Yes, you can use Replay or Tivo with satellite, cable or even the plain old antennae for broadcast TV. The standalone DVR's have an input and output, which means that when they are recording, you can’t watch something else unless you have a second box (satellite or cable) or you watch standalone cable or broadcast TV. That also means your TV has to have more than one input. As for how much you would pay, if you pay the monthly price for Replay or Tivo, the systems that the satellite or cable company offers are a better deal. You can do the onetime price, but with technology, it’s time for an upgrade a few years down the road, which just happens to be the breakeven point.