Tweet
Greetings,
I am a bit frustrated after my initial attempts to find a digital video recorder. I envisioned a device that would:
1. Record digital television off the air by means of an internal digital tuner
2. Record to a hard disk drive so I can erase the recording after watching it
the two functions above would simply replace an old VHS deck and a single cassette that I have been using for years. The functions below would be nice additions, if I can get them:
3. The option of burning a DVD from the internal hard drive if I want to save a program.
4. Let me watch a playback while recording another program.
These functions are usually associated with “Tivo”. The Tivo website does not describe any product without an associated monthly fee (for what?)
I asked a local store, and they said that their Tivo box would record off the air, but only if I had a separate converter box. I asked how the Tivo would tell the converter box which channel to record, and got no answer. I then asked what the monthly fee was for if I was recording off the air, and got no answer other than I would have to pay it.
Another store told me that an LG RC897T would do all that I wanted. On the LG website, the product description does not mention an internal hard drive. I don’t want to burn DVDs for one-time viewing.
Is it now assumed that everyone has cable? If so, a lot of money could be saved by turning off the TV transmitters and re-allocating the spectrum. Or perhaps this is a way to force people to subscribe to a cable provider (by making sure that there is no reasonable way to digitally save off-air programming)?
I am frustrated that product descriptions on the websites do not accurately and completely describe the product functionality. I have to wade through a lot of advertising to infer what each device I look at actually _does_.
I'd like to find the following:
“This device has a built-in digital tuner, with an f-type connector for the antenna. This recording device may be programmed to record will record up to X hours on an internal hard disk drive. This device has external video and audio inputs (formats?) This device has video and audio outputs (formats?)
Does anyone know of an off-air digital recorder?
Of course, if you know of good links that speak to these issues, just let me know!
Thanks,
Tom
I am a bit frustrated after my initial attempts to find a digital video recorder. I envisioned a device that would:
1. Record digital television off the air by means of an internal digital tuner
2. Record to a hard disk drive so I can erase the recording after watching it
the two functions above would simply replace an old VHS deck and a single cassette that I have been using for years. The functions below would be nice additions, if I can get them:
3. The option of burning a DVD from the internal hard drive if I want to save a program.
4. Let me watch a playback while recording another program.
These functions are usually associated with “Tivo”. The Tivo website does not describe any product without an associated monthly fee (for what?)
I asked a local store, and they said that their Tivo box would record off the air, but only if I had a separate converter box. I asked how the Tivo would tell the converter box which channel to record, and got no answer. I then asked what the monthly fee was for if I was recording off the air, and got no answer other than I would have to pay it.
Another store told me that an LG RC897T would do all that I wanted. On the LG website, the product description does not mention an internal hard drive. I don’t want to burn DVDs for one-time viewing.
Is it now assumed that everyone has cable? If so, a lot of money could be saved by turning off the TV transmitters and re-allocating the spectrum. Or perhaps this is a way to force people to subscribe to a cable provider (by making sure that there is no reasonable way to digitally save off-air programming)?
I am frustrated that product descriptions on the websites do not accurately and completely describe the product functionality. I have to wade through a lot of advertising to infer what each device I look at actually _does_.
I'd like to find the following:
“This device has a built-in digital tuner, with an f-type connector for the antenna. This recording device may be programmed to record will record up to X hours on an internal hard disk drive. This device has external video and audio inputs (formats?) This device has video and audio outputs (formats?)
Does anyone know of an off-air digital recorder?
Of course, if you know of good links that speak to these issues, just let me know!
Thanks,
Tom
Comment