Do you have a PVR (DVR) on your tv? If so...

[CDSmith]

...what's your functionality like?

I'm getting something called a Gateway "whole home" PVR system put in next week. I'll be able to record 3 shows simultaneously and still watch tv on another channel.... on all TV's in the house (up to six).

http://www.shaw.ca/Gateway/Features/


This I'm told is the ultimate badass in PVR technology. Whether that's true or not it's definitely far superior to the PVRs I've seen lately. And it's only $360 bucks. No charge for installation either, because I'm such a good customer, and I use deodorant.

Merry Christmas to me. :D

[Spunky]

I have the Telus one,I like the fact I can stop and have a smoke and press play to resume.I can record 3 at the same time also it's a free rental with a 3 year agreement

[bronco67]

I can record 2 shows, and watch 1 live with my Cablevision box. I also upgraded my recording space with a 1 GB external drive, for about 10 times improvement. This extra space has been a blessing, and a curse at the same time, if you know what I mean.

[Rochard]

I can record two shows while watching a third. For the most part we have three TVs in our house, but only use the main one so this is fine. My kid has a TV and and a DVR and it records a lot, but it's rarely used.

It's awesome. I always have stuff to watch on TV.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Spunky

I have the Telus one,I like the fact I can stop and have a smoke and press play to resume.I can record 3 at the same time also it's a free rental with a 3 year agreement

I'm paying this system off slowly on my cable bill, after which I will own the hardware outright. The good news (for me) is that since I'm what they call a "triple play" customer (because I take TV, cable modem, and digital phone service from them) that they also give me 100% lifetime warranty on it. And if and when something better comes along they often give their top customers (like me) free upgrades.

I think I'm going to like this thing. :D

[Kenny B!]

Sounds like the one Bell is pushing here on their new fibe network, shame I hate dealing with bell... I have 2 standard 360gig pvr's where I can record up to 2 shows, old technology but have no other options

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by bronco67

I can record 2 shows, and watch 1 live with my Cablevision box. I also upgraded my recording space with a 1 GB external drive, for about 10 times improvement. This extra space has been a blessing, and a curse at the same time, if you know what I mean.

This gateway thing comes with a 500 gb storage capacity. According to their specs it can record up to 300 hours of regular programming, or 60 hours of HD programming. Record shows up to 14 days in advance. You can also do series recording which allows you to preset and record every episode of a program for an entire season.

Yup, I think I'm going to like this. :D

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Kenny B!

Sounds like the one Bell is pushing here on their new fibe network, shame I hate dealing with bell... I have 2 standard 360gig pvr's where I can record up to 2 shows, old technology but have no other options

No Shaw Cable in Montreal yet? Bummer.

[Ross]

Cogeco sucks! I can record 2 programmes at the same time but I have to watch one of them... what is the point of that? Pretty dumb. I'm gonna change to someone else I think.

[96ukssob]

i use TiVo. Pretty good and lots of features

[PR_Glen]

there's not enough good tv on to warrant recording more than 2 things at a time.. hehe

[ravo]

We have the Bell PVR on Fibe. It's nice, but not the best PVR I've used. IMO, the Bell ExpressVu HD PVR was much easier to use, faster, and more intuitive.

But, if you haven't had a PVR before, it's pretty awesome.

[raymor]

I use MythTV (via Mythbuntu) running on a garage sale computer. The functionality is better any commercial product I've seen and it's infinitely customizable.

Software wise, I can tell it to record any time my favorite celeb is on any show, etc.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

there's not enough good tv on to warrant recording more than 2 things at a time.. hehe

For regular network TV I'd have to agree with you. But with the package I have I get HBO-Canada and 3 or 4 Movie Central channels, which changes everything. :D

[bronco67]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

there's not enough good tv on to warrant recording more than 2 things at a time.. hehe

Don't know what you're talking about. We've been smack in the middle of a TV golden age for a few years now. As a long time TV watcher I can easily say that there's never been a better era.

[Evil Chris]

Looks slick. I had to get two seperate HD DVRs for my place. They don't talk to each other, either.

Nor can they talk to my home network. I have to do that through my PS3s.
This looks like a simpler solution.

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

No Shaw Cable in Montreal yet? Bummer.

Shaw satellite yes .

