Time Warner Cable offers Digital Video Recorders like Tivo

[MeanGene]

http://www.wral.com/technology/2150337/detail.html

[MeanGene]

http://www.wral.com/technology/2150337/detail.html

[Goldwolf]

I think I'll stick with my replaytv (http://www.replaytv.com/video/replaytv5000/default.asp)

[Goldwolf]

I think I'll stick with my replaytv (http://www.replaytv.com/video/replaytv5000/default.asp)

[Guyute]

I like my UTV :smoke:

though there's a lot I like about ReplayTV... 'specially the network capabilities. I'd like to be able to tell my box to record something via the net if I'm not at home. very nice :)

though I believe some of the newer Tivos allow that as well.

[Guyute]

I like my UTV :smoke:

though there's a lot I like about ReplayTV... 'specially the network capabilities. I'd like to be able to tell my box to record something via the net if I'm not at home. very nice :)

though I believe some of the newer Tivos allow that as well.

[Goldwolf]

streaming and transferring shows from box to box is awesome....that is my favorite part

ReplayTV was just bought by D&M Holdings which should up the ante in the DVR market.....replay was already devoloping some really cool stuff, but hit a brick wall.

[Goldwolf]

streaming and transferring shows from box to box is awesome....that is my favorite part

ReplayTV was just bought by D&M Holdings which should up the ante in the DVR market.....replay was already devoloping some really cool stuff, but hit a brick wall.

[nccanes]

http://www.wral.com/technology/2150337/detail.html

I'm very happy to see this!!!

[nccanes]

http://www.wral.com/technology/2150337/detail.html

I'm very happy to see this!!!

[rkbrasse]

Sold!!!!!!

[rkbrasse]

Sold!!!!!!

[Turbulence]

Ditto rkbrasse. I gotta get me one of those!
A mere $7 bucks with Road Runner.....it's worth it I'm sure! I gotta grab one of them up!
Thanks for the heads up, MG.

[Turbulence]

Ditto rkbrasse. I gotta get me one of those!
A mere $7 bucks with Road Runner.....it's worth it I'm sure! I gotta grab one of them up!
Thanks for the heads up, MG.

[MeanGene]

I am on the way to switch mine up now. I will let you know how it is later and may come in handy with all of the game 7's tonight!

[MeanGene]

I am on the way to switch mine up now. I will let you know how it is later and may come in handy with all of the game 7's tonight!

[Turbulence]

You're on the ball, MG. :spin:
They say they'll swap no cost and it is merely a matter of connecting the new box...how neat is that? I wonder if it uses some sort of removeable memory chip like TiVo...

Tell us how it works, MeanGene!

[Turbulence]

You're on the ball, MG. :spin:
They say they'll swap no cost and it is merely a matter of connecting the new box...how neat is that? I wonder if it uses some sort of removeable memory chip like TiVo...

Tell us how it works, MeanGene!

[Caniac]

Holy crap. I'm doing that.

[Caniac]

Holy crap. I'm doing that.

[Alicia]

Me too!!

[Alicia]

Me too!!

[Kat]

Just a note for anyone with HD... we called about this today. If you want an HD broadcast and use the digital cable box with an HD tuner, you can't get a DVR. They only do the digital cable broadcast.

Also, I think you can keep your current digital cable box and get the DVR for the extra $6.95 (w/RR), so that you can hook your current box to a different TV. :)

-Kat

[Kat]

Just a note for anyone with HD... we called about this today. If you want an HD broadcast and use the digital cable box with an HD tuner, you can't get a DVR. They only do the digital cable broadcast.

Also, I think you can keep your current digital cable box and get the DVR for the extra $6.95 (w/RR), so that you can hook your current box to a different TV. :)

-Kat

[talkingcanes]

let us know how it works for you, Gene. sounds great, but I'll have to decide it I want to pay TWC another $9.95 a month :eek:

[talkingcanes]

let us know how it works for you, Gene. sounds great, but I'll have to decide it I want to pay TWC another $9.95 a month :eek:

[MeanGene]

SOB's lied to me.

I called at work today, and they said they close at 7:00. I take my old box up there and they are closed. I then called customer service and they said that the lady should not have told me that. I think I am going to call back and get at least $10.00 credit.

I guess I will let you know how it works tomorrow. :mad:

[MeanGene]

SOB's lied to me.

I called at work today, and they said they close at 7:00. I take my old box up there and they are closed. I then called customer service and they said that the lady should not have told me that. I think I am going to call back and get at least $10.00 credit.

I guess I will let you know how it works tomorrow. :mad:

[nccanes]

Just called about this. She said they've run out twice since Monday. Raleigh office got another shipment today. She suggested I try to get there today (rather than tomorrow).

