How does DVR work?

[Aidensmom]

We are switching over from satellite to cable this weekend, and when I signed up for the cable they said I could get DVR abilities, which they described as being like TIVO, for only $6.95 more a month. As that would make our bill still be cheaper than the satellite, I agreed to it. However, as I have never had TIVO, I don't know what that really means. Can someone tell me all the great things I'll be able to do?

 

[grinningghost]

I LOVE our DVR! I didn't even want it, but got talked into it, and now, I couldn't live without it.

You can record shows from anytime of the day or night. You can set it up to tape the same show every week or everyday and then forget about it.

When you want to watch a taped program, you just hit "list" which lists all the taped shows. You highlight your show, press select - and bam! Your show is playing. You can fast forward through commercials, pause, rewind. All of it. You can save your show forever or have it erased whenever you want.

It's awesome. You will love it and become addicted like me!

 

[swankybeth]

DVR is awesome! DH and I are hooked, we watch so much more TV now. (I'm not saying that's a good thing) You can record 2 different shows while watching a 3rd that has been already recorded. Or you can watch something live and tape something else simultaneously. Pretty cool!

 

[jag90]

I am right there with grinnigghost & swankybeth. I am an addict! DH kept pressing about getting it until I eventually said "Whatever! Just do it and leave me alone!" Now, I LOVE it! I record Starting Over, Dr. Phil, numerous Food Network & HGTV shows, etc... Even if I am at home to watch a show I record it so I can watch the recorded version and fast forward through the commercials. I use it 100x more than DH!

 

[Aidensmom]

Thanks! I have a feeling I just got myself a VERY dangerous device....

 

[etink67]

We love ours. I also didn't want it, but now we have two TIVO's in our house. It is always recording even if it is not set to record. This allows you to pause live TV. A very convenient feature for when the phone or doorbell ring. My family inevitably calls during the last 5 minutes of my favorite shows.

 

[denisem]

Don't know about DirectTV (we have Dish & previously used TiVo), but you can also do a "search" either by program title or "info".

Let's say you want to see anything with George Clooney - do a GC search under "info" and Dish will search for 2 weeks and show everything that lists his name (whether it's a movie, talk show or whatever). You can then pick & choose what you want to record. (TiVo was superior in this - you could make a permanent "wishlist", whereas Dish only goes 2 weeks ahead).

Yeah, it's safe to say I rarely watch live TV with commercials anymore

 

[Jenn Lynn]

You know you use too much DVR when your 4 year old pauses her cartoon to use the bathroom.

I love my DVR. I was the one who wanted it. DH didn't even know what it was. He is glad we have it now. I think we have 25 shows/series recording.

 

[Aidensmom]

You know you use too much DVR when your 4 year old pauses her cartoon to use the bathroom.

I can see this happening with our 4 year old too, and now that we just finally got him to understand you can't pause TV like you can a DVD.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I'm glad to see this topic but I have a question to go with this topic please. When recording with DVR can you burn it to a DVD if you a DVD recorder? I really REALLY need to find someone who has both DVR and DVD recorder to tape the season premier of Extreme Home Makeover this Sunday. My dh and his soldiers are gone and won't get to see the show which they helped with. Does anyone know if this is possible?

 

[Pop Daddy]

dont ask me, I dont even know how a match works

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm glad to see this topic but I have a question to go with this topic please. When recording with DVR can you burn it to a DVD if you a DVD recorder? I really REALLY need to find someone who has both DVR and DVD recorder to tape the season premier of Extreme Home Makeover this Sunday. My dh and his soldiers are gone and won't get to see the show which they helped with. Does anyone know if this is possible?

I record from the TiVo to a DVD recorder, works great.

 

[bicker]

One of my Tivos has a built-in DVD burner. An excellent combination.

We tried switching to the cable company's DVR and it was HORRIBLE -- it was slow, and the controls were no where near as responsive as Tivo -- it was little more than a VCR without the ability to store the tape for posterity. It took as much time to fast-forward through something to actually watch it.

You can get a genuine Tivo now for $50. The service charge is higher (about double) what the cable company charges, and well worth the additional amount.