DVD to record 1 DirecTV channel while watching another?

[mike1946]

Hi,

We just dumped our cable provider and got DirecTV. It now appears that we can no longer record one channel while watching another. We have a dual tuner TV (1995 Sony XBR)

However, we are also in the market for a good DVR (hard disk, S-video, two tuners, etc). and wonder if there is a DVR feature(s) that will allow us to regain our ability to watch one channel while recording another (on DirecTV)? At this time we do not want TIVO.

Perhaps we just need to correctly setup our Directv? Or will the correct DVR help us….?

Thanks in advance.

[louthewiz]

The only dual tuner sat box around is the dishnetwork pvr.

[mike1946]

Hi again,

Perhaps, in my earlier post, I should have said DVD recorder instead of "DVR".

Mike1946

[belder]

Hi mike1946,

Has DirecTv already come out and set up the boxes? I may be completely wrong about this, but I think the only way you can get two different channels is to have two receiver boxes or the DirecTv Tivo. (I have the Tivo and wouldn't have television without it. It's only $5 more a month for the service. Plus, it records the satellite signal so there's no loss of quality at all.)

I don't think your SONY can decode the satellite signal. So, you'd have to have one box going to your TV and one going to your DVD recorder. Another Box is $5.95 a month for complete service, I think. I use my DirecTivo to record the cable channels I like and the programs I want to save I use my Pioneer 420H and burn a DVD of them. Works like a charm.

So, I think you need to tell them you need two boxes. Right now I see on their web site that you get three rooms free when you sign on. Just put one of the receivers going to your DVD recorder.

[lordsmurf]

Two receivers.

[anzimike]

Yes. The model offered by direct tv has twin tuner, but requires two seperate inputs from dish (need dual lnb dish). see here:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/TIVO.dsp

[anzimike]

BTW a splitter won't work. only way to split dish outputs is with multiplexer. $100 for 2 lines split to 4 and $200 for 4 lines split to 8

[bnbhoha]

I know you said you didn't want Tivo. But DirectTivo is the best bang for your buck out there and it's a little different from cable tv Tivo. Have you ever tried it? It only costs $5.95/month for the service and you get to record two channels at the same time and watch what ever is on the hard drive. Check out tivocommunity.com. People would give their left finger for one of these. I really can't go back to regular tv after this. If you want to back up a show on dvd, just buy a dvd recorder and use s-video out. Gotta try it.

[mike1946]

Wow, these forums are helpful.

Anzimike said “…. model offered by direct tv has twin tuner, but requires two seperate inputs from dish (need dual lnb dish).”

We have an “integrated triple lnb” dish with 3 coaxial lines leaving the dish and entering our basement. This appears to be different type of dish?
As a side note, a market may be emerging for a DVD recorder that would allow DirecTV users the ability to record one channel (or more) while watching another.(without TIVO). Perhaps such an effort might have to be coordinated with DirecTV. (I’ll need %10 percent as the idea man )

The TIVO option does seem viable.It’s (currently) inexpensive and has lots of true believers.

[anzimike]

I'm waiting for the same device as you, two tuner tivo with dvd recorder, but as far as I'm aware, it doesn't exist. There are only single tuner models from Toshiba and Pioneer. I wasn't aware that there are 3 lnb dish's out there. is it round or ellipse? Either way it should work for you. the tivo tuner will need two of the three coax lines. If you order the equipment from direct tv they usually will install for free, and include multiplexer for free if you have need for more lines. Hope this works out for you. Once you go tivo you never go back...

[mike1946]

Thanks Anzi,

The dish box calls the circular dish "a triple LNB multi satellite dish".

Although TIVO does sound attractive and we may very well go that way, I was hoping for a hi-end DVD recorder that would allow for recording one DirecTV channel while watching another (without TIVO).

There must be a technical reason why a simple cable descramber box (with VCR) allows recording one channel while watching another but the more sophisticated DirecTV receiver does not?

During "primetime" TV these sorts of conflicts are common....

