Author |
Message |
Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 7:03 pm
'Something' happened last night. We lost ALL our DVR'd recordings and ALL shows 'to be recorded' were gone. Called the cable company and they don't have a clue. They reset the box and found an 'error' message...sent out a technician who said, 'Oops! Never seen that happen before! You'll need a new HD/DVR box, but we're out until the first of the year.' SERIOUSLY!!! I asked him about recording from the DVR to DVDs and he said it won't always work. Very few burn/recording machines will do the work correctly. He said the system is still, basically, set up for recording to VHS! Good thing I hadn't hooked up that recorder, yet! <smirking with malice> I'm still optimistic, though, and think I could record from the cable directly...I'll save that for another day... So, here's a heads-up. If you're buying a new HDTV this year for the holidays, make sure your cable company has the equipment for the hook-up! AND, if your using the DVR system, pray it doesn't dump the programs and shows you have had saved for over a year. 
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 9:21 am
DVRs are basically computer hard disks. And as such are subject to crashes. Mine went out a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, it was acting flaky and I didn't pay attention and "prepare" to lose data. I lost quite a few shows, but was able to watch almost all except for the last episode of LOST. Depending on your DVR, there are ways to move data from the DVR to an external hard disk. But you have to have a specific type of DVR and a specific type of hard drive. More pain than it's worth, as pretty much anything you've recorded will come back around at some point (and if not, most TV shows now put out their seasons on DVD). It's a computer. It'll crash. You can't do anything about it.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 9:34 am
I agree. They are an awesomely convenient technology but they're still pretty flaky. It totally changes your TV viewing though. We rarely watch "live" TV anymore.
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 9:34 am
Cost, I understand the whole puter concept with the DVR system, but it still makes me growl a little. What really amazed me, is Cox saying they are OUT of boxes (the HD/DVR) until the first of the year! There are going to be some very unhappy campers on game days! He said there is a limited supply of HD boxes...those without DVR capabilities. <shakes head>
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 9:50 am
Is 150 bucks a good price for an 80 hour DVR? Our cable company is offering them right now at half price.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 10:05 am
I can't speak for the U.S. but compared to what our cable company is offering that is a very good price. The only concern I would have about buying one is as we've mentioned previously they tend to be a bit flaky. I guess you would have to consider how long you would be able to rent one before you would end up paying the equivalent of buying it to see if buying is worthwhile.
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 10:17 am
20 bucks Canadian a month for 100 hours to rent. So it would be worthwhile actually buying one. Unfortunately, the offer is only good till January 4th, and I doubt the writers will have settled by then, much less new shows on the tube.LOL If it's a good price though, we'll still consider it. Thanks, Jimmer!
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 1:44 pm
Lumbele, post a link to WHICH one it is.....Manitoba is Shaw, right?
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 8:01 am
Question: Our Comcast DVR is starting to act flaky. I'd like to try to avoid what Kstme went through and record some of our saved programs onto a DVD, (or try anyway), but don't know which brand/type is best. Also, is there such a thing as a DVD player/recorder combo? Would like to save space and not have a player sitting on top of a recorder. Also thinking of dumping the Comcast DVR for a TIVO. Any happy TIVO people out there? All opinions appreciated!!
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 10:36 am
Oops, never mind! I found all I needed to know at consumer reports online. 
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, April 06, 2008 - 2:27 pm
I had a TiVo Series 2 box for almost four years and NEVER had a problem with it. I'm OTA only. I think you start having problems when cable is involved. I recently got a new HD TV and upgraded to a TiVo HD box. So far so good. I love my TiVo.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 4:11 pm
Ok -- our tivo/directv combo crashed last week. WAAAHHH!! So DH calls to get a replacement. It came yesterday and was DirecTv's DVR - NOT Tivo. We plugged it in and activated it. I used, trying to do the things I've done w/tivo - set up season passes, lock the channels, etc. I HATE IT!! I tried it again today -- I HATE IT MORE!! The remote is the first gripe - it is the most inconvenient piece of plastic on the planet! Second - the "lock channels" means that EVERY time you change the channel you have to unlock them individually! Not just a one time deal like with tivo. So - I called Directv and told them to take it back. We have an older receiver from Pre-tivo times. We can reactivate it and then get a tivo separately. I know - change can be difficult, and I was willing to give it another go today, but after arguing with the damn thing for two hours (and having a heck of a time seeing it to boot), I was done. TIVO or nothing! 
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Bob2112
Member
06-12-2002
| Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 5:06 pm
Teachmichigan : Did you have to return the DirecTivo or did they just send you their replacement DVR? Checkout this website to see options for replacing your DirecTivo. If the hard drive is the problem, you can buy a large hard drive (200-450 hours capacity) that will come with the software installed. You just swap the drive for your old one and go through the guided setup. If you had to send you dead unit back or if it has other problems, then they also sell refurbished DirecTivo's with just about any size hard drive you want. You could send them your DirecTivo and they will install the hard drive upgrade for you. maybe they can test your system to see if it is just the hard drive. This site is recommended by several different video forums and I have purchased parts from them a few different times. I will hang on to my DirecTivo's as long as I can. I'm not a fan of the DirecTV DVR's, but we do have one of the newer HD units and it takes a little getting used to. Not much choice if you want HD.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 9:28 pm
Mwah! Add me to your list of stalkers...er admirers Bob! We didn't have to send anything back, so I'll definitely share this w/my computer geek DH who has already been looking into "hacking" into the hard drive to get off the movie we'd recorded but not watched yet. So, if I understand this right - I can just order a new hard drive for my tivo/directv receiver? That would be SOOO cool!
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Bob2112
Member
06-12-2002
| Friday, July 04, 2008 - 10:52 am
Yes. If it is just the hard drive that failed, then you can get a replacement hard drive with software for your exact model number. I don't think you'll have any luck getting the shows off the hard drive. They are encrypted based on a chip in your DirecTivo. Even without a crash, you can't take the hard drive out of one DirecTivo and play it in another unit. I've downloaded all the programs for hacking the drives to copy everything to bigger hard drives and/or add a second hard drive, but I've never run across anything that will break the encryption. I have moved hard drives between units (same model numbers) and you have to reformat the drive before you can record anything new. What happens when you plug in the DirecTivo? Do you get anything on screen? Any error code or message? Here's the direct link to Weaknees trouble shooting page. They say they answer emails 24/7 or you could call them at (888) 932-5633 Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time). Good Luck!
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 11:01 am
BOB'S THE BEST! BOB'S THE BEST!!! Our tivo is BACK! DH ordered the new hard drive, it came within a week (arriving yesterday), he installed it in five minutes and it powered right up! Of course, we got a LOT concerned when we had no power lights on the front panel of the box and the remote wasn't working, but when DH pulled the top off again - he discovered he'd forgotten to plug a cable back in. Plugged the thing in, went through the set-up, called DirecTV, and BAM - my beloved Tivo is back!!! THANK YOU a gazillion times for that link!!
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Bob2112
Member
06-12-2002
| Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 11:06 pm
That's good news. I've never had to do the new hard drive with software, so I'm glad it worked out well.
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