Rating : Best Price :$149.99 Availability : N/A

ReplayTV RTV5504 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Specifications

You’ve heard the hype, but just how well does ReplayTV actually work? We tried the RTV5504 ourselves just to find out, and its performance was better than we’d imagined. It’s great to be able to pause and replay live television. Even better: apart from gotta-watch-it news and sports, “live TV” is something ReplayTV users no longer have to think about. The RTV5504 puts all that’s good in the TV universe at your beck and call, recording and storing content from TV, satellite, antenna, or external sources like DTV receivers and camcorders on its spacious, 40 GB hard drive. While watching either live or recorded TV you can freeze an image, advance frame-by-frame, watch in slow motion, or view at 2x to 20x normal speed.

What’s more, the RTV5504 is home-network-capable, letting you hook it up with additional 5500 Series recorders for multi-room convenience and/or link it to your PC for viewing custom slide shows of your digital photos. Not a cable or satellite user? Not to worry–there’s an RF antenna input on the rear panel, just like on your TV. Just understand that the quality of your recordings can never surpass the quality of your reception. If you’re using a satellite receiver, a supplied IR blaster will correctly configure the receiver to feed the ReplayTV recorder your desired programs at the correct times.

Some basics: 40 GB holds 14 to 40 hours of programming, depending on the quality setting you select (standard, medium, or high). Use of the unit requires ReplayTV service, to which you can subscribe on a monthly basis (.95) or pay up front for lifetime access (9.99). The ReplayTV recorder requires regular scheduling updates via either standard analog phone line (RJ-11 cable provided) or broadband cable modem (router or access point and/or Ethernet cable not included).

But once it’s set up, using it and appreciating it couldn’t be any easier. Before you record anything, ReplayTV delivers real-time, onscreen scheduling information for everything in your area, making paper guides unnecessary and taking all the guesswork out of channel surfing. The channel guide shows program names, program durations, and even offers short descriptions or summaries for each program.

ReplayTV’s best features all stem from its ability to capture shows you’re interested in, either one by one, categorically (all shows of a given title or in a given time slot), or by theme (baseball, music videos, romantic comedies, action movies, documentaries, dance, you name it). You can also search by actor, director, title, or description, and set the unit to capture anything that fits your queries. ReplayZones let you browse all scheduling for the next two weeks by seven primary categories and countless subcats within each category, a terrific way to discover programs you’d never think to look for.

You can set recordings to start early or end late or skip broadcasts on any day of the week, one of many options for settling the inevitable recording conflicts. If you walk into a live broadcast you decide you want to keep, you can schedule on the fly to save the remainder of that program.

The recorder shines most brightly in active use: navigating, viewing, and managing (resume playback/keep/delete) recorded programming. The QuickSkip button is indispensable, bumping you a commercial-appropriate 30 seconds forward with each press. If you first enter a number, such as 15, QuickSkip will take you forward an equivalent number of minutes, making it easy to hunt for a specific section of a program.

Another essential feature is the ability to watch a recorded program while another recording is in progress. And, by turning the unit off (the hard drive is always on, even if the power is ostensibly off), you can watch a live program on one channel via your TV tuner while ReplayTV records another program on a different channel.

At a minimum, all quality settings are what we would call “watchable.” In the “high” setting, picture and sound quality are both excellent, if still slightly inferior to the raw signal. (If your TV is HD-ready, using the unit’s progressive-scan video outputs should result in an improvement, however.) Using the medium and standard settings greatly expands the recorder’s storage capacity, which–trust us–you’ll probably find yourself wanting a lot sooner than you think. Let’s face it: a dip in audio/video quality is a small price to pay for the programming discoveries and incredible conveniences afforded by this device. –Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Lets you easily prioritize and manage the TV you want to watch
• Intuitive operation
• Can play one recorded program while capturing another
• Well-designed remote control
• Myriad options for choosing and discovering programs to record
• Extensive options for navigating recorded content quickly and easily
• Makes it easy to skip commercials
• Switches quickly between menus and programming

Cons:

• Best-quality image (live or recorded) is slightly inferior to the source signal
• May require use of a video amplifier when feeding a cable signal directly to the unit

What’s in the Box One ReplayTV RTV5504 PVR, a remote control, remote batteries, a user’s manual, an RF coaxial video cable, a composite-video/stereo analog audio interconnect, an IR blaster cable, a 9-to-15-pin adapter, an RJH-to-9-pin adapter, and an RJ-11 phone cable.

ReplayTV RTV5504 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overviews

RTV-5504, REPLAYTV 40-HOUR DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER

[if One of my ReplayTV boxes is a 4500 model purchased in 2002. It has NEVER needed repair. On the RARE occasion (less than a Windows-based computer) it hangs, just reboot it by pushing and holding the power button until it reboots itself - instructions are easily found in the manual). In the beginning when I had questions and hadn't read the manual, I found their Tech Support people to be fast, exceptionally helpful, knowledgable, and friendly. The machine is either recording or being watched or both nearly 24/7 and is still going strong after all this time. Love, love, love it! How Tivo users live without commerical advance, commercial skip, or 30-second skip is unfathomable!]

Customer Review

One of my ReplayTV boxes is a 4500 model purchased in 2002. It has NEVER needed repair. On the RARE occasion (less than a Windows-based computer) it hangs, just reboot it by pushing and holding the power button until it reboots itself – instructions are easily found in the manual). In the beginning when I had questions and hadn’t read the manual, I found their Tech Support people to be fast, exceptionally helpful, knowledgable, and friendly. The machine is either recording or being watched or both nearly 24/7 and is still going strong after all this time. Love, love, love it! How Tivo users live without commerical advance, commercial skip, or 30-second skip is unfathomable!

Definately used but still works – Gayle Ostic – Morganville, NJ United States
I purchased this DVR because I have 2 boxes already and one broke. I love the service and software that it uses. They do not manufacture the units any more so I purchased a used one. It was sent pretty quickly (10 days) and I was taken back by the condition. It was very scratched and dirty. It was also missing the raster blaster cord which is needed to change channels on any cable box. BUT it works so I guess thats all that matters so far. The seller did respond to all my emails regarding questions and stating the condition. He said he wrote it was scratched in his description but that wasn’t posted on the amazon item.

Terrible Service Ruins Everything – M. Mitton –
When my ReplayTV worked, it was great. (Though now having tried others, it was worse–except for those few features, like commercial skip, that they took out anyway.) But every single time I had to get support from them, it was an awful experience.

Most recently, I just called for my third time (at least a 20 minute wait each time) to try and cancel my service. You can’t cancel on-line–it’s the only thing you can’t cancel on line. Somehow, that charge never stopped coming. 4 months and counting. This time around, assuming they do actually cancel the service, they refused to even consider refunding the other three months.

