Channel Master TV CM 7400 HD DVR - OTA, Clear QAM, Internet Content - Page 3

Corporate American at its norm.

While I own multiple HD TiVos used exclusively for OTA and do agree with MegaZone and others that a TiVo seems like a better value, there are certain cases where this new DVR maybe a good deal:

1. Resellers end up substantially discounting the price below $400
2. You really want Vudu access
3. You will be or have to connect to the Internet via wireless.
4. You don't mind using the free guide
5. Some combination of the above (or maybe all 4)

So while I may think a new TiVo Premiere is a better value for me I can see where there maybe some people who will find this DVR a better choice.

Thanks,

No apostrophe for "it's" (it is).

It's corrected.

The price has to below $300 & the Guide has to be under $75, preferably $60 a year. But even at those levels, the Sony still wins (assuming you don't live in Houston  ).
I don't see the 14 vs 7 day Guide a issue, why do you need to see whats' going on more than a week in advance?

Edited by videobruce - 6/14/12 at 5:02am

Thanks. I actually do like seeing more than a week in advance. Two weeks would be good for me.

Well if anyone is really in the market for an OTA DVR right now you can buy a new TiVo Premiere with lifetime service for $449.

http://www3.tivo.com/promo/fastforwa...T.mc_id=EM6030

Good through 9/22/11

What's up in Houston? Do our stations bork up something with some dvr's guide data?

Look through the Sony DVR thread.
(Kinda private joke. )

I thought this new CM TV might be a good solution for me...
But it seems I'll just stay with my computers and USB tuner sticks, though I could use a tuner with more robust reception.

Also, you don't need a CableCARD for clear-QAM (like you do with TiVo). You won't get any guide info for that, though, perhaps unless you pay.

As an aside, Vudu is supposed to have the best HD PQ out of all the major internet providers.

Damn - I wish they would've had a deal like that at the time I bought my TiVo HD w/lifetime.

Anyone interested better grab that right quick, 'cause that's not something you can really depend on ever seeing very often.

WOW!

I kind of wish they would offer the same $150 discount on a TiVo Premiere XL package, as they have now for the TiVo Premiere package. But seeing as how I was seriously considering the new Channel Master unit, up until I learned about having to pay them $100 a year for the better guide option. So even though I'd rather have the Tivo Premiere XL, I might go with the regular Premiere deal they have going on. As it's still a much better deal than paying $400 for the Channel master, and then having to pay them $100 a year for the better guide.

Still too expensive for my taste.

1. Is it confirmed that the Channel Master 7400 does not have an analog tuner?
2. If so, is this the first ever consumer device (other than the coupon eligible converter boxes) to have only a digital tuner and no analog tuner?
3. How did Channel Master get a waiver from the FCC to omit the analog tuner? Or is a waiver even required?

If the price would drop to $259 or below then I would consider buying one. Maybe it will before the hard drive on my Magnavox 513 fills up with archived music videos from The Cool Tv (in 5 months I am up to 99 titles out of a maximum of 600). On the other hand, I am wary of buying any more equipment for the current DTV system since we might be forced into another DTV transition late this decade or early in the 20s in order to feed the pipe dream of a wireless broadband utopia (see the ATSC 3.0 thread).

Does this mean you know something we don't ?
Joe

The DTVPal DVR was released in December 2008 with two digital tuners and No analog tuners.

I think he is talking about if/when the hard drive in the Tivo goes belly up (which it's probably designed to do) you owe them more money. I thought you can replace the drive yourself though. I am looking at a DVR to time shift OTA tv and I've never had one before.

Unlikely the price will recede that much. The CM-7000 PAL was introduced at $350 and is finally selling at walmart for $300. If the CM-7400 is introduced at $400 it may eventually make it down to $350 at walmart -- that is if walmart even carries it; $350-400 is a pretty expensive item for their typical customer.

Why worry about the remote possibility of another transition in 10 yrs. Anything you buy today won't last until the end of the decade, anyway.

The FAQs did indicate it would be sold at WalMart, the point they were making was that it would be sold not only by Walmart, which owns Vudu. Recently a few Walmarts have started carrying the CM7000pal, none near me. It's mostly online sales.

OK so I have a question.

The CM-700/DTVpal Has a PSIP guide or a TV Guide option if available in your area.


Does this new box offer TV guide for free or only PSIP or this new 7 day guide? Is it internet based?

Also does it come with WIFI?

Thanks

I think that's all covered on the first page of this thread.

Do you mean the thread with 800 pages? Nah, I'm not that curious.

There is one member (resident expert) that has had nothing but trouble in that market.

Why would they get rid of TVGOS? So they can make money on the new internet based guide? Seems greedy to me.

Should be 3 choices.

1) PSIP

2) TVGOS

3) Internet Guide

No time to read it yet, but link to manual is finally active and while it was loading, I saw the premium guide said "up to 14 days" rather than the 7 days stated in the FAQs.

http://www.channelmaster.com/v/vspfi...er%20guide.pdf

LINK Not working for me

Try starting from this page. The guide appears to be too big to open online, and you probably have to select to open in Adobe.

http://www.channelmaster.com/kb_results.asp?cat=565

Right click on that link and choose 'save as'. Then open it with a .pdf application. I use FoxIt Reader since Adobe is to bloated.


PSIP is useless for the most part. Not even 'better than nothing' since it varies from existent, to only a day and a half at best (with a few exceptions).

TVGOS relies on advertising that Dish Networks, now PCT International version doesn't show since it isn't Rovi software. I wonder how much PCT has to pay Rovi for access of the data?

How sad is it that that's now our default assumption about the reliability of consumer electronics?

In any event, while that's true all too often, it's not always true. I bought a Zenith HDR-230 HD DVR when it first came out in May of 2003 and it still works. That's over eight years with no problems or glitches, so I'm hoping to get another few years from it.