Can someone tell me what a PVR is?

Personal Video Recorder, aka Digital Video Recorder DVR.

Tivo, ReplayTV, MS UltimateTV, are types of PVRs. They are basically a box with a large hard drive. What makes PVRs more interesting then VCRs is that they can record and play at (more or less) the same time. This way you can "pause" live TV (or time shift).

thanks

unfortunately they are all subscription-based devices and if you don't have that service in your area you're screwed. too bad the industry hasn't released a pvr that is exactly like a vcr - only using a hard drive instead of tape (cd or dvd-based solutions are not acceptable to me).

Well you Americans should consider yourselves lucky. We don't have TiVos or PVRs here in Australia. We are so behind the times

Actually, ReplayTV offers the option of time-based recording. Also, while you are technically "subscribed" to ReplayTV service, there's no fee for this subscription. A California judge recently had to FORCE ReplayTV into even tracking what viewers watch. And ReplayTV appealed that ruling.

Also, Dish Network's PVR can be purchased as an upgrade to their existing service. For $99, you get the PVR for life, with no additional service fees added to your satellite bill.

So there are some options if you're interested.

Replay TV doesn't work in Canada and I'm already subscribed to a cable provider and don't need satellite - so what options do I have? Also - I don't ever remember having to subscribe to anything to use a vcr... why are dvcr's (maybe this is a more accurate term) unable to be found with no strings attached?

If yuo have the appropriate hardware you can use:
http://www.showshifter.com/
or
http://www.snapstream.com/

Both turn your PC into a PVR & you can use:
[Link: dodgies.demon.co.uk]

You control in via IR with your Pronto

Joe

The Tivo subscription service is OPTIONAL. You do not need it to manually setup recordings or to pause live TV.

hmmm - i will have to look into tivo a little more perhaps - does it not give you "nag" messages though if you've not subscribed?

I've got an ATI Radeon Rage 128 PRO Graphics card in my PC (w/a 60G HD). It has a TV tuner plus composite in/out, DVD and CD Video capabilities. Records off my cable, with Weekly TV Guide (GemStar+), and TIVOlike capabilities.

NO SUBSCRIPTION FEES - cost me about $90 on eBay, and it's not even the latest version. Theres a newer card with even more functions.

Not sure about the Tivo nagging since I have the Lifetime subscription. If your channel lineup is supported, the subscription is definitely worth the money.

no, not related to VCR and no Cassette


I have a Matrox e-TV card, it can also turn your PC in a PVR

The problem with going with a true PVR and not being subscribed, is that you loose a lot of the features. For instance I think with Tivo you can say Tape show X, so that when the guide tells it X is playing it will recorded.

heh i know my designation wasn't exactly right - i called it a dvcr because that's more or less what i want - a digital version of a vcr. exactly the same feature set and the ability to record any source i route to the device.

a program guide would be useful but if the device allowed me to record same time same channel every week that would be good enough - i've lived with that functionality on my vcr's for years and done ok :)

also, i guess i'm just pushing back on the (pay for) program guide aspect - seems everyone wants $5 from me for something these days...

like you I live in Canada, so it was disappointing when I found out I could not get a Tivo or Replay. But if I remember correctly with both you can get a life time subscription with no monthly fee