The only advantage I see that you have over the Dish DVR we have is the ability to burn shows to DVD, and that might just be because I haven't figured that out yet.
Not a problem. Dependent upon the model Dish receiver you are using, just connect the AV out from the satellite receiver to the DVD unit. One of my receivers is a 508 which has two outputs available. One went to the TV the other to the DVD unit. I just burned a DVD with all the Airstream programming that has been on the Travel and History channels.
On my 522 receiver I have two outputs on the TV2 side. One is coax which goes to my bedroom TV, the other output is component which runs to my DVD unit.
What's good about the Dish solution is that the video stored on this disk is stored in the original compressed format that comes across from Dish. Unless the Tivo unit operates differently, Tivo units normally have to compress the video prior to it being written to disk. I would be curious if the Direct TV Tivo units have to first uncompress the video received from Direct, then recompress in the Tivo format prior to writing the video to the disk.
If so, it would seem that the quality of the Dish program burned to a DVD would be better since it would only be recompressed once (to burn it on the DVD), where as the Tivo version requiring two compressions (once to write to disk, and second to write to DVD).
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo. AIR #56
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500,'08 Vespa GTS 250
I would be curious if the Direct TV Tivo units have to first uncompress the video received from Direct, then recompress in the Tivo format prior to writing the video to the disk.
If so, it would seem that the quality of the Dish program burned to a DVD would be better since it would only be recompressed once (to burn it on the DVD), where as the Tivo version requiring two compressions (once to write to disk, and second to write to DVD).
Jack
Jack, you are correct that stand alone tivo units must covert the signals to store on the hard drive, lowering the quality.
However, the Direct Tivo units work the same as your Dish PVR, in that they record the digital stream from the sattilite to the harddrive w/o further conversion.
I have had Direct for 5 years and anytime I have had anything that needed a human reply, I was on hold for long periods of time and less than satisfied with the response. Direct's human customer service is poor, however by pressing a few buttons on my phone I can turn on and off HBO when the Sopranos season begins and ends.
__________________
Mike Martin
1971 Caravel
2000 Toyota Tundra
Black unknown origin Dog
On my 522 receiver I have two outputs on the TV2 side. One is coax which goes to my bedroom TV, the other output is component which runs to my DVD unit.
Jack
Do you run yours directly into a DVD Recorder, or do you pass it through your computer into a DVD +RW drive?
__________________ Mark
72 Sovereign: L couch, mid-twin, rear-bath
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it"
"It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much."
"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra
Do you run yours directly into a DVD Recorder, or do you pass it through your computer into a DVD +RW drive?
I run it directly into a Sony DVD player/recorder that sits atop my old VCR. I chose this particular unit because it can write -R, +R, -RW, +RW. You never know what format you may need. I also ran the VCR into the Sony for the purpose of either watching my old tapes or converting them to DVD.
Using the HQ setting on the Sony, I get a recorded DVD that is equal in quality to the original program. Note however that that setting only provides one hour of record time on the DVD.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo. AIR #56
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500,'08 Vespa GTS 250
I have had DTV for about 5 years, I use it at home (4 receivers) plus 1 for the rv and 1 for the house boat. I have used it coast to coast and other than having to use my signal meter to help me find a "hole" in the trees ( the meter will pick up the satellite long before the receiver starts beeping) DTV has replaced each of the receivers at least once as they became outdated. As long as I am within 300-350 miles of Atlanta, I get all the local programming for a few dollars per month with out an additional dish or antenna. No complaints
Do you need a telephone connection for your "extra" DirecTV recievers that you use in your RV when you travel? I heard a rumor that they can shut down the extra receiver if not connected to a phone line.
__________________
Mark
1984 31' Excella, mid bath, king size bed
1998 Chevrolet Suburban K2500, 7.4L/454 c.i., 4WD, Pullrite Hitch
AIR No. 2375
MY account has a phone line which is at my home. Prior to installing the 4 at home and the one at the lake, I only had one which was 100% in the rv and osther than when I initially set it up never has had a hrd line to it. I was in upstate NY when they decided to send me a new updated receiver and I went through the set up, new access card and all using my cell phone so I could talk to DTV, she was aware of this unit being in a RV and had no problem with that.
Do you need a telephone connection for your "extra" DirecTV recievers that you use in your RV when you travel? I heard a rumor that they can shut down the extra receiver if not connected to a phone line.
It's an urban legend that DirecTv can shut you down for not having a phone connection. If you don't connect the phone line then you can't use the remote control for ordering. But everything else will work. I haven't connected the phone line on a few of my sat receivers for many years, including my Airstream.
__________________ "It's the journey."
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