Comments on: Is there a subscription-free DVR available?--Ask the Editors

Subscription-free DVRs seem to be an extinct species. Are there any options for antenna viewers in the post-VCR world?

[boyoboyo]

PC + TV Card (HD OTA cards are available) + Snapstream BeyondTV - add a firefly remote and you're laughing. EPG, remote record option (setup recordings from any web browser), automatic compression and lots of other stuff.

MythTV is good too but can require some tinkering... MythTV live CDs are available though.

[boyoboyo]

PC + TV Card (HD OTA cards are available) + Snapstream BeyondTV - add a firefly remote and you're laughing. EPG, remote record option (setup recordings from any web browser), automatic compression and lots of other stuff.

MythTV is good too but can require some tinkering... MythTV live CDs are available though.

[jpschneid]

Windows Media Center PC

I have a DELL XPS with XP Media Center, a dual tuner card and 1T of harddrive. I connect the PC to my HDTV with an Xbox360 and a 27" CRT with a Linksys wireless media extender

Guide updates are free over the internet. I currently have it connected to a cable feed, but I see no reason an OTA antenna wouldn't work. I have been considering picking up a USB HD tuner so I can try to record OTA HD.

[beernick]

you say that DVD recorders with hard drives are going extinct -- wrong -- sony still makes them( i saw prices from $300-500 -- they are widley used in the corporate AV world-- also haupage makes a usb hd reciever that will work as a dvr for free -- there are many free ways to record a tv signal w/out subscriotion -- you may have to put times and channels in manually -- but that is why they charge a subscription fee

[samskrta]

Although free is appealing, I had a MythTV box, Dish DVR, and I currently have Tivo service. No monthly fee was nice, but the Tivo box is worth every penny of the $10.95/month I pay for it. Also, I got it for free by agreeing to a one year contract, and I feel that it was a better value even than my old MythTV box (though MythTV has some really neat features, like web scheduling).

[dredgerie]

I've got the phillips and it works fine. Maybe I lucked out better than the review, but I'm completely happy with it. Yes, it is a drawback to have to look up tv schedules off the internet and then make the gruesome walk all the way from my office into the living room, but If you watch the same shows every week, you insert it once for the season, and then it takes care of the rest. It's very simple, and I picked it up at wal-mart of all places for much less than the reviewed price.

[Zen-Masta]

I bought an ATI HDTV Wonder card a few years back (tv tunner only ). The software provided works so long as you get a good signal. Their tv guide service is compatible with titan tv so you can schedule your favorite HDTV or non hdtv shows and record them or set reminders. I was able to export video DRM FREE in a small number of formats and resolution sizes. But I usually stuck with the fullsize file when exporting. I used to record my name is earl, snl and 24 in HDTV. I think new version of the card might have DRM. If I remember correctly, I bought mine around april 2005 (maybe 06) and that was because I heard it was going to be the last generation that would be drm free or something. So I'd look into that before buying if you care about drm free. (keep in mind HDTV is about 4GB per HOUR so you'll need tons of HD space, and good software if you plan on converting the mpeg2 into mp4, avi, wmv divx etc. Now-a-days I'm very happy with my Dish HD DVR. I beats TiVO imo because it is a dual satelite tunner with 1 ota tuner so I can simultaneously record 3 shows while watching a previously recorded show.

[Zen-Masta]

sorry, I forgot to mention. Aside from the cost of the tuner card (came with small antenna and IR remote) there was no subscription fee or anything for tvguide service.

[PennWritre]

With just a quick look at Hauppage, I found the WINTV-HVR-1800 Pcie which can receive and record both Atsc HD & Ntsc Tv. Currently for less than $100 on Amazon too.
This seems to fit the requirement.

[crustycracker]

Since when can you not use a Tivo without paying the subscription? Even if you don't get the program guide, the Tivo would still be a lot more of a friendly experience than using a VCR. Yeah, there's no EPG, but that's pretty much a given if he's going over the air with no subscription.