[nccanes]

Just called about this. She said they've run out twice since Monday. Raleigh office got another shipment today. She suggested I try to get there today (rather than tomorrow).

[MeanGene]

I just got mine today in Cary. It is doing some things now, so I can not see a picture yet.

It worked out good though. My first month is free and every other month my cable rate will only increase less than $1.00. She did some sort of bundle with Road Runner. THe lady told me that next month my bill would be 8:00 cheaper becuae of the first month free at the regular rate.

More to come.

[MeanGene]

I just got mine today in Cary. It is doing some things now, so I can not see a picture yet.

It worked out good though. My first month is free and every other month my cable rate will only increase less than $1.00. She did some sort of bundle with Road Runner. THe lady told me that next month my bill would be 8:00 cheaper becuae of the first month free at the regular rate.

More to come.

[MeanGene]

This is sweet! The On Screen guide looks great. The picture in picture has 2 sizes and really would have come in handy last night. With the touch of a button you can switch between the main screen, and the PIP screen.

Recording a show is TOO easy. Highlight the show you want on the guide, and press record. You can record up to two shows at once.
My favorite feature so far is pausing and instant replays on Live TV. That feature even got me to watch a little baseball. You can also watch in slow motion.

I am leaving now, but I have it set to record American Idol! :D

[MeanGene]

This is sweet! The On Screen guide looks great. The picture in picture has 2 sizes and really would have come in handy last night. With the touch of a button you can switch between the main screen, and the PIP screen.

Recording a show is TOO easy. Highlight the show you want on the guide, and press record. You can record up to two shows at once.
My favorite feature so far is pausing and instant replays on Live TV. That feature even got me to watch a little baseball. You can also watch in slow motion.

I am leaving now, but I have it set to record American Idol! :D

[Caniac]

I am definitely getting that.

[Caniac]

I am definitely getting that.

[nccanes]

This is sweet! The On Screen guide looks great. The picture in picture has 2 sizes and really would have come in handy last night. With the touch of a button you can switch between the main screen, and the PIP screen.

Recording a show is TOO easy. Highlight the show you want on the guide, and press record. You can record up to two shows at once.
My favorite feature so far is pausing and instant replays on Live TV. That feature even got me to watch a little baseball. You can also watch in slow motion.

I am leaving now, but I have it set to record American Idol! :D

I got mine today too MG. Pretty cool. She told me the same thing about my bill not changing much, which I didn't get why, but whatever!

The only thing I couldn't figure out was if you set the thing to tape 2 things at once (manually) how did you stop the recording of the 1st one you set.

Also, if you program in advance 2 shows to record will it record them both? I suppose you'd have to be tuned into one of them live if you were at home and had the TV on?

Didn't get a heckuva lot of docs, but I'm sure I can manage!

[nccanes]

This is sweet! The On Screen guide looks great. The picture in picture has 2 sizes and really would have come in handy last night. With the touch of a button you can switch between the main screen, and the PIP screen.

Recording a show is TOO easy. Highlight the show you want on the guide, and press record. You can record up to two shows at once.
My favorite feature so far is pausing and instant replays on Live TV. That feature even got me to watch a little baseball. You can also watch in slow motion.

I am leaving now, but I have it set to record American Idol! :D

I got mine today too MG. Pretty cool. She told me the same thing about my bill not changing much, which I didn't get why, but whatever!

The only thing I couldn't figure out was if you set the thing to tape 2 things at once (manually) how did you stop the recording of the 1st one you set.

Also, if you program in advance 2 shows to record will it record them both? I suppose you'd have to be tuned into one of them live if you were at home and had the TV on?

Didn't get a heckuva lot of docs, but I'm sure I can manage!

[Goldwolf]

it sounds just like a ReplayTV and Tivo

ReplayTV skips commercials though.

A DVR requires two tuners to record 2 things at the same time

[Goldwolf]

it sounds just like a ReplayTV and Tivo

ReplayTV skips commercials though.

A DVR requires two tuners to record 2 things at the same time

[Turbulence]

Cool! I'll be heading over to TWC asap. I can't wait....
And a steal at $7 more a month!
Thanks for the updates MeanGene and nccanes!

[Turbulence]

Cool! I'll be heading over to TWC asap. I can't wait....
And a steal at $7 more a month!
Thanks for the updates MeanGene and nccanes!

[nccanes]

Cool! I'll be heading over to TWC asap. I can't wait....
And a steal at $7 more a month!
Thanks for the updates MeanGene and nccanes!

You might want to call before you go, just to make sure they are in stock. There wasn't any line today when I went around 4pm.

Lovin' it. I know this is old hat for you ReplayTV and TIVO people, but it kicks butt to go into the kitchen for a drink and come back and "rewind" to catch what I missed on West Wing. I used to tape WW so I could rewind anyway (dialog is so quick paced and soooo good), so this is perfect, perfect.

