2012.03.19 - Multiroom DVR Showdown

If you had your choice, which DVR would you choose? Unfortunately, you don't have a choice most of the time. Most equipment only works with one provider, so you have to take what they give you. But, if you're ready to change providers, you might want to know about the choices available to you. Here's a rundown of the state-of-the-art in multiroom DVRs.








The HR34 is a new DVR from DIRECTV that uses RVU technology to send the full DVR experience to TVs with no separate box. Right now only a few TVs are supported but more are expected. An external adapter is expected in 2012 to let any TV have the full DVR experience.DIRECTV is the only provider that lets you record over-the-air broadcasts. It offers a very high recording capacity, dual buffers, picture-in-picture and many other advanced features. However, it lacks remote management that every other provider offers. This is the only DVR that lets you record 6 HD programs at the same time (1 must be on demand)








Hopper and Joey are Dish Network’s latest and greatest. The technology is not compatible with any other Dish product so additional wiring is required. This is the highest capacity DVR and it is the only one that lets you add an external hard drive that adds to (not replaces) the existing hard drive. Dish is tightly integrated with Blockbuster at Home and has full remote management. Dish is the only system that can automatically record all primetime network programming and still leave two other tuners free for any recording. Unlike other Dish products, OTA is not supported without an adapter sold separately. That adapter will only record one OTA channel at a time.








XFinity Anyroom is a DVR solution from Comcast with low upfront cost. It suffers by being able to record only one program at a time and it is impossible to watch a second channel while recording the first on the same TV. Xfinity’s strength is its large on-demand library. Almost all primetime programming is available on demand without recording, freeing up the DVR to record only those shows that are not available on demand. XFinity is also available in a “triple play” where phone and internet can be bundled. If you live in an area not served by AT&T or Verizon FIOS it’s a good low cost solution.








This is the multiroom solution for AT&T customers. It offers a very powerful DVR for no upfront cost. You can stream to a maximum of 7 rooms simultaneously. Channel changing is very fast compared to other providers. It lacks dual buffers, a popular feature for sports fans but does have a 4-tuner picture-in-picture. AT&T offers a package that bundles internet, TV, land line and cell phone for an attractive price. Not all systems across the country offer the same hardware.








The FiOS solution is the most fully customizable system on the market and the FiOS network is the fastest. On Demand is nearly instant. It also offers very comprehensive remote management and server-based remote streaming capabilities. The FiOS multiroom DVR runs on a variety of hardware so recording capacities can vary from 20 – 200 hours of HD. Because of the use of different hardware, not every system can show HD in every room. Like AT&T and Comcast the FiOS system can be bundled for very attractive pricing with zero upfront cost.




Do you want to know how they stack up? Here's an easy comparison chart!
¹Requires the use of the AM21N adapter, sold separately
²Samsung 2011 and 2012 6000-series Smart TVs required for receiver-free operation, pause live TV from any TV, and for remote management
³HD User interface for HR34 has been available since spring 2012.
⁴Streaming is from Server library not from home DVR
⁵Higher capacity DVR available in some markets.
⁶Minimum guaranteed number. May be higher with some hardware.
⁷Record 1 channel over the air with adapter sold separately.