Question: Which is the Best ReplayTV Unit to Buy?
Answer: JJ wrote: I currently have an upgraded RTV-3020 and I am considering buying a newer unit. Assuming that I could purchase any model (even discontinued models), which one is the best in terms of features and recording quality?
jleavens writes: This all depends on your point of view. A lot of people like the 3000 series that you already have because there are no montly fees to pay. If you decide to get a new one, you can probably pay for it if you sell your lifetime-activated unit on eBay.
But assuming you want a new unit, here's what to consider:
- 4000/4500 Series - Avoid these unless you already have one or more already. They are not networking compatible with the 5000 and 5500 models. But if you already have one or more large capacity 4ks, it's worth buying more.
- 5000 Series - This has been considered the top ReplayTV unit in terms of features. These units had the Automatic Commercial Skip and Internet Video Sharing features enabled. Unfortunately, it's those features that are why this unit is not being made anymore. However, except for these features, the 5500 is almost identical to the 5k. They may be hard to find at a reasonable price, and you'll save some money buying the 5500.
- 5500 Series - These units are nearly identical to the 5000 Series, except they miss the features mentioned in the 5000 unit. They are still fantastic units, and the ShowNav function is nearly as good as the Auto-Skip. Also, the 5500 (and some later 5000 units) had new fans that are quieter than older models