:D :D

[nccanes]

Cool! I'll be heading over to TWC asap. I can't wait....
And a steal at $7 more a month!
Thanks for the updates MeanGene and nccanes!

You might want to call before you go, just to make sure they are in stock. There wasn't any line today when I went around 4pm.

Lovin' it. I know this is old hat for you ReplayTV and TIVO people, but it kicks butt to go into the kitchen for a drink and come back and "rewind" to catch what I missed on West Wing. I used to tape WW so I could rewind anyway (dialog is so quick paced and soooo good), so this is perfect, perfect.

:D :D

[Goldwolf]

I know this is old hat for you ReplayTV and TIVO people

no worries.....it was huge change for me when I received my Replay

God's Time....the best description ever of DVR's

[Goldwolf]

I know this is old hat for you ReplayTV and TIVO people

no worries.....it was huge change for me when I received my Replay

God's Time....the best description ever of DVR's

[MeanGene]

it sounds just like a ReplayTV and Tivo

ReplayTV skips commercials though.

A DVR requires two tuners to record 2 things at the same time

I just tried it. It recorded two 11:00 shows at the same time. One was on Animal Planet and one on VH1. I just have one fbox, so I don't know how it works, but I am glad it does! :)

[MeanGene]

it sounds just like a ReplayTV and Tivo

ReplayTV skips commercials though.

A DVR requires two tuners to record 2 things at the same time

I just tried it. It recorded two 11:00 shows at the same time. One was on Animal Planet and one on VH1. I just have one fbox, so I don't know how it works, but I am glad it does! :)

[Goldwolf]

well, that just sucks MeanGene.......that just makes this DVR an even greater deal.

NOT FAIR!!!! :eek2:

[Goldwolf]

well, that just sucks MeanGene.......that just makes this DVR an even greater deal.

NOT FAIR!!!! :eek2:

[nccanes]

well, that just sucks MeanGene.......that just makes this DVR an even greater deal.

NOT FAIR!!!! :eek2:

I was thinking the cost is practically a steal! I'm sure it will increase once us regular TWC get them and get completely hooked. But yeah, NO upfront cost and a measly monthly fee!?!? :eek:

[nccanes]

well, that just sucks MeanGene.......that just makes this DVR an even greater deal.

NOT FAIR!!!! :eek2:

I was thinking the cost is practically a steal! I'm sure it will increase once us regular TWC get them and get completely hooked. But yeah, NO upfront cost and a measly monthly fee!?!? :eek:

[VandyCane]

Question for you MeanGene?

You can do picture in picture with the new box? We have digital cable right now and hate the fact that we basically had to give up our PIP. Will the PIP work on any TV or PIP-ready tv's only? Thanks...I think...another excuse to throw money out the window. :cool:

[VandyCane]

Question for you MeanGene?

You can do picture in picture with the new box? We have digital cable right now and hate the fact that we basically had to give up our PIP. Will the PIP work on any TV or PIP-ready tv's only? Thanks...I think...another excuse to throw money out the window. :cool:

[nccanes]

Question for you MeanGene?

You can do picture in picture with the new box? We have digital cable right now and hate the fact that we basically had to give up our PIP. Will the PIP work on any TV or PIP-ready tv's only? Thanks...I think...another excuse to throw money out the window. :cool:

Definitely does PIP - done by the box itself (rather than your tv). I believe you can get PIP with regular digital cable, but you just have to split the signal before it goes to your digital box (or something...I'm forgetting now, but I'm sure someone will explain better than I).

[nccanes]

Question for you MeanGene?

You can do picture in picture with the new box? We have digital cable right now and hate the fact that we basically had to give up our PIP. Will the PIP work on any TV or PIP-ready tv's only? Thanks...I think...another excuse to throw money out the window. :cool:

Definitely does PIP - done by the box itself (rather than your tv). I believe you can get PIP with regular digital cable, but you just have to split the signal before it goes to your digital box (or something...I'm forgetting now, but I'm sure someone will explain better than I).

[Guyute]

I don't know about the box that TWC is using... but most DVR's (tivo, utv, replaytv), have dual tuners in them. it not only functions to record 2 different shows at the same time, but it's why you can do PIP, without having a PIP tv.
purely a function of the box, not the tv.
hope that helps.

[Guyute]

I don't know about the box that TWC is using... but most DVR's (tivo, utv, replaytv), have dual tuners in them. it not only functions to record 2 different shows at the same time, but it's why you can do PIP, without having a PIP tv.
purely a function of the box, not the tv.
hope that helps.

[nccanes]

I don't know about the box that TWC is using... but most DVR's (tivo, utv, replaytv), have dual tuners in them. it not only functions to record 2 different shows at the same time, but it's why you can do PIP, without having a PIP tv.
purely a function of the box, not the tv.
hope that helps.

