Why can I not buy a QAM DVR?

----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

I will attach an excerpt from Rodolfo in a discussion about the only
HD QAM DVRs I am aware of for consumer purchase. This posting was
originally on 8/18/2005.

------------------------

Additionally, on page 94 you will find the full detail of the Sony
cable boxes (as follows):

In 2004, Sony announced the following 2004/5 models:

HD QAM Cable STBs with DVR
On Sony's press release of February 04, the company announced the
future introduction (by fall 04)
of two new Cable HD-STBs with DVR capabilities, featuring
ATSC/NTSC/QAM CableCARD tuners
implementing Sony Passage integrated decryption technology. The boxes
were said to be suited with
HDMI/HDCP, Gemstar integrated EPG, component output, flexible AR
settings, DD 5.1 w/optical audio
out, USB data ports, and memory stick for JPEG and MPEG1, as follows:

DHG-HDD100 $700, TTM fall 04, 120GB HDD, 120 hours SD, 12 hours HD
DHG-HDD200 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 200 hours SD, 25 hours HD

However, later, in August 04, Sony issued a different press release
announcing the future
introduction of other models, as follows:

DHG-HDD250 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 20 hours of HD recording
DHG-HDD500 $1000, TTM fall 04, 500GB HDD (two 250GB HDDs), 60 hours of HD

At CES 2005, Sony has confirmed that they decided to replace the two
original models (100 and 200)
even before they were expected to appear in fall 04.

It is important to note that these HD-STBs have a connectivity
limitation: they lack IEEE1394
Firewire

----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

The Sony units may still be in some stores. They have officially been
discontinued with no replacements slated.

Cheers,
Joe Hart

-----Original Message-----
From: HDTV Magazine On Behalf Of
Jeff Odell
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 11:13 AM
To: HDTV Magazine
Subject: Re: Why can I not buy a QAM DVR?

----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

I will attach an excerpt from Rodolfo in a discussion about the only
HD QAM DVRs I am aware of for consumer purchase. This posting was
originally on 8/18/2005.

------------------------

Additionally, on page 94 you will find the full detail of the Sony
cable boxes (as follows):

In 2004, Sony announced the following 2004/5 models:

HD QAM Cable STBs with DVR
On Sony's press release of February 04, the company announced the
future introduction (by fall 04)
of two new Cable HD-STBs with DVR capabilities, featuring
ATSC/NTSC/QAM CableCARD tuners
implementing Sony Passage integrated decryption technology. The boxes
were said to be suited with
HDMI/HDCP, Gemstar integrated EPG, component output, flexible AR
settings, DD 5.1 w/optical audio
out, USB data ports, and memory stick for JPEG and MPEG1, as follows:

DHG-HDD100 $700, TTM fall 04, 120GB HDD, 120 hours SD, 12 hours HD
DHG-HDD200 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 200 hours SD, 25 hours HD

However, later, in August 04, Sony issued a different press release
announcing the future
introduction of other models, as follows:

DHG-HDD250 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 20 hours of HD recording
DHG-HDD500 $1000, TTM fall 04, 500GB HDD (two 250GB HDDs), 60 hours of HD

At CES 2005, Sony has confirmed that they decided to replace the two
original models (100 and 200)
even before they were expected to appear in fall 04.

It is important to note that these HD-STBs have a connectivity
limitation: they lack IEEE1394
Firewire T input/outputs. This means that a tuned/stored HD content
would not be able to be output
to a D-VHS recorder for HD tape archival, nor it could be part of
digital networking of compressed
HD video with other devices or displays.

Additionally, such limitation does not comply with a specification
requiring 1394 digital
connectivity on Cable HD-STBs established in the plug-and-play
agreement made by the Cable and
Consumer Electronics industry, and approved by the FCC. If you are
interested in more details, this
subject was covered on my article "HDTV Integrated Tuners and You"
that appeared on the second issue
of the HDTVetc magazine.


-----------------------------

If you can wait a several more months, TiVo will be releasing their
Series 3 HD DVR with 2 CableCard (QAM) tuners plus 2 ATSC tuners. The
release date, so far, is "the second half od 2006".

Good luck,
Jeff

On 3/31/06, Alan Crawley <[email protected]> wrote:
> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
>
> I use a D* HD-Tivo DVR. And am hooked on PVR/DVR functionality.
>
> I want to own my own HD DVR for Cable HD content. I don't want to "rent"
the
> box from Comcast.
>
> How do I buy a HD DVR with cable QAM tuners in it?
>
> Alan
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
>
> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same
day) send an email to:
> [email protected]
>

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----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

Then the best bet for a HD cable DVR will be waiting for the S3 TiVo
to be released. That is what I am personally doing. To get my HD
fix, I am currently leasing a DVR from my cable company but will drop
it the day the S3 is available.

