Are there any DVR or TiVo systems that do not require a subscription?

Question

I just want to buy something and OWN it for crying out loud. Why do we have to buy something, and then have to PAY MONTHLY to use it?

Anyone know of a DVR that just works when you buy it?

Thanks.

Thanks for your answers guys, but I'm not at all interested in any subscriptions whatsoever. I dont care about programming guides or networking, I want a VCR's recordability and "pay for it once and it's YOURS" , but tape-free...hence asking about a DVR that needs no monthly subscription.

I guess I can check eBay for boxes with subs. already attached, thanks. Perhaps they will come out with stand-alone boxes that just work like a VCR once the switch over is made. Fingers crossed....

Answer 1

A lot of DVD recorders will do just that. And you don't need to use blank DVD's because many of them come with hard drives.

Answer 2

There are some older (no longer available) dvr that you don't need a subscription for (ebay has some normally). Of course they don't generally support HD or Digital Cable (little to no cablecard support).

TiVo has a lifetime subscription that was available and is now available on a second unit only (you still have to pay a periodic fee for the first one and if you cancel one, you still have to pay a periodic fee to maintain service).

Not even the new TiVo works with a two-way cablecard, although there is supposed to be a device you can that will allow it too work that 'should be available by the time two-cable cards are in widespread use', whatever that really means.

I'm in the same boat as you, and I figure I'll just have to wait until the digital switch actually happens and hope that other manufactures start filling the demand for such a device once the technology is a little more settled and the standards are more refined.

Oh yeah another option is a Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC). The drawbacks again are the digital cable issue which only has one option the ATI Digital Cable Tuner, which is only one-way cablecard compatible, only offer with the purchase of a new computer, and works only with Windows Vista Medica center which will not record programs that have the broadcast protection flag on (even though TiVo and cable company's dvrs will).

Addendum:
Panasonic DMR-E85H
Polaroid DRA-01601A
Toshiba DVR RD-KX50
Not manufactured any more and no HD or digital cable support.

Answer 3

You can always look on ebay for used Tivo's that have lifetime subscriptions already attached to them. Sometimes you luck up and find them cheap or newer models.

I love my Tivo, but it I hadn't had the option to get the lifetime subscription I wouldn't have gotten it... I'd be using the local cable companies lame dvr cable box that you can't network or anything. The deal I got was a free box with a 2yr, or lifetime subscription. It's awesome!

Answer 4

One of the main features of a DVR it it's ability to decide, help you decide what to record with a program guide.

How many people do you know had VCR's that flashed "12:00" all the time because it was too-hard to even set the clock?

The program guide for the DVR is what gives the computer inside all the information to do its work. It's the channels, the time, the titles, etc. Without it - here is what you would see when you went to watch your recordings:

Program 1 8:00pm - 9:00pm Ch A
Program 2 3:00pm - 3:30pm Ch D
Program 3 7:00pm - 7:30pm Ch A

You basically are back to having to write a notepad to keep track of things. I'm happy to pay the fee so I dont have to track 20+ shows by hand.

Answer 5

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