Editorial Review
With Replay's 2020 personal television server, it's easy to watch whatever you want, whenever you want, with or without commercials. ReplayTV's 2020 server provides up to 20 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a new Replay Zones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of television servers, ReplayTV records programs digitally and stores the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, you can record your favorite show while you're away from home and watch it later. However, unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn't require tapes or other software 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. If you leave the 2020 at the middle setting, you can anticipate approximately 12 hours of storage space. The highest-quality setting approaches 500 lines of resolution (depending on the source), but further reduces storage capacity to about six hours of recording time. We recommend using the High Record Quality setting for movies and the middle level for sporting events and other programs, then erasing the content after watching it.
One of the coolest features on the 2020 server is the ability to pause a live broadcast and resume watching it from where you left off. ReplayTV acts as a time buffer by storing the show in memory. A Return to Live button on the remote lets you skip forward to real time, which is great if you're watching a sporting event and want 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 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 and record programs featuring a specific actor. You can also refine theme-based searches for programming. For instance, if you wish to record the sitcom "Friends," you can limit your search to title only, so ReplayTV won't pull 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.
We loved ReplayTV's Quick Skip feature, which allows you to instantly jump ahead 30 seconds, so you can skip through TV commercials on prerecorded programs. We also like the Replay Zones, 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 onto 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 as an S-video input and output. This enables users to hook up a DSS or other direct-broadcast satellite receiver to the 2020, 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 2020, 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 IR code into Replay's universal remote control).
One neat feature we really like is the ability to place the 2020 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 disk from spinning. If you happen to be recording a show when you turn the 2020 off, it will continue to record, then shut down once the show is finished and stored in the hard drive.
Connecting the 2020 to our home theater system took about 15 minutes. Replay Networks thoughtfully provides a poster-size chart to guide users through setup so they don't have to open the manual. If you have an open phone jack, we recommend using it. Otherwise, you can use the supplied splitter to connect the 2020 to an existing line. (You do not need a dedicated phone line, since ReplayTV's programming updates occur for only a few minutes in the early morning hours.) You can also purchase a 56K wireless transmitter/receiver, which plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to connect the 2020 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. In only 20 minutes, we received the weekly programming data and software updates from ReplayTV, and we were ready for couch potato duty. One major advantage to ReplayTV is that it doesn't charge any monthly service fee for program guide downloads.
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. --Eric Gill
Pros:
- Easy to navigate onscreen guide
- Intuitive remote control
- Free programming guide
Cons:
- No internal fan to cool unit
- Limited to 20 hours of storage at low-quality record setting
Cached date: AWS Called=true
Customer Reviews
life changing 
2001-11-16
This little recorder make the top 3 list in my house.
I cant imagine doing with out it.. I wish I had the 60 hour
unit now. It don't miss a beat.
regads,
Kelvin
don't buy ReplayTV 
2001-10-18
I bought the replaytv 60 hr unit and have had nothing but problems for 7 months. The first unit had a problem with the modem. It would connect to the server only once in a great while. The next 4 (that's right 4 replacement units that replayTV sent) all skipped. I should say they skipped and froze up to be acurate. The last unit not only skipped but also rebooted itself every half hour or so. I am currently waiting for the next unit(these were all different units with different serial numbers not my same unit repaired) but I have given up hope of ever having a working unit. The fact that 5 different units have had problems shows the widespread unreliability of the ReplayTV hardware. When replaytv works it is great but this got to be the worst electronics device I have ever had as far as reliability and I have had quite a few. The first unit I had worked great other than the modem problem. It recorded everything and was a joy to use. The only problem is that if the modem does not work then the on screen tv listings are not updated and you eventually can't record the shows you want. The other units they sent have just been horrible and the last unit with the rebooting was the worst. I am very technically oriented and after countless hours with their tech support each time it was determined that it was hardware/software defects. Replaytv has tried to get the problems resolved but 5 replaytv units not working is just too much. What ever you do...don't buy ANY ReplayTV products or you will get to know their tech. support people very well. Remember, if I have had a problem with 5 different units than the likelyhood that you will have a problem is probably pretty good no matter which model you buy. If you want a DVR then look at Tvio; they can't be worse than RepalyTV. I don't own Tivo but if I had it to do over again....I guess the $9.95 a month doesn't seem so much now. I spent $65.00 shipping it back the first few times before I got ReplayTV to pay shipping each way on later units. Stay away from anything ReplayTV.