Yeah, what he said. ;)

Which is really nice for people that don't have a PIP tv. We never did the work around for our PIP after we got digital cable, so I've missed it too!

[nccanes]

I don't know about the box that TWC is using... but most DVR's (tivo, utv, replaytv), have dual tuners in them. it not only functions to record 2 different shows at the same time, but it's why you can do PIP, without having a PIP tv.
purely a function of the box, not the tv.
hope that helps.

Yeah, what he said. ;)

Which is really nice for people that don't have a PIP tv. We never did the work around for our PIP after we got digital cable, so I've missed it too!

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I hate that I have Charter Cable more everyday. http://www.jordysworld.de/emoticons/wut84.gif

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I hate that I have Charter Cable more everyday. http://www.jordysworld.de/emoticons/wut84.gif

[MeanGene]

Damn, it will not let me record Center Ice! :sad:

[MeanGene]

Damn, it will not let me record Center Ice! :sad:

[Alicia]

Damn, it will not let me record Center Ice! :sad:

What??? Why?

[Alicia]

Damn, it will not let me record Center Ice! :sad:

What??? Why?

[Turbulence]

:mad: Headed over to the Garner office yesterday to get the new DVR. Got it, went to hook it up, and found out the means of connection aren't compatible with the new box. :mad:
We have HDTV....and I knew that I'd be giving that up momentarily for the new DVR (thanks for the heads up kat!)...but I figured I could still use the connection we had to get the other analog channels. No luck. So we had to head on back today to the Cary office (Garner closed) and get the old box back. :mad:

Maybe they'll come back with an HDTV compatible model...

[Turbulence]

:mad: Headed over to the Garner office yesterday to get the new DVR. Got it, went to hook it up, and found out the means of connection aren't compatible with the new box. :mad:
We have HDTV....and I knew that I'd be giving that up momentarily for the new DVR (thanks for the heads up kat!)...but I figured I could still use the connection we had to get the other analog channels. No luck. So we had to head on back today to the Cary office (Garner closed) and get the old box back. :mad:

Maybe they'll come back with an HDTV compatible model...

[Kat]

Actually, that was me that told you that it was not HD compatible.

However, we went and got one of these even though we have Tivo, because the Tivo wasn't playing nice with digital cable and since the DVR was free for a month, he wanted to see what it had to offer. What we have done is hook up both the digital cable box (w/ HD tuner) and the DVR to our projection unit, so that we can switch between the two and still get the HD broadcasts. He likes the DVR better than the Tivo because we can record two things at once. I think that they have Tivos now that do this, but ours is a bit older and only has one tuner.

For those of you that don't already know... we bought a Runco front projector about 3 weeks ago. It can go up to 120", but for our living room 65" is about as big as we can go for now. The plan is to eventually build a movie room. The 65" wide screen is really nice, though. We are still looking into how to build a screen, so for right now it is just projecting onto some screen material that is tacked up on the wall. He already had the center channel and full surround sound set up from before.

Oh, and we have no built in tuner with the projection unit... we require an external one, either through the digital cable box, the Tivo, the VCR, or the DVD. So now we have so many electronic devices I don't have a clue as to how to turn any of it on! :beatup:

-Kat

[Kat]

Actually, that was me that told you that it was not HD compatible.

However, we went and got one of these even though we have Tivo, because the Tivo wasn't playing nice with digital cable and since the DVR was free for a month, he wanted to see what it had to offer. What we have done is hook up both the digital cable box (w/ HD tuner) and the DVR to our projection unit, so that we can switch between the two and still get the HD broadcasts. He likes the DVR better than the Tivo because we can record two things at once. I think that they have Tivos now that do this, but ours is a bit older and only has one tuner.

For those of you that don't already know... we bought a Runco front projector about 3 weeks ago. It can go up to 120", but for our living room 65" is about as big as we can go for now. The plan is to eventually build a movie room. The 65" wide screen is really nice, though. We are still looking into how to build a screen, so for right now it is just projecting onto some screen material that is tacked up on the wall. He already had the center channel and full surround sound set up from before.

Oh, and we have no built in tuner with the projection unit... we require an external one, either through the digital cable box, the Tivo, the VCR, or the DVD. So now we have so many electronic devices I don't have a clue as to how to turn any of it on! :beatup:

-Kat

[Turbulence]

Actually, that was me that told you that it was not HD compatible.



http://www.airliners.net/discussions/graphics/redface.gif So it was you..... I could have sworn I remembered a picture of Bruno next to that post......guess I'm a bit loony. Thanks for the headsup, Kat.... :spin:

[Turbulence]

Actually, that was me that told you that it was not HD compatible.



http://www.airliners.net/discussions/graphics/redface.gif So it was you..... I could have sworn I remembered a picture of Bruno next to that post......guess I'm a bit loony. Thanks for the headsup, Kat.... :spin:

[CanesFFan]

Exchanged my box for a new DVR unit on Friday and it is my new best friend! I especially enjoy the PIP option - this way I can watch another show in progress during playoff commercials and quickly switch between the two when players are lined up for faceoff.