Whenever there were problems with the unit, their technical support was incompetent. The only advantage they has was they knew the service codes for the remote, but once I found them on-line, their support was useless. I’m a competent computer person, not a geek, but I was better than they were.

On two occasions, my service stopped, with them claiming that they couldn’t charge my card. (It was a “glitch” in their system each time) I went a week without being able to use it, and they didn’t credit my account. Then, when I got my new ATM card, I changed it with them. On-line, the change was reflected, but they kept charging the old. Eventually the old one expired, and they didn’t even have the patience to let me explain what was wrong; they kept insisting they had made the change. That was two weeks without the use of my unit, no refund for time lost.

I’m using Comcast’s DVR now, and it’s almost as good, and–I can’t believe I’m saying this–their customer service is far superior. Last time I called for help, the woman asked if she could find some specials for me, and 5 minutes later, she had lowered my cable/Internet bill by . And later this year, Comcast is switching to TiVo software.

In Sum: even if you think the ReplayTV is a bit better (debatable), you better pray you never have to call them, because then it just won’t be worth it.

NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS – Peterc Wu –
im not going to write a long review on this. i’ve had mine for about 6 month now and it has broken down 3 times!! everything was coverd under warrenty but each time i have to ship it back,it takes about a month to get back. imagin having to re-enter your shows…three times..not having a dvr for a month 3 times. i had a tivo before…now i kick my self for not buying another one when they still had the life time subscriptions.

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ReplayTV RTV5080 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder Specifications

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV’s 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5080 stores 80 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television–all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5080 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay .95 per month or a one-time product service activation fee of 9.

ReplayTV RTV5080 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overviews

With ReplayTV, there’s always something good on, and you don’t ever need to be bothered by commercial interruptions again! Topping the charts of user-friendly features, Commercial Advance lets you choose to skip commercial breaks all together when you playback recorded shows. No fast-forward, no remote control interaction at all. Just a split-second “blip” and you’re right back into the action. Not bad for starters… and how about all those advanced features for the connected home, like Internet Video Sharing and Room-to-Room Video Streaming? It’s possible, and a whole lot easier than you think.The ReplayTV provides tape-free recording – easy one-touch recording with convenient on-screen channel guide, including a full 14 days of programming information; Live TV control – pause, rewind, instant replay, slow motion or frame-advance; commercial advance – choose to playback recorded shows with or without commercials; highest recording capacity; progressive scan that supports high-quality picture playback on digital TVs as well as home networking for room-to-room video streaming, broadband Internet, wireless USB network connectivity and digital photo capabilities.

[if I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to "not" fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand.]

Customer Review

I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to “not” fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand.

Still the BEST!! – Larry S. Holtzen – Seal Beach, CA USA
We’ve been using this unit for 3 years now and it is still the best. IMO many ways superior to Tivo. The commercial advance is a Godsend! And it works! The ethernet and digital streaming capabilities are superior to anything Tivo has to offer. Of course it is now owned and supported by the Marantz people and continues to work great. Glad I got the lifetime service agreement! It’s still a great choice, if you can find one . . .

Great for the first 18-months…then it died – H. Dorn – Newton, MA
I loved the ReplayTV 5160 during it’s short life. It has great features, including commercial skip and networking. Maybe I overused it, because now it is a dying old beast. It was new just 18 months ago, but now it freezes every night. It has to be unplugged for a few hours and then it works again when it is plugged in. Too bad I bought the “lifetime” subscription to their Guide service!

Best Thing to Ever happen to my TV life… – S. Osborn –
The 5000 series is surely the best DVR ever released. The 5040, 5060, and 5080 all have AUTOMATIC COMMERCIAL SKIP and you can DOWNLOAD and share programs over the internet. Many 3rd party plug-ins allow you to use a personal computer to save, back-up and schedule recordings. The never versions of the Replay box do not have these features as the original company was facing legal problems and sold to the less innovative DMG holdings.
Recap: Auto Skip commercials, and Downloading shows over the net are what makes this DVR better than any others.

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ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Specifications

ReplayTV’s 3030 server provides up to 30 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a ReplayZones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record. In fact, it’s almost too easy. Once we grew accustomed to recording shows in advance, we found ourselves watching three times as much TV as we had in the past.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of TV servers, ReplayTV records programs digitally and stores the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, if you want to record your favorite show while you’re away from home, you can store it on the 3030’s hard drive and watch it later. Unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn’t require tapes or other media to store programming.

It’s important to point out that the actual amount of storage space depends on the video-recording quality that you select. A higher quality picture will take up more storage space than a lower quality recording. At the lowest setting, the picture quality is still better than standard VHS. At the middle setting, the picture quality is better than an S-VHS VCR, but storage capacity decreases by approximately 40 percent. The highest-quality setting approaches 500 lines of resolution (depending on the source) but further reduces storage capacity. We recommend using the highest setting for movies and the middle level for sporting events, sitcoms, and other programs, then erasing the content immediately after viewing it. Before doing so, however, you may want to consider taping it with a VCR for your VHS library.

One of the coolest features on the 3030 server is the ability to pause a live broadcast and resume watching it if you’re interrupted for any number of reasons. When you utilize this feature, ReplayTV acts as a time buffer by storing the show in memory so you can pick up the program from where you left off. A “Return to Live” button on the remote allows you to skip forward to real time, which is great if you’re watching a sporting event and you wish to catch up to the live action.

There’s also an “Instant Replay” button on the remote that allows you to rewatch portions of a show or sporting event in 7-second increments, so you’re not limited to rewatching only a brief segment.

ReplayTV also allows you to personalize programming for a specific theme. For example, you can set ReplayTV to monitor TV listings for any program featuring a specific actor. You can also refine theme-based searches of programming. For instance, if you wish to record Friends, you can limit your search to title only, so you won’t waste time pulling up every movie and talk show that has the word “friends” in the description.

ReplayTV’s onscreen guide appears with a blue background and white characters that are very readable. Since you’ll be using the guide a lot to search for programs and to preview descriptions, it’s important that you can read the text on a standard-size TV from your sofa. ReplayTV’s onscreen guide gets an A+ in this regard.

We loved ReplayTV’s QuickSkip feature, which allows you to instantly jump ahead 30 seconds, so you can skip through TV commercials on prerecorded programs. We also like the ReplayZones, which make it very easy to find programs that suit your tastes by searching according to genre. ReplayTV delineates programming into a wide variety of categories, from action and romance movies to cooking and home-improvement shows–and everything in between. ReplayTV also offers a Search Zone that allows you to input words such as “love” or “vacation” using the remote control and an onscreen keypad.

If you wish to save a particular prerecorded show, you can record it on to a VCR using the back-panel outputs. We were impressed by ReplayTV’s inclusion of two sets of audio-video inputs and outputs, as well an S-video input and output. This enables users to hook up a DSS or other direct-broadcast satellite receiver to the 3030, along with a VCR as an output device.

