Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

DVD recording TV while watching another channel

by chacha128 Feb 17, 2006 1:26PM PST

I am in the market to buy a DVR with Hard Drive. Reviews I have read say you cannot record TV and watch another channel at the same time. Is this true. I have Basic cable(no box). Our VCRs were able to accomplish this. Why not DVRs?

Discussion is locked

1 Posts

- Collapse + Expand Details

- Collapse -

Yes, Same As VCR

by RoadRunner6 Feb 17, 2006 2:30PM PST

VCR's and DVR's are similar except you are recording to a blank DVD or to the hard drive instead of tape.

The DVR has a TV tuner just like the VCR. Your TV probably has a TV tuner also unless it is a ''monitor'' only. You record on the hard drive or blank DVD while you watch another channel/program on the TV. You, of course, need to have the cable antenna connector going to both the DVR and TV antenna inputs.

We also have a basic cable jack with no box and a Panasonic DMR-E85 DVD recorder w/hard drive and have no problem. The DVR also allows you to go back and watch from the beginning of tape while it is still recording called ''chasing playback.'' If you are recording a football game and get home at halftime you can start watching the first quarter while the recording is in the third quarter, etc.

RR6

Back to TVs & Home Theaters forum