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View Full Version : Too Many PVR Choices?

Jason Dunn
10-19-2004, 01:30 AM
A few months ago, I was bemoaning the lack of PVR choices for me being in Canada. I managed to snag a ReplayTV off eBay and get it to kind of work, but it was a dodgy solution at best. What I really want is a Tivo, but they don't work up here in Canada. About two months ago I started using Snapstream's Beyond TV3, and it works quite well indeed. I thought I had things mostly sorted out - it was just a matter of getting a box hooked up to my TV upstairs so I could access the media while sitting on my couch.<br /><br />Things have become a bit more complicated now - last week I bought a new computer with Windows Media Center 2004 on it, and yesterday I discovered that my local cable company (Shaw) has released a digital cable box/PVR combo unit. Now I have to make up my mind between three different PVR solutions...and to think a few months ago I had no solution at all! :roll:
Mike Temporale
10-19-2004, 02:14 AM
Nice situation to be in, eh! It took long enough, after all. :)

So, why did you get WMC 2004 and not hold out a little for 2005? Which one did you get? I'm starting my hunt, and I'm hoping to get one that looks more like a peice of stereo equipment than a PC.
mememe
10-19-2004, 04:31 PM
Nuff said.. I have an MCE 2005 machine, TIVO is still better :)
Mike Temporale
10-19-2004, 05:38 PM
Nuff said.. I have an MCE 2005 machine, TIVO is still better :)

I would buy a Tivo in a second, IF they sold them in Canada. :evil:
mememe
10-19-2004, 06:06 PM
Nuff said.. I have an MCE 2005 machine, TIVO is still better :)

I would buy a Tivo in a second, IF they sold them in Canada. :evil:

The ONLY way to get TIVO in Canada is to buy US Satillite service with this feature on the reciever. Got no problem pay for the service (so I wouldn't be STEALING the product), but it's technically still illegal to do so, as the broadcasters based here have paid for the rights to broadcast here.. Still.. I am thinking this is the way I may end up going. Easy enough to get a US address to.. Plus you can get a TIVO satillite setup for under a couple hundred C$'s (even with exchange) VS the $800 solution from Shaw..
Jason Dunn
10-19-2004, 06:21 PM
The ONLY way to get TIVO in Canada is to buy US Satillite service with this feature on the reciever. Got no problem pay for the service (so I wouldn't be STEALING the product), but it's technically still illegal to do so, as the broadcasters based here have paid for the rights to broadcast here.

I thought about going that route, but I've read news stories about RCMP cracking down on people with grey-market dishes...so I figured I'd pass. Beyond TV3 works really well and has Canadian cable listings.
rubberdemon
10-20-2004, 07:04 PM
Actually, I think there is another option, if you feel like getting under the hood a bit. Check out http://www.tivocanada.com/ for complete instructions - basically it involves setting up a way to network into a Tivo and feed it program information taken from the web. Complicated, but something I've considered on and off in moments of geekiness.
Pony99CA
10-20-2004, 07:04 PM
[...] last week I bought a new computer with Windows Media Center 2004 on it, and yesterday I discovered that my local cable company (Shaw) has released a digital cable box/PVR combo unit. Now I have to make up my mind between three different PVR solutions...and to think a few months ago I had no solution at all! :roll:
Three choices shouldn't overwhelm a true geek. :-D How many choices did you have when buying your new computer? I would think that decision would be a lot more confusing.

Of course, I'm in the U.S., and we have even more choices -- Replay (I have two), Tivo, Dish's PVR and I've recently seen ads for a Charter PVR. This doesn't count the options for computer-based recording and dead PVRs like Microsoft's Ultimate TV.

I don't think I'd go for one that I had to lease, though. I tend to let my shows stay for a week (or more) on my Replays, which could cause a problem if I cancelled my cable service because I moved or switched to a dish. I wouldn't want to lose all of the shows on the PVR when I had to return it.

People who use PVRs mainly for live TV wouldn't have to worry about that, of course, but people who use them for time-shifting would.

Steve
Mike Temporale
10-20-2004, 08:11 PM
I don't think I'd go for one that I had to lease, though. I tend to let my shows stay for a week (or more) on my Replays, which could cause a problem if I cancelled my cable service because I moved or switched to a dish. I wouldn't want to lose all of the shows on the PVR when I had to return it.

People who use PVRs mainly for live TV wouldn't have to worry about that, of course, but people who use them for time-shifting would.

Steve

Very good point. Never thought of that. However, I never really considered leasing one anyway. I'm really liking the look of WMC2005 and these media extenders. :D
burnabytom
10-21-2004, 08:56 PM
I have thought about it as well. The problem is that I really want a device that does three things:
1. Capture shows from the cable/satellite. I have shaw and am thinking about the PVR, but it doesn't do HDTV, so I don't know...
2. Burn my favourite programs to DVD so that I can watch them in the future
3. Be able to convert my video (non DV unfortunately) to create home movies and then burn them to DVD.

PVR solves 1 but usually not 2. 3 most likely requires me to do something with my PC and that leads me to wonder if a PC based pvr isn't better....
Pony99CA
10-22-2004, 08:43 AM
I have thought about it as well. The problem is that I really want a device that does three things:
1. Capture shows from the cable/satellite. I have shaw and am thinking about the PVR, but it doesn't do HDTV, so I don't know...
2. Burn my favourite programs to DVD so that I can watch them in the future
3. Be able to convert my video (non DV unfortunately) to create home movies and then burn them to DVD.

PVR solves 1 but usually not 2. 3 most likely requires me to do something with my PC and that leads me to wonder if a PC based pvr isn't better....

Replay allows controlling multiple inputs, including cable and satellite. It doesn't do HDTV, but does have progressive scan out.

Replay allows you to dump video to a VCR, but I suspect you could dump it to a DVD recorder, too. Even better, Pioneer makes a combination Tivo/DVD recorder (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4139_22912926,00.html).

Replay has software available that lets you grab video from the hard disk and copy it to your PC. I haven't been successful using it, but others have.

Of course, if Replay doesn't work in Canada, that won't be very helpful.

Steve
burnabytom
10-22-2004, 06:24 PM
[if Replay doesn't work in Canada, that won't be very helpful]

And that's the rub :?

I'd like to have the Replay features, but as you point out, even that is not yet straight forward or even complete. I'm still looking at a number of pieces of equipement.

BTW, is there a way of sending the video signal out through the cable network in my home? Can I send the movie that is stored on my pc to my tv in the bedroom (which is only connected by the cable)?
Tom[/quote]
Jason Dunn
10-24-2004, 10:37 PM
BTW, is there a way of sending the video signal out through the cable network in my home? Can I send the movie that is stored on my pc to my tv in the bedroom (which is only connected by the cable)?

No, you'd need to connect a networked media player to that TV set. I'll be talking about things like this in the coming weeks, so keep watching the front page.