You can watch one program while recording another by using a cable TV splitter. Simply connect the cable from the wall to the splitter’s input line, then connect a spare coaxial cable from the splitter’s output line to the 3030, and another from the splitter to the TV. To watch a show while recording another, use the TV button on the Replay remote to switch sources (assuming you’ve input your TV brand’s infrared code into Replay’s universal remote control).

One neat feature we really like is the ability to place the 3030 into “quiet mode” simply by turning off the unit. This keeps the server from automatically recording shows to the hard drive, which conserves power and keeps the hard disc from spinning, thereby keeping the unit cool and noise free. If you happen to be recording a show when you turn the 3030 off, it will continue to record, then shut down once the show is finished and stored in the hard drive.

Connecting the 3030 to our home theater system took about 15 minutes. Replay thoughtfully provides a poster-size chart to guide users through setup without opening the manual. If you have an open phone jack, we recommend using it. Otherwise, you can use the supplied splitter to connect the 3030 to an existing line. (You do not need a dedicated phone line, since ReplayTV’s programming updates take place in the early morning hours, for only a few minutes each night.) Or you can purchase a 56 Kbps wireless transmitter/receiver, which plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to connect the 3030 to an existing phone line across the room or in another part of the house.

Dialing into ReplayTV to download the free programming guide was much easier than we expected. One major advantage to ReplayTV is that it doesn’t charge any monthly service fee for downloading the program guide.

We like the fact that ReplayTV’s service is nonintrusive. After all, the whole concept of personal TV servers is intended to liberate viewers so they can watch the programs they prefer, whenever they feel like it. ReplayTV is designed to make it as easy as possible for customers to find the programs they like and to record them for future enjoyment.

Pros:

• 30-hour hard drive
• Easy-to-navigate onscreen guide
• Intuitive remote control
• Free programming guide

Cons:

• No internal fan to cool unit

ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Overviews

Item number 129414, Grading is cover/record: VG/VG+ using Goldmine standards. 197?,thirty-second radio promo spots,RV/Campers,Bank,Furniture,Car Wash,slrw,sm tear ol,swoc Please see seller profile for abbreviation descriptions.

[if I've had my ReplayTV for 9 months now. As a longtime time-shifter with a VCR, it's great to be able to watch a program while it is still recording.

The quick-skip button is wonderful. Instantly zapping forward in 30-second intervals makes it a snap to avoid commercials. In fact, my family and I have taken to intentionally starting to watch programs with the Replay 5-10 minutes after their scheduled start time expressly to AVOID the ubiquitous commercials for programs I would never let my preschool and elementary school-age kids watch. Instead of watching commercials, we spend those 10 minutes talking to each other. Imagine that... technology that lets you spend more time with your family, instead of taking away from it!

In all these months, I've only come across 2 downsides to ReplayTV ownership. If they cured these issues, I'd give the product 5 stars.

- The interface doesn't do enough to warn about conflicting recordings. When the networks put two of my favorite shows on at the same time, unless I notice it myself beforehand and set the VCR, I miss the show that is lowest in alphabetical order.

- When I bought my unit last summer, the good folks at ReplayTV thoughtfully put up several custom "channels" each month which would automatically record selected seasonal programs. When the new fall season started, this enabled us to easily sample the new shows! Around November, the company had a round of layoffs. Apparently, the folks who programmed the seasonal channels were among the casualties because the seasonal channels disappeared. Since those channels went away, the burden has shifted to us users to search more interactively. Had I not been a user before the layoffs, this might not matter as much.

To get around the issue another reviewer mentioned of not being able to watch one program while the box is recording another, I would highly recommend installing it only on TVs that have A/V inputs. That permits watching shows with the TV's tuner while the Replay box is recording. A TV with S-Video inputs would be an even better choice for the best picture quality.

In a nutshell, ReplayTV works great! I'd love to put one on every TV I own.]

Customer Review

I’ve had my ReplayTV for 9 months now. As a longtime time-shifter with a VCR, it’s great to be able to watch a program while it is still recording.

The quick-skip button is wonderful. Instantly zapping forward in 30-second intervals makes it a snap to avoid commercials. In fact, my family and I have taken to intentionally starting to watch programs with the Replay 5-10 minutes after their scheduled start time expressly to AVOID the ubiquitous commercials for programs I would never let my preschool and elementary school-age kids watch. Instead of watching commercials, we spend those 10 minutes talking to each other. Imagine that… technology that lets you spend more time with your family, instead of taking away from it!

In all these months, I’ve only come across 2 downsides to ReplayTV ownership. If they cured these issues, I’d give the product 5 stars.

- The interface doesn’t do enough to warn about conflicting recordings. When the networks put two of my favorite shows on at the same time, unless I notice it myself beforehand and set the VCR, I miss the show that is lowest in alphabetical order.

- When I bought my unit last summer, the good folks at ReplayTV thoughtfully put up several custom “channels” each month which would automatically record selected seasonal programs. When the new fall season started, this enabled us to easily sample the new shows! Around November, the company had a round of layoffs. Apparently, the folks who programmed the seasonal channels were among the casualties because the seasonal channels disappeared. Since those channels went away, the burden has shifted to us users to search more interactively. Had I not been a user before the layoffs, this might not matter as much.

To get around the issue another reviewer mentioned of not being able to watch one program while the box is recording another, I would highly recommend installing it only on TVs that have A/V inputs. That permits watching shows with the TV’s tuner while the Replay box is recording. A TV with S-Video inputs would be an even better choice for the best picture quality.

In a nutshell, ReplayTV works great! I’d love to put one on every TV I own.

Replay TV and DirecTV – –
I have a DirecTV system. I read a previous review that said you can’t get or record local channels through DirecTV using ReplayTV. Of course, I read this review after I had already purchased the unit. So, I was a little nervous about my purchase at first. The good news is that ReplayTV has upgraded their software, so now in the setup process you can program it to get and record local channels. During the setup procedure, when you get to the screen where you select your cable/satellite system, you choose the option “DirecTV with local channels.” The system works very smoothly. The unit is easy and convenient to use. It is much easier to program than a VCR and it takes less time. I like the fact that I don’t have to keep a bunch of videotapes lying around. The only reason why I rated this unit a 4, instead of a 5 is because I have found it difficult to contact customer service. Yes, you can send them an e-mail from the website, but if you call the customer service line you get routed through a maze of messages. This can be frustrating when you need assistance. Other than that, I am very pleased with the product. I would recommend it highly.

You got to love it! – Frank Williams – Woburn, MA USA
I have had my Replay TV for 3 months. I love it, you never have to miss a show again. You always have something on TV when you want it. It is very easy to use. The price might seem high, but it is well worth it.

