Philips HDR312 TiVo 30-Hour Digital Video Recorder Review & Ratings

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Philips HDR312 TiVo 30-Hour Digital Video Recorder Review

TiVo's claim that they'll change the way you watch TV is completely true. Being able to pause or replay whatever you're currently watching to grab a snack, answer a call, etc. is great. You can't imagine how helpful it is to have almost two weeks of programming information available to pick and chose what to record for the next few days.
I'd recommend the 30hr unit over the 14hr if you can afford it. After you start searching the two week guide by program name, channel name, favorite channels, or by time of day you'll quickly find plenty of things you want to record.
DirecTV viewers will especially find this useful...it makes all those channels much more manageable, and I prefer the TiVo on-screen guide to the one my DSS box provided.
All of the TiVo menus are well thought out, attractive, and *very* easy to use. They include lots of cables - including S-Video, a phone jack splitter (nice touch), and other goodies so almost anyone will find everything they need to hook TiVo up right out of the box. The User's Guide is helpful too, for people who are a little less sure of themselves around stuff like this.
I picked TiVo over ReplayTV because of their close alliance with DirecTV (DirecTV has invested in them), and from reading other people's comments in newsgroups and other forums. After I spent about half an hour going through the program guide and giving various programs 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' ratings (one of the cooler features of TiVo), it came up with a whole bunch of other programs it suggested I might like.
I'm probably sounding like a company spokesperson, but I'm not, I'm just a *very* happy new user of TiVo!

Philips HDR312 TiVo 30-Hour Digital Video Recorder Overview

Unlike analog VCRs, Philips's HDR312 personal TV receiver uses TiVo technology to store compressed audio-video data to a computer hard disk. When you're ready to watch a preselected program, the HDR312 retrieves it upon command from a list of shows you've recorded.
Among the most revolutionary aspects of the Philips/TiVo server is the ability to pause live broadcasts and either resume a program where you left off or return to the program in real time. For example, while watching live sporting events, you can replay the last eight seconds of the action. You can then return to the live broadcast at any time. Using the palm-size remote, you can rewind and fast-forward pretaped programs, skipping through recorded commercials if you choose. Philips supplies all the necessary cables for setting up the HDR312, including a 50-foot phone line and splitter. You don't need a separate phone line; simply connect the splitter to the wall, connect your phone and receiver cable to the splitter, and you're in business. The phone line is vital, however, for downloading TV listings; recording shows; and receiving TiVo's Suggestions feature, which suggests programs you might enjoy based on your previous selections, and TiVolution Magazine, which offers recommendations on the best programs to watch. After the initial download, the receiver spends about five minutes updating your programming data each night. TiVo's onscreen setup guide includes easy step-by-step instructions. TiVo charges $12.95 a month for its weekly listing service, TiVolution Magazine, and its Suggestions feature, or you can pay a one-time service charge of $299. Once you've selected a program to record, you have four choices of picture quality: basic, medium, high, or best. The higher settings take up more storage space, which translates into fewer hours of available record time.

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Save 27% Off: TiVo AN0100 Wireless N Network Adapter (Gray) Review & Ratings

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TiVo AN0100 Wireless N Network Adapter (Gray) Review

This works a lot better than the prior USB version, I can now stream HD Netflix movies on my TiVo HD for example whereas before I had trouble doing that because the USB version wifi adapter was so slow!
This doesn't plug into the USB on your TiVo but rather the ethernet port. It also requires AC power as well.
My only complaint is that this is too expensive.
If you plan to watch streaming content such as Netflix with your TiVo, I would recommend this device. However, if you only need it for the standard TiVo updates and network connectivity, the much cheaper USB version really works just fine. Even for scheduled downloads the USB version works fine because it does that in the background so the speed doesn't matter in that case.

TiVo AN0100 Wireless N Network Adapter (Gray) Overview

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Save 86% Off: Cisco-Linksys USB100TX EtherFast 10/100 USB Network Adapter Review & Ratings

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Cisco-Linksys USB100TX EtherFast 10/100 USB Network Adapter Review

I just received my USB100TX and connected it directly to my TiVo Series 2 with the supplied USB A-B cable. It does *not* come with a CAT-5 UTP Cable, but I have plenty spare and hooked it up. As soon as it was wired to both the TiVo and a hub in my nearby wiring closet the link light was activated. I did not need any of the manuals or driver disks that came in the package.
Within minutes I'd configured my TiVo to recognize the network adapter and my Linksys BEFSR41 Firewall/Router had allocated it a DHCP address.
I immediately ran the test-connection and also forced a daily update.
Downloading schedules are super quick compared to the dialup option. Obviously new firmware updates will also be significantly quicker. Plus the phone line won't be tied up during the call.
I had previously tried a different USB/Ethernet adapter and my TiVo did not recognize it (D-Link USB-650) so beware of using that on a TiVo.
The Linksys USB100TX is the wired adaptor recommended by TiVo and it works perfectly, first time.

