Pre-newbie questions ref: Directv DVR w/TIVO

[Dud]

Hello, this is my FIRST post so please be gentle. I am a pre-newbie because I do not yet have any DVR equipment yet, I am trying to decide whether to order through DirecTV, buy a unit from a retailer (like Circuit City, or buy a unit off of ebay (not a modded unit).

I have DirecTV on one TV (no TIVO yet). I wish to acquire a DVR that has the following capabilities:

1- can record TV shows/movies and transfer to PC

2- can be networked to support (1) above

3- I would like to avoid the use of a phone line and go either through the web or just through the sat dish to receive the TIVO programming (I have seen some modified DirecTV unit for sale on Ebay that SAY they can receive the programming through the dish vice a phone line).



My questions center around what DVR I might expect to receive from DirecTV AND would it be modifiable to accomplish 1-3 above. Please, can anyone tell me:

1) What are the current model DVRs that DirecTV is now shipping? (I live in Florida if that helps)

2) Are all of the current models moddable to accomplish 1-3 above?


I have looked through many threads here and read conflicting statements about whether the units are moddable or not? Your help is greatly appreciated.

[xjphil]

The R-10 (?) is the model you will most likely get. Not good, from what I hear.

I recommend Ebay unmodded Hughes SD-DVR40. Its an RID unit. I got one for $42. Hackable, to get all you want out of it. I think you still need the phone line for the initial call, but after that, you are supposed to NOT plug in the phone cord, so you are in luck. DTV will send you guide data over satellite either way. Daily call for guide data is only for Standalone units.

The 4.x on RID thread below (or above) this one in the newbie section should have a link to the guide, and that walked me through 3 different hacks, and is great.

Good luck.

[Dud]

Thanks for your input, it was JUST what I was looking for. I am very disappointed to hear that the latest units are less-hackable. I will look for one of the units you described.

Any other advice?

[eastwind]

To accomplish what you want it is not necessary to move to 4.0x on the DVR40 or DVR80. You can get the network running, disable encryption, and extract shows with the 3.1.1x software that will likely be on it before you get it. You may need to prevent it from updating to 6.2 however because not all hacks support that version as of today.

ew