Using DirectTV DVR without the satellite service

[KevinC867]

Years ago when we started using DirectTV, we purchased the DVR rather than rent it. Now we want to turn off the service. Since we own the DVR, is there any way we can use it to record content we stream from the internet? I've tried searching the internet for answers but so far have not found any information on this.

You can continue to watch the programs already recorded on your DirecTV DVR if you disconnect it from the dish before you cancel the service. When you cancel, they will try to deactivate the DVR completely by sending it a message from the satellite.

As for recording streamed content - Your best option is probably the Hauppauge 1212 HD-PVR which someone else mentioned. I have one of these and it works pretty well. (A little finicky to set up at times.) It will need analog inputs (component for HD/SD or composite for SD). You might be able to get a video adapter card for your computer with these outputs, or you could buy a streaming appliance such as a Roku box or a WDTV Live Plus. These are only about $100, so not a big investment.

 

[iaddict]

KevinC867 - So if I bought the WD Live Plus, it is able to not only stream but hold content - if there was anything I could legally have other than movies I've purchased? Does it have the ability to stream other content than I can get with the Sony Blu-ray? Model number is BDP-BX57 for those interested so you can see what it comes loaded with.

 

[balamw]

Model number is BDP-BX57 for those interested so you can see what it comes loaded with.

It supports DLNA, so you really wouldn't gain much with a WDTV Live.

Plus, wirelessly access music, videos and photos stored on compatible DLNA devices (like a PC) over your home network.

EDIT: It supports playing from USB devices too according to the manual and supports a wide range of codecs MPEG-1/-2/-4, AVCHD, DiVX, WMV9. http://www.manualnguide.com/dl/28078/ Definitely no need for a WDTV live.

B

 

[KevinC867]

KevinC867 - So if I bought the WD Live Plus, it is able to not only stream but hold content - if there was anything I could legally have other than movies I've purchased? Does it have the ability to stream other content than I can get with the Sony Blu-ray? Model number is BDP-BX57 for those interested so you can see what it comes loaded with.

The WDTV Live Plus will play media files, but it will not make recordings. (You need something like the Hauppauge 1212 for that.)

I have an original Apple TV, a Roku XDS and a WDTV Live (not the Plus model which plays Netflix, etc.) So, I can only speak with first-hand knowledge about those. The Roku is a great streamer, with an excellent Netflix interface. My understanding is that your Sony BD has the more primitive Netflix interface which only plays the items you place in your "Instant Queue" from your computer. I believe the WDTV Live Plus allows you to "browse" through suggested programs, but won't do an actual text search for something specific.

My WDTV Live is great for playing files in almost any video format from an attached USB drive (or across my local network). This is how I play the recordings made on my 1212 HD-PVR. I read a number of complaints about your Sony not being compatible with many (most?) external hard drives. Roku is just about to release a software update to allow the XDS to play media from an attached USB drive. I'll have to see how well that works.

Your Sony does appear to support the paid Hulu plus service, so that would be a good way to get TV content.

It would be great to find a BD player that does a great job at streaming and playing media files, but I don't think it's here yet. In my experience, the Roku is the best streaming device and the WDTV is the best media player.

 

[iaddict]

KevinC867 - So that's why I get so frustrated when I go to Netflix and it says I have to log in to their website. That's crazy! Not a huge deal but still, if I'm sitting on my couch, I want to sit on my couch, not jump up and run to the other room and then find what I want, choose it and then go back to living room. Oh well...I feel trapped!

 

[balamw]

I read a number of complaints about your Sony not being compatible with many (most?) external hard drives.

Also many issues with DLNA support, so that's not even a real alternative.

A couple of notes I keep forgetting to mention.

Wires: Run wired ethernet to your TV/BluRay/WDTV Live/ATV/HTPC or whatever you end up using. Even if you have to bring in a licensed electrician to make it nice and neat it'll be well worth it. This way your wireless network doesn't become the bottleneck. Keep the wireless for your mobile devices.

QoS: If your router supports quality of service you can prioritize/deprioritize the devices and protocols used for streaming/downloading vs. your computers.

EDIT:

It would be great to find a BD player that does a great job at streaming and playing media files, but I don't think it's here yet.

What about the PS3? At least it has the newer Netflix interface: http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/14/netflix-on-ps3-goes-disc-free-gets-1080i-streaming-and-5-1-surr/

B

 

[iaddict]

Also many issues with DLNA support, so that's not even a real alternative.

Okay, so I am open to finding a better alternative than I currently have with the Sony Blu-Ray. I really just don't know where else to look. I do have a Wii but don't know if that is of any use in this type of scenario or not. Other than my computer and iPad, I don't have any other wireless devices.

