[Karl Foster]

It is totally a personal choice. Your best bet is to go to a place like Circuit City and demo both. Both have proven to be very reliable. They both offer features the other doesn't. http://www.ultimatetv.com/productcomp.asp has a comparison chart that you might find beneficial.

What they have in common is the ability to record two shows at once, which is what sold me (along with reliability).

You just need to determine which feature mean most to you. If you want PIP, you have to go with UTV. If you want season passes recoding, you have to go with D*Tivo.

I am biased toward UTV (as I own two of them) and have been very happy with both receivers - I have RCA receivers, but Sony also manufactures them.

As far as ease of use, all you do is highlight the program you want to record in the guide and hit the record button. That's it, and it will record. You can search by program content, title, up to 14 days out.

Like I said, both have proven to be great units, so good luck in your choice.

 

[Karl Foster]

You will have to run four coax's into your house (two per receiver). You will have to use a multi-switch from the two lines from the dish to the four out. You cannot use a diplexer. Each receiver must have two separate lines coming from a multi-switch. You can find multi-switches on EBay for pretty cheap. Always buy more outputs than you immediately need so if you upgrade later you don't have to buy another one. I have a Spaun 2X6 multi-switch and am currently using five of the six outputs. I bought mine from www.minidishes.tv for $54.

The upgrade to version 3.5 software is supposed to be downloaded by sattelite to the receivers any day now.

 

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by Mark
No contest. TiVo rules! The TiVo is in every way superior to the UltimateTV. Works better, looks better, more stable, easier to use, etc...

If I remember correctly from other posts, you have a PVR 501 or Dishplayer, so I don't know where your basis of comparison is, unless it is an anti-M$ comment.

I can't imagine DTivo being any easier to use than UTV. Mine have always worked, and my second one only cost $39. Try to use PIP with DTivo, oh yeah it doesn't have it. Try to access WebTV with DTivo, oh yeah it doesn't have it. Try to use a keyboard to type in searches on a DTivo, oh yeah, it doesn't have one, etc., etc., etc. I know UTV doesn't have season passes or recommendations, and if having your PVR automatically record shows you didn't set to record for you and fill up your hard drive, then recommendations may be for you.

--I edited out some incorrect information--

If using remote arrow keys or a keyboard to scroll through the guide is difficult, then I guess UTV is difficult to use.

My experience with UTV has been great. I have never lost a program, never had it freeze up, or ever had any other sort of problem. It does exactly what it is advertised to do. I don't know how it could be more stable. How do you justify saying UTV is unstable?

My RCA UTVs are good looking. As good looking as any other sort of equipment. It is black and has buttons on the front. I don't know how you judge something like that. Don't say they aren't good looking, you'll hurt their feelings.

DTivo is a good piece of equipment, but don't discount UTV so easily. Directivo is defintely NOT superior in every way.

 

[Karl Foster]

I'm not trying to dog DTivo. I've got nothing but love for DTivo owners! My main concern is an E* sub dogging UTV while have no experience with either piece of equipment.

As far as the Dishplayer problems - I truly believe that it is 95% E*'s problem. It is their name on the box. They (E*) are responsible to release quality equipment to their customers. E* shouldn't be releasing hardware or software that isn't tested or is tested and doesn't work. It is like owning a Chevy that the door handles don't work. While Chevy doesn't make the actual handles, it is their name on the outside. It is their reputation on the line. E* has no pride, and no effective testing program. This is what happens when you don't allow competition. I fear this is the wave of the future if the merger is approved.

In comparison, D* has pride when they put their name on a box. It has been tested, and works reliably. Both systems (UTV and DTivo) always work, and work properly. Just look at any forum in the PVR section. Problems with E* PVRs outnumber D* PVRs by at least 10 to 1. Sony, RCA, Hughes, and Philips can be proud of the equipment they produce and D* can be proud of the PVRs that are manufactured for them. The true winner with these companies competing is the consumer.

Just my $.02 worth.

 

[Karl Foster]

DTivo can do some neat things as far as suggestions and searches go. For example if you want to record the show "Friends", DTivo will find whenever it is on and automatically record it no matter when or what channel it is on. UTV will record it daily or weekly, but only if it is on at the same time (or within a half hour) and same channel. DTivo has a Season Pass feature that will only record shows that are new, and DTivo has a suggestion system based on viewing habits.

I don't own a DTivo, but those are some of the differences that I am aware of. You really need to go see both units side by side and determine what is most important to you.

The main thing is that both have dual tuners and work very reliably. Either unit is a good investment.

 

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by The Old Wizard

Don't forget D-Tivos also have Wishlists, Season Passes, & can do program searches, by title, actors, directors, & subject, to say the least. It also can tell when a program has changed time or day, & it will still record it. You can also set up a Wish List, & when that program or movie appears on the program guide it will remember to record it for you.

With the newest upgrade that arrived on Thursday morning, UTV now has Series Recording (same as Season Pass on D*Tivo), searching by actor name (always had title and description searches) - the keyboard really makes this easy to do, and Auto Record (same as Wish List on D*Tivo). UTV still doesn't have the ability to do recommendations, which is a pretty neat feature on D*Tivo.

 

[Karl Foster]

Welcome to the UTV world. The new upgrade that your machine should have downloaded by now has some great new features. You might want to consider getting a keyboard if you don't have one. It makes searches much easier. They can be had on EBay. I bought mine for $17. If you go retail, it will cost you $49.95. If you have a USB keyboard, it will also work, but the wireless RCA keyboards have all of the same functions as the remote.

I have one since last June, and one since January, and since have had two VCR's conck out on us, and we haven't even missed them. I've gotten so used to my PVRs that I couldn't imagine not having them. I know it is only tv, but PVRs really enhance the experience. I'm getting ready to upgrade one of mine (my wife threatened me that it better not be hers) to a 120 GB hard drive when I get a couple of dollars ahead.

Good luck with your setup. I believe that RCA makes great satellite equipment (at least that's my experience so far).