DVR Suggestions

[katharsis]

I am running into a bit of trouble and would appreciate some opinions.

Right now I don't subscribe to any TV stations (no cable, no satellite).
I have had both before for some time, just no desire to watch all the bad programming they've had recently and no time basically...
However next month they will have the Euro Cup 2008 in soccer (European football) and this is a must watch for me!!!

I contacted both our local cable provider (Oceanic which is Time Warner) and Dish Network and DirecTV. Now all I need is a digital box with DVR because I won't be able to watch every single game live...

My cable company is telling me that the building's wiring is too old and I can get digital line but NO DVR (for whatever reason) and it would take them about 2 month and some to get permission to switch and do the actual work in the whole building) which is too long.
I still have a Dish Network Dish, but no receiver.
They however want me to either buy a DVR for $400.00 and pay for installation $100.00 and then programming for however long I want or sign up for a 2 year contract with them (about $80 a month)
DirecTV would be the same with contract but they do offer a special sports package I saw for additional charges.

Now all I need is a hookup for 2 maybe 3 months... but definitely no longer than 6!! I just don't see any reason to pay for the service if I already know that I won't be using it much afterwards.

Now here is the questions...
If I should get digital cable with my provider, can I just not buy my own DVR and hook it up to the receiver they give me ? I saw some DVRs for less than $150.00 with 180 hrs of recording time.

Is there any other options I should consider??
BTW I live in Hawaii and we have pretty limited services around here...

Thanks in advance for any input!

[obiwopkenobi62]

You could buy an HD Tivo that takes cable cards which you get from your cable company, but you would still have to get them out to your place and subscribe with them. I don't think there is a fast way to get this done within your timeframe. Do you have anyone that can record it all for you? That would be a good way to go.

[flyers1718]

If you could skip getting service and getting a dvd recorder and taking it to a friends and recording all the games. May be a little crazy but it could work.

[katharsis]

Originally Posted by obiwopkenobi62

You could buy an HD Tivo that takes cable cards which you get from your cable company, but you would still have to get them out to your place and subscribe with them. I don't think there is a fast way to get this done within your timeframe. Do you have anyone that can record it all for you? That would be a good way to go.

How does the TiVo thing work anyways?
I buy the DVR from them, then I still need to pay them monthly and I still have to pay my cable company as well?

[katharsis]

Originally Posted by flyers1718

If you could skip getting service and getting a dvd recorder and taking it to a friends and recording all the games. May be a little crazy but it could work.

I don't know if I can wait a whole month waiting for the games to finish and then watch them and staying away from any kind of news for the time being! lol

I definitely need to get service, because I want to watch at least all the Germany games. Already taking extra time from work for those... there is only few others I'd like to record and watch at night time or so. The good thing being in Hawaii is that the time difference is exactly 12hrs, so the games won't air in the middle of the night over here, will be between 6am and 8-9 am, which I can live with!

[flyers1718]

Lol, just an idea. I guess getting the cheapest most basic service and a tivo is your best bet. Unless you can live with a friend and bring your tv. Cause if your gonna cancel when your done the services are gonna have huge fees.

[blu-backer]

First, I think that Oceanic is pulling something. The wiring is good enough to get digital cable, but you can't get a DVR? Sounds fishy.

Are the games you want to watch in HD? If so, then a TiVo HD DVR is an option, but it's expensive. Plus, as you noted, you have to pay TiVo for the TiVo service AND you have to pay Oceanic for cable. But, you can cancel at any time, IIRC.

If the games you want to record on the DVR is in standard definition, then you can pick up a regular TiVo for pretty cheap.

In fact, I have an old regular non-HD TiVo that I don't use.

[katharsis]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

First, I think that Oceanic is pulling something. The wiring is good enough to get digital cable, but you can't get a DVR? Sounds fishy.

Are the games you want to watch in HD? If so, then a TiVo HD DVR is an option, but it's expensive. Plus, as you noted, you have to pay TiVo for the TiVo service AND you have to pay Oceanic for cable. But, you can cancel at any time, IIRC.

If the games you want to record on the DVR is in standard definition, then you can pick up a regular TiVo for pretty cheap.

In fact, I have an old regular non-HD TiVo that I don't use.