Try others before you buy – –
Great concept, lousy implementation. Only interface is a really sub-standard remote. Universal remote code is 075 (AUX)(Shhhh! Don’t tell customer service, they claim there is none.) Customer service likes to argue with you and does not fully understand the products capabilities. Currently will not refresh guide automatically, must connect manually once/week. Will not provide info on when this will be fixed. Has icon bug which requires frequent hard boot to fix. Runs extremely hot.

Picture is great. Their ad is correct, you have total control over what you watch and when you watch it. Much easier to program than a VCR.

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ReplayTV RTV5080 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder Specifications

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV’s 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5080 stores 80 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television–all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5080 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay .95 per month or a one-time product service activation fee of 9.

ReplayTV RTV5080 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overviews

With ReplayTV, there’s always something good on, and you don’t ever need to be bothered by commercial interruptions again! Topping the charts of user-friendly features, Commercial Advance lets you choose to skip commercial breaks all together when you playback recorded shows. No fast-forward, no remote control interaction at all. Just a split-second “blip” and you’re right back into the action. Not bad for starters… and how about all those advanced features for the connected home, like Internet Video Sharing and Room-to-Room Video Streaming? It’s possible, and a whole lot easier than you think.The ReplayTV provides tape-free recording – easy one-touch recording with convenient on-screen channel guide, including a full 14 days of programming information; Live TV control – pause, rewind, instant replay, slow motion or frame-advance; commercial advance – choose to playback recorded shows with or without commercials; highest recording capacity; progressive scan that supports high-quality picture playback on digital TVs as well as home networking for room-to-room video streaming, broadband Internet, wireless USB network connectivity and digital photo capabilities.

[if I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to "not" fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand.]

Customer Review

I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to “not” fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand.

Still the BEST!! – Larry S. Holtzen – Seal Beach, CA USA
We’ve been using this unit for 3 years now and it is still the best. IMO many ways superior to Tivo. The commercial advance is a Godsend! And it works! The ethernet and digital streaming capabilities are superior to anything Tivo has to offer. Of course it is now owned and supported by the Marantz people and continues to work great. Glad I got the lifetime service agreement! It’s still a great choice, if you can find one . . .

Great for the first 18-months…then it died – H. Dorn – Newton, MA
I loved the ReplayTV 5160 during it’s short life. It has great features, including commercial skip and networking. Maybe I overused it, because now it is a dying old beast. It was new just 18 months ago, but now it freezes every night. It has to be unplugged for a few hours and then it works again when it is plugged in. Too bad I bought the “lifetime” subscription to their Guide service!

Best Thing to Ever happen to my TV life… – S. Osborn –
The 5000 series is surely the best DVR ever released. The 5040, 5060, and 5080 all have AUTOMATIC COMMERCIAL SKIP and you can DOWNLOAD and share programs over the internet. Many 3rd party plug-ins allow you to use a personal computer to save, back-up and schedule recordings. The never versions of the Replay box do not have these features as the original company was facing legal problems and sold to the less innovative DMG holdings.
Recap: Auto Skip commercials, and Downloading shows over the net are what makes this DVR better than any others.

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Rating : Best Price :$399.99 Availability : N/A

ReplayTV RTV5080 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder Specifications

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV’s 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5080 stores 80 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television–all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5080 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay .95 per month or a one-time product service activation fee of 9.

ReplayTV RTV5080 80-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overviews

With ReplayTV, there’s always something good on, and you don’t ever need to be bothered by commercial interruptions again! Topping the charts of user-friendly features, Commercial Advance lets you choose to skip commercial breaks all together when you playback recorded shows. No fast-forward, no remote control interaction at all. Just a split-second “blip” and you’re right back into the action. Not bad for starters… and how about all those advanced features for the connected home, like Internet Video Sharing and Room-to-Room Video Streaming? It’s possible, and a whole lot easier than you think.The ReplayTV provides tape-free recording – easy one-touch recording with convenient on-screen channel guide, including a full 14 days of programming information; Live TV control – pause, rewind, instant replay, slow motion or frame-advance; commercial advance – choose to playback recorded shows with or without commercials; highest recording capacity; progressive scan that supports high-quality picture playback on digital TVs as well as home networking for room-to-room video streaming, broadband Internet, wireless USB network connectivity and digital photo capabilities.

[if I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to "not" fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand.]

Customer Review

I Own 160 H model (for about 4 years). And recently I got another DVR taht comes with DISH. The replaytv unit is vastly superior in every way (well, except I wish the replay unit had more than one tuner). The only other problem I have (which affects both units) is the electronic listings are wrong enough to be annoying.

Once you get a DVR, you will never go back to a VCR. I suggest you get at least 160 hours (more if more than one person will be using it).. Reasons will become clear with use (IE: you tend to save the last 3 or 4 shows of everything, so if you go on vacation (etc) they will be there waITING FOR YOU.

THE DISH DVR: (BOO):
There are too many crappy issues with the DISH unit to even remember them all (here are a few I can think of ):

When you hit pause (and go away).. It will start playing again by itself, so you miss your show (which is the point of the DVR in the first place).. And, it will not let you rewind when it starts playing automatically. It probably fills up the hard drive.. but there is no way to “not” fill up the hard drive because of the way the thing records shows for you (FIFO style). When you pause to see something the pause bar that pops up (to let you know you pauded presumably?) covers about a third of the screen (enough to cause you to miss 100 percent of whatever it was you wanted to see). NOTE that you can hit the arrow to go into slomo (from pause), but it skips away from what you want to see (so you are still screwed here). Trust me on this, Im not even sure a kid would have the patience to find something to see in slomo with this thing. When you record your shows, replayTV lets you organize stuff in whatever manner that suits you (very convenient after setup).. The DISH unit puts the most recent recordings in a list, with newest first. Sounds like no big deal, wait till you have over a hundred, and if you were able to compare this against the replay unit, you would understand.

Still the BEST!! – Larry S. Holtzen – Seal Beach, CA USA
We’ve been using this unit for 3 years now and it is still the best. IMO many ways superior to Tivo. The commercial advance is a Godsend! And it works! The ethernet and digital streaming capabilities are superior to anything Tivo has to offer. Of course it is now owned and supported by the Marantz people and continues to work great. Glad I got the lifetime service agreement! It’s still a great choice, if you can find one . . .

Great for the first 18-months…then it died – H. Dorn – Newton, MA
I loved the ReplayTV 5160 during it’s short life. It has great features, including commercial skip and networking. Maybe I overused it, because now it is a dying old beast. It was new just 18 months ago, but now it freezes every night. It has to be unplugged for a few hours and then it works again when it is plugged in. Too bad I bought the “lifetime” subscription to their Guide service!