Jeff

On 3/31/06, Joe Hart <[email protected]> wrote:
> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
> The Sony units may still be in some stores. They have officially been
> discontinued with no replacements slated.
>
> Cheers,
> Joe Hart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HDTV Magazine On Behalf Of
> Jeff Odell
> Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 11:13 AM
> To: HDTV Magazine
> Subject: Re: Why can I not buy a QAM DVR?
>
> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
> I will attach an excerpt from Rodolfo in a discussion about the only
> HD QAM DVRs I am aware of for consumer purchase. This posting was
> originally on 8/18/2005.
>
> ------------------------
>
> Additionally, on page 94 you will find the full detail of the Sony
> cable boxes (as follows):
>
> In 2004, Sony announced the following 2004/5 models:
>
> HD QAM Cable STBs with DVR
> On Sony's press release of February 04, the company announced the
> future introduction (by fall 04)
> of two new Cable HD-STBs with DVR capabilities, featuring
> ATSC/NTSC/QAM CableCARD tuners
> implementing Sony Passage integrated decryption technology. The boxes
> were said to be suited with
> HDMI/HDCP, Gemstar integrated EPG, component output, flexible AR
> settings, DD 5.1 w/optical audio
> out, USB data ports, and memory stick for JPEG and MPEG1, as follows:
>
> DHG-HDD100 $700, TTM fall 04, 120GB HDD, 120 hours SD, 12 hours HD
> DHG-HDD200 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 200 hours SD, 25 hours HD
>
> However, later, in August 04, Sony issued a different press release
> announcing the future
> introduction of other models, as follows:
>
> DHG-HDD250 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 20 hours of HD recording
> DHG-HDD500 $1000, TTM fall 04, 500GB HDD (two 250GB HDDs), 60 hours of HD
>
> At CES 2005, Sony has confirmed that they decided to replace the two
> original models (100 and 200)
> even before they were expected to appear in fall 04.
>
> It is important to note that these HD-STBs have a connectivity
> limitation: they lack IEEE1394
> Firewire T input/outputs. This means that a tuned/stored HD content
> would not be able to be output
> to a D-VHS recorder for HD tape archival, nor it could be part of
> digital networking of compressed
> HD video with other devices or displays.
>
> Additionally, such limitation does not comply with a specification
> requiring 1394 digital
> connectivity on Cable HD-STBs established in the plug-and-play
> agreement made by the Cable and
> Consumer Electronics industry, and approved by the FCC. If you are
> interested in more details, this
> subject was covered on my article "HDTV Integrated Tuners and You"
> that appeared on the second issue
> of the HDTVetc magazine.
>
>
> -----------------------------
>
> If you can wait a several more months, TiVo will be releasing their
> Series 3 HD DVR with 2 CableCard (QAM) tuners plus 2 ATSC tuners. The
> release date, so far, is "the second half od 2006".
>
> Good luck,
> Jeff
>
> On 3/31/06, Alan Crawley <[email protected]> wrote:
> > ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
> >
> >
> > I use a D* HD-Tivo DVR. And am hooked on PVR/DVR functionality.
> >
> > I want to own my own HD DVR for Cable HD content. I don't want to "rent"
> the
> > box from Comcast.
> >
> > How do I buy a HD DVR with cable QAM tuners in it?
> >
> > Alan
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
> >
> > To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same
> day) send an email to:
> > [email protected]
> >
>
> To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
>
> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same
> day) send an email to:
> [email protected]
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
>
> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same day) send an email to:
> [email protected]
>

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----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

Alan,

Sony has a couple of them, please consult the STB section on the 2004 and 2005 reports, free.

They were not cheap when originally released, released without IEEE1394 for external D-HVS archiving
(if you also need such feature).

Personally, I have been witnessing the history of STBs since 1998, and not even today I find the
maturity of STBs of any kind stable enough "to invest top dollars into it if you have the option of
leasing for a few dollars per month".

Make your own math to calculate a break point you would consider fair comparing accumulated leasing
expenditure vs. purchase price, a purchase with no upgrade paths other than some occasional firmware
downloads to fix problems, no upgrade path is as cheap and as convenient as calling the service
provider for a new box when it fails or when you want a better box, nothing is perfect on that
upgrade path either though.

When the technology of STBs becomes more stable the purchasing "of expensive boxes" could be more
beneficial. Boxes that are dirt cheap are not worth leasing of course.

Best Regards,

Rodolfo La Maestra

-----Original Message-----
From: HDTV Magazine On Behalf Of
Alan Crawley
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 10:59 AM
To: HDTV Magazine
Subject: Why can I not buy a QAM DVR?