But the gateway is not available as well as their 500gb PVR unit, only the 350 gb one ...

[Itchy]

Just had the gateway installed before xmas, have 3 TVs running portals.
I didn't like the fact that the hdpvr drives were 1tb and the gateway was only 500 gig but I traded in 2 hdpvr's for portals and they left the external pvr boxs and hooked one up to the gateway so I have 1.5 tb now
I also like the new guide ;)

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by bronco67

Don't know what you're talking about. We've been smack in the middle of a TV golden age for a few years now. As a long time TV watcher I can easily say that there's never been a better era.

oh definitely.. there's survivor, there's american idol even canadian idol!, then there's family jewels with that 'rock star' who wore all that clown make up back in the day... then theirs all those storage wars shows, the repo shows OH and last night i saw a new one! Millionaire match maker!! FINALLY a show where i can watch rich douche bags get set up with gold digging whores! it's such a wonderful time to watch tv.. i mean pass the popcorn and seal me up in my den, i don't ever need to leave the house with gold like this out there...



...ANCIENT ALIENS? Life=complete...

[Jim_Gunn]

When did DVRs start being called PVRs? I use the HD receiver & DVR that DirecTV gave me for free when I upgraded to the HD package a few years ago. It's pretty good, can record two channels at once.

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by bossku69

i use TiVo. Pretty good and lots of features

We have tivo here now also...

This is worth watching, it's a cool view

http://tivo.virginmedia.com/?buspart...FYEhtAodQC-SAQ


Delete, undelete, 500hrs, search, on demand, record 3 while watching a 4th, learns what you watch & what you like, record from your phone, twitter, ebay, broadband, scroll back to record your shows you miss

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by Itchy

Just had the gateway installed before xmas, have 3 TVs running portals.
I didn't like the fact that the hdpvr drives were 1tb and the gateway was only 500 gig but I traded in 2 hdpvr's for portals and they left the external pvr boxs and hooked one up to the gateway so I have 1.5 tb now
I also like the new guide ;)

I can see one needing the larger capacity for HD, definitely. I'll worry about that later.

Looking forward to the new guide as well.

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

oh definitely.. there's survivor, there's american idol even canadian idol!, then there's family jewels with that 'rock star' who wore all that clown make up back in the day... then theirs all those storage wars shows, the repo shows OH and last night i saw a new one! Millionaire match maker!! FINALLY a show where i can watch rich douche bags get set up with gold digging whores! it's such a wonderful time to watch tv.. i mean pass the popcorn and seal me up in my den, i don't ever need to leave the house with gold like this out there...

...ANCIENT ALIENS? Life=complete...

I'm sensing sarcasm. :D

Originally Posted by Jim_Gunn

When did DVRs start being called PVRs?

I wondered that myself.



2 more days till my install happens.

[ArsewithClass]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

2 more days till my install happens.

have to let keep bumping this thread.. you can tell us what you think when you've had it installed

[MrBottomTooth]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

oh definitely.. there's survivor, there's american idol even canadian idol!, then there's family jewels with that 'rock star' who wore all that clown make up back in the day... then theirs all those storage wars shows, the repo shows OH and last night i saw a new one! Millionaire match maker!! FINALLY a show where i can watch rich douche bags get set up with gold digging whores! it's such a wonderful time to watch tv.. i mean pass the popcorn and seal me up in my den, i don't ever need to leave the house with gold like this out there...



...ANCIENT ALIENS? Life=complete...

You're watching the wrong channels. Although I must admit most of the good shows seem to be on just 2 or 3 channels, usually one or two nights a week, and some seem to disappear for months at a time between seasons or episodes.

Boardwalk Empire, Spartacus, Hell on Wheels, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, Fringe, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Family Guy, Dexter, True Blood (OK maybe that one is pushing it)

[Itchy]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

2 more days till my install happens.

Ask him how to set reminders ;)

[CDSmith]

How many of you rent your DVR equipment, or own it?

I'll be owning mine. I also own a couple of digital boxes from Shaw, I put one in my rental unit (which has my tenant ecstatic).

[bigluv]

I've been building my own pvr's for probably 15 years. I never found it necessary to go beyond 3 tuners. I've been completely commercial free for beyond 5 years. It's almost like extending your lifespan the time you get back

Having a whole house setup that gives you the same experience in every room, complete with watched/unwatched status is the cats ass too.