 

[Tilpots]

Also many issues with DLNA support, so that's not even a real alternative.

Okay, so I am open to finding a better alternative than I currently have with the Sony Blu-Ray. I really just don't know where else to look. I do have a Wii but don't know if that is of any use in this type of scenario or not. Other than my computer and iPad, I don't have any other wireless devices.

What kind of computer do you have?

 

[iaddict]

What kind of computer do you have?

I have an iMac, 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo,250GB HD, 3 GB Ram running OS10.6.5

 

[Tilpots]

I have an iMac, 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo,250GB HD, 3 GB Ram running OS10.6.5

So couldn't you connect that to your TV and purchase season passes from iTunes? Maybe even get a Netflix subscription to feed your Blu ray player? Look into Plex and it's plugins, also. Plex makes viewing internet video a couch experience.

 

[iaddict]

I wouldn't want to move my iMac to the living room, so connecting it to my tv is not really an option. I wouldn't want to keep the blu-ray player if there's something else out there that would do the same or better job for the same money. I am subscribing to Netflix - they offered me a 31 day free trial. Just don't like the idea that I have to come in and get on my computer, choose what I want to watch and then go back into the living room. I will look into Plex - I have never heard of it.

 

[Tilpots]

Are you opposed to spending $99 for an ATV2? That way, you could stream iTunes content and I believe Netflix from your iMac to your HDTV. I don't know much about your Blu Ray player, so I'm not going to address it.

 

[balamw]

So couldn't you connect that to your TV and purchase season passes from iTunes?

The $99 Apple TV 2.0 is the bridge for this. Buy your season passes on iTunes on your iMac and watch them on your TV via Home Sharing. This gives iaddict the timeshifted downloads that were originally desired as well as a much nicer Netflix interface for movies/older TV streaming.

However it does cost ~$2/episode for the content that can be purchased.

EDIT: you beat me to it.

B

 

[brentsg]

I'd go the ATV or ATV2 route without hesitation.

I've used some of the other devices and though some are nice, none were as family friendly as these two. In fact I'd go as far as to say I needed to be present or the wife wouldn't even try watching something on the others.

Also don't forget that you can rent a lot of shows for less $$ than the season pass price.

 

[balamw]

Also don't forget that you can rent a lot of shows for less $$ than the season pass price.

But that gets you back on the original issue of time-shifting the internet connection. iaddict doesn't want all of their bandwidth consumed by the streaming.

EDIT: iaddict, just out of curiosity what are you paying for your DSL? Would it be acceptable to add a second DSL line if you needed the extra bandwidth?

B

 

[iaddict]

Is the AppleTv a better purchase than the WDTV live plus? From what it looks like with what I know(which is minuscule) they both look like they do about the same things but I am wondering if I would have access to more content than just iTunes on the WDTV live plus. Plus it looks like the WDTV live plus offers 1080p which I thought that the AppleTv did not.

 

[brentsg]

But that gets you back on the original issue of time-shifting the internet connection. iaddict doesn't want all of their bandwidth consumed by the streaming.

EDIT: iaddict, just out of curiosity what are you paying for your DSL? Would it be acceptable to add a second DSL line if you needed the extra bandwidth?

B

Nah, he can rent and it's staged in his iTunes library. It'll sit for what, 30 days.. before expiring? So things can be rented and then just streamed locally with just a bit of forethought.

 

[brentsg]

Is the AppleTv a better purchase than the WDTV live plus? From what it looks like with what I know(which is minuscule) they both look like they do about the same things but I am wondering if I would have access to more content than just iTunes on the WDTV live plus. Plus it looks like the WDTV live plus offers 1080p which I thought that the AppleTv did not.

It all comes down to content. My WDTV went back to the store pretty quickly.

If you're all stocked on content to stream from the WDTV it's ok, though it didn't pass the wife test here.

 

[Tilpots]

Is the AppleTv a better purchase than the WDTV live plus? From what it looks like with what I know(which is minuscule) they both look like they do about the same things but I am wondering if I would have access to more content than just iTunes on the WDTV live plus. Plus it looks like the WDTV live plus offers 1080p which I thought that the AppleTv did not.

They are totally different beasts. Simply put, the AppleTV2 can get you content, the WDTV can store your content. Since you don't have the content, I would highly recommend the AppleTV2. As you have a 1080p playing Blu Ray Player, I would think that's a non-issue for you. Also, downloading 1080p content would really jam up your DSL. Get the AppleTV and try it out. It's only $99 bucks, or about a month or two of your old DirecTV service. You will have to purchase some content. If it's more expensive than DirecTV, you've got a decision to make. If you don't like it, sell here in the Marketplace.

