tivo.
yes.
yes.
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How to avoid rental PVR
I don't want to pay for comcast's high monthly rental for their PVR boxes and I was wondering what alternatives are available in terms of 3rd party PVRs. Also would have to to get a cablecard? thanks
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Yes TIVO, but consider the cost to purchase and the TIVO fees, and you still have to rent a cable card from your cable company!!
What about buying one of their boxes? I have seen replacement fees on them for when they get lost or damaged. Maybe they will sell it to you outright. I doubt they will since they make their money back in about a year of rental.
i doubt very seriously that he will be able to purchase a cable box through any legal means...
also, given the relative lack of reliability of them, even if he COULD purchase one, it's likely that there wouldn't be a cost benefit... i've had cable for many a year... during that time, heaven knows how many times i've had to exchange a non-functional box...
ymmv. but this is one of those "if you want to play, you have to pay" type things...
also, given the relative lack of reliability of them, even if he COULD purchase one, it's likely that there wouldn't be a cost benefit... i've had cable for many a year... during that time, heaven knows how many times i've had to exchange a non-functional box...
ymmv. but this is one of those "if you want to play, you have to pay" type things...
I started with their first Gen hd dvr box when they first were available. I have had it for I don't know maybe 4 or 5 years and not a problem out of it. I moved up to a total of 4 of them in my place and have had to replace each of the new ones at least once each. I haven't tried their new black boxes with the larger hard drive yet, but I bet there are problems with them too.
One of my local av stores sold the same silver box about the time I bought mine when they were new, but had a retail price of over $700. Of course prices have dropped as this was several years ago.
One of my local av stores sold the same silver box about the time I bought mine when they were new, but had a retail price of over $700. Of course prices have dropped as this was several years ago.
Tivo-HD plus lifetime subscription is the most cost effective solution.
Sure it's a high up front cost but there are no fees after that except for cablecard "rent".
I pay $1.50 a month for the cablecard in my Tivo.
Sure it's a high up front cost but there are no fees after that except for cablecard "rent".
I pay $1.50 a month for the cablecard in my Tivo.
The way I look at this...
If someone is trying to "save money" due the high monthly rental of a DVR for Comcast, how can you "save" by purchasing a Tivo?
The monthly subscription for Tivo alone is almost the same cost of a DVR rental, let alone the upfront cost of the hardware. Also... when/if your Tivo has a problem, that could be an added expense.
If someone is trying to "save money" due the high monthly rental of a DVR for Comcast, how can you "save" by purchasing a Tivo?
The monthly subscription for Tivo alone is almost the same cost of a DVR rental, let alone the upfront cost of the hardware. Also... when/if your Tivo has a problem, that could be an added expense.
Which box was this? If it was a Motorola or Scientific Atlanta, those are only sold to the cable companies. I don't remember if they were ever available for purchase by consumers. (eBay doesn't count, those are either stolen or useless gray market items from Canada. Don't buy them unless you want a doorstop.)
Moxi and TiVo are the only cable DVRs I've seen that can be reliably purchased. They both need cableCARDs to match a cable DVR's channel access, although their interfaces are probably better, and the TiVo has additional options. If that's not worth the price, then stick with a cable DVR.
If you're thinking of owning DVR for less than a TiVo+lifetime upfront, forget it. That product doesn't exist in the US market.
Quote:
Originally Posted by brandonnash /forum/post/16833920
One of my local av stores sold the same silver box about the time I bought mine when they were new, but had a retail price of over $700. Of course prices have dropped as this was several years ago.
Which box was this? If it was a Motorola or Scientific Atlanta, those are only sold to the cable companies. I don't remember if they were ever available for purchase by consumers. (eBay doesn't count, those are either stolen or useless gray market items from Canada. Don't buy them unless you want a doorstop.)
Moxi and TiVo are the only cable DVRs I've seen that can be reliably purchased. They both need cableCARDs to match a cable DVR's channel access, although their interfaces are probably better, and the TiVo has additional options. If that's not worth the price, then stick with a cable DVR.
If you're thinking of owning DVR for less than a TiVo+lifetime upfront, forget it. That product doesn't exist in the US market.
To me it's an owning vs. renting issue, I would rather own
If you watch for sales a Tivo-HD with lifetime subscription (NO monthly fee) is about $500. At least that is what I paid for mine.
As for longevity I had a Tivo series 1, bought it in 1999. It ran 24/7 until January of 2008, when I replaced it with a Tivo-HD. The series 1 would still run today if I plugged it in.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman /forum/post/16834409
The way I look at this...
If someone is trying to "save money" due the high monthly rental of a DVR for Comcast, how can you "save" by purchasing a Tivo?
The monthly subscription for Tivo alone is almost the same cost of a DVR rental, let alone the upfront cost of the hardware. Also... when/if your Tivo has a problem, that could be an added expense.
To me it's an owning vs. renting issue, I would rather own
If you watch for sales a Tivo-HD with lifetime subscription (NO monthly fee) is about $500. At least that is what I paid for mine.
As for longevity I had a Tivo series 1, bought it in 1999. It ran 24/7 until January of 2008, when I replaced it with a Tivo-HD. The series 1 would still run today if I plugged it in.
Also the Moxi is an alternative... but very new without a lot of reliability testing yet..
for fios you pay $2.99 to rent the M-card.
for fios you pay $2.99 to rent the M-card.
And the Moxi is more expensive than the TiVo. The TiVo is the best option to renting from the service provider.
Because Tivo HD's w/lifetime service were recently available to the public for $500, and at Comcast's typical $15-20 monthly HD DVR rental fee, your purchase will pay for itself in less than 3 years. First cablecard is generally included in the outlet fee, which you'll pay regardless of whether you rent or buy. So for most Tivo HD owners, there is no rental fee since they only need one M-card.
Tivo's generally don't have a problem outside of the occasional hard drive failure, which is an easy fix. But some folks want the cableCo to take care of everything for them, damn the cost, and I can understand that. Not for me, but I understand it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman /forum/post/16834409
The way I look at this...
If someone is trying to "save money" due the high monthly rental of a DVR for Comcast, how can you "save" by purchasing a Tivo?
The monthly subscription for Tivo alone is almost the same cost of a DVR rental, let alone the upfront cost of the hardware. Also... when/if your Tivo has a problem, that could be an added expense.
Because Tivo HD's w/lifetime service were recently available to the public for $500, and at Comcast's typical $15-20 monthly HD DVR rental fee, your purchase will pay for itself in less than 3 years. First cablecard is generally included in the outlet fee, which you'll pay regardless of whether you rent or buy. So for most Tivo HD owners, there is no rental fee since they only need one M-card.
Tivo's generally don't have a problem outside of the occasional hard drive failure, which is an easy fix. But some folks want the cableCo to take care of everything for them, damn the cost, and I can understand that. Not for me, but I understand it.
I have yet to see a Tivo HD with lifetime service sell for under $450-500. They will ALWAYS have value, renting won't.
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
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