[eric_christ]

My DirecTV/UltimateTV RCA combo unit now has two bad tuners. After trying the fixes recommended on the Web (mostly trying to reduce heat), I'm ready to get something new.


I would appreciate any thoughts on the following:


1. Stay with UltimateTV and buy a used unit off of eBay.

2. Swith to TiVo or another service.


My wish list for a new PVR unit includes:

Integrated DirecTV receiver

2 Tuners

40+ hour capacity

Component Video Output (if not, S-Video)

30-second skip button on remote

Caller ID Display on TV


Thanks

 

[dmwierz]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric_christ My DirecTV/UltimateTV RCA combo unit now has two bad tuners. After trying the fixes recommended on the Web (mostly trying to reduce heat), I'm ready to get something new. I would appreciate any thoughts on the following: 1. Stay with UltimateTV and buy a used unit off of eBay. 2. Swith to TiVo or another service. My wish list for a new PVR unit includes: Integrated DirecTV receiver 2 Tuners 40+ hour capacity Component Video Output (if not, S-Video) 30-second skip button on remote Caller ID Display on TV Thanks

I'd suggest a DirecTiVo. 40 hours is standard, and you can easily upgrade to larger hard drives. S-video is standard. I'm not sure about component video on the non-HD TiVo's. 2 tuners is standard.


30-second delay is only available with a back-door code. Caller ID is a hack you can install on standalone TiVo's only. I don't think it will work on second generation DirecTiVo's.

 

[eric_christ]

Quote:

Originally posted by dmwierz 30-second delay is only available with a back-door code. Caller ID is a hack you can install on standalone TiVo's only. I don't think it will work on second generation DirecTiVo's.

30-second skip and Caller ID were two of my favorite features on UltimateTV. Tell me again why that unit failed in the marketplace?

 

[bfdtv]

30-second skip is easily enabled on the DirecTivos, and it remains enabled until you unplug the box. The DirecTivo would satisfy all of your requirements except for component out (it has s-video). No Dish or DirecTV SD DVR has component output.

 

[glenw]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric_christ 30-second skip and Caller ID were two of my favorite features on UltimateTV. Tell me again why that unit failed in the marketplace?

Microsoft abandoned the UTV platform because they say it wasn't making enough money......I just wish they would've exhibited a little more patience. Oddly enough, they had announced some really nice features in a future upgrade that never materialized.


I have 4 of these, and shudder at the thought of HAVING to switch. By the time I'm forced to, I'm hoping the Moxi DVR will be available for us.

 

[eric_christ]

Quote:

Originally posted by glenw I have 4 of these, and shudder at the thought of HAVING to switch.

I shudder as well -- any thoughts on fixing my UTV unit? I have a DirecTV/UTV RCA combo unit.


A few months ago, one tuner failed. I reset it multiple times, swapped cables, elevated the unit to improve air flow -> tuner 1 still failed.


Now tuner 2 says failed as well. However, I can still get some channels (local channels, 202, 242, 244, ...) some of the time and can still occasionally record a show.


Any hope for this unit

 

[glenw]

If you haven't already, check out the UTV forum on this same message board regarding fixing your tuners. I would probably buy a cheap one off Ebay before switching to another DVR at this point.