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Anyone using Charter's HD DVR?
Submitted by R. Neal on Mon, 2006/12/11 - 12:15pm.
Is anyone out there using Charter's HD DVR? Have you used Tivo before and how does it compare? Can you record two channels at the same time? Can you watch live TV while recording something else? Can you watch a recording and record two channels at the same time? (DirecTV's Tivo can do all this, not that anyone really needs it.)
How is Charter's HD service overall? Do the local analog channels still have a crappy picture? Is all local network programming available on Charter's local HD channels, even if it isn't HD so you get a better digital picture?
I've been using DirecTV for about three years now with their integrated receiver/Tivo. I love DirecTV's all-digital signal and the Tivo brand DVR, but DirecTV hasn't updated it and won't be offering an HD version and will be discontinuing it in a couple of years.
So right now you have to use DirecTV's proprietary HD DVR if you want HD, and they are backordered. DirecTV also requires a new or updated dish and a new receiver/DVR and they don't have local HD channels yet. So I'm thinking about switching back to Charter cable. Will I be sorry? (Thinking about getting an HDTV, obviously.)
Submitted by Michael on Mon, 2006/12/11 - 12:24pm.
I can't speak about Charter. But I can tell you that I checked in to getting an HD TiVo and found that the only HD choice was a $799 box. I went with the Comcast DVR instead.
~m.
Submitted by Number9 on Mon, 2006/12/11 - 12:55pm.
I have the 80 GB model from Charter and it works great. Record two shows at once and can still be watching a show that was already recorded. So you have three shows in process, two recording and one being played. You can record one show and watch another also.
Decent user interface and reliable hardware. In a years time I have power cycled maybe five times to reboot the system mostly after a prolonged power failure.
Two thumbs up put I wish I had the 160 GB model. I have the Moxi model from Motorola. Mine is not HD.
Submitted by Paul Witt on Mon, 2006/12/11 - 2:42pm.
I also can't comment on Charter's box, nor can I compare it to Tivo, but Knology's HD DVR receiver is pretty nice. It's the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000HD. It has two receivers built-in so I can record two shows at once, playback another that I previously recorded and, if I'm that desperate, I can even pipe another signal to another TV using the "copy to VCR" feature.
I switched from DirecTV to Knology about 2 years ago. Mostly just to save a few dollars and have 1 bill to pay instead of 3. Having recently upgraded to HD, I'm glad to be back on cable.
I'm pretty sure that DirecTV just found out recently that they're not going to be allowed to carry local HD channels. Their HD lineup isn't that great as it is, you have to upgrade your dish and receiver to get HD and if you want a DVR it's way too expensive. The only reason I can think of to go with DirecTV for HD is for the HD NFL Sunday Ticket package. I have the standard Sunday Ticket package (go Bengals) and I really wish the games were in HD.
My advice would be to go with Charter and get the DVR.
Submitted by Paul Witt on Mon, 2006/12/11 - 2:57pm.
Oh and yes, regular TV will look awful on Charter. All non-HDTV will look awful. You'll find yourself watching some crappy movie on an HD channel rather than a movie you'd actually like on Starz2 because it just looks better.
Thanks, all. #9, does Charter's DVR have "season pass" (that's what Tivo calls it) where you can tell it to record all episodes of a show? Do they keep their schedule updated to allow for extended broadcasts or showings at a different time? Tivo is pretty good about this, but on Sunday all bets are off on the networks because of sports.
Thanks, all. #9, does Charter's DVR have "season pass" (that's what Tivo calls it) where you can tell it to record all episodes of a show? Do they keep their schedule updated to allow for extended broadcasts or showings at a different time? Tivo is pretty good about this, but on Sunday all bets are off on the networks because of sports.
The option is called "Record Series". You do it once and you are done. The schedule is accurate and only gets fake out by a show staring two minutes early like WATE news at 6:00PM. I guess WATE doesn't want their news recorded?
They also have the equivalent of "Season Pass" for Sports. It works well on Pay for View also.
Submitted by Andy Axel on Mon, 2006/12/11 - 9:55pm.
If you want to cut through the BS to get a DirecTV DVR, get a quote from Charter and then see if DirecTV will match it.
Then call up to cancel your service and see what they say about that "backorder" issue.
A buddy of mine at work has been a customer of DirecTV for about a decade. He got jerked around by DirecTV about getting one of their DVRs, so he's switching to Comcast. (If he'd wanted to stay, DirecTV was offering all kinds of incentives for him to stay, including reduced fees for premium channels and a $250 credit to defray the cost of the DVR. Comcast's deal turned out to be much better though -- 3 digital TV DVRs for $75/mo inclusive. Plus all premium channels free for 12 months, no commitment.)
Like #9, I have Charter Moxi. On mine, I get regular and HD channels. I had Tivo before. I like the Moxi software better. It seems more advanced and has more features. I think DVR's are the greatest invention since color. Watching what you want, when you want, speeding through commercials and also the ability to manipulate live TV, is just unbeatable.
Chad, thanks for the info re. "Moxie". I found their website and it looks like it has a lot of great features. I don't know why Charter can't put that and other info on their website.
Submitted by Opinari on Tue, 2006/12/12 - 12:04pm.
I'm with Uncle on the DVR front. I use DishNetwork with HDTV and 2 DVRs with a third video-only unit. Other than the occasional "fooled-you-we're-actually-showing-something-else-this-hour", I've been quite pleased.
