where may I find information regarding the Moxi's tuner bandwidth? It's not on the chart? Is it 1GHz, or only 860MHz?

There's a Moxi thread here you can try asking in. Somebody may know.

I asked twice there. No response. So, I thought I'd ask here. Oh well...

Time to add the 4-tuner TiVo Premiere to the chart?

Why can't I buy a simple PVR with the capability to record 2 shows and watch a third. Something that does not require any cable fees other than the standard and a cable card interface. Something that will also do OTA. Something other than Moxi or TIVO.

Why have our choices become so limited?

Why can't we get something like an updated LG LST-3410A for the digital age?

Channel Master had an entirely new DVR with Internet streaming integration called the Channel Master CM-7400. Its a bit pricy at $400 but doesn't require a subscription. It seems promising but I don't have that kind of money to spend in this day and age. http://www.channelmaster.com/Channel...r_TV_s/304.htm

Actually if you want a guide guaranteed for more than 12hrs(PSIP) you need to spend $100/year It's AVS thread is here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1360146

I think my DTVPal DVR has died (an endless reboot loop has rendered it useless for the last three days and nothing seems to be able to break the vicious cycle, not even unplugging and restarting).
Any suggestions for what I should use as my next replacement?

Htpc

Is the keeper of the chart AWOL? Still no Premiere Elite? Still no 1GHz tuner column?

Yes, for over 1.5 yr.

Speaking of the LG LST-3410A, I don't think anything has ever equaled it: it had ATSC tuner, HDD, and IEEE-1394.

"How 'bout them apples?" as they say...

My only question would be, "How good is its tuner compared to the best available today?"

Tom

PS. I'm looking for a 3410A too...

Pretty inferior, actually. Huge differences in sensitivity and multipath handling between the 3rd and 4th generation tuners of back then, and the 6th of now (or higher, if they're there yet). But it's still, very, very good for it's time, as were all LG tuners of that generation. If you're not in a fringe situation, and without any multipath problems to speak of, it should still perform very well.

Another important feature that makes it still usable today is that it has manual timers and time-setting, so it doesn't have to rely on any unreliable, digital OTA time data.

It has excellent picture-quality, and also does clear-QAM and NTSC (although that might not matter before long. NTSC is already virtually obsolete, and clear-QAM is on it's way, too). Another little-known feature is that it has composite A/V in.

Unfortunately, it also has numerous software bugs, and luminance/chrominance errors on SD video. And you do not want to get it with the expectation of being able to effectively use the analog-capable-only, v7 TVGOS. That's pretty much obsolete now, too (not to mention how limited the v7 guide is in the first place, compared to the later generations).

As far as transferring recordings in HD, you can also do that with an HD TiVo and a computer nowadays (the TiVo can also get you more cable channels, with a CableCARD - and whatever's unencrypted of those, you can transfer, too).

All in all, though, I'd say it'd be an OK choice if you are situated optimally enough for OTA (or are still able to receive any unencrypted, clear-QAM), and can get a reliably-working one for a cheap enough price.

I guess the 3410a tuner would be inferior to a CM-7000 SD DTV Coupon Box?

The 7k is my bare minimum with a CM4228/7777 on my front porch requirement where I am. I ahve multipath. I live in a small valley with a close horizon. Not good.

My Samsung TX-P3075W doesn't get even 1/2 the stations the 7000/4228/7777 (haha, first time I strung those together) gets.

There are the Sony DHG-HDD250/500 which do not have IEEE-1394 unfortunately. Maybe better tuners I would think due to the larger HDDs.

HTPC is tempting but a mess the way I see it.

1394 is really a luxury. DVHS is very inefficient for storage - its better to just hand another external HDD on the STB if possible.

I wouldn't mind a system which locks the content in an external HDD which could be taken from STB to PC or to move content to another ext HDD.

I love the idea of the cheap direct view CRTs out there and some of the best are Component input only so where does that leave upconverting DVD via HDMI? HDfury??? THe extra money to handle that negates the $$$ saved using the old CRTs!
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I guess the latest tuners are what, 6th generation?

Is there any comparison of tuner generations out there? For instance, given the worst 67th generation tuner, what generation's best tuner would it beat out?