Good for the 1st month or so 2001-09-10
After regular use, Replay TV units break. The hard drive wears out and video/sound gets blotchy. I've returned two different defective units, and still have not received a replacement EIGHT WEEKS later. They do not honor their warranty. Also check out ... (Better Business Bureau). Under "Check Out A Company", punch up Replay TV in Mountain View, CA. I'm not the only one who is having trouble getting them to fix their bad product.
I like it! 
2001-08-25
It's hard to tell someone who has never had a ReplayTV how different it is than having a VCR. It's like trying to describe how a microwave oven changes your ability to eat to someone who has only an electric stove. I can watch what I want exactly when I want. I think that the only thing which was a little bothersome about the unit is that the volume level on the audio is set lower than that on my tv or vcr, but it's a really minor thing. I'm sure that any other product has it's "minor" issues as well. ReplayTV is a good product and I have no regrets about getting it.
Changes the way I watch TV 2000-09-16
I wrote an earlier review, so I hope this one gets posted too. I had problems with installation that took a long time to solve. Once over that hurdle, I must admit that this is a terrific product. It changes the way I watch TV. I now watch what I want, when I want. While that was posible with a VCR, Replay makes it much easier. When I watch a previously recorded show with the Reply, it feels like the program is airing then. Also, the fast forward is instantaneous, like on a DVD. Installation was a chore, but the product is worth the effort.
How did I get by without this? 2000-08-08
With Replay's 2020 personal television server, it's easy to watch whatever you want, whenever you want, with or without commercials. ReplayTV's 2020 server provides up to 20 hours of storage space and offers a host of upgrades, including an advanced programmable remote control with a new Replay Zones button that makes it very easy to find the shows you want to record.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of television servers, ReplayTV records programs digitally and stores the information on a hard drive. Like a VCR, you can record your favorite show while you're away from home and watch it later. However, unlike VCRs, the personal TV server doesn't require tapes or other software 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. If you leave the 2020 at the middle setting, you can anticipate approximately 12 hours of storage space. The highest-quality setting approaches 500 lines of resolution (depending on the source), but further reduces storage capacity to about six hours of recording time. We recommend using the High Record Quality setting for movies and the middle level for sporting events and other programs, then erasing the content after watching it.
One of the coolest features on the 2020 server is the ability to pause a live broadcast and resume watching it from where you left off. ReplayTV acts as a time buffer by storing the show in memory. A Return to Live button on the remote lets you skip forward to real time, which is great if you're watching a sporting event and want 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 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 and record programs featuring a specific actor. You can also refine theme-based searches for programming. For instance, if you wish to record the sitcom "Friends," you can limit your search to title only, so ReplayTV won't pull 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.
We loved ReplayTV's Quick Skip feature, which allows you to instantly jump ahead 30 seconds, so you can skip through TV commercials on prerecorded programs. We also like the Replay Zones, 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 onto 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 as an S-video input and output. This enables users to hook up a DSS or other direct-broadcast satellite receiver to the 2020, 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 2020, 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 IR code into Replay's universal remote control).
One neat feature we really like is the ability to place the 2020 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 disk from spinning. If you happen to be recording a show when you turn the 2020 off, it will continue to record, then shut down once the show is finished and stored in the hard drive.
Connecting the 2020 to our home theater system took about 15 minutes. Replay Networks thoughtfully provides a poster-size chart to guide users through setup so they don't have to open the manual. If you have an open phone jack, we recommend using it. Otherwise, you can use the supplied splitter to connect the 2020 to an existing line. (You do not need a dedicated phone line, since ReplayTV's programming updates occur for only a few minutes in the early morning hours.) You can also purchase a 56K wireless transmitter/receiver, which plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to connect the 2020 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. In only 20 minutes, we received the weekly programming data and software updates from ReplayTV, and we were ready for couch potato duty. One major advantage to ReplayTV is that it doesn't charge any monthly service fee for program guide downloads.