Perhaps, I'm lucky if this is my biggest current dilemma

[RMaddog]

I just want to say the the Directv Tivo is the way to go. You can record 2 different programs at the same time while you are watching something you recorded earlier. You can watcn 1 live program while recording another, you can also timeshift a live program too.

There is no way I will ever go without a Tivo ever again. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I have the Ilo DVD recorder hooked up to the Tivo and you can not tell the difference if you are watching live tv or something you recorded to DVD. Once recorded to say a +rw you copy it to your PC.

The Tivo is the way to go!!!

[bnbhoha]

The triple LNB basically picks up 3 satellites. One is the main satellite where most of the stations are. The second one is the ethnic satellite, most of your Spanish channels come from that one. The third is the one that transmits HD channels. It also has a built in multi-switch, so it has a total of four outputs. If you have a directTivo, then you want two lines coming into that. Good luck.

p.s. you can order a directly from direcTv. I think there's a rebate and you can get it for $50.

[sync]

There must be a technical reason why a simple cable descramber box (with VCR) allows recording one channel while watching another but the more sophisticated DirecTV receiver does not?

Cable tv sends all the channels down the cable into your home. So a box with more than one tuner can tune more than one channel.

Digital satellite is much more data intensive. When you select a channel only the data for that one channel is sent down the cable to your receiver.

So to tune 2 different channels you need 2 cables going from the dish and hooking up to 2 receivers. Then you connect a DVD recorder to one or both receivers. That's how my video system is set up.

The DVD recorder is only cable of recording a signal that has already been decoded by a receiver. The DVD recorder does not tune a satellite signal. It can only do that with cable tv.

[anzimike]

Interesting, sync. There are however a few recorders with tivo tuners;
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDnameid=271&Search=Search&list=1#comments
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDnameid=277&Search=Search&list=1#comments
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDnameid=852&Search=Search&list=1#comments
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDnameid=853&Search=Search&list=1#comments
However they only have one tuner so you may not watch a different program while recording another, unless you have a second reciever. I'm waiting for model with second tuner and possibly dual layer support. Any manufacturers listening?

[sync]

Interesting, sync. There are however a few recorders with tivo tuners

I'm not sure what you mean by 'tivo tuner' or how it relates to what I said.

I have a Tivo, so I know what that is.

[anzimike]

The tivo tuner is built into the dvd recorder, so you can record tivo streams to hdd and output to dvd-r/dvd-rw, keeping data in digital domain This is in hope of improving quality. With my current system, I record s-video output of tivo box to s-video in in dvd recorder, presumably introducing analog artifacts. I'm seeing loss of resolution and video noise on tivo output, not seen on commercial dvd's. I understand that tivo stream resolution/bandwidth is not as good as dvd spec, but would like to eliminate any potential analog artifacts contributing to quality loss. I'm not smart enough or bold enough to hack the tivo box to output digital streams directly to computer (though I know it can be done), and my computers are distant from the tivo box (upstairs). It may all be irrelevent since the best my current tv will accept is 480i anyway, but I plan on purchasing an hdtv projector as soon as technology and prices settle down so it may make a difference then. Thanks for your input.

[sync]

The tivo tuner is built into the dvd recorder, so you can record tivo streams to hdd and output to dvd-r/dvd-rw, keeping data in digital domain This is in hope of improving quality.

Unless you are talking about a DirecTivo, then a Tivo/DVD recorder is receiving an analog signal from the satellite receiver. Going from the hard drive to DVD is digital, but that is also true for my non-Tivo Pioneer 420.

[mike1946]

Ver.r.r. y interesting.

DirecTV does install an additional cable (carrying the additional channel from the dish ) if a user wants to watch one channel while recording another.

For most this means they must purchase another receiver or TIVO. I think that DirecTV’s single TIVO/DVR/receiver replaces the need for two receivers.

