“Heroes,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ugly Betty” — they’re all back with new episodes this month, and you don’t want to miss a single one. So if you don’t have a TiVo or another digital video recorder, or DVR, already — or if you’re thinking of upgrading to something new — what do you need to know? We chatted with John Falcone, an editor at the tech Web site CNET, and he led us through the maze.
You want to start by answering two main questions, and then you can get into the nitty-gritty.
Do I — or will I soon — have a high-definition TV?
If you do, you’ll want to get an HD DVR, Falcone says, “so you can optimize the TV that you just presumably paid a lot of money for.”
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Now, what kind? Do you go for the one that comes with your TV service, or do you go out and invest in a TiVo receiver? That leads us to the next question.
How do I get my TV service?
* Satellite (non-HDTV): If you already use a service like Dish Network or DirectTV, you can upgrade to a DVR receiver for a fee. (Dish and DirectTV wouldn’t disclose the DVR prices for existing customers, but if you’re joining as a new subscriber, those companies usually throw in a free DVR receiver.)
Monthly service fee: About $6
* Satellite (with HDTV): Dish and DirecTV offer their own high-def receivers. DirecTV has the HR20, and according to Falcone, the maximum you should pay is $300, and that’s if you’re an existing subscriber. “If you’re a new subscriber just getting DirecTV, you can get a huge discount,” he says. Dish has the VIP622 and VIP722 models (the 722 has a larger hard drive), and those run up to about $500.
A tip from Falcone: “Even if you’re an existing customer, tell your company you’re thinking of switching providers, and I’m willing to bet they’d give you a discount.”
Monthly service fee: About $6, on top of whatever you’re paying monthly for HDTV.
* Cable: Whether you’re a new or existing customer, your cable company generally won’t charge you for the standard DVR receiver. It will send someone out to hook it up, and you’ll essentially be renting the receiver from the company.
Monthly service fee: $7-$10
* Over-the-air antenna: Believe it or not, there is a DVR option if you still get your TV through an over-the-air antenna. “Especially with the HD channels, getting them over the air is a lot more attractive,” Falcone says, “because if you live in the right place, you can basically have a DVD or better quality over-the-air signal now, and there’s no breakup and no static like you used to get.”
For those TV viewers, there is TiVo HD, and TiVo is another animal altogether.
Monthly service fee: $7-$13
With all these other DVR options, why bother with TiVo?
The way Falcone explains it, it’s the difference between an iPod and a Brand X MP3 player. You can do a lot more with true TiVo, such as: If you have it on a home network, you can download stuff from the Internet to your TiVo and pull shows off your TiVo and put them onto your iPod or your PSP to watch later.
There’s also a cleaner, better interface that a lot of the cable-company-type DVRs don’t offer, says Falcone, who also notes the on-screen program guide.
Last year, TiVo came out with its first high-def model, the Series 3, but it was really pricey — about $800. This year, TiVo came up with a trimmed-down version, the TiVo HD, for about $300. Falcone says it delivers about 95 percent of the same features; it just has a smaller hard drive. This model works with either cable or over-the-air antennas.
Good to know: If you have cable and you want the TiVo HD receiver, you need to have your cable company come out and install a cable card.
If you don’t need TiVo’s HD receiver, there is the Series 2 DT (dual tuner) box, which runs from around $99 to free, depending on the rebate promotion.
Monthly service fee: $7-$13
What if I’m a TV junkie who travels a lot?
Consider the Slingbox. This device runs around $150. Hook it to the back of your DVR, and later you can access that DVR’s programming from broadband-connected PCs, Macs and some smartphones, just about anywhere.
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