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. --Eric Gill
Pros:
- Easy to navigate onscreen guide
- Intuitive remote control
- Free programming guide
Cons:
- No internal fan to cool unit
- Limited to 20 hours of storage at low-quality record setting
Finally my TV is getting some use! 2000-08-04
I purchased the Replay 2020 from Amazon back in May '00, and have been completely satisfied with the value of this product. Although to some this box may look like an expensive VCR, I find that the Replay has two concrete advantages that VCRs do not offer:
1) You can eneter your desired shows once, then never worry about it again. They will always be sitting on the units hard drive waiting for you when you get home. No need to change tapes, search (fast forward) around for shows, etc. If you do not manage to see your show before the next episode is aired, replay can either delete and replace the older episode, or start storing a configured number of episodes for you.
2) You can quickly bypass commercials. Sure a VCR does this too, but you need to be pretty agile with that fast forward button. You also need to watch the commercials as they speed by on the VCR so that you can quickly stop when the program resumes. Often you overshoot and then have to rewind. But with the Replay, just hit the "30 sec advance" button 4 or five times and you're there. There is also an instant "7 sec replay" button that will go backwards for you.
I am a fairly busy person, so it's nice to know that when I do feel like watching TV there is always a bunch of my favorite shows waiting for me. I have not engaged in idle "channel surfing" since I bought this product, because I no longer have to! Everything I want to watch is on, and it's on now.
The only bad thing I can say about the 2020 is that the unit cannot be placed in an enclosed area (like a stereo system component might be). It needs lots of ventilation, or otherwise it can get kind of hot. However, this is easily solved by making sure that you place it on top of your entertainment center, say, rather than within a narrow shelf. I do believe that Replay addressed this issue with the 3000 series.
installation is not fun 2000-07-26
I am just starting to use the Replay, so I can't yet evaluate its performance. I have noticed a deterioration in the quality of the picture when I am watching live tv thru the Replay. But I do think customers should be warned that the installation process is complicated. ReplayTV balmes Amazon for this, saying they are selling a discontinued model (the 2020) with out-of-date software. I've told the folks at Replay that Amazon has the best customer service of any company I have ever dealt with, so I think the fault lies elsewhere (with Replay). I am usually pretty good at installing electronic equipment, but the Replay was a real ordeal. After spending several hours with no success (it was a Saturday night and Replay's tech support was closed) and then hours on the phone with Replay, I finally got the unit to work--sort of. I still can't get the Replay to change the channels on my cable box, but I believe that is a solvable problem. Several of the Replay technicians have told me that some of the instructions that come with the Replay are not quite accurate. Overall, installation was a very frustrating experience.
Happy with my Replay 2020 2000-07-25
I purchased my Replay 2020 back in April 2000. Amazon replaced it twice before I was satisfied with its operation. If it doesn't work without problems out of the box, let Amazon know immediately. Amazon is dedicated to customer satisfaction!
My Replay 2020 has been working non-stop since May. I agree with the other comments concerning the 20 hour 'standard' recording quality is not great, however I do most of my recording in this mode. I watch the Replay 2020 on a Sony 53 inch projection TV and find it completely watchable when recording in 'standard'. I am willing to sacrifice picture quality for recording time. Once I started using the Replay 'themes', 10 hours of recording time (at 'medium' quality) was not enough. The only time I use 'medium' quality is if I want to save the recording to a VCR. I have never used the 'high' recording quality. If it had a larger hard drive I would use 'medium' quality more often. In ending, aside from my initial problems, I am extremely happy with the 2020 features, flexibility and ease of use.
Couldn't live without it! 2000-07-22
I have had my ReplayTV for about four months now, and it has definitely changed the way that I watch television. I'm not home too often, so I always miss the shows which I like to watch. Even when I am home, I don't feel obligated to sit and watch a particular show. I have a VCR, but it's too difficult to manage taping shows all of the time. It's so easy.... with the touch of a button, I can catch up on all of the shows which I missed. Now that I've had one, I can't live without.
