multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
tatzgrl
Enthusiast - Level 2

At this point I really don't want to buy a 2nd tv but my boyfriend & I would like to be able to watch/record more than 2 things at once. I called & talked to a specialist but his explanation of why this couldn't work didn't quite make sense. I was wondering if anybody out there has 2 boxes on 1 tv or has heard of it... or if not can it be explained why it wouldn't work?

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Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
Hubrisnxs
Legend

@tatzgrl wrote:

At this point I really don't want to buy a 2nd tv but my boyfriend & I would like to be able to watch/record more than 2 things at once. I called & talked to a specialist but his explanation of why this couldn't work didn't quite make sense. I was wondering if anybody out there has 2 boxes on 1 tv or has heard of it... or if not can it be explained why it wouldn't work?


it will work. 

out of the wall is your coax.   you get the 2nd DVR and a two way TV Splitter from radioshack or somewhere (1000mhz and higher).

out of the wall comes that coax, then the splitter, one side goes to one dvr and the other side goes to the 2nd dvr.

depending on your TV, if it has more than one HDMI then you can use two hdmi's (one from each box)

the biggest problem you'll have is that when you change the channel on one, it will likely change the channel on the other.   cheapest way to address that is by using a piece of cardboard over the Infra red eye on the 2ndary dvr.    if you don't address that early then you may accidentally cancel a recording on the 2ndary dvr without even knowing about it.

Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
jonsmirl
Enthusiast - Level 2

Search for your shows in the Free Video on Demand section. Many of the common TV series are available there. If your series is avilable from VOD then you won't need to record it. That may be enough to remove the need to record more than two shows. Note that most shows take a couple of days for the latest episoide to appear in VOD.

Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
tatzgrl
Enthusiast - Level 2

I currently have my "cable" splitting to the fios dvr box & my router... would it be ok splitting it 3 times instead of 2? I'm pretty sure I have a 3 way splitter from the days when I had comcast & had tv, phone & internet. Thank you both for your replies!

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Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
tatzgrl
Enthusiast - Level 2

Oh and for the on demand I don't like using that as much because sometimes have to wait longer to have the show available, plus then you can't rewind it on a lot of shows, so I prefer to record it.

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Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
GaryDoug
Specialist - Level 1

 Splitting it 3 ways should be ok. You could split it as many times as you want...until it doesn't work reliably. Mine has a 4-way splitter, 1 for the router and one each for 3 DVR's.

 Hub is correct about everything. I actually did exactly what you are suggesting for over a year on another service, right down to the cardboard piece. Could record 3 channels at once and watch a 4th at the same time. Later on, I once put a splitter on one of the DVR's and attached to the TV rf input. I could then record 4 channels at once and watch a 5th on a local channel only.

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Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
lasagna
Community Leader
Community Leader

Only thing I have to add would be if your TV doesn't have two HDMI inputs, you can buy an inexpensive HDMI switch like this (some even have a remote for switching inputs):

http://www.amazon.com/Apogee-HDMI-3x1-Mini-Switcher/dp/B001JTQUYG/ref=sr_1_2?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1...

This takes one or more HDMI inputs into it and outputs a single HDMI to the TV.   You can then select which box from which you want the signal.   Optionally, connect one box via HDMI and the other via component.

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Re: multiple dvr boxes on 1 tv
tdavek
Newbie

I have two identical DVR's side by side in a cabinet and use URC equipment to control them.  The RF reciever acts as a router and sends the IR signal to the correct device.  Pricey, but great.

http://www.universalremote.com/products/residential/base-stations/mrf-350

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