Dish DVRs Vs. Directv DVRs

One main factor in comparing DVRs is the size of the hard drive, which determines the amount of content it can store. Dish Network has the advantage here, offering five different DVRs, including two standard definition (SD) models that record up to 100 hours and three HD-capable DVRs that store up to 200, 350 and even 1,000 hours in SD, or roughly 20% to 25% of that amount in HD. DirecTV offers only a single SD DVR, storing up to 100 hours, and an HD model that holds up to 400 hours in SD or 100 in HD.

The DVRs offered by both providers include the ability to pause and rewind live TV, set individual and series recordings and record two channels while watching another recorded program. Both have an on-screen program guide to look ahead to future schedules, though DirecTV's guide will show up to 14 days in advance as opposed to 9 for Dish Network. Other differences include the picture-in-picture feature with Dish Network's higher-end DVRs not offered by DirecTV, and DirecTV's feature that allows you to access the scores of sporting events at the touch of a button.

Dish Network's top HD DVR (as of 2011)--the VIP 922--also tops DirecTV's top model with its integration of Slingbox technology. Slingbox is a service that allows you to watch programs recorded on your DVR on any computer or capable mobile/wireless device, provided the DVR is connected to your home's high-speed Internet network. This feature, along with the 1 TB (terabyte) hard drive of the VIP 922 that allows it to store up to 1,000 hours, is part of why the DVR was given the Editor's Choice award by PC Mag in 2010 and named "Best of CES 2009" by electronics review publication CNET (Australia).

One feature offered by DirecTV not available with Dish Network is Whole-Home DVR. With this feature, you can network up to 15 different TVs to the main HD DVR (with the use of additional set-top HD receivers connected to each TV, which means additional costs) and have the full range of DVR functions on each TV, including the ability to begin watching in one room and finish in another. The closest Dish Network offers to this feature is the ability to connect two separate TVs to a single HD DVR to watch and record programming from both.