 

[iaddict]

They are totally different beasts. Simply put, the AppleTV2 can get you content, the WDTV can store your content. Since you don't have the content, I would highly recommend the AppleTV2. As you have a 1080p playing Blu Ray Player, I would think that's a non-issue for you. Also, downloading 1080p content would really jam up your DSL. Get the AppleTV and try it out. It's only $99 bucks, or about a month or two of your old DirecTV service. You will have to purchase some content. If it's more expensive than DirecTV, you've got a decision to make. If you don't like it, sell here in the Marketplace.

Wow. I am thinking I sure don't get this. When looking at WDTV it says: "WD TV Live Plus - Stream movies and Internet video to your HDTV.
Play media from your home network and the Internet on your big screen TV. Plus, enjoy access to your Netflix unlimited membership and other premium content. Don't confine your movies, music, and photos to your small computer screen. Experience them as big as life on your TV in Full-HD 1080p with WD TV Live Plus HD media player."

I thought "streaming" was "streaming" so now I feel lost again. Somebody help me find my way......

 

[Tilpots]

Wow. I am thinking I sure don't get this. When looking at WDTV it says: "WD TV Live Plus - Stream movies and Internet video to your HDTV.
Play media from your home network and the Internet on your big screen TV. Plus, enjoy access to your Netflix unlimited membership and other premium content. Don't confine your movies, music, and photos to your small computer screen. Experience them as big as life on your TV in Full-HD 1080p with WD TV Live Plus HD media player."

I thought "streaming" was "streaming" so now I feel lost again. Somebody help me find my way......

You are sooooo over thinking this. If you want to watch Network shows like "The Big Bang Theory," get the AppleTV2.

I really do think you should do a lot more research. We're telling you the answers in great detail, but until you figure things out for yourself, you're not going to get it. Please don't find this condescending, I was in your shoes not too long ago. I read everything I could and still didn't get it for awhile. Then things started to click. I defined more what I was looking to accomplish, and the answers became a lot clearer. Just becasue a box plays media does not mean it will provide you with content. The WDTV might play Netflix movies, but you won't be able to watch the latest ep of Hawaii 5-0 until Netflix releases it months later. With the AppleTV2, you'll have it the next day.

 

[iaddict]

So....if I want to watch next weeks episode of, say, CSI, then I have 3 choices, at least from what I understand: I can go to CBS.com and watch it online, pay for the show through iTunes and then watch it, or wait a month and watch it on Netflix? Is this correct?

 

[Tilpots]

So....if I want to watch next weeks episode of, say, CSI, then I have 3 choices, at least from what I understand: I can go to CBS.com and watch it online, pay for the show through iTunes and then watch it, or wait a month and watch it on Netflix? Is this correct?

All content and studios are different, so picking a show like CSI is varied. Using your example of CSI, you cannot watch full episodes online at CBS.com, you can watch it the next day with iTunes, and Netflix won't carry Season 10 of CSI until the season has completed plus X amount of days/months.

As I said before, define exactly what shows you're looking to get and then figure out how to best get all of them.

 

[balamw]

Nah, he can rent and it's staged in his iTunes library. It'll sit for what, 30 days.. before expiring? So things can be rented and then just streamed locally with just a bit of forethought.

With ATV1 there were many things that were only available to rent from the ATV. Has that changed with ATV2? Is everything you can rent via ATV2 also available via iTunes on the Mac?

EDIT:

Using your example of CSI, you cannot watch full episodes online at CBS.com, you can watch it the next day with iTunes, and Netflix won't carry Season 10 of CSI until the season has completed plus X amount of days/months.

Wild. Hulu has episode 1 of this current season, but the rest of the season is MIA, even on Hulu Plus. Usually the gating item for availability on Netflix is DVD release + 30 days or more.

Looking at what's on hulu Plus, I'm no longer sure that I would even want it available on my ATV.

B

 

[Readytoopenacanofwhoopass]

So basically we both r screwed!? What a crock of ****. I come on here to see if there's ANYTHING I can do with mine also. I guess it will be an expensive paperweight! Hey, if u can find anything to use these for, could ya let me know?

Well, I am not 100% sure of content I can get but here is my situation in short: rural area, no tv signals can be picked up with an OTA antenna. So all content will come from computer via places like Netflix, Hulu or similar. I guess I had thought I could download that content to my computer and then play later via streaming it to a wireless blu-ray player.I can stream directly to the blu-ray however if I need to use computer at same time I am thinking it could cause problems with Too much bandwidth demand . That's why I thought if there was a way to download the content to a hard drive then I wouldn't be facing demands on my Internet connection.