IMO, cable company provided pvr's are too restrictive and dumbed down.
But, they are completely set and forget and are a cost and not a hobby.

[Itchy]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

How many of you rent your DVR equipment, or own it?

I'll be owning mine. I also own a couple of digital boxes from Shaw, I put one in my rental unit (which has my tenant ecstatic).

I always just buy it from shaw as they warranty it.

[garce]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

No Shaw Cable in Montreal yet? Bummer.

We used to have Shaw Cable in Toronto, but they did a territory switch with Roger's and now I have that shit.

I've two PVRs from Rogers - the first one would not decode HD, the second one would record random programs, and THEN Roger's starts randomly charging me for PPV movies I never ordered and equipment I don't even own. Their service is just shit.

Bell's not much better, but they have a great deal on a "whole home PVR" that's tempting. But Bell is shit, too.

So I get a choice of two incompetant corporations that charge exhorbitant fees for sub-par services. Two "competitors" that are able to put their differences aside long enough to match prices, lobby parlaiment for rate increases; and buy the fucking Toronto Maple Leafs. Good move, though - Roger's has done such a good job with the Blue Jays...

There is no free market in Canadian Television or Telecommunications. Both Roger's and Bell would be failing enterprises if 1) They had real competition; or 2) they weren't in bed with each other.

Short form: I make do without. Don't need it. Don't miss it. Don't care.

[DamianJ]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

oh definitely.. there's survivor, there's american idol even canadian idol!, then there's family jewels with that 'rock star' who wore all that clown make up back in the day... then theirs all those storage wars shows, the repo shows OH and last night i saw a new one! Millionaire match maker!! FINALLY a show where i can watch rich douche bags get set up with gold digging whores! it's such a wonderful time to watch tv.. i mean pass the popcorn and seal me up in my den, i don't ever need to leave the house with gold like this out there...



...ANCIENT ALIENS? Life=complete...

Damn straight. I guess if you think MaccyD's is fine dining then you will enjoy the celeb based cock that is US TV

[V_RocKs]

Now that the kids have moved out we find ourselves actually watching TV less... Now my system is total overkill...

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by bigluv

It's almost like extending your lifespan the time you get back

There you have it, the #1 benefit of getting one right there. Being able to grab and watch what you want when you want, blasting through commerical breaks, being able to pause and rewind, etc. Total time saving stuff.

Originally Posted by bigluv

Having a whole house setup that gives you the same experience in every room, complete with watched/unwatched status is the cats ass too.

I am so looking forward to this. One more day and it's go time. I mean SHOW time. ha

Originally Posted by bigluv

IMO, cable company provided pvr's are too restrictive and dumbed down.
But, they are completely set and forget and are a cost and not a hobby.

Shaw has a pretty good system though. Good listings guide, very organized, lots of useful features. I already get much of it with my digital box, the PVR will just add more.

Originally Posted by Itchy

I always just buy it from shaw as they warranty it.

Yes, and they warranty it 100% for life if you buy all 3 of their services: digital phone, cable modem internet, and TV. Which I do. And when new and better stuff comes along they will often upgrade you for free.

Counting the hours now...

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by garce

There is no free market in Canadian Television or Telecommunications. Both Roger's and Bell would be failing enterprises if 1) They had real competition; or 2) they weren't in bed with each other.

Short form: I make do without. Don't need it. Don't miss it. Don't care.

I actually feel lucky living in Manitoba after your post. We have MTS and Shaw competing for the bulk of the market, and also Rogers, Bell, and a few others competing for the rest. If Shaw's service was ever not to my liking I would take all my business to MTS in a heartbeat. Which is probably why they never drop the ball. Every time I've called them with an issue they damn well bend over backwards to make it right for me.

I feel for you guys down east or out in rural areas who have limited choices in providers.

[CDSmith]

All installed now, was just playing around with it a bit. The menu and options in there are insane. You know I can actually throw a virtual tomato at the screen with a click of my remote? ha ha

There's even games in there. Never expected that. And the database of free movies, sports and shows are all categorized and searchable.

I think I'm going to go buy a new tv, for the bedroom. Maybe a 32 inch LCD, to go with this setup.

Christmas came late at my house.