Cisco-Linksys USB100TX EtherFast 10/100 USB Network Adapter Overview

The Linksys EtherFast 10/100 USB network adapter allows you to instantly connect to a network from a USB-enabled desktop or notebook PC with Windows 98. The plug-and-play device attaches to any USB-enabled PC or hub (10, 100, or 10/100 Mbps) via a USB type B receptacle. The Linksys EtherFast 10/100 USB network adapter is bus powered, drawing power from the host PC and requiring no external power cords. It features a maximum of 12 Mbps throughput (the maximum supported by USB).
Included with the adapter are a one-year limited warranty and free technical support.

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Save 40% Off: Channel Plus LPF-600 Low Pass Filter Review & Ratings

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Channel Plus LPF-600 Low Pass Filter Review

Prior to this, I had thought I had to run a second cable throughout the house to get both my four modulator channels and the cable TV in all rooms; either the cable interfered with the modulator channels, or vice versa, or both. The highest channel on the incoming cable is 89. I inserted the four modulator channels two channels apart starting with 100 (that is, 100, 103, 106, and 109). The way to use this item is to filter before the cable goes into the modulator; just screw this filter onto the cable TV input to the modulator, connect the incoming cable TV to it, set your channels above 99, and put your house cable system directly on the modulator output. Everything looks great. Picture and sound are clean (including ProLogic) on all the cable channels, and clean on the four modulator channels. If that's what you're trying to do, this little item can save you a lot of money, a lot of hassle, or both.

Channel Plus LPF-600 Low Pass Filter Overview

The Channel Plus LPF-600 Low-pass Filter removes all CATV above the pass band, allowing insert of locally generated ChannelPlus modulated channels. This is ideal for systems to which the broadband entertainment feed is supplied by a CATV service. The filter also removes the cable system noise that degrades the picture quality of the locally generated channels.
The filter passes off-air TV channels 2 to 35, CATV channels 2 to 86, and allows insertion of TV channels 40 to 69, and CATV channels 91 to 125.
Installation is simple, with male-to-female F connectors. No external power supply is required. Dimensions: 1 x 3 inches.

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Actiontec MegaPlug A/V 200 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter Kit (White) Review & Ratings

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Actiontec MegaPlug A/V 200 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter Kit (White) Review

Years ago, I purchased one of the first through-power-line Ethernet kits on the market. At the time, the claimed throughput was low (say, 10mbps), and the actual throughput was ridiculously slow. Not to mention the fact that the connection seemed to hang inexplicably with great frequency. In a word: Not ready for primetime, not ready for anything, really...
Fast forward nearly a decade. By now, wireless Ethernet routers are cheap and easy to use and just about everyone has one.
Into this environment, Actiontec has dumped their new MegaPlug "200 Mbps" powerline network kit.
Your first question, and it's a good one, is: "What's the point?" And for many people the answer will be "none, really, in your situation."
BUT there are two sets of people for whom something like this--if it works--is a godsend.
First off, there are those who simply cannot set up something like a wireless router. It's not hard, but there are still a lot of complete tech phobes out there. Think: your Grandparents, or maybe even your parents. Sure, you could go over and set things up for them. But then what happens the first time the router goes down and needs to be rebooted or whatever? Panic calls at midnight are not most people's idea of bonus time.
The second set of people who could use something like this, if it works, are those with wireless dead spots in their homes. There are a lot of people like this, actually. No matter where you set up the wireless transmitter, some places just get no signal, or a very lousy one. Now, you can--if you are technically inclined--set up a wireless repeater to address issue. But it's a bit tricky for most people who don't relish spending their Friday night shopping the halls of Frys, Microcenter or BestBuy. This kit offers a simple alternative to a wireless repeater.
OK, enough on who might want this. On to the more significant question: Does it actually work, and how easy is it, really, to set up.
I'll answer the second question first. It is ridiculously, stupidly, unbelievably easy to set this up. Plug one unit in one wall outlet. Run ethernet cable from unit to your router. Plug second unit into another wall outlet anywhere else in your house. Run either cable from unit to the device you want to talk to router. And you are done. Even if you have trouble figuring out how to open the door of a refrigerator, it can't take you more than 5 minutes to set up.
And how does it work? SHOCKINGLY well. In a three story home with about 20 separate circuits (lines on their own circuit breakers), I was unable to find two outlets that could not communicate with each other at a reasonable speed, and without any disruptions. You aren't going to see 200Mbps in the real world, but I saw between 24Mbps and 34Mbps, depending on where I placed the two outlet plugs. Before you sneer, this compares to a normal transfer rate of about 18Mbps for a GOOD wireless G connection. In other words, the Actiontec kit gave transfer rates that were between 33% and 90% FASTER than wireless G!
I can recommend this unconditionally to those who need an alternative to standard wireless with one caveat (and it's a big one): This kit is quite pricey. It runs over a hundred bucks at the time of this writing, as compared to a good quality wireless G router, which can be purchased for as little as $30. In addition, this kit is good for connecting only one location to another single location, whereas wireless is...everywhere.
But if you can get past the price, this kit is terrific.

Actiontec MegaPlug A/V 200 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter Kit (White) Overview

Actiontec MegaPlug HPE200AVP Kit Powerline Network Adapter HLE20003-01KP 754

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