Magnavox Digital Recorder with a Digital Tuner, who has one?

[DawnM]

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-HDD-and-DVD-Recorder-with-Digital-Tuner-500GB/20710258

Considering getting one of these. Does anyone have one and can give me the scoop?

We have been satellite/cable TV free for two years. For the most part I am not missing it, but I miss my DVR!

I looked at Tivo but the cost was really high for lifetime service and I didn't want a monthly fee.

Dawn

 

[JB2K]

I looked at Tivo but the cost was really high for lifetime service and I didn't want a monthly fee.

Hey, DawnM -- have you checked-out TiVO units that are for sale on eBay?

Since lifetime service is attached to the box, itself, you might be able to snag a good deal on an unwanted box with lifetime service.

Just like a high-end prepaid phone, you'll have to pay a little extra going-in, but that's all you'll pay...

 

[DawnM]

Yeah, I have been checking them out.

I am quite confused though.

The new Premier 4 and XL versions ONLY work with cable service.

I am still not sure if ALL the HD versions (series 3 and the others) will all work with OTA channels and line ups.

And I have found out that anything Series 2 has to go through a converter box, EVEN for live TV. Since I have an HD TV, I want it to work with HD.

Confusing.

Dawn

 

[whatisgoofy?]

We've had A Magnavox recorder for about a year-and-a-half, and absolutely love it. You get tons of recording time, lots of easy-to-use features (like basic editing, commercial skipping, etc), and it's simple to operate. We like the bonus of having a DVD burner on the unit, so we can make permanent copies of anything we especially like (movies, etc). You can even hook up an old VCR to it, so you can convert your old VHS tapes to DVDs (although some tapes, *ahem*Disney, are protected as a piracy precaution). Some people who have owned DVR units before don't like that you can only record one program at a time...but that's never been an issue for us. You can however, record one program while watching another...you can record while watching something you've archived...you can timeshift, and watch what you're currently recording from a different point...and you can watch a DVD while you record. It's a great little unit, and since you don't have to pay the cable company for a DVR, it's a tremendous value for the money. One caveat, the manual looks like a small phone book...don't let that throw you. You can literally learn how to use the basic record/playback features in a few minutes. We had ours out of the box, hooked up, and working in less than an hour.

 

[DawnM]

Thank you!

So explain something to me.

1. Does it have a menu with the TV guide so you can tell it to record CSI for example, or do you have to manually tell it to record Channel 3 from 9pm-10pm????

2. Does it have a season pass so that you can tell it to record all episodes of CSI?

Those seem to be things I can't get answers to.

Thank you,

Dawn

We've had A Magnavox recorder for about a year-and-a-half, and absolutely love it. You get tons of recording time, lots of easy-to-use features (like basic editing, commercial skipping, etc), and it's simple to operate. We like the bonus of having a DVD burner on the unit, so we can make permanent copies of anything we especially like (movies, etc). You can even hook up an old VCR to it, so you can convert your old VHS tapes to DVDs (although some tapes, *ahem*Disney, are protected as a piracy precaution). Some people who have owned DVR units before don't like that you can only record one program at a time...but that's never been an issue for us. You can however, record one program while watching another...you can record while watching something you've archived...you can timeshift, and watch what you're currently recording from a different point...and you can watch a DVD while you record. It's a great little unit, and since you don't have to pay the cable company for a DVR, it's a tremendous value for the money. One caveat, the manual looks like a small phone book...don't let that throw you. You can literally learn how to use the basic record/playback features in a few minutes. We had ours out of the box, hooked up, and working in less than an hour.

 

[hsmamato2]

