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HD DVR

HD DVR

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #624: Channel Master DVR+ Review

The Channel Master DVR+ ($249.99 MSRP) is a subscription-free over-the-air DVR featuring dual tuners, support for video resolutions up to 1080p, Dolby Digital Plus surround sound, and a Rovi-powered Electronic Program Guide at no extra cost. With 16GB of internal storage and support for external USB hard drives, a 1TB drive yields approximately 160 hours of HD recording. Cord cutters seeking to eliminate monthly fees entirely will find the DVR+ a capable, responsive solution, though firmware limitations currently prevent recording new episodes only, and network streaming is limited to Hulu.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVR Home Theater Satellite HD

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #598: DirecTV Genie

The DirecTV Genie HD DVR supports five simultaneous HD tuners and up to 200 hours of HD recording capacity, addressing the long-standing limitation of room-specific playback that plagued earlier DVR setups. Adding legacy set-top boxes alongside the Genie expands the tuner pool further, with one tested configuration reaching eight total tuners and eliminating recording conflicts entirely. Installation requires a Single Wire Module (SWM) that may not be present in older DirecTV setups, so subscribers should verify compatibility before expecting a simple self-install.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVR

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #553: New Boxee, Cloud DVR and Superhero Movies

The $99 Boxee TV arrives with dual tuners, an electronic program guide, antenna and optional cable support, and unlimited cloud-based DVR storage accessible from any browser. The cloud-only storage model, however, requires ongoing monthly fees with no local backup option, raising concerns about long-term cost and service continuity if Boxee ceases operations. Cord cutters weighing this device should carefully consider whether the convenience of cloud DVR access justifies the recurring subscription dependency before committing.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Ed's View: Cutting the Cord with Digital Stream's HD DVR
HD DVR

Ed's View: Cutting the Cord with Digital Stream's HD DVR

The Digital Stream DPH-1000R HD DVR pairs an ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner with a 320GB HDD, offering up to 38 hours of HD or 150 hours of SD recording capacity for over-the-air content with no monthly subscription fee. The unit supports component and HDMI outputs with 5.1 audio, and successfully detected all 37 available local digital channels in a challenging reception environment 25 miles from transmitters. However, its sluggish control response, limited remote range of roughly ten feet, and a VCR-era user interface make daily operation frustrating despite solid audio and video performance.

Ed Milbourn •
Columns
Review: Dish Network Hopper
Satellite HD HD Receivers HD DVR

Review: Dish Network Hopper

The Dish Network Hopper whole-house DVR system delivers impressive functionality, including 3 tuners supporting up to 6 simultaneous HD recordings and a 2TB hard drive, but its HD image quality consistently tested softer than a comparable cable feed, estimated at roughly 80% of its potential detail. The reviewer found that connecting a Darblet video processor at approximately 50% processing strength brought perceived image quality close to or above the cable reference, while 4K upscaling via a Sony projector with Reality Creation provided additional improvement. Prospective subscribers with large displays or critical viewing standards should weigh this image quality trade-off against the Hopper's substantial feature advantages and lower cost.

Rodolfo La Maestra •
Reviews
HD DVR Home Theater IPTV

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #543: Google Fiber TV

Google Fiber TV, launched in Kansas City, delivers an IPTV service over a gigabit residential fiber connection with a DVR unit featuring 2 TB of local storage, 1 TB of Google Drive cloud storage, and the ability to record up to eight simultaneous streams in full 1080p HD. The system blends traditional cable channels with Netflix and YouTube in a searchable interface, includes built-in placeshifting inherited from Sage TV technology, and ships with a Nexus 7 tablet as the primary remote. Priced at $120 per month for the combined gigabit Internet and TV package, the service currently lacks key channels like Fox and ESPN, which limits its appeal despite its technical ambition.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVR

HDTV Almanac - Comcast, TiVo, and... PayPal?

PayPal, Comcast, and TiVo have announced a partnership enabling TV-based purchases directly through a remote control, integrating PayPal accounts with interactive television ads. The system leverages TiVo's DVR pause-and-resume functionality, allowing viewers to complete transactions without missing live or recorded programming. For consumers, this means impulse buying from the couch becomes a reality, with payment handled through an existing PayPal account rather than a separate device.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Home Theater HD DVR Satellite HD

