Why Tivo
 

Am looking to buy a second DVR for use with bedroom tv. On main TV currently am using Dish Network receiver model 501 with build in DVR, costs $299.
Was planning on buying another Dish Network one as once you buy the uniit you don't have to pay monthly fee..

So is their a reason I should look at Tivo instead which seems to do the same thing but also charges $12.99 a month ?

No idea why

Isn't your receiver/DVR already a Tivo? As far as I know, all DirecTV and Dish Network receivers with integrated DVR's are just Tivo's. The difference however, is that the receiver/dvr has two tuners. This allows you to record two shows at once, or watch one through the Tivo (so you can pause, etc), while you record another.

A stand-alone series 2 Tivo does not have dual tuners, but offers the HomeMedia software as an upgrade. This will allow you to stream recorded shows to other series 2 Tivo's in the house, play mp3's off your network, look at digital photos (from your network) on your tv, schedule recordings from a web-browser anyway, etc. Go to the Tivo site and read about it. The receiver/DVR solution does not allow you to upgrade to the Home Media Option.

Our main Dish Network receiver does have an intergrated DVR however the receiver in the bedroom does not.
The reason I need a second DVR is that the one in the main room does not allow you to watch a different satellite channel when its recording so I figured I would have a second unit in the bedroom to record the sports etc, as we have big screens in both...

Add those added Home Media Options do not sound like they are work $12.99 a month +..

thanks for the info.

The DIsh DVR is not a Tivo. The magic on Tivo is in the software.

It is far superior, far more intuitive and much more useful. The other DVR's all have similar hardware but none comes close to Tivo's software.

Buy a ReplayTV unit. I have two and the service is free.

Check out Replaytv also. You can network these and there is a program for your computer you can use to watch your replaytv on your computer. Also it uses rj45 cable in addition to phone cable. It also allows you to send shows to other replaytv units via the internet.

Software, you mean the programming guide?
From what I can see they do the same thing. Their is no added features that I can see that make it any different except maybe "TiVo detects line-up changes and adjusts recording times for you" that sounds useful as I hate missing the end of a tennis match...

I don't run Sat, so I'm not sure but if you are on cable I know Tivo is the best. I've had replaytv and it sucks compared to Tivo.