Yeah, that's what I don't understand as well. We had a DVR before with digital programming, but supposedly their receives have been upgraded and need new lines!? We live in a fairly old building and the lines haven't been upgraded in forever! I do have one line though that they hooked up from outside right through our window frame for broadband cable... thus thought that would be good enough for digital + dvr.
I am not sure how the games will be broadcast, I know its on ABC/ EPSN/ ESPN 2 ...

[obiwopkenobi62]

Originally Posted by katharsis

How does the TiVo thing work anyways?
I buy the DVR from them, then I still need to pay them monthly and I still have to pay my cable company as well?

Here is a link for Tivo with their prices. They occassionally have some great deals. Sometimes they do have the lifetime listings thing.

https://www3.tivo.com/store/boxes.do

here is a deal they are doing right now for the Tivo HD-DVR. Not bad.

https://www3.tivo.com/store/webspecials.do

Hope that helps.

I've had Tivo since they first started and have been impressed with it. They are always upgrading too.

[katharsis]

Well I guess I might just get regular digital Oceanic (TW) cable for the time being and check if I can buy a good HD DVR somewhere that'll work with it. At least I can keep the DVR and use it later on when I might decide to either get cable or sat back... who knows.

Just seems like I need to make a quick decision, since the guys hooking it up will have to be scheduled and none will show earlier than 3 weeks... thats cutting it somewhat close already...

Thanks for all your input and the links, it is really much appreciated!

[rogman]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

First, I think that Oceanic is pulling something. The wiring is good enough to get digital cable, but you can't get a DVR? Sounds fishy.

Are the games you want to watch in HD? If so, then a TiVo HD DVR is an option, but it's expensive. Plus, as you noted, you have to pay TiVo for the TiVo service AND you have to pay Oceanic for cable. But, you can cancel at any time, IIRC.

If the games you want to record on the DVR is in standard definition, then you can pick up a regular TiVo for pretty cheap.

In fact, I have an old regular non-HD TiVo that I don't use.

I agree that your cable company is probably full of it. If you can get a digital signal, isn't the DVR just recording it? I don't know why you wouldn't be able to get one from them. I'd call back, and ask to speak to a supervisor. They may know a little bit more about it than the person you talked to.

[WickyWoo]

If I should get digital cable with my provider, can I just not buy my own DVR and hook it up to the receiver they give me ? I saw some DVRs for less than $150.00 with 180 hrs of recording time.

Yes you can, you need to program it and make sure your cable box is on the right channel though. Treat it like a VCR

[kingofgrills]

Check with Dish Network again, since you already have a dish. They have an option to lease the DishDVR instead of buying it up front. That way if it ever malfunctions, they'll replace it for you.

I have two DishHD DVRs in my system, and they work incredibly well. You wouldn't miss a game!

[katharsis]

Not sure what the hell is going on with Oceanic over here, but they are getting worse and worse! So my wife called in today for me to get the regular digital basic channel line up with one of their receivers (I found a local place to buy a brand new DVR for cheap) and now they are telling her the order cannot be put in because our entire house does not even support digital!!! WTF IS GOING ON?!?!
We had a digital receiver WITH DVR back in 2003 - 2004 before we decided to check out Dish Network. I am using Road Runner cable as my internet connection with 8Mbit line (does that not require a cable better than those tiny analog cables???) !
I am so pissed as I wanted this hooked up next week!
Now they say the building is too old and the wiring has never been updated. We will have to get permission from the landlord first and go from there then. That can take weeks! I told them there is a new line that one of their technicians put right through our window frame because before that the internet speeds for horrible. That one is a pretty thick cable as well, so it should definitely be able to carry a digital signal!!!

I'll call them tomorrow for an all out b1t$@)(&$fest!

[ToonyLoons]

I kind of miss my TiVo. It worked nice and had some nice extra features. But I would have had to upgrade and spend a lot more money for the HD one when it was much cheaper to get it from my cable provider. My cable one seems to have a lot of bugs, or maybe i was just spoiled with TiVo.

When I left TiVo the price had just jumped to $19.99 although i was paying $12.99 a month. At the time the HD Tivo was still around $600-700 also. That is why I went the my cable DVR since it was only $3.00 a month.