DirecTivo w/o Tivo?

[Loren]

I apologize if this has been answered before, but I'm apparently searching for the wrong terms.

I'm a current Dish customer seriously leaning towards switching to DirecTV, mainly because of the DirecTivo units. I understand that there's an extra $4.99 fee for the DVR functionality, but my question is this . . .

What happens to a DirecTivo unit if I (for some reason) stop paying the $4.99 fee? Would the unit still operate as a DirecTV receiver, just without the enhanced feature (i.e.: Season Pass, etc.)? Would I be able to manually set recording times (i.e.: a digital VCR)?

Don't get me wrong ... I have no problem paying the fee (I'd rather pay it for something that seems to work better -- hence the switching providers). I'm just curious about how intertwined the TIVO/receiver components are.

Any insight is appreciated.

Regards,
Loren

[Timco]

The only DVR functionality that will remain is the ability to pause live tv. Everything else would be locked out. FWIW, the DirecTivo makes a poor standard receiver.

[Loren]

If I could still pause "live" TV, then the hard drive must not be completely off limits.

I wouldn't be able to even manually set timers? Interesting . . . I had just assumed that the $4.99 fee was just for the program guide information. Seems like its more involved/integrated that that.

Just to play devil's advocate, it does look like you would be able to retain at least some recording functionality, especially considering the premium paid over regular receivers. Oh well . . . from what I've heard, having PVR capability is pretty addictive. :-)

[Mark Holtz]

I have to agree with Timco. The HBH-SA is a better receiver than the HDVR2 in terms of guide speed and the fact that you can set up a family list+three favorites lists+three "Turbo tune" list of nine channels.

In comparison, on the HDVR2, I had to go through and manually select the channels you do and do not receive (my thumb did not feel the joy). There is no "autoscan" feature. The favorites list is a sublist of the "channels you receive", and there is only one favorites list.

On the other hand, the HDVR2 is meant for recording, and does that well. Now, if there was a browse by theme option.

[bonscott87]

Now, if there was a browse by theme option.

Ahhhh, very easy to do. I just can't remember how to do it off the top of my head. I'll post later after lunch how to do this. I can't remember if it's keyword search or wishlists but I do it all the time (to search for Sci-Fi programs only for example).

[Curtis0620]

Search by Title. Then select theme.

Or a category Wishlist.

[bonscott87]

You got it.

Pick programs to record | Search by Title |
Then you select pretty much any category you want.
For example, choose Themes | Musicals
Then you get a search screen. Just enter in "1" and then you can channel up and down the entire list of Musicals available and choose to record them or whatnot.

With Wishlists you can do pretty much the same thing except that you can save it for later. So you can setup a Wishlist for Musicals and use it as a canned search to browse all musicals at your convience.

A wishlist example of mine is a Keyword wishlist.
Keyword of "80", category of "Music". This will show me all programs tagged as music that have "80" in the title or description. Thus it will pick up all the "I love the 80's" type shows that appear on VH1 or VH1 classics from time to time.

Very power stuff in there once you start poking around. :D