I think Tivo without subscription or a computer based dvr would be his best bet.

[tubagod101]

Sony DHG-HDD series. I was looking for the same thing (digital/analog tuners, free program guide, no subscription). Uses the TVGuide system, widely available on OTA and analog cable broadcasts.

They are no longer sold in retailers, but can be found online. I've had mine for 18 months, and have loved every minute of it

[robby818]

The comments regarding a HTPC are helpful but as someone who has built a small HTPC (ATI HDTV Wonder) and a mac mini (el gato eyetv3) I'd say that they are not nearly as user friendly as a dedicated DVR. My eyetv3 + hdhomerun is a slick system but it is still isn't as easy to use as a Tivo or replaytv. I only use it to record HD broadcasts that i want to archive. i don't really like to use it as a way to watch TV on a regular basis.

Tivo has recently offered the TivoHD with lifetime subscriptions for around $700. It's a steep upfront cost but you would probably save money in the long run. I paid $400 for a replaytv with lifetime service 8 years ago, it is still working and I have definitely gotten my moneys worth.

[grtgrfx]

I want my TiVo back on DirecTV! I don't care about cable, I like satellite, and TiVo won't play that game!

[shepsters]

Would really like to know any thoughts/reasons why this lack of a usdeful produt is the case!

[brettski1]

If and/or when the TR-50, and it requires no subscription, is available I will buy two of 'em. If a subsription is required I will definitely buy a new VCR with an ATSC tuner. And a new antenna. In the present economy I can handle a closed ended purchase, but I cannot add a new recurring cost to the household economy.

[kevsmail]

I'm gonna buy one of those TR-50s when they come out! DirecTV is pissing me off with the monthly fee increases and I don't like feeling ripped off. $61.95 for 2 SD non-DVR receivers is crazy.

[kevsmail]

Forgot to add, that yes I've seen those deals where people threaten to cancel and then are offered deep discounts on their service, but why should a 10-year subscriber have to play those games after being so loyal? Us low-maintenance subscribers are subsidizing the sweet deals only available to new subscribers!

[scram69]

Congrats on the realization that subscription fees are for losers! Next newsflash: paying for software is for suckers! As for ease-of-use, my 4-year-old can effortlessly navigate MythTV's front end to watch either recorded shows or her DVD collection. My wife can easily schedule all her favorite shows, and never misses a show due to an unlimited capacity for tuners and storage space. Finally, automatic commercial detection and skipping = joy for the entire family.

[leshsu]

CNET guys. So when will the EchoStar TR-50 come out? Been waiting to purchase one for some time now?

[pipe0029]

As much as I despise giving more of my money to Comcast I can completely justify paying for their DVR service.

I discontinued my service for a year or so and settled for downloading torrents and watching them through my xbox media center. It's very difficult to match the picture quality that you get through the HD-DVR (which is only about $7 more than the HD box without DVR). Not only did the picture quality suffer on my 52" hdtv but also on my 17" hdtv.

I would love an HTPC but can't justify paying over $400 (for a bottom of the line HTPC).

The $7/month or $96/year seems like a better deal than purchasing a product that will be obsolete in a matter of time.

Somebody please tell me I'm stupid and there is a better, less expensive way (without subscribing to satellite tv-my wife almost divorced me for signing a 2 year DirecTV deal after we lost service every time there was a snowflake outside or a slight drizzle and she couldn't watch her precious CNN)

[drll101]

After years of watching cable only, I was amazed at the quality of HD over-the-air programming. I live ~30-40 miles from a major metropolitan area and the quality of the digital HD signals I receive is just as good or better than those Comcast provides. In fact I prefer to watch some channels on the regular TV because Comcast doesn't provide HD feeds of those channels. Someone could make a killing by offering a decent HD DVR with state of the art video processing and large storage capacity without a subscription (including digital TV & cable tuners and HDMI sitching to allow signals from a third source to be recorded as well).