Sony's new HD Digital Video Recorders
Sony has released two HD Digital Video Recorders which were announced last fall but this is the first time I've seen them for sale in the US. They look like a couple respectable units, sporting a 500Gb hard drive (at least 60hrs of HD content) for $999 or a 250Gb drive (at least 30hrs) for $799. They feature CableCARD slots so hopefully you could use them with a HDTV feed from someone like Comcast. There's a nice guide to HD recorders on Sony's site as well, hopefully they add a cable system support chart soon.
Personally, I'm counting the days until TiVo releases their standalone HD TiVo with CableCARD support, so that I can get some decent HD broadcasts with a nice easy to use UI.
I was holding out for a cable card TiVo too but gave up. Purchased the Sony DVR. While the user interface is not up to TiVo standards, the quality of the HD shows is outstanding. There is no loss in quality on the saved HD shows. I give it 8 out of 10 (-2 for not having TiVo's elegant user interface and remote).
Posted by: John Vogel | July 26, 2005 at 09:05 AM
Any buzz about that CableCard, HD TiVo? i.e. cost, eta, etc? Just curious. I'm prepping my left hand for removal to hand over when (if ever) it's released.
Posted by: Jason Coleman | July 26, 2005 at 09:35 AM
Note to DirecTV and Dish Network: I do not want to switch to cable. I hate cable. I hate Comcast. But satellite is way behind in the HD game, and if products like this can act as a cable box (CableCard), but not as a satellite receiver, Satan - I mean Comcast - becomes harder to not do business with.
Posted by: Cap'n Ken | July 26, 2005 at 10:53 AM
John, what HD cable system does the Sony box work with for you?
Posted by: Matt Haughey | July 26, 2005 at 12:17 PM
Matt - I'm using it with Comcast Limited Basic ($8/mo). I get the over the air channels in HD (when the shows are in HD) plus Discovery HD all via Comcast (no antennna). My experience with DVRs (first ReplayTV, then TiVo, now the Sony) is that by surfing "across time" I don't need to surf across channels so limited basic works for me. I do not have a cable card installed as Comcast transmits the locals "in the clear".
Posted by: John Vogel | July 26, 2005 at 02:08 PM
John,
Can you tell me how you are able to get Discovery HD if you don't have a Cable Card? I've found that Limited Basic is enough for me and don't want to upgrade to digital cable just to be able to rent the DVR from Comcast. The Sony would be a great option. Does it have the limited guide or is there an easy way to do manual recording? I currently have a Panasonic DMR-80 and love it. I've looked at newer models and none of them have an easy way of doing manual recordings (where you can name the recordings before they run).
Also, do you know if it's standard to get Discovery HD with only Limited Basic? I don't think I get that channel. :-/
Posted by: DavidW | July 27, 2005 at 07:44 AM
DavidW- It's possible that I am not supposed to get Discovery HD with limited basic (though limited basic does include regular discovery channel, at least here in Oregon). But they send it down the pipe unencrypted (along with the digital music). The Sony includes guide data from TV Guide, you can see it at www.tvgos.com. It is broadcasted each night and the Sony updates itself. For details on manual recording check the user guide for the sonys at http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/documents/specifications/DHGHDD250_manual.pdf
Posted by: John Vogel | July 27, 2005 at 08:16 AM
John, Thanks for the info. I'll have to give the Sony a closer look. Paired with an inexpensive DVD recorder, it would do everything I need.
BTW, I checked last night. No Discovery HD for me. I do get the regular Discovery channel though. I'm going to call and ask about that one!
Posted by: DavidW | July 28, 2005 at 08:03 AM
I believe all cable companies are required to offer cable card support by law, aren't they? Or is this a state by state thing?
This box should work on any cable network.
Posted by: Brad | August 01, 2005 at 09:26 AM
Hmm at first glance I thought this was a terrific product. But then I read some of the small print:
• Reception
• Digital over-the-air
• Analog over-the-air
• Analog cable
So this unit does NOT record a digital HD signal from the Cable company.
Also I see no mention of dual tuners so you cannot record one program while viewing another.
So in my books this product still falls short, sadly.
Posted by: Ian | August 18, 2005 at 10:44 AM
I can confirm that this product DOES record HD signals from the Cable company. Signals that are not encrypted are recorded without a cable card. You'll need a cable card for encryped digital HD signals from your cable company.
Posted by: John Vogel | August 24, 2005 at 03:23 PM
I Purchased a Sony DVR HDD 500, can't seem to get the TV Guide to download the correct listings. Have Coccast cable, and they tell me I can't received it because I did not rent their DVR service...I don't believe it. any sugesstions
Posted by: R Bell | March 15, 2006 at 01:39 PM
I have 2 sony dvr's and when I brought them home they worked great. We had a power outage and I lost my TV Guide on the dvr's. They haven't worked since. I sent one of my units to Sony and they said everything was working just fine. To this day the TV guide on my dvr's will not download the guide. Comcast has no clue. What can I do?
Posted by: Charles Holland | September 24, 2006 at 02:26 PM
Lost my TV Guide on our 2 Sony's (2 different residences). Hasn't come back since.
Posted by: Eric | October 08, 2006 at 08:05 PM
I also have a SONY DVRs. The TV guide worked fine for about a year. In the last month, it seems to sporadically download. Sometimes, the listing are there but only for 1-2 days forward; then at other times no listings for any day. Even when there are listing, not all stations and time have a listing. The DVR is turned off overnight. I have Comcast. Any suggestions?
Posted by: James Sterchele | October 15, 2006 at 10:23 AM
I have a SONY DVR 715. Everything is fine with TVGOS except the timing for the Discovery Channel. All the programs are 3 hours off. This one channel seems to list EST but I live in Vancouver. We have PST. How do I get in touch with TVGOS to correct this? Do they have an email address?
Posted by: Bryan Belfont | October 30, 2006 at 05:41 PM
Hello All,
If someone can please provide expert opinion:
Just wondering if its possible to receive digital channels over comcast basic service when connected to a comcast Motorola digital box (model DCT2224).
In other words if you connect digital box on a comcast basic service will it decodes the channels automatically or not, and or is there a workaround to test. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Frank
Posted by: Frank Kullman | November 13, 2006 at 02:56 PM
We have a Sony DVD Recorder and have never been able to download the TV Guide feature - originally we had Adelphia Cable but now have Comcast. Still can't get the TV Guide feature to work. Can anyone tell me how to fix this?
Posted by: Renee | February 01, 2007 at 01:33 PM
I have a Sony RDR-HX900 PVR which, up until 3 weeks ago worked great.
I am with Cogeco Cable in Burlington Ontario Canada.
The TV Guide feature will not download, these listings are missing, and the PVR will not work without the TV Guide listings. I have been told by Scott at Cogeco (upper level manager), wrongfully so, that the TV Guide is missing because of the analogue/digital conversion (This has not taken place in Canada yet). I understand that this TV Guide signal is "piggybacked" on to the regular cable signal by several US broadcasters. Cogeco is no help. I called Sony, and they are no help either. I was informed that MACROVISION supplies this TV Guide to cable companies. Can someone offer a fix or some help to get this TV Guide listings back. Google "Sony RDR-HX900" and you will see the TV Guide I am talking about. If I sound frustrated, it is because I am due to the inaccurate information being told to me by Cogeco. Thanks.
Posted by: Rick | February 07, 2009 at 02:34 PM