----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----


I use a D* HD-Tivo DVR. And am hooked on PVR/DVR functionality.

I want to own my own HD DVR for Cable HD content. I don't want to "rent" the
box from Comcast.

How do I buy a HD DVR with cable QAM tuners in it?

Alan



To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]

To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same day) send an email to:
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----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

Thanks Jeff.

You are great help on finding information that was already provided so quickly.

Those were the boxes I had in mind. Maybe eBay could still have them if not in the stores anymore.

Best Regards,

Rodolfo La Maestra

-----Original Message-----
From: HDTV Magazine On Behalf Of
Jeff Odell
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 11:13 AM
To: HDTV Magazine
Subject: Re: Why can I not buy a QAM DVR?


----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

I will attach an excerpt from Rodolfo in a discussion about the only
HD QAM DVRs I am aware of for consumer purchase. This posting was
originally on 8/18/2005.

------------------------

Additionally, on page 94 you will find the full detail of the Sony
cable boxes (as follows):

In 2004, Sony announced the following 2004/5 models:

HD QAM Cable STBs with DVR
On Sony's press release of February 04, the company announced the
future introduction (by fall 04)
of two new Cable HD-STBs with DVR capabilities, featuring
ATSC/NTSC/QAM CableCARD tuners
implementing Sony Passage integrated decryption technology. The boxes
were said to be suited with
HDMI/HDCP, Gemstar integrated EPG, component output, flexible AR
settings, DD 5.1 w/optical audio
out, USB data ports, and memory stick for JPEG and MPEG1, as follows:

DHG-HDD100 $700, TTM fall 04, 120GB HDD, 120 hours SD, 12 hours HD
DHG-HDD200 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 200 hours SD, 25 hours HD

However, later, in August 04, Sony issued a different press release
announcing the future
introduction of other models, as follows:

DHG-HDD250 $800, TTM fall 04, 250GB HDD, 20 hours of HD recording
DHG-HDD500 $1000, TTM fall 04, 500GB HDD (two 250GB HDDs), 60 hours of HD

At CES 2005, Sony has confirmed that they decided to replace the two
original models (100 and 200)
even before they were expected to appear in fall 04.

It is important to note that these HD-STBs have a connectivity
limitation: they lack IEEE1394
Firewire

----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

If you are comfortable with HTPCs there are a number of PCI or USB
HDTV QAM decoder devices out there. None of these support cable card
however. I'm building a "myth box" (http://www.mythtv.org) with a
couple of DiVCO Fusion Gold 5 PCI cards now. If you aren't
comfortable with Linux, there is a free but closed source Windows PVR
project, GBPVR (http://gbpvr.com).

-Cory


On Mar 31, 2006, at 9:59 AM, Alan Crawley wrote:

> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
>
> I use a D* HD-Tivo DVR. And am hooked on PVR/DVR functionality.
>
> I want to own my own HD DVR for Cable HD content. I don't want to
> "rent" the
> box from Comcast.
>
> How do I buy a HD DVR with cable QAM tuners in it?
>
> Alan
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
>
> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted
> that same day) send an email to:
> [email protected]
>


To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]

To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same day) send an email to:
[email protected]

----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----

Do a Google search for SONY DHG-HDD250 and DHG-HDD500.
There are listings on Ebay also.

Jim


----- Original Message -----
From: "Cory Spitz" <[email protected]>
To: "HDTV Magazine" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: Why can I not buy a QAM DVR?


> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>
> If you are comfortable with HTPCs there are a number of PCI or USB HDTV
> QAM decoder devices out there. None of these support cable card however.
> I'm building a "myth box" (http://www.mythtv.org) with a couple of DiVCO
> Fusion Gold 5 PCI cards now. If you aren't comfortable with Linux, there
> is a free but closed source Windows PVR project, GBPVR
> (http://gbpvr.com).
>
> -Cory
>
>
> On Mar 31, 2006, at 9:59 AM, Alan Crawley wrote:
>
>> ----- HDTV Magazine Tips List -----
>>
>>
>> I use a D* HD-Tivo DVR. And am hooked on PVR/DVR functionality.
>>
>> I want to own my own HD DVR for Cable HD content. I don't want to "rent"
>> the
>> box from Comcast.
>>
>> How do I buy a HD DVR with cable QAM tuners in it?
>>
>> Alan
>>
>>
>>
>> To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
>>
>> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that
>> same day) send an email to:
>> [email protected]
>>
>
>
> To unsubscribe please click: [email protected]
>
> To receive the digest mode (one email a day made from all posted that same
> day) send an email to:
> [email protected]


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