I can tell you my experience.... I ordered the Magnavox 1st,tried it out at home with antenna. I did NOT like it at all. It is difficult to setup,and not simple to operate. Once I started figuring it out, I realized it was poor substitution for heavy recorders like us. You have to manually search out each and every show you want to record,and while it will record,say,5 upcoming episodes, it is S-L-O-W to look thru Titantv listings,then input it all into the magnavox-etc etc. like I said,IMHO it is not simple and easy. However,it DID work as promised.
SO I returned it,knowing our usage didn't fit this item.
So researched Tivo. I ended up buying a used series 3 on ebay with lifetime attached. (it was a buy it now, and included the wi-fi plug in)
while initially it cost more than the Magnavox,it is one of the BEST items we have bought. It is far simpler to use than the dishnetwork box we used to have....I LOVE IT and I'm hooked!
Example, Mag.dvr cost approx.250.00,I paid 350 on ebay.
Our usage is this- I tend to look thru the onscreen guide,and hit 'record' for whatever I want to see later,and I do it ALL THE TIME. Most things.we record now,watch whenever. I couldn't do that with the Mag. box. I would have to find a show,then set it all up each time I found something. ugh.
If you are a heavy user of that,then I recommend the Tivo hands down, For light recording,just once in a while,the other would work fine.
Of course on Ebay it's caveat emptor, and you have to know how to buy well,so things go well.
FWIW, We don't miss our old setup at all, but many shows that I like from our antenna setup are on at odd times. SO the Tivo has made all the difference.
We also use Netfilx and I got a 30.00 dvd player at WM for movies. Great setup,and it's paid for!

 

[hsmamato2]

I can't remember if I input the shows I wanted to record by name, or by time. Either way,it is not simple,like you see guide onscreen,and click record.KWIM?

 

[hsmamato2]

oh, what I do recall is that whatever guide the Mag. used, it was frequently out of sync with my online tv listings....but I only used it for about a week before returning it. The tivo is usually synced well with it's listings.....
Oh, there ar e some great tivo forums out there too....I think you can do antenna with a series 3 tivo, but do your homework and find what fits for you

 

[hsmamato2]

One caveat, the manual looks like a small phone book...don't let that throw you. You can literally learn how to use the basic record/playback features in a few minutes. We had ours out of the box, hooked up, and working in less than an hour.

Oh man, I had such a headache trying to figure it out...and if you google it, you will find the forums which detail all the aspects of what's misinformation in the manual..... it can be worked around,but it takes some doing....literally, I took the tivo out of the box, plugged it in,and used it. no manual needed.

 

[whatisgoofy?]

There is no onscreen guide for recording, you program in your times and channels manually like a VCR. You can set several programs well in advance, and yes...while you can't just tell it to record CSI every week, you can set it to record say Channel 2 Wednesday at 9pm for a period of time, or indefinitely. All archived video is initially labeled by date and time, but you can go in and name your recording later if you like. The menu for playback also includes video snippets so it's easy to tell what you've got. I like it, but as a PP said, it may depend on your recording levels, and expectations based on prior experience.

 

[DawnM]

Thank you.

This may be more than I am willing to put into it.

I had Tivo/DVR with Directv in the past and like the ease of recording with the programming listed.

May just have to bite the bullet and pay the extra.

Dawn

There is no onscreen guide for recording, you program in your times and channels manually like a VCR. You can set several programs well in advance, and yes...while you can't just tell it to record CSI every week, you can set it to record say Channel 2 Wednesday at 9pm for a period of time, or indefinitely. All archived video is initially labeled by date and time, but you can go in and name your recording later if you like. The menu for playback also includes video snippets so it's easy to tell what you've got. I like it, but as a PP said, it may depend on your recording levels, and expectations based on prior experience.

 

[hsmamato2]

Dawn, if you are trying duplicate the experience of your old DVR,then Tivo is worth it. Just research ebay options,and that other forum I mentioned,and it should all be pretty good! I actually love it enough that if I ever need to buy a new one to replace my current tivo,I would lay out the money for it.(while looking for deals of course!)

Also it has streaming from Netflix/or Amazon right from the tivo,which is nice, no separate remotes or channel changing....

 

[DawnM]

did you also have to buy the wifi thing to add to your tivo?

Dawn, if you are trying duplicate the experience of your old DVR,then Tivo is worth it. Just research ebay options,and that other forum I mentioned,and it should all be pretty good! I actually love it enough that if I ever need to buy a new one to replace my current tivo,I would lay out the money for it.(while looking for deals of course!)

Also it has streaming from Netflix/or Amazon right from the tivo,which is nice, no separate remotes or channel changing....

 

[hsmamato2]

the listing I bought included the little device.... I saw lots of them on ebay also if the listing doesn't include....it needs to access the wi-fi to keep the guide updated...