Best Thing to Ever happen to my TV life… – S. Osborn –
The 5000 series is surely the best DVR ever released. The 5040, 5060, and 5080 all have AUTOMATIC COMMERCIAL SKIP and you can DOWNLOAD and share programs over the internet. Many 3rd party plug-ins allow you to use a personal computer to save, back-up and schedule recordings. The never versions of the Replay box do not have these features as the original company was facing legal problems and sold to the less innovative DMG holdings.
Recap: Auto Skip commercials, and Downloading shows over the net are what makes this DVR better than any others.

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Rating : Best Price :$299.99 Offer Price : $299.99 Availability : Usually ships in 6-10 business days

ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Specifications

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV’s 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5040 stores 40 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television–all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5040 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay .95 pe r month or a one-time product service activation fee of 9.

ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overviews

With ReplayTV, there’s always something good on, and you don’t ever need to be bothered by commercial interruptions again! Topping the charts of user-friendly features, Commercial Advance lets you choose to skip commercial breaks all-together when you playback recorded shows. No fast forward, no remote control interaction at all. Just a split-second “blip” and you’re right back into the action. Not bad for starters… and how about all those advanced features for the connected home, like Internet Video Sharing and Room-to-Room Video Streaming? It’s all possible, and a whole lot easier than you think.

[if We have had our ReplayTV for two years now, never had a problem with it, and at this point, feel that we cannot live without it anymore. Shows that we would prefer our children see (as opposed to those that are on after school, which tend to be pretty violent) we record during the day, and give them their choice when it is their TV time. We are able to skip repeats, find something interesting to watch instantly when programming is switched around or preempted, and for really important shows that we can't wait to see--we start watching 20 minutes late and don't have to wait through commercials to see what will happen. I actually think we watch less TV now than before, but it's all stuff we WANTED to see--a huge difference, and a great one!]

Customer Review

We have had our ReplayTV for two years now, never had a problem with it, and at this point, feel that we cannot live without it anymore. Shows that we would prefer our children see (as opposed to those that are on after school, which tend to be pretty violent) we record during the day, and give them their choice when it is their TV time. We are able to skip repeats, find something interesting to watch instantly when programming is switched around or preempted, and for really important shows that we can’t wait to see–we start watching 20 minutes late and don’t have to wait through commercials to see what will happen. I actually think we watch less TV now than before, but it’s all stuff we WANTED to see–a huge difference, and a great one!

I’m disappointed – X. ZHANG –
This kind of machine is good for its capability,but I can’t stand for the installation complexity.It dosenot support DISH Network Service.More important,I cannot get any help from the seller and It’s impossible to make a return.

DVR Replay System – Barbara Pollard –
Great product and easy to install. Don’t have to deal with the Cable Companies to get it up and running. Enjoying it immensely.

Grossly Unreliable; Miserable Customer Service – Mike M. – Los Angeles, CA
My unit failed three days after installation. The machine locked up and rebooting did not correct the problem. ReplayTV’s poor customer service exacerbated the experience. The representative was pleasant but lacked any technical expertise. Her supervisor was downright insolent. After considerable aggravation, I returned the unit.

The choice is simple: roll the dice with ReplayTV, or settle for Tivo and eliminate a possible headache.

ReplyTV 5000 Series – Brucer – Hawaii
I have 5 of these and just ordered a 6th. It’s changed the way we watch TV. The units are easy to set up and use and it’s a joy to skip through the commercials with Commercial Advance which, unfortunately, is no longer offered on the 5500 series. Even so, it’s a good machine and I highly recommend it.

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ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Specifications

ReplayTV’s 3030 server provides up to 30 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a ReplayZones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record. In fact, it’s almost too easy. Once we grew accustomed to recording shows in advance, we found ourselves watching three times as much TV as we had in the past.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of TV servers, ReplayTV records programs digitally and stores the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, if you want to record your favorite show while you’re away from home, you can store it on the 3030’s hard drive and watch it later. Unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn’t require tapes or other media to store programming.

It’s important to point out that the actual amount of storage space depends on the video-recording quality that you select. A higher quality picture will take up more storage space than a lower quality recording. At the lowest setting, the picture quality is still better than standard VHS. At the middle setting, the picture quality is better than an S-VHS VCR, but storage capacity decreases by approximately 40 percent. The highest-quality setting approaches 500 lines of resolution (depending on the source) but further reduces storage capacity. We recommend using the highest setting for movies and the middle level for sporting events, sitcoms, and other programs, then erasing the content immediately after viewing it. Before doing so, however, you may want to consider taping it with a VCR for your VHS library.

One of the coolest features on the 3030 server is the ability to pause a live broadcast and resume watching it if you’re interrupted for any number of reasons. When you utilize this feature, ReplayTV acts as a time buffer by storing the show in memory so you can pick up the program from where you left off. A “Return to Live” button on the remote allows you to skip forward to real time, which is great if you’re watching a sporting event and you wish to catch up to the live action.

There’s also an “Instant Replay” button on the remote that allows you to rewatch portions of a show or sporting event in 7-second increments, so you’re not limited to rewatching only a brief segment.

ReplayTV also allows you to personalize programming for a specific theme. For example, you can set ReplayTV to monitor TV listings for any program featuring a specific actor. You can also refine theme-based searches of programming. For instance, if you wish to record Friends, you can limit your search to title only, so you won’t waste time pulling up every movie and talk show that has the word “friends” in the description.

ReplayTV’s onscreen guide appears with a blue background and white characters that are very readable. Since you’ll be using the guide a lot to search for programs and to preview descriptions, it’s important that you can read the text on a standard-size TV from your sofa. ReplayTV’s onscreen guide gets an A+ in this regard.

We loved ReplayTV’s QuickSkip feature, which allows you to instantly jump ahead 30 seconds, so you can skip through TV commercials on prerecorded programs. We also like the ReplayZones, which make it very easy to find programs that suit your tastes by searching according to genre. ReplayTV delineates programming into a wide variety of categories, from action and romance movies to cooking and home-improvement shows–and everything in between. ReplayTV also offers a Search Zone that allows you to input words such as “love” or “vacation” using the remote control and an onscreen keypad.

If you wish to save a particular prerecorded show, you can record it on to a VCR using the back-panel outputs. We were impressed by ReplayTV’s inclusion of two sets of audio-video inputs and outputs, as well an S-video input and output. This enables users to hook up a DSS or other direct-broadcast satellite receiver to the 3030, along with a VCR as an output device.

You can watch one program while recording another by using a cable TV splitter. Simply connect the cable from the wall to the splitter’s input line, then connect a spare coaxial cable from the splitter’s output line to the 3030, and another from the splitter to the TV. To watch a show while recording another, use the TV button on the Replay remote to switch sources (assuming you’ve input your TV brand’s infrared code into Replay’s universal remote control).

