I have DirecTV. Should I get a Tivo stand alone box or a DirecTV PVR?

Question

I do not have HD, and want to be able to record one show while watching another show.

I do not have HD, and I want to be able to watch one show while I record another.
I am asking about DirecTV's own non-Tivo PVR, not DirecTIVO (DirecTV doesn't sell a DirecTVtivo box anymore).

Answer 1

If you are going with DirecTv DONT get a stand alone Tivo unit! You will have to pay monthly subscription charges for it. If you get a DirecTv 'PVR' unit the cost of using it is only $5 per month versus the $13-$20 per month charge for a standalone unit. Not to mention that you are going to run into a setup headache if you get a standalone unit. (The digital cable still needs to go through DTV receiver before the standalone unit. The freebie receivers from DTV only have one input so you wouldnt be able to record a show and watch another unless you added a second freebie receiver... hence the term 'headache'.)

DirecTv has indeed stopped using the 'Tivo' based recorders, but they can still be bought elsewhere and used with your existing account.

Your best bet is to get a R-10 (the last 'Tivo' based DirecTv unit) off of Ebay. (There is another place to get them, but I will have to search for the link.) DirecTv's current PVR (the R-15) is not TIVO based and quite frankly sucks! I used my R-15 unit for about one month before I bought an R-10 unit off of E bay for $90.

The R-10 unit has an 80 GB hard drive so you can record roughly around 70+ hours of television. It also has a dual tuner so you can record one show and watch another.

Now, you say you already have DirecTV? If so, that is good because the key cards that come with the units are apparently not transferrable. They are tied to your account, so if you already have an access card, keep it and use it in the new unit you buy.
ALSO, If you already have DirecTv do you have a Dual LNB dish? Meaning are there two cables coming from your dish or just one? If you want to record one show and watch another you will need a dual LNB dish (dual tuner). If you dont have a dual tuner dish, you will probably need to make a committment to DirecTv to have them change the dish. If that is the case you might look into getting the R 15 unit anyway. It has it flaws, but if you are going to get nabbed for a 2 year committment, then you should at least get a R15 unit as back up. You know.. just in case the R10 unit you bought off E bay breaks down.

Answer 2

I would have to concur with the previous posts. It will come down to a personal decision on what you want. If you want to have dual tuner functionality then you should go with a DirecTV DVR. I have 2 of the older units before the partnership with TIVO and DirecTV was severed so I'm a huge fan of these older models. If you know a little bit about PCs then you can usually find a unit that someone wants to sell or get rid of. 99% of the time, it's a hard drive issue and you can follow the instructions on the web for "Hinsdale's How-To" which will show you how to replace the hard drive. http://www.newreleasesvideo.com/hinsdale-how-to/

If you do go with a standalone TIVO you would have to buy 2 receivers from Directv to use as inputs. You do gain a lot more with the standalone, but that's only if you have another TIVO or want to share recorded shows with another TIVO owner across the Internet.

I would also check out the current DVR from Directv by finding out if a friend has one. Since you aren't accustomed to the TIVO interface and functionality of the older models, you won't have any preconceived notions. If you don't find it too difficult to use and don't care about using your broadband connection to network a standalone TIVO, then just got with the combo unit from DirecTV.

Answer 3

There are various differences between DirectTivo and Tivo stand alone box, but the biggest difference is that the Tivo stand alone box will support networking between two or more Tivos and/or the internet so you can program your Tivo remotely (i.e., in the office). DirecTV is no longer partnered with Tivo so DirecTivos DO NOT get the same updates regular Tivo stand alone boxes do. I have two DirecTivo boxes and I love them, but I always wish DirecTV would activate the Home Media Option (networking) part of it.

Answer 4

Tivo. I speak from experience. Get the stand alone tivo.
Directvs own dvr does not compare.I had directv dvr with tivo b4 they canceled that partnership.My box died and i had to go with directv dvr i hated it. I canceled the dvr part of the service and got the tivo box thru tivo.com.I love it.tivo tivo tivo tivo

Answer 5

I have a Direct TV DVR and my boyfriend has a stand alone TiVo his TiVo can only hold about 80 hours of telivision and my DVR hold about 100 hours of telivision. My DVR I can record two shows at once and watch something else that I have already taped at the same time it's great! With TiVo you can tape two show, but then you have to watch one of them. Direct TV DVR is the best choice if you have Direct TV and it's only 6.00 a month!

Answer 6

I have a Direct TV Tivo....it is awesome add to that the fact that they will replace it if it goes bad....Plus with Direct TV your guide goes to 3 weeks and sometimes longer. Not sure about a Tivo for Satellite. I'd go with Direct TV....After all you wouldn't go to McDonald's to get your oil changed, or to the Mechanic for a Hamburger WOULD YOU????

I have A Direct Tv Tivo....would you like to buy it???? I can not gt direct Tv at my present address, so I have NO use for the Tivo from them

Answer 7

GET A TIVO THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN SINCE SLICED BREAD

Answer 8

TiVO!
It is the best thing!
I highly reccomend it.
~Froggie