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December 17, 2006 04:01 PM

Categories: Cable / Satellite Boxes

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Mr. T

Member
Joined: 12/17/2006

Hello all,

I am considering purchasing the slingbox and want to find the simplest and cheapest solution.  I live in Germany and would like to put a slingbox and dvr at my brother's place.  He does not have tivo and only has the basic channels (NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS) and that is all I need.   Because of the time difference and the inability to record the encrypted streams, I will have to buy some sort of dvr.

Can someone please recommend a basic box (with a tuner) to use that does not require a subscription?

If I do end up buying my brother a tivo box for a year and pay the subscription can I continue to use it as a standalone box after the contract expires?

Thanks in advance,

Mr. T

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Comments 1-4 of 4 | Latest Comment

Sorin Avatar
Member
December 17, 2006 7:56 PM

One of the  DVD recorders that has basic TIVO would be fine. Saw them for under 200 at Amazon. For example http://www.tivo.com/2.1.4.asp

Short of that ... a series 1 TIVO with a net card, or a series 2 TIVO with a lot of work - local "tivo" server, etc, etc. And, no you can't use one of the new TIVOs  after the contract expires. You can use it as a tuner, but, no recording other than pause.

Of course, you could try to find someone with a "slingbox classic" that still has the pre-encryption firmware and try to buy it from them. Maybe trade them a Pro for it as an incentive?

"Good behavior is the last refuge of mediocrity." - Henry S. Haskins

Carl Avatar
Member
December 18, 2006 12:59 AM

Well, a cheap solution that should work for you would be a regular VCR. You can control it completely, to include programming what you want to record when, and playing it back, via the sling link.

Carl

NA9D Avatar
  Moderator
December 18, 2006 6:22 AM

I agree a VCR would be the cheapest, but also the least flexible.


The cheapest DVR with no subscription would probably be one of the early ReplayTV models.  See if you can find a Replay Model 2000, 3000, 4000 or Panasonic Showstopper models.  All of these units came with built-in lifetime subscriptions to the ReplayTV service.  Some of them are still pretty popular so you might need to pay $100 to $200 for the box, but that would be it.  Look on e-Bay for them.

The 4500/5000/5500 ReplayTV models all require subscription fees or the purchase of a lifetime sub.  Some people sell models with lifetime subs but that usually adds $300 to the cost off the top.

AFAIK, all Tivos require purchasing a subscription.  The older Replays IMHO are the way to go.


Jon

Slinging with a SlingCatcher, a ProHD, a Pro, a Solo, an AV, and a Slingbox Classic. 3 Replay TV units, a Roku Photobridge and a Roku M2000 Soundbridge, an AppleTV, a Vudu, and digital cable. www.na9d.net

Mr. T Avatar
Member
December 18, 2006 11:00 AM

Thanks a lot for the input.  I didn't think of getting a VCR, but only having a few hours of tape time available does not excite me too much.  I think I will head over to eBay and research the replaytv used market.  Hopefully a used box will last me long enough until I can afford to buy the next big gadget brand new...

Thanks again,

Tim

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Comments 1-4 of 4 | Latest Comment

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