PVR Wire

1. I'm a satisfied MOXI/Charter user. The 2-tuner solution came in mighy handy suring sweeps weeks.

My Concerns?
(Disclaimer: I've never used TiVo, but have admired it from afar... The cost of entry being too high for the ol' budget.)
-No way to easily keep track of remaining space.
-No wishlists. (If I want to search for Spielberg, I have to do the same search weekly.)
-No Program Grid. (Searching is linear. Choose a channel, see 3 shows at a time.)
-Sketchy series control. (sometimes ignores reruns, sometimes not), (if a show's name changes, like Frontline => Frontline/World, it treats it like a separate series)
-No Quality/Compression Control
-No Editing (I just wanted the Star Wars Trailer at the end of an OC episode, and had to keep the WHOLE THING)
-No 30-second skip. It was intact for a few weeks, but the remore button now skips 15 minutes. RRRgh.

Posted at 11:55AM on Jun 15th 2005 by dmarsee

2. Make sure you request they add the code to your account to have the box remain powered on. Depending on the software version you have they tend to pop a message on the screen that if you don't hit the remote it will power off. I missed a lot of programming during vacation on my ReplayTV because of this. They should have a code they can add to your account to disable this "feature".
Presumably this is to preserve the hard drive. But it's not MY hard drive, so I don't care! ;)
There may be an option in the menu of the box to disable this yourself also (although I didn't have that.)

Hope this helps.

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Matt

3. Thanks. I wonder how many hours pass before this feature kicks in? If too soon, it could disrupt early morning recording. Or is it something that doesn't kick in until days go by?

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Todd W. Carter

4. Is that the Moxie / Digeo box?

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Jonathan Greene

5. Did you look at the URL I posted which has the best setups to use for TiVo IR blasters with different model cable boxes? 20% failure means you have something setup incorrectly, no question about it. What model cable box do you have?

Anyway, here is the link again: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=128743

You could always get the Charter DVR and use it for the digital/HD channels, and use a cable splitter to the TiVo and let the TiVo record the analog channels (anything under channel 100 usually). That'd also eliminate the IR blasters entirely, since you can use the built in cable ready tuner.

What model DVR is Charter offering you?

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by MegaZone

6. Mine would shut off at around 1:10 3:10 & 5:10. I ended up setting up a 1-min program at each of these times and it was enough to keep the box on, before Charter added that code. I had the SA 8300 (not the HD version).

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Matt

7. Mine would shut off at around 1:10 3:10 & 5:10. I ended up setting up a 1-min program at each of these times and it was enough to keep the box on, before Charter added that code. I had the SA 8300 (not the HD version).

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Matt

8. To answer a couple of questions: the model is the Moxie. And I did follow the link that MegaZone provided, but there were several suggestions for my box (a Motorola DCT6200). I haven't yet tried the suggestions because I didn't want to walk through the setup process again.

As for the suggestion to wire up both the Charter PVR box along with TiVo, it's a good one. And I may try it. However, the more I think about it, the less I feel like I need the Charter PVR box.

One thing I want to confirm is that the PVR box will only cost me $6.99 net. A customer service rep told me a couple months ago that the PVR box would replace the HDTV box, which I now pay $3 for, so the net for the PVR would be $6.99. We'll see if that's still true.

Frankly, the PVR box should be far less -- if not free. It's a good way to keep me away from the satellite TV folks, while also building loyalty. But everyone wants to charge for everything they can....

Posted at 4:20PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Todd W. Carter

9. An analog channel actually takes more bandwidth than a digital channel showing the same content. That's why cable providers are pushing mos of their channels to digital. It allows them more space for more digital channels, HD channels, and extra space to sell has higher-speed cable internet. Its not so much about the digital being "better" it allows them to sell more services without costly upgrades to handle the exta services.

Posted at 8:30PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Melis