The Best DVR Systems

The DVRs offered by the two major satellite TV providers in the United States -- DirecTV and Dish Network -- both rank among the best in the industry. Dish Network has the highest capacity single DVR of the two, with its VIP 922 HD DVR that features a 1 TB (terabyte) hard drive that allows for up to 1,000 hours of HD and SD (standard definition) programming, and offers a jack to connect an external hard drive for even greater capacity. The VIP 922 can record two channels at once while viewing a previously recorded program, and can connect to two different TVs for separate viewing on each. It also integrates Slingbox technology to allow users to view recorded content on other devices, with an active Internet connection.

While DirecTV's HD DVR does not match the capacity of Dish Network's, its hard drive does store up to 100 hours in HD or 400 in SD. Where DirecTV surpasses Dish Network is with its Whole-Home DVR service. This allows you to network up to 15 TVs to the primary DVR and have the full range of DVR functions on all of them, including the ability to begin watching in one room and continue in another. In addition, each secondary TV can be connected to its own HD DVR, compounding the total storage capacity with each one in use while retaining the single playlist.

TiVo is an independent DVR manufacturer, marketing devices designed to replace the receiver/DVR of the user's cable TV provider, though it does partner with certain providers to offer their DVRs and service directly. TiVo's Premiere XL DVR has a storage capacity that rivals the Dish Network VIP 922, as it can store up to 150 hours in HD or up to 1350 in SD, and the Premiere Q is a quad-tuner DVR, which allows you to record up to four channels at once. Premiere DVRs also stand out with their ability to display Internet video content from sources such as YouTube, Netflix and Hulu Plus. However, downsides are the price of purchasing the Premiere XL or Q (and the monthly TiVo service), and that additional hardware is required to view digital cable channels with most providers.

While the HD DVRs offered by the major cable TV providers do not currently match the storage capacity of their satellite competitors (and TiVo), another alternative -- AT&T;'s U-verse, available in limited areas -- also offers an expansive Total Home DVR service. Similar to that of DirecTV, Total Home DVR links the primary DVR to other TVs in the household, stores up to 65 hours in HD or up to 233 in SD, and allows you to record and play up to four programs at once, watch up to five HD programs at once, and schedule and delete programs from any connected receiver.