Customer Reviews
Perfect combo-TiVo and an easy-to-use DVR burner 
2008-08-13
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.
Purchased 3 Tivo's... 2007-11-24
...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
Wonderful Invention 2007-11-12
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.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE OF ALL!! 2007-09-25
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.
great tivo and burning capabilities 2007-08-26
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.
Good Machined - But There is a Problem 
2007-08-24
Humax DVD Recorders with TiVo service - the best way to watch and record TV. This full-feature, 3- in-1 product is a powerful TiVo Series2 DVR, an advanced DVD player, and an easy-to-use DVD Recorder. Because Humax DVD Recorders integrate TiVo service, you'll never have to struggle with videotape again. Now you can search for your favorite shows and store them directly onto your hard drive. And when you're ready to get mobile or create an archive, burning a DVD is as easy as using the TiVo service. WishList searches find and record all programs that feature a favorite actor, director, team or topic TiVo Suggestions automatically records shows based on your preferences Smart Recording will detect line-up changes, adjust recording times automatically and even skip reruns Schedule recordings online Inputs - front S-video, composite and IEEE 1394 FireWire Outputs - 2 audio, 2 composite video and S-video Telephone jack, low-speed data port, 2 USB ports and IR blaster Quick, convenient 1-button recording Includes remote control Use of TIVO requires a service subscription - One-time service fee of $299 (good for the life of the recorder) or monthly service fee of $12.95 for TiVo Plus required by TiVo
Terrible, just awful on my fourth replacemenet. 
2007-06-14
What a mistake! nothing but trouble. DO NOT BUY< DO NOT BUY it is a POS.
You'll be lucky to get a year out of this machine 2006-11-26
Well after a year of transfering lots of home video VHS onto the hard drive of this machine, the hard drive has crashed and all of my video files and about 100 hours iof work are gone. The only thing Humax will do is offer a replacement machine that is refurbished for a fee.. This unit is total crap. DO NOT BUY
Tivo is great, this UNIT is not 2006-11-16
I've had this unit about a year and have been having the same issues with "remote lagtime" and loud dvd tray...but I was put off so many times by Humax support that now I'm out of warranty. I too wonder if it is the box or the remote, as now the picture quality has been getting worse and worse. At the highest image settings, shows are recorded WAY too dark. : (
Checked all connections...tv...cable...etc. Even compared a VCR taped version of the same exact show tivoed in the other room...the tivoed one was dark and murky. Live tv is fine...it seems to be the way the Humax records now.
It's a shame, because having a integrated DVD recorder is a great idea...one I was willing to pay $300+ for and now regret.
Well... It has its few quirks and slight problems, but... 
2006-07-26
I had the same problem that alot of people here had/have, where the remote works fine and then after 2-4 weeks suddenly gets sluggish and makes you want to throw it and the tivo through a window. I even called Humax to get a replacement remote, and they were supposed to send one out but never did...
That didn't matter to me since the day after I had called, I took a nice pair of AA batteries (cheap walgreens ones) and stuck them into the remote and voila! Everything was back to normal, no more lagging, no more having to be right in front of the box and pressing the button a million times for it to respond.
I had taken out the batteries and re-inserted them and tried the batteries from our previous tivo remote, but hadn't actually tried any others by the time I called Humax (and they asked if I had replaced the batteries which I had done, but just not with another fresh pair from where I buy them).
So I am guessing that while the remotes and IR sensors may be a little bad, the main problem (or at least it was for me) was the batteries that they had sent with the unit itself...
As for burning DVDs and such, I have had a few failed burnings...
It doesn't like burning things in Basic mode for me, and sometimes the recording just got some kind of glitch/error while recording and no matter what you try to burn it on it won't do it (or will on a DVD-rw as the only episode to then move it to a computer).
We have had ours for a year and a half and I have burned many things (movies, and easily over a dozen tv series) and have only had problems with 2 Alias episodes, and 2 other failed to burn movies. But in normal circumstances, these DVDs would not only play back perfectly in the tivo DVD player, but on any of our other 7 dvd player items in the apartment (2 desktop computers, one laptop, one portable dvd player, 2 Xboxes, and our old standalone DVD player from before we had the Humax). We have used Memorex DVD's and even the nice and cheap Office Depot Brand DVD-R/DVD-RW's... which work great and are priced to afford plus have a Office Depot quarantee to work (can bring back to them if it doesn't).
