Hauppaugge HD-PVR --OR-- Tivo HD DVR

[GamingDaemon]

Hi Everyone,

I know, I am not comparing apples to apples here, but I'm trying to figure out my best options.  I could buy the Hauppaugge HD-PVR (http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html), but then, I would not be able to watch a different show while recording.  I would be limited to just the one tuner at a time.

On the other hand, the Tivo HD DVR (https://www3.tivo.com/store/boxdetails.do?boxName=180hourtivohd&boxsku=R65216) would require a Comcast cablecard, but eliminate the Comcast Tuner altogether.  Would I be limited to Comcast TV?  In other words, would the Tivo not work with DirecTV for example?

Anyway, if anyone has input on which way to go, I would greatly appreciate it.

[ca n vt]

There are Tivos that would work with Directv. That one won't though.

Works with digital and analog cable; digital and analog antenna.
Satellite NOT supported.

From what I've seen if you want HD you would have to get the Directv HDDVR or now you could use the Hauppauge HD PVR as well. The Tivos that work with Directv function essentially like a PVR. They use an IR Blaster to control the box. If you wanted to go the Directv route, and you want HD, I would get the HD PVR and an HVR-1600 that way you could record your HD content from one box through the HD PVR and then just use the the HVR-1600s Svideo in to record the output from the second STB. That way you could watch more than one channel at once but also get your HD channels. You wouldn't be able to record two HD channels at once though. Of course you would have to have pretty massive amounts of hard drive space anyway to record multiple HD channels at once without filling your hard drive pretty fast.

If all you want is to record two HD channels at once and you don't care where you're getting your content from or what you can do with it after you have recorded it then the Tivo is probably a much cheaper way to go. Not only will building that PVR cost more in terms of your tuners but also in terms of the type of system you will need for HD playback. It's just a little more demanding on hardware. I would rather have the freedom that building my own brings but that's just me.

[GamingDaemon]

Thanks for the reply ca n vt!

I shouldn't have really mentioned the whole DirecTV aspect because that's just not an option right now; I had heard it was a liability and wanted to throw it out there.  For now, I am stuck with Comcast.  So, yes I want to be able to record at least 1 channel while watching another, or record 2 channels at once.  And I want to be able to offload what I record onto my HTPC for storage/archiving purposes.  And yes, I want to build a nice HTPC (planning on building around an E8400 or a Q6600 with a nVidia 8xxx series video card), but record *all* of HD channels I pay for from Comcast (including SciFi HD, Discovery HD, and any other channels I decide on buying later like ShowTime HD).

So then does getting the Tivo HD make more sense than Hauppaugge's HD-PVR?

[ca n vt]

Like I said it all depends on what your priorities are but that's probably the cheapest/easiest thing to do.

[Miller]

Check on this, I don't know the answer. Does one cablecard = one show. What I'm wondering is if you can only record one show at a time using the cablecard.

[turajb]

Does one cablecard = one show. What I'm wondering is if you can only record one show at a time using the cablecard.

I believe its defined as 1 tuner per show, and 1 cablecard per device.
And by that, I mean that each device (such as a Tivo or DVR) normally only requires 1 cablecard, while said device may contain 1 or more tuners.  If you look at the specs of dual-tuner cable/fios DVRs and the new dual-tuner Tivos, they appear to only require 1 cable card.  I hope this helps...

[bidger]

If you do opt for the TiVo HD and, as was mentioned, satellite is not an option with this unit, you sub to Comcast, be aware of a technology called Switched Digital Video (abbreviated as SDV) that allows for more efficient use of cable bandwidth. Problem is that Cable Card devices, like the S3 or TiVo HD, can't tune to those channels. There's an SDV FAQ at the TiVo Community Forums.

Supposedly there's a dongle in the works to address this to be offered through the Cable Cos, but how much of a drive do you think they will have to help out devices from third parties?