Comcast DVR Questions...

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  • Jimplication
    MVP
    • Aug 2004
    • 3591

    #1

    Comcast DVR Questions...

    I bought a DVD-R last year, and I often use it to record a sports match-up I am not initially home to see. I generally don't keep the DVD, and thus it's essentially wasted after I watch it. Spread out over time, this can result in a waste of DVDs, and money. For instance, I currently have two "dead" stacks of DVDs on my player, that I'd estimate are 50 DVDs high, each. So in essence, I wasted $60 ($30 for a stack of 50 blank DVDs) just to record and watch a program once.

    I was tooling around on Comcast's site earlier today, and it listed their DVR as costing $10 a month.

    Does anyone have Comcast DVR? What are your experiences with it? Do you recommend it? Is it worth the price?

    Furthermore, how much footage (length in time would be ideal) can you store before you have to start removing saved programs to clear up space?

    And lastly, are there better alternatives?

    Thanks!
    Enjoy football? Enjoy Goal Line Blitz!
  • sadams33
    MVP
    • Oct 2002
    • 1617

    #2
    Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

    I had a comcast dvr and it worked pretty good i believe it had a 30 to 40gb hard drive in it can't quite remember i've never had a problem with it, i used to record my wife soaps for her and a whole bunch of shows and was never in jeopardy of filling it up

    Comment

    • Bruins
      .
      • Mar 2004
      • 6433

      #3
      Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

      I have a DVR from Comcast. If I can offer you one piece of advice, make sure you get the Dual-tuner. If you only get the single tuner, you can't record one thing and watch another. With the dual, you can do just that.

      Here are some specs, by the way:

      Dual Tuner:
      120 GB
      Records 60 hours of standard def, 15 of high def
      Record one show, watch another or record two shows at once

      Single Tuner:
      80 GB
      40 hours of standard def, 10 of high def

      Comment

      • ADA885
        Banned
        • Jun 2005
        • 1770

        #4
        Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

        Can anyone with a Comcast DVR help me out with getting stuff from it to my PC?

        Comment

        • Kodiak33
          MVP
          • Aug 2002
          • 1093

          #5
          Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

          Originally posted by ADA885
          Can anyone with a Comcast DVR help me out with getting stuff from it to my PC?
          I would like to find out about this as well. As far as my DVR, I like it alot. I can't stay up to watch Conan so I always record it and watch it the next day. I would say its worth it at 10 dollars a month...but since I have roommates I'm a little biased since we split the bill.

          Comment

          • Jimplication
            MVP
            • Aug 2004
            • 3591

            #6
            Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

            Do you have to pay an initial fee up front for the hardware/cable box?

            I gather you rent the box, and I'm certain I would need a new box (mine is old). Is the box free ($10 a month aside) or do you have to pay something initially for it?
            Enjoy football? Enjoy Goal Line Blitz!

            Comment

            • Bruins
              .
              • Mar 2004
              • 6433

              #7
              Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

              Originally posted by Jimplication
              Do you have to pay an initial fee up front for the hardware/cable box?

              I gather you rent the box, and I'm certain I would need a new box (mine is old). Is the box free ($10 a month aside) or do you have to pay something initially for it?
              I can't recall if I had to pay for the box itself. I'm thinking that I did not.

              Comment

              • Diadem
                MVP
                • Apr 2004
                • 754

                #8
                Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                Originally posted by Bruins
                I can't recall if I had to pay for the box itself. I'm thinking that I did not.

                It's $75.
                "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You." - LeGrand

                Comment

                • mjb2124
                  Hall Of Fame
                  • Aug 2002
                  • 13649

                  #9
                  Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                  I think it depends on whether or not you have to pay for the box.

                  My parents have Comcast and they didn't have to pay for the box (only the monthly service fee).

                  I have a different cable provider and don't have to pay for the box either. Just a $5 monthly service fee.

                  Comment

                  • Diadem
                    MVP
                    • Apr 2004
                    • 754

                    #10
                    Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                    Originally posted by mjb2124
                    I think it depends on whether or not you have to pay for the box.

                    My parents have Comcast and they didn't have to pay for the box (only the monthly service fee).

                    I have a different cable provider and don't have to pay for the box either. Just a $5 monthly service fee.
                    They told me different, I was told I would have to pay for the box first and then I would be charged a monthly fee. I'll check into it though.
                    "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You." - LeGrand

                    Comment

                    • mjb2124
                      Hall Of Fame
                      • Aug 2002
                      • 13649

                      #11
                      Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                      Originally posted by Diadem
                      They told me different, I was told I would have to pay for the box first and then I would be charged a monthly fee. I'll check into it though.
                      Might just be different in different locations. I know for a fact my parents didn't pay for their box. It's a rental that they give back if they move or go to a different provider.

                      Paying $75 for the box seems odd. That is unless you get to keep the box if you were to move or get a different provider. Even then, $75 seems on the low end for that since most DVR's are more than that.

                      Comment

                      • Skerik
                        Living in this tube
                        • Mar 2004
                        • 5215

                        #12
                        Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                        I have a few dual-tuner Comcast DVR boxes and they work great. Easy to use, good quality on the recordings. They're not as smart as Tivo in knowing when things are on, so if you set your recording for 8pm and the football game ran over and bumped your show, you'll miss the end of it because your DVR box will start recording at 8pm.

                        The other caveat I have is that they change channels very slowly compared to non-DVR Comcast boxes. Otherwise, I like them.
                        Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
                        Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is.

                        Comment

                        • Kodiak33
                          MVP
                          • Aug 2002
                          • 1093

                          #13
                          Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                          Usually you only have to pay for a box if you have satellite. I've never heard of a cable company charging for a box beside the monthly fee. I could be wrong though.

                          Comment

                          • ADA885
                            Banned
                            • Jun 2005
                            • 1770

                            #14
                            Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                            So can anyone answer how to transfer stuff from the DVR to your PC?

                            Comment

                            • mjb2124
                              Hall Of Fame
                              • Aug 2002
                              • 13649

                              #15
                              Re: Comcast DVR Questions...

                              Originally posted by ADA885
                              So can anyone answer how to transfer stuff from the DVR to your PC?
                              It's not always possible with a cable company DVR. Depends on what interfaces are active within the box (USB, firewire etc...).

                              I have a Motorola 6412 dual tuner HD box. My understanding is that I'd need a PC with a firewire card and would be able to transfer data that way. I've never tried as I don't have a firewire card, but it shouldn't be too hard. Not sure if any of that helps as it's not very detailed.

                              Your best bet is to do a search on your model on the AVSForum.

                              Comment

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