The signal is crisp, even during most storms. I'd like more capacity on my DVR, but we plan to use a portable device called PocketDish for that (think iPod meets DVR).
And the cost, when integrated into our phone and data package, is about $55/month with the DVR fees waived. That's about 30% less than our local cable provider, so it was a no-brainer for us.
Submitted by Greg Baker (not verified) on Sat, 2008/11/01 - 5:42pm.
I am using the Tivo wireless for updates, etc. and don't want to mess with using an analog phoneline. Can anyone tell me if the Charter box supports wireless or does it use only a phone line?
Submitted by Brian (not verified) on Mon, 2008/11/03 - 1:44pm.
Greg Baker:
The charter box that i have doesn't use wireless or a phone line...Charter offers internet through the cable, so it uses the high speed internet through the cable to do its communications.
I can't speak about Charter. But I can tell you that I checked in to getting an HD TiVo and found that the only HD choice was a $799 box. I went with the Comcast DVR instead.
~m.
I got the Dishnetwork DVR (after using TiVo on DirecTV) and it's pretty cool. I can't imagine Charter's being much different.
---
SayUncle
Can't we all just get a long gun?
I have the 80 GB model from Charter and it works great. Record two shows at once and can still be watching a show that was already recorded. So you have three shows in process, two recording and one being played. You can record one show and watch another also.
Decent user interface and reliable hardware. In a years time I have power cycled maybe five times to reboot the system mostly after a prolonged power failure.
Two thumbs up put I wish I had the 160 GB model. I have the Moxi model from Motorola. Mine is not HD.
I also can't comment on Charter's box, nor can I compare it to Tivo, but Knology's HD DVR receiver is pretty nice. It's the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000HD. It has two receivers built-in so I can record two shows at once, playback another that I previously recorded and, if I'm that desperate, I can even pipe another signal to another TV using the "copy to VCR" feature.
I switched from DirecTV to Knology about 2 years ago. Mostly just to save a few dollars and have 1 bill to pay instead of 3. Having recently upgraded to HD, I'm glad to be back on cable.
I'm pretty sure that DirecTV just found out recently that they're not going to be allowed to carry local HD channels. Their HD lineup isn't that great as it is, you have to upgrade your dish and receiver to get HD and if you want a DVR it's way too expensive. The only reason I can think of to go with DirecTV for HD is for the HD NFL Sunday Ticket package. I have the standard Sunday Ticket package (go Bengals) and I really wish the games were in HD.
My advice would be to go with Charter and get the DVR.
Oh and yes, regular TV will look awful on Charter. All non-HDTV will look awful. You'll find yourself watching some crappy movie on an HD channel rather than a movie you'd actually like on Starz2 because it just looks better.
Thanks, all. #9, does Charter's DVR have "season pass" (that's what Tivo calls it) where you can tell it to record all episodes of a show? Do they keep their schedule updated to allow for extended broadcasts or showings at a different time? Tivo is pretty good about this, but on Sunday all bets are off on the networks because of sports.
Thanks, all. #9, does Charter's DVR have "season pass" (that's what Tivo calls it) where you can tell it to record all episodes of a show? Do they keep their schedule updated to allow for extended broadcasts or showings at a different time? Tivo is pretty good about this, but on Sunday all bets are off on the networks because of sports.
The option is called "Record Series". You do it once and you are done. The schedule is accurate and only gets fake out by a show staring two minutes early like WATE news at 6:00PM. I guess WATE doesn't want their news recorded?
They also have the equivalent of "Season Pass" for Sports. It works well on Pay for View also.
If you want to cut through the BS to get a DirecTV DVR, get a quote from Charter and then see if DirecTV will match it.
Then call up to cancel your service and see what they say about that "backorder" issue.
A buddy of mine at work has been a customer of DirecTV for about a decade. He got jerked around by DirecTV about getting one of their DVRs, so he's switching to Comcast. (If he'd wanted to stay, DirecTV was offering all kinds of incentives for him to stay, including reduced fees for premium channels and a $250 credit to defray the cost of the DVR. Comcast's deal turned out to be much better though -- 3 digital TV DVRs for $75/mo inclusive. Plus all premium channels free for 12 months, no commitment.)
____________________________
Dirty mouth language -- it's the new black.
Like #9, I have Charter Moxi. On mine, I get regular and HD channels. I had Tivo before. I like the Moxi software better. It seems more advanced and has more features. I think DVR's are the greatest invention since color. Watching what you want, when you want, speeding through commercials and also the ability to manipulate live TV, is just unbeatable.
Chad, thanks for the info re. "Moxie". I found their website and it looks like it has a lot of great features. I don't know why Charter can't put that and other info on their website.
I'm with Uncle on the DVR front. I use DishNetwork with HDTV and 2 DVRs with a third video-only unit. Other than the occasional "fooled-you-we're-actually-showing-something-else-this-hour", I've been quite pleased.
The signal is crisp, even during most storms. I'd like more capacity on my DVR, but we plan to use a portable device called PocketDish for that (think iPod meets DVR).
And the cost, when integrated into our phone and data package, is about $55/month with the DVR fees waived. That's about 30% less than our local cable provider, so it was a no-brainer for us.
I am using the Tivo wireless for updates, etc. and don't want to mess with using an analog phoneline. Can anyone tell me if the Charter box supports wireless or does it use only a phone line?
Greg Baker:
The charter box that i have doesn't use wireless or a phone line...Charter offers internet through the cable, so it uses the high speed internet through the cable to do its communications.
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