Two downsides - this thing is going to make me want to watch more TV -- a definite negative considering my already remarkably inactive lifestyle (ah, the curse of the desk job). Other downside is you can't record two shows simultaneously while watching something else entirely...this I learned last night while trying to record Six Feet Under and Chappelle's show while enjoying the Toronto/Philly game - I had to cancel one of the recordings to do so.

[CanesFFan]

Exchanged my box for a new DVR unit on Friday and it is my new best friend! I especially enjoy the PIP option - this way I can watch another show in progress during playoff commercials and quickly switch between the two when players are lined up for faceoff.

Two downsides - this thing is going to make me want to watch more TV -- a definite negative considering my already remarkably inactive lifestyle (ah, the curse of the desk job). Other downside is you can't record two shows simultaneously while watching something else entirely...this I learned last night while trying to record Six Feet Under and Chappelle's show while enjoying the Toronto/Philly game - I had to cancel one of the recordings to do so.

[nccanes]

Actually, that was me that told you that it was not HD compatible.



http://www.airliners.net/discussions/graphics/redface.gif So it was you..... I could have sworn I remembered a picture of Bruno next to that post......guess I'm a bit loony. Thanks for the headsup, Kat.... :spin:

Well, Kat is avatar-less (and why is that Kat??), but I've posted a bunch in this thread, so that's probably what confused you. Now, I've thrown more confusion by changing the Av!?

But no, alas, I have no HD nor projection TV, but I know who to ask!

[nccanes]

Actually, that was me that told you that it was not HD compatible.



http://www.airliners.net/discussions/graphics/redface.gif So it was you..... I could have sworn I remembered a picture of Bruno next to that post......guess I'm a bit loony. Thanks for the headsup, Kat.... :spin:

Well, Kat is avatar-less (and why is that Kat??), but I've posted a bunch in this thread, so that's probably what confused you. Now, I've thrown more confusion by changing the Av!?

But no, alas, I have no HD nor projection TV, but I know who to ask!

[nccanes]

Other downside is you can't record two shows simultaneously while watching something else entirely...this I learned last night while trying to record Six Feet Under and Chappelle's show while enjoying the Toronto/Philly game - I had to cancel one of the recordings to do so.

Well, while this would be nice, I don't consider it a downside really. With my old setup, I couldn't tape 2 things at once even if I was watching the 2nd one. So the fact that it'll do it (and allow me to rewind if the phone rings, etc) is still a nice plus.

[nccanes]

Other downside is you can't record two shows simultaneously while watching something else entirely...this I learned last night while trying to record Six Feet Under and Chappelle's show while enjoying the Toronto/Philly game - I had to cancel one of the recordings to do so.

Well, while this would be nice, I don't consider it a downside really. With my old setup, I couldn't tape 2 things at once even if I was watching the 2nd one. So the fact that it'll do it (and allow me to rewind if the phone rings, etc) is still a nice plus.

[Turbulence]

Well, Kat is avatar-less (and why is that Kat??), but I've posted a bunch in this thread, so that's probably what confused you. Now, I've thrown more confusion by changing the Av!?

http://www.websmileys.de/conf06.gifYou've got one confused Bovine right here...
Is that St Louis in the Av?

[Turbulence]

Well, Kat is avatar-less (and why is that Kat??), but I've posted a bunch in this thread, so that's probably what confused you. Now, I've thrown more confusion by changing the Av!?

http://www.websmileys.de/conf06.gifYou've got one confused Bovine right here...
Is that St Louis in the Av?

[nccanes]

http://www.websmileys.de/conf06.gifYou've got one confused Bovine right here...
Is that St Louis in the Av?

Bingo Turby! Just keeping you on your hooves! ;)

[nccanes]

http://www.websmileys.de/conf06.gifYou've got one confused Bovine right here...
Is that St Louis in the Av?

Bingo Turby! Just keeping you on your hooves! ;)

[Kat]

Well, Kat is avatar-less (and why is that Kat??), but I've posted a bunch in this thread, so that's probably what confused you. Now, I've thrown more confusion by changing the Av!?

But no, alas, I have no HD nor projection TV, but I know who to ask!

Kat is avatar-less because she is *lazy*. :D

And we are really liking the DVR... you can't record two things at once on the Tivo, so even having that capability is cool to us. Also, we kept the extra digital cable box so that we could have the HD tuner, so we can route the third tuner option through there. The other possibility is, if you are watching an analog cable signal like ESPN and don't need the digital feed, you could watch the game through the VCR or DVD, and let the DVR keep on recording... I really wish that ESPN had a digital or HD broadcast though. It makes a HUGE difference on our TV.