One neat feature we really like is the ability to place the 3030 into “quiet mode” simply by turning off the unit. This keeps the server from automatically recording shows to the hard drive, which conserves power and keeps the hard disc from spinning, thereby keeping the unit cool and noise free. If you happen to be recording a show when you turn the 3030 off, it will continue to record, then shut down once the show is finished and stored in the hard drive.

Connecting the 3030 to our home theater system took about 15 minutes. Replay thoughtfully provides a poster-size chart to guide users through setup without opening the manual. If you have an open phone jack, we recommend using it. Otherwise, you can use the supplied splitter to connect the 3030 to an existing line. (You do not need a dedicated phone line, since ReplayTV’s programming updates take place in the early morning hours, for only a few minutes each night.) Or you can purchase a 56 Kbps wireless transmitter/receiver, which plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to connect the 3030 to an existing phone line across the room or in another part of the house.

Dialing into ReplayTV to download the free programming guide was much easier than we expected. One major advantage to ReplayTV is that it doesn’t charge any monthly service fee for downloading the program guide.

We like the fact that ReplayTV’s service is nonintrusive. After all, the whole concept of personal TV servers is intended to liberate viewers so they can watch the programs they prefer, whenever they feel like it. ReplayTV is designed to make it as easy as possible for customers to find the programs they like and to record them for future enjoyment.

Pros:

• 30-hour hard drive
• Easy-to-navigate onscreen guide
• Intuitive remote control
• Free programming guide

Cons:

• No internal fan to cool unit

ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Overviews

The ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder (DVR) stores programs digitally and saves the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, if you want to record your favorite show while you’re away from home, you can store it on the 3030’s hard drive and watch it later. Unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn’t require tapes or other media to store programming.The ReplayTV’s 3030 Digital Video Recorder provides up to 30 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a ReplayZones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record. The ReplayTV 3030 pauses live broadcasts and resumes play at your leisure. QuickSkip feature bypasses recorded commercials, instant replay plays back programming in 7-second increments. It also features a free programming guide with no monthly service fees.

[if I've had my ReplayTV for 9 months now. As a longtime time-shifter with a VCR, it's great to be able to watch a program while it is still recording.

The quick-skip button is wonderful. Instantly zapping forward in 30-second intervals makes it a snap to avoid commercials. In fact, my family and I have taken to intentionally starting to watch programs with the Replay 5-10 minutes after their scheduled start time expressly to AVOID the ubiquitous commercials for programs I would never let my preschool and elementary school-age kids watch. Instead of watching commercials, we spend those 10 minutes talking to each other. Imagine that... technology that lets you spend more time with your family, instead of taking away from it!

In all these months, I've only come across 2 downsides to ReplayTV ownership. If they cured these issues, I'd give the product 5 stars.

- The interface doesn't do enough to warn about conflicting recordings. When the networks put two of my favorite shows on at the same time, unless I notice it myself beforehand and set the VCR, I miss the show that is lowest in alphabetical order.

- When I bought my unit last summer, the good folks at ReplayTV thoughtfully put up several custom "channels" each month which would automatically record selected seasonal programs. When the new fall season started, this enabled us to easily sample the new shows! Around November, the company had a round of layoffs. Apparently, the folks who programmed the seasonal channels were among the casualties because the seasonal channels disappeared. Since those channels went away, the burden has shifted to us users to search more interactively. Had I not been a user before the layoffs, this might not matter as much.

To get around the issue another reviewer mentioned of not being able to watch one program while the box is recording another, I would highly recommend installing it only on TVs that have A/V inputs. That permits watching shows with the TV's tuner while the Replay box is recording. A TV with S-Video inputs would be an even better choice for the best picture quality.

In a nutshell, ReplayTV works great! I'd love to put one on every TV I own.]

Customer Review

I’ve had my ReplayTV for 9 months now. As a longtime time-shifter with a VCR, it’s great to be able to watch a program while it is still recording.

The quick-skip button is wonderful. Instantly zapping forward in 30-second intervals makes it a snap to avoid commercials. In fact, my family and I have taken to intentionally starting to watch programs with the Replay 5-10 minutes after their scheduled start time expressly to AVOID the ubiquitous commercials for programs I would never let my preschool and elementary school-age kids watch. Instead of watching commercials, we spend those 10 minutes talking to each other. Imagine that… technology that lets you spend more time with your family, instead of taking away from it!

In all these months, I’ve only come across 2 downsides to ReplayTV ownership. If they cured these issues, I’d give the product 5 stars.

- The interface doesn’t do enough to warn about conflicting recordings. When the networks put two of my favorite shows on at the same time, unless I notice it myself beforehand and set the VCR, I miss the show that is lowest in alphabetical order.

- When I bought my unit last summer, the good folks at ReplayTV thoughtfully put up several custom “channels” each month which would automatically record selected seasonal programs. When the new fall season started, this enabled us to easily sample the new shows! Around November, the company had a round of layoffs. Apparently, the folks who programmed the seasonal channels were among the casualties because the seasonal channels disappeared. Since those channels went away, the burden has shifted to us users to search more interactively. Had I not been a user before the layoffs, this might not matter as much.

To get around the issue another reviewer mentioned of not being able to watch one program while the box is recording another, I would highly recommend installing it only on TVs that have A/V inputs. That permits watching shows with the TV’s tuner while the Replay box is recording. A TV with S-Video inputs would be an even better choice for the best picture quality.

In a nutshell, ReplayTV works great! I’d love to put one on every TV I own.

Replay TV and DirecTV – –
I have a DirecTV system. I read a previous review that said you can’t get or record local channels through DirecTV using ReplayTV. Of course, I read this review after I had already purchased the unit. So, I was a little nervous about my purchase at first. The good news is that ReplayTV has upgraded their software, so now in the setup process you can program it to get and record local channels. During the setup procedure, when you get to the screen where you select your cable/satellite system, you choose the option “DirecTV with local channels.” The system works very smoothly. The unit is easy and convenient to use. It is much easier to program than a VCR and it takes less time. I like the fact that I don’t have to keep a bunch of videotapes lying around. The only reason why I rated this unit a 4, instead of a 5 is because I have found it difficult to contact customer service. Yes, you can send them an e-mail from the website, but if you call the customer service line you get routed through a maze of messages. This can be frustrating when you need assistance. Other than that, I am very pleased with the product. I would recommend it highly.

You got to love it! – Frank Williams – Woburn, MA USA
I have had my Replay TV for 3 months. I love it, you never have to miss a show again. You always have something on TV when you want it. It is very easy to use. The price might seem high, but it is well worth it.

Try others before you buy – –
Great concept, lousy implementation. Only interface is a really sub-standard remote. Universal remote code is 075 (AUX)(Shhhh! Don’t tell customer service, they claim there is none.) Customer service likes to argue with you and does not fully understand the products capabilities. Currently will not refresh guide automatically, must connect manually once/week. Will not provide info on when this will be fixed. Has icon bug which requires frequent hard boot to fix. Runs extremely hot.

