Dish/DirectTV

[bdemp]

I'm preparing to set up a PVR system to run on cable, but long-term I want to switch to either Dish or DirectTV.  

I am having some reservations due to the fact that it seems I would be paying the same monthly costs either way.  $5/month for DVR service vs. $5/mo for an extra receiver setup so that I can watch one thing and record another at the same time.  The main reason I liked this project to start with was that I could bypass the monthly TiVo costs.

You can get a dual-tuner DVR from either Dish or DirectTV.  I'm not sure what the up-front costs are, but monthly, it's the same as adding another receiver ($5/mo).  I'm not sure I see a benefit of using a PVR in this scenario.

Am I missing anything?  Is there a way to do this without additional monthly costs?

[Anonymous]

You may be right in your calculations, but another reason that some of us make PVRs is for more functionality. With proprietary PVRs, there is only so much you can change with the software.  With byopvrs, you can choose more things to do with your PVR.
Now, considering your case, if you don't feel like making your own PVR, then go ahead and buy a PVR.
The only way to do it without additional costs would be to stick with the cable and use a dual tuner card.

My 2 cents,

[Anonymous]

I'm preparing to set up a PVR system to run on cable, but long-term I want to switch to either Dish or DirectTV.  

I am having some reservations due to the fact that it seems I would be paying the same monthly costs either way.  $5/month for DVR service vs. $5/mo for an extra receiver setup so that I can watch one thing and record another at the same time.  The main reason I liked this project to start with was that I could bypass the monthly TiVo costs.

You can get a dual-tuner DVR from either Dish or DirectTV.  I'm not sure what the up-front costs are, but monthly, it's the same as adding another receiver ($5/mo).  I'm not sure I see a benefit of using a PVR in this scenario.

Am I missing anything?  Is there a way to do this without additional monthly costs?

Well I amm too in the same situation. I have dish network. Remeber that even though you can buy a dual tunar DVR but it won't record anything while you watch another channel unless you have another tv hooked up to it. What I am thinking now is to use PVR150 with MVPMedia to use my computer as the PVR..this way I will avoid all the charges and have a good pvr.

[Anonymous]

but this also brings me back (as I am building the same thing) to my anxiety about being able to properly control the direct tv set top box

[Taliesin]

At this time, I built a PVR that I am currently running on Antenna.  (Satellite is on the way.)  One of the coolest things with my setup right now is the ability to watch my pre-recorded shows on another computer on my network.

Just last night I ran for awhile and watched the Cosby Show!  It was absolutely cool.  With a normal PVR, you can't really do this.  Now, if you get the DVR receivers, and get a dual tuner for your front room, and another DVR for another room, you can set each one up to record shows you want to watch, but there's not really any transfer between the two, as I understand it.

It's the additional functionality that I was after when I decided to build my PVR, and I absolutely love it!

-Chris

[t00ld00d]

The other drawback to the satellite company DVRs is the fact that you have no way to archive your recordings. With a BYO setup you can burn your shows to CD or DVD.

As far as changing channels on the satellite boxes....some of the D* receivers have a port that allows you to run a cable from you computer to change the channels. With the E* receivers you have to use an IR blaster to change the channel. I know BeyondTV and Windows MCE both have this functionality as I've played around with both. I'm sure most of the other HTPC software does as well.

[GStiles]

FWIW, I have the DirecTV DVR.  It is a nice rig and with the dual tuners, the ability to watch/record or record/record on two channel simultaneously is great.  But, I got frustrated with the inability to archive off the Tivo.  I could have hacked the box, but didn't want to.

Based on info from this website, I recently bought a PVR card and software bundle from PC Alchemy.  This was very easy to setup.  I ran a long coax cable from my DSS box in an adjoining room to the PC and created a serial control cable (cost about $10) to allow my card to manipulate the channels on the DSS box.  Bingo, I've now got a second recorder, but this one has unlimited space and allows me to burn to a DVD.  I have not hooked up the Video out on the PC to display on the TV yet, but that's in the works.

What I'm learning now is how large the modding community is for the PVR software.  After just purchasing SageTV, I see there are a ton of free add ons created by the user community.  THIS is where building a PVR from the PC far outshines Tivo.  Not only can I go in a modify the look and feel of the UI, but I can utilize the mods other people have created to supercharge my rig.

Just my .02 from a guy who has experienced both Tivo and Freevo.

[eyalkattan]

I am a newbie to PC PVRs and have DishNetwork as well.  In a perfect world, I wish I could connect the satellite dish directly to my PC and control everything from there. Then I would be able to record unlimited channels at the same time.

But since we are not leaving in a perfect world, I guess I will have to enjoy whatever the current technology has to offer.

This bring me to my questions.... some out of confusion... some out of misinformation... so please forgive my ignorance....  ;) ....:

Currently, my satellite box is connected to my TV via S-Video connector to maximize the quality of picture I'm getting. my tv is capable of displaying over 750 lines and I can testify there is quite a big difference between S-Video and RCA and RF.
That being said, it is my understanding that most TV cards as well as the users in this forum are getting the signal via coax cable.
If this is the case, then aren't you actually recording an analog signal, and by doing so, losing the quality of the digital signal?
Of course the sognal is recorded digitaly on your hard drive, but since the signal comes as MPEG2 from the satellite, it is then being converted to Analog...and then again being converted to digital by the PC...

In Addition it seems like the TV cards are nothing but video capturing cards with the capability of transcoding RF signal coming from the antenna or the cable/satellite box via the RF connector.
If this is the case,  then how about obtaining a good video capturing card or a very good video card with live capturing capability, which can take S-Video signal in? Then, instead of having the PC controling the box, you can have the box controling the pc via infra red blaster.