[bobby_t1]

I currently have 2 ReplayTV's -- one 100 hour (3000 series) and another 160 hour (5000 series).


I'm thinking of switching to DirecTV satellite, but would like to keep my ReplayTV's rather than using (and paying monthly charge for) using the integrated TIVO units.


Can I use ReplayTVs with DirecTV? I know that Replays have the IR blaster thing and can control some receivers through the serial connection. But do I lose the channel guide?


I was talking to my friend who supposedly knows a lot about satellite and said that I woudl lose channle guide entirely, and integrated TIVO units are better because it's a true 30 hour recorder -- it records at the highest quality with no compression, whereas the 30 hour replays are 30 hours at extended quality an only 7 hours at highest quality.

 

[epete]

 http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...e&pagenumber=1

 

[plyons10]

I know that you can use Replay with DirecTV and I do not believe you will lose the channel guide, but hopefully someone else will chime in here to verify that.


The reason integrated TIVO units are better is mainly because they record the digital video stream DIGITALLY, without converting to analog and back to digital (an inherently lossy process with MPEG2). The signal is already compressed so yes, in theory, TIVO won't need to compress it further, unless you want it to.


Integrated units also offer the ability to record two channels at once.

 

[JeepGeek]

Of course you can use ReplayTV with Directv.


Your friend is not a good person to be talking to about this You will not be using the Directv program guide. You WILL continue to use the ReplayTV program guide that you're already comfortable with. The replaytv will download all the necessary info for the Directv channels.


The second statement is somewhat misleading as well. It records the satellite signal directly -- it IS compressed already. But it is true that ReplayTV quotes capacities at standard quality. You're already a ReplayTV owner -- is standard quality good enough?


There are lots of tradeoffs here. For example, the directivo units have two satellite tuners -- cool! but no other inputs (bad). To make use of 2 replaytv's you'd need 2 satellite receivers with the attendant extra monthly charge. 2-room satellite systems go for cheap, but the extra fee for the second receiver kind of makes up for the lack of directivo charge.

 

[Ace987]

Not trying to talk you into anything, but you may want to go with the DirecTivo. I was pondering this awhile ago and here's what I was going to do:


1) Sell one of my Replay's to basically pay for the DirecTivo(DT).

2) Run 2 lines to from the dish to the DT in the living room.

3) Hook 1 line from from the dish to the another satellite receiver in the bedroom and use my other ReplayTV there.


Depending on the package you get from DTV, you may not need to pay anything extra a month for the Tivo service. Even if you don't, I believe it's only about $5 a month since DTV is suplimenting the service cost.


Obviously, there are some more pros and cons:

Cons

1) Having to sell your RTV or put out the money for DirecTivo.

2) Getting used to another system.

3) If you go back to cable your DirecTivo is useless.


Pros

1) Better picture quality

2) Dual tuners

 

[bobby_t1]

So sounds like the situation boils down to this:


If I re-use my existing ReplayTV units:

• Find receiver that is compatible with RPTV's serial connection, or else use IR blaster. Other threads have indicated a 4-5 second channel change even with serial.
• Channel guide will still work, but replay needs phoneline or ethernet to dial home everynight still.
• There is an extra box (the RPTV) sitting in my hometheatre
• No monthly charge since both RPTVs have lifetime subscriptions.
• My 100hour unit has about 23 hour of high quality recording, while 160 hour has about 36 hours.
• Each unit has single tuner

If i get D* receiver with built in series2 TIVO:

• Channel guide information received over satellite, no connection to phone or ethernet required.
• TIVO is integrated into the receiver, so no extra box sitting in the home theater.
• I have to pay $5 per month, or else free with TOTAL Premiere.
• Each unit will have 35 hours of highest quality recording.
• Each unit will have dual tuners.

Correct?

 

[tedkunich]

The only problem with using the RTV on DTV is that the guide data for PPV and sports subscriptions do not work - everything shows up as 3 hour blocks, all starting and end at the same time.


I need to figure out a way of getting the guide data for the NHL package so that I can record games.

 

[Ace987]

Quote:

Originally posted by bobby_t1 Channel guide information received over satellite, no connection to phone or ethernet required.

I'm pretty sure you'll still need a phone connection. I know DTV requires it and I'm pretty sure Tivo still needs to phone in at night. From what I understand, any missing guide info that gets messed up during DL from the Satellite be DL'd during the phone call. Plus it still needs to verify subscription.

Quote:

Each unit will have 35 hours of highest quality recording.

Yes, but remember, it's 35 hours period. However, you can upgrade the internal drives.