Picture is great. Their ad is correct, you have total control over what you watch and when you watch it. Much easier to program than a VCR.

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Rating : Best Price :$299.99 Offer Price : $299.99 Availability : Usually ships in 6-10 business days

ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Specifications

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV’s 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5040 stores 40 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television–all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5040 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay .95 pe r month or a one-time product service activation fee of 9.

ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overviews

With ReplayTV, there’s always something good on, and you don’t ever need to be bothered by commercial interruptions again! Topping the charts of user-friendly features, Commercial Advance lets you choose to skip commercial breaks all-together when you playback recorded shows. No fast forward, no remote control interaction at all. Just a split-second “blip” and you’re right back into the action. Not bad for starters… and how about all those advanced features for the connected home, like Internet Video Sharing and Room-to-Room Video Streaming? It’s all possible, and a whole lot easier than you think.

[if We have had our ReplayTV for two years now, never had a problem with it, and at this point, feel that we cannot live without it anymore. Shows that we would prefer our children see (as opposed to those that are on after school, which tend to be pretty violent) we record during the day, and give them their choice when it is their TV time. We are able to skip repeats, find something interesting to watch instantly when programming is switched around or preempted, and for really important shows that we can't wait to see--we start watching 20 minutes late and don't have to wait through commercials to see what will happen. I actually think we watch less TV now than before, but it's all stuff we WANTED to see--a huge difference, and a great one!]

Customer Review

We have had our ReplayTV for two years now, never had a problem with it, and at this point, feel that we cannot live without it anymore. Shows that we would prefer our children see (as opposed to those that are on after school, which tend to be pretty violent) we record during the day, and give them their choice when it is their TV time. We are able to skip repeats, find something interesting to watch instantly when programming is switched around or preempted, and for really important shows that we can’t wait to see–we start watching 20 minutes late and don’t have to wait through commercials to see what will happen. I actually think we watch less TV now than before, but it’s all stuff we WANTED to see–a huge difference, and a great one!

I’m disappointed – X. ZHANG –
This kind of machine is good for its capability,but I can’t stand for the installation complexity.It dosenot support DISH Network Service.More important,I cannot get any help from the seller and It’s impossible to make a return.

DVR Replay System – Barbara Pollard –
Great product and easy to install. Don’t have to deal with the Cable Companies to get it up and running. Enjoying it immensely.

Grossly Unreliable; Miserable Customer Service – Mike M. – Los Angeles, CA
My unit failed three days after installation. The machine locked up and rebooting did not correct the problem. ReplayTV’s poor customer service exacerbated the experience. The representative was pleasant but lacked any technical expertise. Her supervisor was downright insolent. After considerable aggravation, I returned the unit.

The choice is simple: roll the dice with ReplayTV, or settle for Tivo and eliminate a possible headache.

ReplyTV 5000 Series – Brucer – Hawaii
I have 5 of these and just ordered a 6th. It’s changed the way we watch TV. The units are easy to set up and use and it’s a joy to skip through the commercials with Commercial Advance which, unfortunately, is no longer offered on the 5500 series. Even so, it’s a good machine and I highly recommend it.

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ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Specifications

ReplayTV’s 3030 server provides up to 30 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a ReplayZones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record. In fact, it’s almost too easy. Once we grew accustomed to recording shows in advance, we found ourselves watching three times as much TV as we had in the past.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of TV servers, ReplayTV records programs digitally and stores the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, if you want to record your favorite show while you’re away from home, you can store it on the 3030’s hard drive and watch it later. Unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn’t require tapes or other media to store programming.

It’s important to point out that the actual amount of storage space depends on the video-recording quality that you select. A higher quality picture will take up more storage space than a lower quality recording. At the lowest setting, the picture quality is still better than standard VHS. At the middle setting, the picture quality is better than an S-VHS VCR, but storage capacity decreases by approximately 40 percent. The highest-quality setting approaches 500 lines of resolution (depending on the source) but further reduces storage capacity. We recommend using the highest setting for movies and the middle level for sporting events, sitcoms, and other programs, then erasing the content immediately after viewing it. Before doing so, however, you may want to consider taping it with a VCR for your VHS library.

One of the coolest features on the 3030 server is the ability to pause a live broadcast and resume watching it if you’re interrupted for any number of reasons. When you utilize this feature, ReplayTV acts as a time buffer by storing the show in memory so you can pick up the program from where you left off. A “Return to Live” button on the remote allows you to skip forward to real time, which is great if you’re watching a sporting event and you wish to catch up to the live action.

There’s also an “Instant Replay” button on the remote that allows you to rewatch portions of a show or sporting event in 7-second increments, so you’re not limited to rewatching only a brief segment.

ReplayTV also allows you to personalize programming for a specific theme. For example, you can set ReplayTV to monitor TV listings for any program featuring a specific actor. You can also refine theme-based searches of programming. For instance, if you wish to record Friends, you can limit your search to title only, so you won’t waste time pulling up every movie and talk show that has the word “friends” in the description.

ReplayTV’s onscreen guide appears with a blue background and white characters that are very readable. Since you’ll be using the guide a lot to search for programs and to preview descriptions, it’s important that you can read the text on a standard-size TV from your sofa. ReplayTV’s onscreen guide gets an A+ in this regard.

We loved ReplayTV’s QuickSkip feature, which allows you to instantly jump ahead 30 seconds, so you can skip through TV commercials on prerecorded programs. We also like the ReplayZones, which make it very easy to find programs that suit your tastes by searching according to genre. ReplayTV delineates programming into a wide variety of categories, from action and romance movies to cooking and home-improvement shows–and everything in between. ReplayTV also offers a Search Zone that allows you to input words such as “love” or “vacation” using the remote control and an onscreen keypad.

If you wish to save a particular prerecorded show, you can record it on to a VCR using the back-panel outputs. We were impressed by ReplayTV’s inclusion of two sets of audio-video inputs and outputs, as well an S-video input and output. This enables users to hook up a DSS or other direct-broadcast satellite receiver to the 3030, along with a VCR as an output device.

You can watch one program while recording another by using a cable TV splitter. Simply connect the cable from the wall to the splitter’s input line, then connect a spare coaxial cable from the splitter’s output line to the 3030, and another from the splitter to the TV. To watch a show while recording another, use the TV button on the Replay remote to switch sources (assuming you’ve input your TV brand’s infrared code into Replay’s universal remote control).

One neat feature we really like is the ability to place the 3030 into “quiet mode” simply by turning off the unit. This keeps the server from automatically recording shows to the hard drive, which conserves power and keeps the hard disc from spinning, thereby keeping the unit cool and noise free. If you happen to be recording a show when you turn the 3030 off, it will continue to record, then shut down once the show is finished and stored in the hard drive.

