Having a heck of a time finding a digital video recorder

[LuckyDe]

Thank you, Alley Dweller, for your contribution, but I cannot do what you suggested. My Tivos are “dumb” ones, and therefore, they are not connected to Tivo to be able to change the settings.

[fborm]

Can someone explain to me what the differences are between the Magnavox MDR515 and MDR535? Statements I found on the web seem to be contradictory. For example, does the MDR535 have a Clear-QAM tuner or not? Also, I got the impression that the MDR515 can only record SD, even from an ATSC HD signal. How about the MDR535? Will it be able to record ATSC HD signals “as is” or will it transcode it into an SD signal as well? What other differences are there between these two units that I might have overlooked. Thanks.

[johnpost]

@fborm

Can someone explain to me what the differences are between the Magnavox MDR515 and MDR535? Statements I found on the web seem to be contradictory. For example, does the MDR535 have a Clear-QAM tuner or not? Also, I got the impression that the MDR515 can only record SD, even from an ATSC HD signal. How about the MDR535? Will it be able to record ATSC HD signals “as is” or will it transcode it into an SD signal as well? What other differences are there between these two units that I might have overlooked. Thanks.

both machines record in SD. they have clear QAM tuners.

i think the differences are in HD size, HD interface, maybe minor control/interface features.

[fborm]

@johnpost

both machines record in SD. they have clear QAM tuners.

i think the differences are in HD size, HD interface, maybe minor control/interface features.

Thank you for your reply. Differences seem to be minor. Is there any recommendation as to which of the two I should get? I want to use it mainly for HD recording/timeshift of analogue NTSC cable signals. HD size is 500 GB on both. Can any of them record audio only signals (radio) from the Clear QAM tuner?

[siamus]

@computergeek

There used to be quite a few DVD recorders with hard drives, but for some reason, very few of them, if any, are made anymore. Tivo and Cable company DVRs have made them obsolete I think. I have a couple from Panasonic but they are like 8 and 9 years old. I don’t think you are going to have any luck finding new ones with hard drives. There are models out there I believe that allow you to save to a DVD as well as a VHS tape, but don’t have hard drives. CNET has some reviews of DVRs: DVRs - CNET

I have heard of people creating their own DVR functionality with their computers. You might want to look into that if you are handy.

You may have to bite the bullet and get a DVR with service.

Magnavox MDR533H

I had this one for a couple of days now and I am enjoying it for the most part. (I wish it could record in HD too though.)

You can play HD files you downloaded online, but you can’t record in high definition from tv.

…

[siamus]

@computergeek

There used to be quite a few DVD recorders with hard drives, but for some reason, very few of them, if any, are made anymore. Tivo and Cable company DVRs have made them obsolete I think. I have a couple from Panasonic but they are like 8 and 9 years old. I don’t think you are going to have any luck finding new ones with hard drives. There are models out there I believe that allow you to save to a DVD as well as a VHS tape, but don’t have hard drives. CNET has some reviews of DVRs: DVRs - CNET

I have heard of people creating their own DVR functionality with their computers. You might want to look into that if you are handy.

You may have to bite the bullet and get a DVR with service.

Magnavox MDR533H

I had this one for a couple of days now and I am enjoying it for the most part. (I wish it could record in HD too though.)

You can play HD files you downloaded online, but you can’t record in high definition from tv.

First learn what channel and time that a program you want to record will be on, and enter the info in Timer Programming.

(Timer Prog button on the remote or from Menu…)

…

[siamus]

Please delete post #45

[ftg]

One thing that has significantly changed in TiVo-land is that TiVo is offering a lot of $99 lifetime subscriptions to people in certain situations. A lot.

So there is a flood of lifetime Series 3 (3, HD, HD XL) and Series 4 (Premieres) hitting eBay and Craigslist right now for far less than they used to sell for.

So I bought a lifetime Premiere XL off eBay a couple months ago for a quite modest amount. The real deal though was this meant that I qualified for the $99 lifetime discount for my upgraded HD.

So now I have two lifetime machines for not a lot of money. (The HD as mentioned above was bought off eBay for cheap.) And the ReplayTV is now retired. (So I’ve got 2 analog DVRs collecting dust.)

The general rule for the $99 lifetime discount is: Already having a “newer” TiVo under service and say you’re thinking of cancelling the older TiVo’s service. And the older TiVo had been subscribed for at least 3 years. And the CSR is not having a bad day.

There is also a $199 lifetime deal for the Roamios but not sure what the rules are for that. Check the threads over at the TiVo Community forums. Lots of good advice on deals, buying, selling, etc.

One caveat: There’s something strange going on at TiVo. They are “streamlining” their business, not updating certain functions, etc. My belief is that they are getting ready to sell the company. (Hence the $99 discount to stem the drain of number of subscribers.) The company’s glory days of patent money are coming to an end and there was never any money in the machine/subscription side.

The still are really few options for DIY DVRs. Basically just Windows Media Center if you want to use something that can do CableCard.