| With High Definition Televisions (HDTVs) becoming more popular and more affordable consumers are finding a great need for High Definition Digital Video Recorders (HD DVRs). The marketplace varies greatly when it comes to getting a HD DVR and the programming you receive may in part; control the HD-DVR that best suits you.
Specifically, some HD DVRs only work with cable while others only work with satellite. Therefore, your choice may be very narrow unless you change the programming that you receive.
The following will explain the options out there and the pros and cons of each.
Cost
First, if you are a cable customer you only have two options. You can lease a HD DVR from your cable company if they carry one. Some cable companies may only have standard DVRs for their customers. Another option is the new HD TiVo. Customers do not need to lease the new HD TiVo – they can own it. However, customers will need to weigh the monthly fee (often $5-$10 a month) against the $799 price tag on the new HD TiVo. Additionally, the new HD TiVo requires two cable cards. These cable cards must also be leased from the cable company and the cost varies company to company. As the new HD TiVo runs on cable cards it does not work with any satellite provided programming so cable customers can only use it.
Next, if you are a satellite customer it depends on the company providing the programming. If you are a DIRECT TV satellite TV customer the new HD DVR is available to lease for $199 upfront plus a lease fee of $5.99 a month. The lease fee is waived if you receive the TOTAL CHOICE® PREMIER programming package. The DISH Network HD DVR is also $199 for new customers and also has a lease fee of $5.98 a month. The difference in cost bears itself out in the deposit required for those that fail the credit check. DIRECTV will ask for $300 while Dish will require $750. Additionally, Dish will require another $49 deposit for activation- although this is refunded it brings the initial cost of the Dish HD-DVR to nearly $800.
Outcome: DIRECT TV is more affordable than DISH Network. The HD TiVo will only work for cable.
Capacity
The storage capacity will also vary by provider and model. The HD TiVo has the largest capacity, as it will store up to 300 hours of standard programs and up to 32 hours of HD programs. The DIRECTV® HD DVR and the DISH Network HD DVR both can store up to 200 hours of standard programs and up to 30 hours of HD (Mpeg 2) programs, but the DIRECT TV® HD DVR can also hold up to 50 hours of Mpeg 2 HD programming. cable companies will vary.
Outcome: The HD TiVo can hold more programs- but for satellite there is no difference in standard programs but the DIRECTV® HD DVR can hold up to 50 hours of Mpeg 2 HD recorded programming.
Options
The options on the various HD DVRs vary. Some noteworthy options to look for include the length of time that live TV can be paused, the period of time that you can look at upcoming shows (known as the Electric Program Guide or EPG), and whether the HD DVR is a single or dual tuner (with a dual tuner you can record two shows and watch a third).
The HD TiVo and the Dish HD DVR can pause live TV for up to 30 minutes. Only the DIRECT TV® HD DVR can pause live TV for 90 minutes.
The HD TiVo and the DIRECTV® HD DVR can view upcoming shows fourteen (14) days in advance. The Dish HD DVR can only preview future programs nine (9) days in advance.
All three HD DVRs have dual tuners, which allow you to record two shows at once while also allowing you to watch a previously recorded program.
Outcome: The DIRECT TV® HD DVR is the only one that can pause live TV for 90 minutes, three times longer than the others. The TiVo and DIRECTV models can look ahead 14 days while Dish can only see 9 days in advance. All can record 2 shows w |
