DViCO's TiVX 5010-P HDTV Recorder

Not available in the states, but it should be.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/30...-but-the-disk/


As a set top HDTV recorder it offers:
1. Signifant price advantage over Hd dvd recorder($350 vs $3500)
2. Unlimited hard drive storage (you bring your own)
3. No need to crank up your computer to record
4. No montly cable/satelite dvr or tivo fees

Unit is a replacement for the legendary, but out of production Sony DHG-HDD250/500: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...page=283&pp=30. The number 1 HD recorder according to forum.
Tuner sensitivity and speed will be much better than 5 year old Sony.

I may be missing something, but this seems like the wholly grail for recording HD from HDTV.

Educated comments welcome...

No QAM is a flaw, and that fact alone would probably prevent me from buying current generation as well. Hopefully, USA model will have a QAM tuner. As far as H264 support, if primary function is HDTV recorder/dvr, why would H.264 be important?

I just heard cable may be using H.264 soon as well. Do you know if this switch will prevent me from recording straight from my cable HD box via firewire to my D-VHS?

Thanks for your analysis - I'm sure you nailed it. Of course, my JVC 5u has an mpeg2 decoder so basically I'll be screwed. Oh well, it should be good at least until they make the switch to h.264

I just read that effective 7/1/07 we will be able to buy our own DVR's and dump the rented cable boxes. Don't know for sure, but assume that we will still have to rent cable cards(2-way?) to view encrypted content. Again, not positive, but current dvr boxes rent for about $20, and just card maybe $5.

So I would like to start thinking about a dvr with significantly less montly rental so I can stick it to the man, and save some green. DVR will need H.264 cabability, and any other suggestions you have to future proof would be greatly appreciated.

Timecop,

I was just rereading the capDVHS thread, and noticed you were the one who figured this out . I have to thank you for allowing me to capture unencrypted cable to my computer. It saved me from buying an expensive HD tuner with QAM.

Eventually, I'd like to move many of my D-VHS tapes to a large hard drive. I understand that I have to play the tapes in real time so it will be a lengthly process. But it will allow me to keep original tapes in pristine condition, and tapes are said to last 50 years so they will be there in case of hard drive failure.

I have an XP computer, and am hearing that Vista will have some of the features that I have been looking for. Perhaps you may know ways XP can do some of these tasks?1. A way to leave my computer in standby or hibernate mode when the recording timer of capDHVS is set. Now timer only records when I leave computer on .
2. I use VLC to watch my .ts files. Does VLC or any program like it have dvr functions(pause, rewind, etc.), that can be used with a remote control, rather than keyboard/mouse?
3. A way to view and select video files to watch, and a way to set recordings - both without turning on the computer.


This is my short list that I quickly came up with. The more feature of course the better. Thanks for your input.

More info coming out on website and network forum. Looks like h.264 is present, but bitrate/usefulnees still a question. No QAM? Bring you own HDD, and optional tuners are very nice features.

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Pro...vixm4100sh.asp
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...9&page=1&pp=30

Customer support just confirmed no QAM on this tuner. They have asked Tivx to design a future model with QAM, but said it would probably take awhile. Why can't they ever get things right the first time.


Also the exact models are: TVIX M-4100SH/5100sh

Sorry to here about the lack of DVR features. I was hoping for more so I went with a MYHD tuner for my 2 year old PC. And it has limited dvr features as well. It does do timeshifting, and chasing playback, but has no ff/rew, only skip back or forward at fixed intervals. Also, it doesn't play very well with my D-VHS. The biggest disappointment was no OTA, and therefore EPG support is not as good as it could be since QAM does not play to well with EPG. The OTA fiasco is peculair to my situation only. I discovered that I live behind a tall apartment complex that is in direct line with all the channels that I want. I should have known this since reception with analog has never been good for me. MYHD is not very good with anaolg, but I rarely watch that stuff anyhow.

Also receiving only four HD channels is a dissapointment. The QAM tuner can not pick up ABC because of limited frequency support of tuner card, and Time Warner doesn't offer any independents. OTA would have added ABC, and at least one other HD channel. Lots of compromises. In hind sight I maybe should have gone for the hdHomerun network tuner card. Not sure that my system would have handled the power requirements without a mobo, memory, cpu upgrade.

Update: Cable moved ABC so MyHD picks it up now, along with 5 extra PBS channels. The PBS channels are not playing well with Cliff's EPG though.