Connecting the 3030 to our home theater system took about 15 minutes. Replay thoughtfully provides a poster-size chart to guide users through setup without opening the manual. If you have an open phone jack, we recommend using it. Otherwise, you can use the supplied splitter to connect the 3030 to an existing line. (You do not need a dedicated phone line, since ReplayTV’s programming updates take place in the early morning hours, for only a few minutes each night.) Or you can purchase a 56 Kbps wireless transmitter/receiver, which plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to connect the 3030 to an existing phone line across the room or in another part of the house.

Dialing into ReplayTV to download the free programming guide was much easier than we expected. One major advantage to ReplayTV is that it doesn’t charge any monthly service fee for downloading the program guide.

We like the fact that ReplayTV’s service is nonintrusive. After all, the whole concept of personal TV servers is intended to liberate viewers so they can watch the programs they prefer, whenever they feel like it. ReplayTV is designed to make it as easy as possible for customers to find the programs they like and to record them for future enjoyment.

Pros:

• 30-hour hard drive
• Easy-to-navigate onscreen guide
• Intuitive remote control
• Free programming guide

Cons:

• No internal fan to cool unit

ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder Overviews

The ReplayTV 3030 Digital Video Recorder (DVR) stores programs digitally and saves the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, if you want to record your favorite show while you’re away from home, you can store it on the 3030’s hard drive and watch it later. Unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn’t require tapes or other media to store programming.The ReplayTV’s 3030 Digital Video Recorder provides up to 30 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a ReplayZones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record. The ReplayTV 3030 pauses live broadcasts and resumes play at your leisure. QuickSkip feature bypasses recorded commercials, instant replay plays back programming in 7-second increments. It also features a free programming guide with no monthly service fees.

[if I've had my ReplayTV for 9 months now. As a longtime time-shifter with a VCR, it's great to be able to watch a program while it is still recording.

The quick-skip button is wonderful. Instantly zapping forward in 30-second intervals makes it a snap to avoid commercials. In fact, my family and I have taken to intentionally starting to watch programs with the Replay 5-10 minutes after their scheduled start time expressly to AVOID the ubiquitous commercials for programs I would never let my preschool and elementary school-age kids watch. Instead of watching commercials, we spend those 10 minutes talking to each other. Imagine that... technology that lets you spend more time with your family, instead of taking away from it!

In all these months, I've only come across 2 downsides to ReplayTV ownership. If they cured these issues, I'd give the product 5 stars.

- The interface doesn't do enough to warn about conflicting recordings. When the networks put two of my favorite shows on at the same time, unless I notice it myself beforehand and set the VCR, I miss the show that is lowest in alphabetical order.

- When I bought my unit last summer, the good folks at ReplayTV thoughtfully put up several custom "channels" each month which would automatically record selected seasonal programs. When the new fall season started, this enabled us to easily sample the new shows! Around November, the company had a round of layoffs. Apparently, the folks who programmed the seasonal channels were among the casualties because the seasonal channels disappeared. Since those channels went away, the burden has shifted to us users to search more interactively. Had I not been a user before the layoffs, this might not matter as much.

To get around the issue another reviewer mentioned of not being able to watch one program while the box is recording another, I would highly recommend installing it only on TVs that have A/V inputs. That permits watching shows with the TV's tuner while the Replay box is recording. A TV with S-Video inputs would be an even better choice for the best picture quality.

In a nutshell, ReplayTV works great! I'd love to put one on every TV I own.]

Customer Review

I’ve had my ReplayTV for 9 months now. As a longtime time-shifter with a VCR, it’s great to be able to watch a program while it is still recording.

The quick-skip button is wonderful. Instantly zapping forward in 30-second intervals makes it a snap to avoid commercials. In fact, my family and I have taken to intentionally starting to watch programs with the Replay 5-10 minutes after their scheduled start time expressly to AVOID the ubiquitous commercials for programs I would never let my preschool and elementary school-age kids watch. Instead of watching commercials, we spend those 10 minutes talking to each other. Imagine that… technology that lets you spend more time with your family, instead of taking away from it!

In all these months, I’ve only come across 2 downsides to ReplayTV ownership. If they cured these issues, I’d give the product 5 stars.

- The interface doesn’t do enough to warn about conflicting recordings. When the networks put two of my favorite shows on at the same time, unless I notice it myself beforehand and set the VCR, I miss the show that is lowest in alphabetical order.

- When I bought my unit last summer, the good folks at ReplayTV thoughtfully put up several custom “channels” each month which would automatically record selected seasonal programs. When the new fall season started, this enabled us to easily sample the new shows! Around November, the company had a round of layoffs. Apparently, the folks who programmed the seasonal channels were among the casualties because the seasonal channels disappeared. Since those channels went away, the burden has shifted to us users to search more interactively. Had I not been a user before the layoffs, this might not matter as much.

To get around the issue another reviewer mentioned of not being able to watch one program while the box is recording another, I would highly recommend installing it only on TVs that have A/V inputs. That permits watching shows with the TV’s tuner while the Replay box is recording. A TV with S-Video inputs would be an even better choice for the best picture quality.

In a nutshell, ReplayTV works great! I’d love to put one on every TV I own.

Replay TV and DirecTV – –
I have a DirecTV system. I read a previous review that said you can’t get or record local channels through DirecTV using ReplayTV. Of course, I read this review after I had already purchased the unit. So, I was a little nervous about my purchase at first. The good news is that ReplayTV has upgraded their software, so now in the setup process you can program it to get and record local channels. During the setup procedure, when you get to the screen where you select your cable/satellite system, you choose the option “DirecTV with local channels.” The system works very smoothly. The unit is easy and convenient to use. It is much easier to program than a VCR and it takes less time. I like the fact that I don’t have to keep a bunch of videotapes lying around. The only reason why I rated this unit a 4, instead of a 5 is because I have found it difficult to contact customer service. Yes, you can send them an e-mail from the website, but if you call the customer service line you get routed through a maze of messages. This can be frustrating when you need assistance. Other than that, I am very pleased with the product. I would recommend it highly.

You got to love it! – Frank Williams – Woburn, MA USA
I have had my Replay TV for 3 months. I love it, you never have to miss a show again. You always have something on TV when you want it. It is very easy to use. The price might seem high, but it is well worth it.

Try others before you buy – –
Great concept, lousy implementation. Only interface is a really sub-standard remote. Universal remote code is 075 (AUX)(Shhhh! Don’t tell customer service, they claim there is none.) Customer service likes to argue with you and does not fully understand the products capabilities. Currently will not refresh guide automatically, must connect manually once/week. Will not provide info on when this will be fixed. Has icon bug which requires frequent hard boot to fix. Runs extremely hot.

Picture is great. Their ad is correct, you have total control over what you watch and when you watch it. Much easier to program than a VCR.

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