Humax DRT800 DVD-R/RW Recorder/TiVo Series2 DVR Combo

This is really a sweet combination. I've had mine for 3-4 years now and it's been a perfect tool. Recording video is the standard TiVo interface, and the DVD burner places that same style interface on the DVDs it burns. I've burned several hundred DVDs on mine, with only a few coasters. Burning a DVD is as simple as clicking on the recordings you want to transfer and hitting go.

The DVD playback is good, too. TiVo-style interface, unlike the Toshiba units. Only bad part is that some of the specialized things such as A-B repeat aren't easily accessible.

A few caveats:

A few of the remote buttons don't work quite the same when playing DVDs. The chapter skip is on the channel button for some reason.

Shows that have been transferred via TiVo-to-go or multi-room viewed cannot be burned to DVD.

Every so often you'll get a bad recording that consistently burns coasters. Using a DVD-RW disc is a good way to see if you have this problem if you manage to burn a coaster. The -RW disc can be erased and reused, so burning a coaster isn't a big deal.

...This one is my favorite. The problem that most people run in to with DVR's _and_ Tivo, is a full drive. A larger hard drive just means more old shows to sift through when space is needed, before going on vacation, for instance. The Humax Tivo Series2 DVR Recorder allows me to archive those shows to watch later. Or even watch on my laptop while sitting in the airport!

There are many DVR's available these days that can handle the "Wait-what was that?" and "What did he say?" moments when watching live TV. They can also record shows for watching later, and even set up a subscription, aka Season Pass, to record all episodes of a show. But there is SO MUCH MORE to Tivo.

"Tivo Suggestions" are recorded when there are no scheduled shows to record, and they are based on your viewing habits. Also, the online scheduling ability is very useful, especially when at work or on vacation. ("Darn! I forgot to record the Grammy's!") But my favorite Tivo feature is the local network sharing.

I purchased a Tivo Series2 DVR and a Humax Tivo Series2 DVR Recorder for my home. I have a wireless network and, not wanting to run phone lines all over, I purchased a TiVo AG0100 Wireless G USB Network Adapter for TiVo Series2 & Series3 DVRs for each Tivo. The nightly programming updates are now downloaded over my wireless network instead of tying up my phone line.

The network setup and configuration was fairly straightforward, though I did have a problem with my network password. (The Tivo online support forums had the answer. The network password needs to be the hex-equivalent password for an Apple Airport network.) Immediately after completing the setup for the wireless network, I was able to transfer and watch shows already recorded. No compatibility issues at all.

We have put this setup and the Humax through its paces. Simultaneous transfers between the systems are slower, but minimally so. It's only noticeable when trying to watch a show while a simultaneous transfer is underway. (Giving the transfer a few minutes headstart before watching generally solves that problem.) On one particularly busy day, I was simultaneously transferring shows between the two Tivo's, watching a show live, that was also being recorded, and burning a DVD. Not only didn't the Humax choke; it didn't even blink.

Recording shows to DVD is very simple, though I did stumble and purchase the wrong type of DVD's the first time. (I bought DVD+RW instead of the required DVD-RW (or DVD-R).) After inserting the DVD, you only need to select the check-boxes in the order you want them to record. The Tivo automatically calculates the percentage of space each show will require and crosses out any shows that won't fit in the available free space.

Two items of note. First, the Tivo Series2 DVR and the Humax Tivo Series2 DVR Recorder record in different formats. Although I can transfer and watch shows from one to the other, I cannot burn shows originally recorded on the Tivo Series2 DVR. Second, I can't pause in the middle of the DVD burning setup. Doing so requires me to restart the burning process with a new, unused, DVD.

I love my Tivo's. But this one is my favorite. Shhhh!

HTH,
-chrystal

I have had my Recorder almost since they were first offered. I love it! It is easy to record to DVD and I have no problem with the image at all. I suppose my only problem was in getting exactly the right kind of DVD disc.

I'm now searching to get an additional TIVO DVD Recorder and it seems strongly that I will just get another one exactly like the one I already have...Humax. The big decision is in how long a capacity I need as you always seem to end up wanting more than you have.

I really don't get what everyone is complaining about. I have had my TIVO for almost 2 years and have not had ANY problems with it. My remote is awesome, it never misses a channel change and I have never had a problem recording DVD's. Every DVD that I have burned has functioned and is fine. I record all of my shows in High and that is how they are burned. I don't know if that makes a difference but this is hands down my favorite Tivo!! I don't want to upgrade and lose the DVD recorder. I would be lost without it.

relax, his Tivo is just as great as the regular, I have had series 1 and series 2 and then this one. There is no difference as to the product. The best is to take shows and burn them to a disk to play in the car! I have a gm minivan and there is no problem. series 3hd is my next adventure, and it seems the same but with a tiny bit of lag time between the channels (a fios/cable problem) not the tivo.