From a software bent, I would call DirecTV “data sensitive”. Normally, less data (bits & bytes) may be received by the dish (vs cable)
More data is compressed. But as Sync said, “ When you select a channel only the data for that one channel is sent down the cable to your receiver”.

By collaborating with DirecTV, DVD-Recorders manufacturers could add a chip with the correct software. TIVO’s power lies in their software/chip which allows for impressive searches, interactive programming, etc. Other electronic modifications – and here I know squat – like a second tuner as per Anzimike’s comment may also be required. Sounds like another cable line from the dish would be needed.

Guessing that TIVO controls the software, DirecTV controls the tuners..

BTW, we’re going with TIVO. For now this price is right but we’re watching that monthly fee 

[anzimike]

Sync. Please check out the link. This is what I am referring to, Trying to have cake and eat it too, I suppose. I want it with a second tuner so it can record and watch different programs at once (For example so my kids can watch cartoons while I record a movie off another channel) ;
http://store.yahoo.com/authorizedelectronics/pieldvinst1.html


Mike1946, glad to see you are solving your dilemma. Hope the tivo works out for you. Take care.

[sync]

Sync. Please check out the link. This is what I am referring to, Trying to have cake and eat it too, I suppose. I want it with a second tuner so it can record and watch different programs at once (For example so my kids can watch cartoons while I record a movie off another channel) ;
http://store.yahoo.com/authorizedelectronics/pieldvinst1.html

I'm not clear on what you are trying to accomplish. If you have DirecTv or Dish and you only have one receiver then you will still need a dual LNB (which you may already have) and a second cable and receiver.

[anzimike]

I have elliptical 4 LNB dish which can multiplex up to 8, for several rooms. I am accumulating too many friggin "boxes". I want a single box that can take two lnb feeds and basically do what the pioneer D57H can do but with a second built in tuner. The discussion is actually academic since my "ideal" device does not currently exist. It was merely wishfull thinking on my part, but seemed related to mike1946's original post wanting 2 tuner recording/decoding device. I was just curious to see if there was much interest in the device I was describing or anyone aware of impending release of such a device, otherwise I may go with the D57H and keep another decoder in the room for the kids cartoons. Thanks for your thoughtful input.

[mike1946]

I started this thread because we had just switched to DirecTV which has far better content than our rural cable TV. After DirecTV installation, we discovered that we had lost one of our most important objectives: “recording one channel while simultaneously watching another channel.”

I hoped a DVD-R could do this, while avoiding TIVO’s monthly fee. My understanding is that no such DVD-R exists. AnziMike found a fine DVD-R with built in TIVO capabilities but – if I understand – lacked a second tuner necessary to “record one channel….while watching another”.

TIVO was installed today. The technician had a thick Greek accent and asking questions was problematic (for both of us). But who cares if he did a good job...

We originally (about 2 weeks ago) bought three DirecTV receivers (for three rooms), each $5/mo for a minimum of 1 year. Because we had some difficulty getting DirecTV to take back/replace one receiver (and its $60 annual fee) the technician recommended using both the TIVO unit and the originally installed DirecTV receiver. The TIVO unit, including installation, was a quite reasonable $50.

One year from now, if we find the originally installed DirecTV receiver doesn't add much, we'll disconnect it and only use the TIVO/DVR/receiver unit.

Not having RTFM, much of this is still Greek to me, but I THINK we can record 2 shows and once, and either a). watch a recording or b). watch live TV, unclear whether this would have to be one of the shows we’re recording or a completely different (3rd) channel..

Thanks everybody for your assistance.

Now I must RTF(TIVO)M which is about 1/4 inch thick, and stare for long periods of time at the myriad jacks, plugs, and ports in the back of our entertainment appliances.

[TBoneit]

Well the one difference between DirecTV and Dishnetwork is that as I understand it all the DirecTv dual tuner have one output stream even if it goes to Coax, COmposite and S-Video.

Whereas Dish has dual tuner models that can feed to separate output sets. therfore with dish 522 DVR for example you can record 2 channels and play back two previously recorded shows to two different TVs.

Cheers