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ReplayTV vs TiVo on Captioning

James Beary is a deaf ReplayTV owner and recently shared his frustrations and offered a positive review of TiVo in regards to closed captioning, based on feedback from deaf TiVo owners. [thanks Joe]

by Matt Haughey July 17, 2003 in News

Comments

The issue seems to be that ReplayTV uses a software decoder, pre-decodes the captions from Line 21, and stores them somewhere else in the MPEG stream. Whereas TiVo appears to *digitize* the entire vertical blanking interval and regenerate it upon playback, the way a digital set-top box or NTSC DVD player does.

This is merely informed speculation on my part and could be incorrect any number of ways. Until we get TiVos in Canada, I don't really care!

Posted by: Joe Clark at Jul 18, 2003 12:56:34 PM

Well both Tivo and Replay support CC but it is a pass-thru from input source: check this info at http://www.egotron.com/ptv/ptvmisc.htm

Obviously those dvr does not have software or hardward based cc decoder. just like vcr so it is always the TV to decode the signal. I believe it has something to do with quality of signal being recorded into dvr hard drive.

Posted by: Boult at Dec 12, 2003 7:09:59 AM

I had a Replay TV unit for a month. It met every expectation except for captioning - about 80% of captioning was correct, the other 20% gibberish. Very frustrating! The store had no answer. A phone conversation with the Replay tech support indicated that "Replay TV does not support captioning."
I wanted to keep it, but I need captioning for some shows, so the unit went back to the store. I may try TIVO at some time in the future, given positive comments re captioning on their unit.
RHR

Posted by: R. H. Rosenberg at Jan 5, 2004 8:34:09 PM

The problem on the ReplayTV's and captioning has to do with the microcode on the encoder, it's busted. They're working on it.

The support rep is on crack.

Posted by: Lee Thompson at Mar 9, 2004 9:59:03 PM

I believe TiVo decodes the CC as part of the encoding process, then recreates it during playback. This must be true because TiVo plays back CC while fast forwarding (at the slowest FF speed).

Posted by: Eric Ball at Dec 8, 2005 11:49:12 AM

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