-Kat

[Kat]

Well, Kat is avatar-less (and why is that Kat??), but I've posted a bunch in this thread, so that's probably what confused you. Now, I've thrown more confusion by changing the Av!?

But no, alas, I have no HD nor projection TV, but I know who to ask!

Kat is avatar-less because she is *lazy*. :D

And we are really liking the DVR... you can't record two things at once on the Tivo, so even having that capability is cool to us. Also, we kept the extra digital cable box so that we could have the HD tuner, so we can route the third tuner option through there. The other possibility is, if you are watching an analog cable signal like ESPN and don't need the digital feed, you could watch the game through the VCR or DVD, and let the DVR keep on recording... I really wish that ESPN had a digital or HD broadcast though. It makes a HUGE difference on our TV.

-Kat

[nccanes]

And we are really liking the DVR... you can't record two things at once on the Tivo, so even having that capability is cool to us. Also, we kept the extra digital cable box so that we could have the HD tuner, so we can route the third tuner option through there. The other possibility is, if you are watching an analog cable signal like ESPN and don't need the digital feed, you could watch the game through the VCR or DVD, and let the DVR keep on recording... I really wish that ESPN had a digital or HD broadcast though. It makes a HUGE difference on our TV.

-Kat

Okay, I'll pretend that I followed all of that. :D But I do have one thing to add - isn't ESPN starting an HD network?

http://espn.go.com/espnhd/index.html

[nccanes]

And we are really liking the DVR... you can't record two things at once on the Tivo, so even having that capability is cool to us. Also, we kept the extra digital cable box so that we could have the HD tuner, so we can route the third tuner option through there. The other possibility is, if you are watching an analog cable signal like ESPN and don't need the digital feed, you could watch the game through the VCR or DVD, and let the DVR keep on recording... I really wish that ESPN had a digital or HD broadcast though. It makes a HUGE difference on our TV.

-Kat

Okay, I'll pretend that I followed all of that. :D But I do have one thing to add - isn't ESPN starting an HD network?

http://espn.go.com/espnhd/index.html

[Kat]

ESPN has an HD network, but Time Warner does not yet offer it. Meanies.

And all that mess above doesn't mean I actually know how to hook it up, just the basics of how you might want to do so if you are so inclined.

-Kat

[Kat]

ESPN has an HD network, but Time Warner does not yet offer it. Meanies.

And all that mess above doesn't mean I actually know how to hook it up, just the basics of how you might want to do so if you are so inclined.

-Kat

[Turbulence]

ESPN has done just that...though TWC, along with some other national cable companies, has yet to adhere to an agreement with them. Guess we'll have to wait for that... :mad:

[Turbulence]

ESPN has done just that...though TWC, along with some other national cable companies, has yet to adhere to an agreement with them. Guess we'll have to wait for that... :mad:

[nccanes]

Okay, I learned a little TWC-DVR risk last night. I knew I'd be dozing off during the Nucks/Wild game, so I set the DVR to tape the game - using the menu to select "record this show". Of course, it was only "scheduled" to go until 12:30am and that's when it ended - even though the game wasn't quite over. I guess you should set up sporting events like a manual recording - just like with a VCR - to allow for it running long?

Turns out I woke up (barely) in the 3rd and saw them score the 4th goal, but I missed the post game celebration and handshake, etc.

[rkbrasse]

This thing rules. I got mine last week and I now have no clue how I got along without it. I miss nothing. I even wait to watch stuff so I can fast forward through the commercials.

[Alicia]

Got mine today (finally!) and am recording the game so I can watch American Idol with my non-hockey watching company. Hope it's a good game!

[CanesFFan]

Don't get me wrong, I still love my DVR and its capabilities--- it's just not completely flawless. Has anyone else experienced certain problems, such as screen freezing on one shot, scrambling pixels or the fact that it sometimes takes an inordinately long time to change the channel?

I've already had to reboot DVR box quite a few times to correct problems - sometimes it works and the picture appears clear with no problems, othertimes the rebooting fails and I just have to wait for the kinks to work themselves out.

[nccanes]

Mine did freak out once (even a strange code on the display) and I had to mess around until it "got right". I was "supposed" to be recording something during that period, but fortunately it wasn't anything important.

We have the slow channel change too and we've had a couple of screen issues, but I think I had that with my old digital box too (not the channel change lag thing tho).

Anyway, like you said it is SO cool. I'm willing to put up with the bugs for a bit. A friend of mine in Austin said they've been out there for a few months and there were numerous bugs with them there too.

