TIVO Digital Video Recorders

[vsenapati]

I am interested to get one TIVO DVR from USA as they are not sold in India. However, I am only interested to use it for recording TV programs from Setup Box and playing them back at my convenience. TIVO serice is not available in India. Can I use the DVR without the TIVO service. I only want to use it for just recording and replaying the the TV programs.

[yoda313]

Yes you can use it like a traditional vcr. Though I'm not sure about the ntsc/pal issue though. Can you watch ntsc signals? Then you should be able to use it straight out of the box - manually of course - the service has the auto update feature. But just use a tv guide and you'll be able to do it yourself.

Also make sure you have the proper power adapter should you need it.

[BobK]

Why buy a TIVO DVR when you can't use the TVIO? Just buy a DVD recorder without TIVO.

[TBoneit]

I wouldn't do it, my understanding is that the newer Tivo models won't work in dumb VCR type mode. You'll have a expensive boat anchor. I say expensive since whatever price you for it will be too much for a non-usable Tivo.

[donpedro]

If you do not need DVD Recorder function then just buy some DVR (I think that is how they call it) with HDD only. TIVO is (I believe) US specific device.

[vsenapati]

Can you suggest some good brand Digital Video Recorders with Hard
Disk Drive ?

[strongbad]

where can you buy just the DVR? i thought you had to go subscribe to it with or without the Tivo thingy. if i could just buy one from the store and set it up as if it were a vcr then thats great because DVR is bit for bit digital. DVDR is analog and is not bit for bit.

[TBoneit]

Donpedro: I seem to recall that they also sold Tivo in the UK, However I am working from memory on this.

A DVR that isn't tied to Dishnetwork or DirecTv for example a Standalone Tivo or Replay, tunes analog channels, converts them to digital, then it does a digital to anaolg for display on your TV. So I'm not sure where you get the bit for bit digtial idea from.

The Dishnetwork & DirecTv model mentioned above have no tuners and have no encoding capability. The HDTV models which won't work with the service being authorized to prevent them being used a HDTV DVRs and tuners, Also have no encoding ability, They can store a local HDTV broadcast because it is already digital. They won't work overseas as there is ni line of sight and no subscription to the service.

[handyguy]

Tons of info & our choices are at:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders

[vcdforme]

I just bought a Philips DVD recorder with built-in 120 gig Hard Drive.
I got it at Costco for $199.
When I first plugged it in I hated it....
The remote is stupid, the manual is badly written, and I couldn't figure out
how to get rid of the stupid TV-Guide menu. But with patience and
taking my time I've figured it out and find it to be an incredibly powerful machine.

A brief of the features are:
Built in timer
120 gig Hard Drive
Burn your Hard Drive recording to DVD+R/RW
8 modes of compression quality, and the lowest is actually
quite good.
Plays MP3 discs
Adjustable buffer
Time shift then Fast Forward thru commercials

I read alot of bad reviews of this machine, but I really think
that most people just don't have the patience to understand and
learn it. I see on Amazon it's $400, but somehow Costco is selling
it for half of that. I'm very happy with it. And at $199 I consider it a bargain. I'll never sit thru a commercial again.
I just hope that it holds up and it's not mechanically a piece
of junk. So far, 5 days it's doing good.

Oh, the model is HDRW720/17