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #527: The Hopper by Dish

Dish Network's Hopper whole-home DVR system pairs a main unit featuring three HD tuners and a 2 TB drive (500 hours of HD storage) with up to three Joey client units per Hopper, all communicating over existing coax via MoCA. The standout PrimeTime Anytime feature automatically records all prime-time programming from ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX in HD using a dedicated tuner, while DLNA support handles local media playback with MP4 and MKV containers. Subscribers who want to consolidate live TV, DVR, and on-demand content into a single system will find the Hopper a compelling option, though DLNA reliability remains inconsistent.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Home Theater HD DVR

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #521: Simple.TV - A DVR for a Connected World

Simple.TV is a single-tuner DVR priced at $149 that streams recorded over-the-air ATSC and Clear QAM content at up to 1080p via adaptive streaming, tested at 5 Mbps for its highest quality setting. The device requires an external USB hard drive for storage and a $4.99/month Premier subscription to unlock the electronic program guide and automatic recording features. For cord-cutters seeking a low-cost broadcast TV solution compatible with Roku, iPad, and HTML5-capable devices, it offers a compelling monthly savings over traditional DVR services like TiVo, though the single-tuner limitation and lack of CableCARD support are notable trade-offs.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVR Streaming HD Smart TVs

HDTV Almanac - The Power of Aggregated Data

TiVo's analysis of 41,666 anonymously monitored DVR households reveals granular viewing behavior during the Super Bowl, showing that Madonna's halftime show outperformed even the top-rated Doritos commercial, while the final Hail Mary pass drew peak viewership. This level of behavioral data - tracking playback speed and minute-by-minute audience retention - signals a shift in how content producers can attract sponsors through embedded placements and targeted advertising. The practical implication is that Big Data analytics, not blockbuster content alone, will define the next generation of video entertainment funding models.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Home Theater HD DVR

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #518: Cord Cutting - A Financial Analysis

A detailed cost breakdown compares a DirecTV Premier Package at $157/month (plus $25/month for NFL Sunday Ticket) against a cord-cutting alternative built around three TiVo Premiere DVRs at $60/month combined service fees, three Apple TVs, and iTunes season passes totaling $527 annually. OTA broadcast reception handles network content, while iTunes delivers cable shows in HD with 5.1 audio the day after airing. The analysis finds a potential annual savings of $277 to $577, with hardware breakeven reached in just over one year.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Streaming HD HD DVR

HDTV Expert - Useful Gadgets: Channel Master CM-7400 TV

The Channel Master CM-7400 is a dual-tuner ATSC DVR with 320 GB of storage, built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi, and HDMI output supporting 1080p/24 playback, priced at $400 with no monthly subscription fee. It integrates Vudu streaming at up to HDX (1080p/24) quality, though reliable HDX delivery requires sustained download speeds of 8 Mb/s or better, making SD or 720p more practical for many users during peak hours. Cord-cutters in strong over-the-air markets will find this a capable all-in-one solution for free broadcast TV recording and on-demand streaming.

Pete Putman •
Columns
HD DVR

HDTV Almanac - How Much Time-Shifting Do We Really Do?

A Centris white paper on DVR adoption reveals that fewer than two in five U.S. television households own or rent a DVR, and roughly half of those users watch 20% or less of their content via time-shifting. One in six DVR users do not use the device for playback at all, with approximately three-quarters of units rented from service providers rather than purchased outright. These figures suggest the actual threat to linear broadcast advertising revenue may be considerably smaller than industry commentary implies.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Smart TVs HD Receivers HD DVR

HDTV Almanac - Look, Ma! No Box!

At CES 2012, DIRECTV partnered with Samsung and Verizon partnered with LG to integrate set-top box functionality directly into Smart TV lines, with LG sets offering access to 26 live channels and over 10,000 VOD titles. While eliminating a separate box removes hardware clutter and a rental fee of roughly $6 per month ($72 annually), the trade-off is reduced access to full subscription programming and interactive content compared to a standard set-top box setup. Consumers should weigh whether the convenience justifies paying a premium for a Smart TV that delivers fewer features than a conventional receiver.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
HD DVR Smart TVs Satellite HD

Samsung Announces Set-Top "Boxless" Viewing in all 2012 Smart TVs

Samsung and DIRECTV announced at CES 2012 that all Samsung 2012 Smart TVs will embed the RVU protocol, enabling DIRECTV's HR34 Home Media Center HD-DVR to deliver its full set-top box UI directly to multiple televisions without additional hardware. Built on DLNA and UPnP standards, the RVU implementation supports simultaneous multi-room viewing, 200 hours of shared DVR storage, live pause, picture-in-picture, and recording up to five shows at once. For consumers, this means a cleaner installation with no extra set-top boxes required in secondary rooms while retaining the complete DIRECTV experience.

Shane Sturgeon •
Bulletins