[Kat]

We had a bunch of issues with channels not showing up, and we have replaced the DVR once. However, we got digital cable only a week or so before getting the DVR... the cable guy finally came out yesterday and said that it was our outside cable connection that was the problem, and not the DVR. He supposedly fixed the problem, so that should help. So our problems were most likely the digital cable and not the DVR. Other than that, we love it.

-Kat

[Alicia]

I have noticed the channel change lag, a slight difference in picture quality of recorded playbacks, but no other problems....so far!

[Goldwolf]

most dvr's have the lag.....The Replay5000's had a long lag until recently (corrected with a software upgrade)

most of the lag is due to a buffer that a unit requires in case you feel like rewinding live television(i.e. instant replay)

they need that buffer

[Shell]

Thought you guys might be interested in this. (from a newsletter I get called Circuits out of the NY Times)

DVR Myths and Facts

If you hadn't guessed from my coverage in Circuits (like today's column) or in this newsletter, I'm a huge, raving, tentacle-waving fan of digital video recorders like TiVo and ReplayTV.

It's not because I have a lot of time to watch TV; it's because I don't. Thanks to these miracle machines, I can watch important shows on my schedule instead of the networks', and I can watch them in two-thirds the time, thanks to their ability to zoom past ads, credits, recaps, teasers and other blather.

Whenever I bring up my addiction in conversation, though, the reaction I get is virtually never, "Really? I'll have to get one." People — including, unfortunately, fellow journalists — often cite myths or outdated Facts, which is especially dangerous in a field that changes so quickly. So here, for your e-mailing pleasure, is a list of DVR myths and Facts. They're accurate as of this moment: May 29, 2003.

Belief: "I heard that TiVo tracks what I watch. I don't want Big Brother looking over my shoulder."

Fact: TiVos collect viewing data and beam it back to the company — but only in the aggregate, the company says. Nobody knows what you, personally, watch — only what people in your part of the country watch.

Even so, you can opt out of even this anonymous data collection by calling TiVo at 877-367-8486. (Replay says IT doesn't collect aggregate viewing data, but "may collect such information in the future." It, too, will offer an opt-out method.)

Belief: "TiVo auto-records stuff that I didn't ask for."

Fact: Out of the box, TiVo studies the shows you regularly record, and makes suggestions based on your tastes. It records them for your convenience, but only if there's room on the hard drive. (Lots of people shut it off, but I kind of like it. Among other things, it unearthed some great new kid shows my wife and I never knew existed.)

But the main point is this: It's an optional feature that you can turn off forever in about five seconds.

Belief: "I'm getting a Replay, because with TiVo, you have to pay for some kind of service subscription."

Fact: In the early days, you could buy a ReplayTV box for $600 and pay no service fee — or a TiVo box for $400 plus a $200 service fee. Evidently not everyone did the math.

Today, the pricing scheme is the same: You buy the box and pay for the service separately.

Belief: "I don't want to have to pay a monthly fee forever."

Fact: You don't have to. You can (and should) pay the $250, one-time, lifetime fee instead.

Belief: "The ReplayTV is better, because the TiVo can't skip ads."

Fact: There's some truth to this one. ReplayTV's auto-commercial skip feature is fantastic. And only the Replay's remote has a 30-second skip button.

Of course, faithful readers know that you can also add a 30-second skip button to the TiVo, too. Press the following buttons on the remote: Select, Play, Select, 3, 0, Select. Now your Advance button is a 30-second skip button. Press the same sequence again to turn off this feature. (Note to readers who reported that this trick doesn't work: You have to do it during playback of a show, not during live TV.)

Belief: "If these companies go out of business, I've got myself a $250 doorstop."

Fact: Sure enough, if the companies stop supplying the listing service, you won't be able to do much with your DVR. And both companies were struggling until recently. In Fact, SonicBlue (until recently, maker of ReplayTV) filed for bankruptcy.

TiVo, however, expects to break even this year, thanks in part to an increase in service prices and sales of add-on services like the Home Media Option. ReplayTV was sold to D & M Holdings, the parent company of Denon, Marantz and McIntosh, so at least it's in the hands of a well-financed outfit. Replay fees, too, have just gone up to match TiVo's ($13 per month or $250 forever), and Replay owners, too, will be offered premium, added-cost options.

Besides, DVR technology is here to stay. You can already find it in satellite boxes, and it will likely arrive in cable boxes and even televisions before long. TiVo and ReplayTV get the credit for being pioneers — but even if they have a few arrows in their backs, the magic that they've unleashed will be with us forever.

[Kat]

Update on our TW DVR.... evidently you have to reboot it every so often because it just stops working. Unfortunately, this may happen RIGHT when you wanted to record something. We are on our second box by now, and it did this reboot-needing thing on us last night, again (probably about the 3rd or 4th time). My fiance called TW and when pressed the guy sort of admitted that this might be a widely experienced bug. Just an FYI.

