PVR vs Recorder vs ?

ScaryBob · 2009-11-20, 04:53 PM

Quote:

at $24/mo... for 3 years...

= $864. Ouch?! Any way you look at it, that's a bad deal compared to purchasing. BDU PVRs hold their value well so renting for any longer than a year is a bad option compared to purchasing and selling if you switch.

DSgamby · 2009-11-20, 05:17 PM

ScaryBob: Back then it was 750 or so bucks. The extra cost was for WellsFargo who the 24 bucks a month was paid to.

ladybugblue · 2009-11-20, 05:58 PM

You look at finding a Tivo series 2 with lifetime on Ebay. Might not be as much as some of the other options and you wouldn't have additional recurring costs.

ScaryBob · 2009-11-21, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Back then it was 750 or so bucks.

My Bell ExpressVu 6000 cost $800 plus the dish upgrade. It was turned into an HD PVR by adding a 169time firewire adapter for about another $800. Recordings were made to a HTPC that cost another $1000 or so. There was also another PC required to process the firewire signal for the PC (about another $400.) So that was $2000+ for a PVR way back before Dish or Bell even had one for sale. (Dish did have one shortly after that cost about US$1500 but it was scrapped by Dish after about 6 months due to technical problems.) Bell recently made my 6000 "PVR" obsolete and replaced it with a $200 6131. :sigh: Needless to say, I won't be spending that kind of money on a PVR again.

rpm2203 · 2009-11-21, 12:14 PM

Thanks much for all your considered replys. Looks like the majority thing the PVR route although more expensive is a better option. Does lock me in with ExpressVu though. I've had it for many years, so I guess a few more won't kill me.

Might look on Kijiji and see if anyone has an old PVR for sale.. that would be a good option.

Thanks again.
P

AmowAgou · 2009-11-26, 02:39 PM

If you do not have a contract with Bell, talk to them for a deal on the PVR. They should at least give you a couple of hundred dollars programming credit. You can always threathen to switch to cable if they don't budge.

DVD recorders are good if you want to keep some of the recordings. For time-shifting, PVR is the way to go. Also, pause and rewind of live shows are indispensable once you get used to them. One warning, PVR uses about 24W of energy 24/7 or 0.6 kwh per day. Monetarily, it may not be a big deal, but I feel bad to know that energy is being wasted.

If you don't watch too much TV. Visit the OTA forum here and then get yourself a DTVPal DVR from the States.

KingBuzzo · 2009-11-26, 11:38 PM

DVD recorders and PVR's are boat anchors.

Either get a TV tuner for your PC or get a new PC with one installed and go with Media Center.

It is not as complicated as you think - my mother has one and she's a senior!

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2009-11-20, 05:17 PM	#2
DSgamby Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Samsung 50" 1080p Plas, Shaw 6416 PIII, Samsung DVD-R120, PS3 80 Gig, 360, Wii Posts: 2,059	ScaryBob: Back then it was 750 or so bucks. The extra cost was for WellsFargo who the 24 bucks a month was paid to.

2009-11-20, 05:58 PM	#3
ladybugblue Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Edmonton,AB Posts: 158	You look at finding a Tivo series 2 with lifetime on Ebay. Might not be as much as some of the other options and you wouldn't have additional recurring costs.

2009-11-21, 12:14 PM	#5
rpm2203 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2	Thanks much for all your considered replys. Looks like the majority thing the PVR route although more expensive is a better option. Does lock me in with ExpressVu though. I've had it for many years, so I guess a few more won't kill me. Might look on Kijiji and see if anyone has an old PVR for sale.. that would be a good option. Thanks again. P

2009-11-26, 02:39 PM	#6
AmowAgou Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 403/Erin Mills Posts: 132	If you do not have a contract with Bell, talk to them for a deal on the PVR. They should at least give you a couple of hundred dollars programming credit. You can always threathen to switch to cable if they don't budge. DVD recorders are good if you want to keep some of the recordings. For time-shifting, PVR is the way to go. Also, pause and rewind of live shows are indispensable once you get used to them. One warning, PVR uses about 24W of energy 24/7 or 0.6 kwh per day. Monetarily, it may not be a big deal, but I feel bad to know that energy is being wasted. If you don't watch too much TV. Visit the OTA forum here and then get yourself a DTVPal DVR from the States.

2009-11-26, 11:38 PM	#7
KingBuzzo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 273	DVD recorders and PVR's are boat anchors. Either get a TV tuner for your PC or get a new PC with one installed and go with Media Center. It is not as complicated as you think - my mother has one and she's a senior!