Choosing a VCR Alternative

by Tyler2000 Dec 13, 2005 9:27AM PST

I'm looking for a device to replace our VCR. We don't have HDTV, but we do have a basic dish network service without local channels. We get our local channels via antenna.

We want either a DVD-RW recorder or a DVR recorder. We don't want a monthly fee for tivo's programming guide, but we also don't want to build a homemade DVR with a PC.

Should we get a DVD-RW recorder or is there a standalone DVR unit that will record just like a VCR, but without tapes or discs?

We probably don't want to spend more than $200.

Discussion is locked

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If you want to record one channel and watch another...

by Art Dec 13, 2005 10:37AM PST

You will still have to pay for another box. With Directv, it's $5/month. Keep that in mind. As for dvd using rewrittable, I think most recorder if not all can do that.

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Which is why I still use Cable Tv

by Dan Filice Dec 13, 2005 1:56PM PST

To quote: "You will still have to pay for another box. With Directv, it's $5/month". When I added up all the "gotcha's" on satellite TV, cable made more sense, especially since I can split the signal into five rooms and pay for one connection.

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Didn't know you have cable.

by Art Dec 13, 2005 3:41PM PST

A dvd recorder would be just like a vcr. I have a recorder which doesn't have a built-in harddrive. The disadvantage of no Hdd. is that when you record a long program (say 4 hours), your force to record at a resolution which you may not care about. Of coarse the other way would be to put in a new disc every hour or so (for highest quality).

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Hard drive recorder?

by Tyler2000 Dec 15, 2005 4:26AM PST

You said the dish network DVR is $5 a month. How much is the initial unit(a basic one with the smallest hard drive)?

Does no one really offer a basic hard drive recorder for OTA and dish/cable with no monthly fee?

It seems like something like that wouldn't be too difficult to manufacture and would be in demand for a growing number of people.

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direct tv & cable

by Tyler2000 Dec 15, 2005 4:33AM PST

My mistake, you said direct tv is $5, not dishnetwork.

"cable made more sense, especially since I can split the signal into five rooms and pay for one connection."

Unfortunately cable is not available in our area. But we do have the signal from one satellite receiver split into 2 different TVs, but both TVs have to watch the same channel.

Choosing a VCR Alternative

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