So for now, we are keeping our Tivo active...

-Kat

[Alicia]

Update on our TW DVR.... evidently you have to reboot it every so often because it just stops working. Unfortunately, this may happen RIGHT when you wanted to record something. We are on our second box by now, and it did this reboot-needing thing on us last night, again (probably about the 3rd or 4th time). My fiance called TW and when pressed the guy sort of admitted that this might be a widely experienced bug. Just an FYI.

So for now, we are keeping our Tivo active...

-Kat

Yeah, mine froze up & blacked out on me an hour into a PPV movie I was watching and recording at the same time...quite frustrating.

BTW, we just got a 57" HDTV...can't wait for the new Canes season to start!

[Goldwolf]

I wonder if Digital Cable has anything to do with it?.....I hardly ever have problems with my ReplayTV ;) :smoke:

[Guyute]

don't have problems like that on our UTV either. (satellite).

so, it could be related to the cable...
but, if that were the case, Kat's tivo (running the same cable) would have the problem too. It's probably whatever proprietary software TW has put on those boxes. ::shudder::

[Goldwolf]

it is my understanding that the TW DVR is decoding Digital Cable .... our boxes (Replay, Tivo, UTV, etc.) don't have to do any of that

[Kat]

so, it could be related to the cable...
but, if that were the case, Kat's tivo (running the same cable) would have the problem too. It's probably whatever proprietary software TW has put on those boxes. ::shudder::

The Tivo has no problems that require rebooting in order to record. The TW rep implied that it is a problem with the DVR software... a "feature" (bug) if you will. However, we do not use the Tivo with a digital cable box since the channel changing doesn't play very nice. So it could be a digital/analog issue... but my suspicion is the reason the DVR is a free trial is so that some of these "features" in the software/hardware can be discovered.

-Kat

[tommy]

A side note on TiVo:

TiVo to Sell Reports on Users' TV Viewing Habits
Mon Jun 2,11:35 AM ET Add Entertainment - Reuters TV to My Yahoo!

By Franklin Paul

NEW YORK (Reuters) - TiVo (news - web sites) Inc., a maker of television-recording devices, on Monday unveiled a TV audience measuring system that allows it to report the second-by-second viewing habits of its subscribers to advertisers and network programmers.

The system represents a potential new revenue stream for the maker of digital video recorders (DVR), which is trying to transform itself into a media services company and seeking other ways of making money beyond the monthly subscriber fees it collects.

The new service, which will produce a quarterly viewing report, would track a sample of TiVo's more than 700,000 users, whose DVRs allow them to record more than 40 hours of shows, pause live TV, instantly replay favorite scenes or fast-forward through commercials.

The report would, for example, tell advertisers which commercials audiences watched in their entirety during an episode of the comedy "Friends." It can also inform "Friends" creators that viewers changed the channel when a particular character entered the scene.

"With the Olympics -- as (a reporter) gives a heartwarming story about an athlete, (TiVo tracks) second-to-second what is causing viewers to stay tuned or what is causing them to flip over to something else," said Martin Yudkovitz, president of TiVo.

He noted that TiVo does not intend to compete with rival Nielsen Media Research, the ubiquitous voice in the television industry for tracking audience viewership. Instead, TiVo stresses that its service could perhaps be a companion to Nielsen data that advertisers and networks use to make decisions about programming.

Yudkovitz, a veteran of General Electric Co.'s NBC who was brought on in April to spur TiVo's media drive, added that TiVo has not signed any major clients. But he said it is confident that in a business where shifts in audience trends can sway millions in ad dollars, customers will find the data compelling.

TiVo allows its users to decline the monitoring of their viewing habits, but a spokesman said that most do not. The company has targeted total subscribers of 1 million by early 2004, which would give it a robust sample of technology-savvy and better-than-average income TV watchers.

Although TiVo's name has become synonymous with DVRs, the digital television recording segment is still young, with less than 3 million of the pricey devices in use, analysts say.

While the outlook for DVRs is bright, TiVo has tried to diversify, scratching up alternative revenue streams such as its recently introduced system that turns its device into a home media center for enjoying music, digital snapshots and video.

In its most recent annual report, for the fiscal year ending January 2003, the company said revenues from advertising and research services were "not material." San Jose, California-based TiVo earned $60.2 million in the period.

TiVo shares rose 20 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $9.20 on Nasdaq. Earlier, the stock hit $9.50, its highest level since May 2002.

[talkingcanes]

OK, I'm getting one of these DVR deals next week. Is it easy enough for the technologically challenged to work?

[nccanes]

OK, I'm getting one of these DVR deals next week. Is it easy enough for the technologically challenged to work?

Yes. And it will change your life. I'm not kidding. :eek2: