Question about converter boxes

[jacatone]

I recently got a box from TW with a huge remote that allows me to view both their analog and digital channels for basic cable. The problem I'm having is I can't use my DVD/VCR to record programs through this box. TW online chat says I need one of their DVRs. Would the digital converter shown in the link below work instead of what they've given me or does it only work with pure digital signals? Thanks.

http://www.kjonline.com/news/time-warner-cable-urging-customers-to-get-converter-box_2011-09-26.html

[usually_quiet]

I recently got a box from TW with a huge remote that allows me to view both their analog and digital channels for basic cable. The problem I'm having is I can't use my DVD/VCR to record programs through this box. TW online chat says I need one of their DVRs. Would the digital converter shown in the link below work instead of what they've given me or does it only work with pure digital signals? Thanks.

http://www.kjonline.com/news/time-warner-cable-urging-customers-to-get-converter-box_2011-09-26.html

Sorry, but that converter is not a magic box that will allow your VCR and DVD recorder to tune analog channels that have been moved to a digital tier.

The converter is like a cable box, but without a program guide, or video on demand services. If you read the article you linked to, it comes with a remote control, so it tunes the channel you select. If it is like the ones from my provider, it outputs a standard definition signal on channel 3 or 4 via a coax connection.

Just as with your cable box, you can record whatever channel the converter is tuned to with your VCR or DVD recorder, and that is all.

[jacatone]

What about getting one of these DVRs like the one linked below. It says it replaces the cable companies box. Would it allow me to program several channels at once?

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-TCD746320-Premiere-DVR-Black/dp/B0036OR910/ref=sr_1_1?s=ele...1&keywords=dvr

[orsetto]

The TiVO can be used with TWC as a DVR and tune most (perhaps not all) of their channels. However it is not a practical solution for someone like yourself, who is on a "budget" tier. The fees associated with TiVO would drive your monthly costs up quite a bit. Using TiVO requires TWC come to your house and install their "CableCard" in it, which is like a miniature decoder box. You rent this from TWC for about $3/mo. You must *also* sign up for a TiVO subscription, or the TiVO will not work at all. TiVO costs either $14.95/mo or you can buy a lifetime subscription for an upfront one-time fee of approx. $499. In other words, no one gets a "free ride" by using their own DVD recorder or VCR anymore. The cable companies found a loophole to exploit, and they are exploiting it to the hilt: you want to record cable? You're now stuck with unpleasant or expensive choices. There are no "budget" recording solutions once the cable company issues you one of those annoying digital boxes.

The "free" box they gave you is useable to record one show at a time connected to your own recorder, but quality isn't great and you can't preset multiple show timers on different channels. You could try connecting the incoming wire to your recorder, the way it used to be, and see what channels you can tune with the recorder. You can often at least still get the major networks this way, and that may be enough flexibility for you. But when you need to record a scrambled channel, you'd need to hook up their box again. Kind of a pain, there are workarounds involving a switchbox and splitter if you're ambitious.

Option 2 would be to request a "standard" digital decoder box, the one with an on-screen guide that lets you set up to 8 program timers on different channels up to 4 or 5 days in advance. You also set your recorder to record at those times. All recording can be done via line input connections from the box to your recorder, allowing stereo sound and a better picture quality. This will add $5-15 to your monthly rate: negotiate in person at the local TWC office, they'll usually give a discount for upgrading your bare-bones service.

Option 3 involves spending even more money to get the TWC tier that includes a DVR built right into the decoder box. This is very convenient and allows recording two shows on two channels at the same time, while you watch a third channel. You can also hook up your DVD recorder to the recording box when you need to make a DVD of something. Alternately, you could buy the TiVO, but the subscription fees for the CableCard and TiVO service are about the same as the TWC box. TiVO has a much friendlier interface than the TWC DVR, but since it isn't TWC hardware it can occasionally lock up or get confused when TWC moves channels around or makes other changes. To be fair, that happens with TWC hardware as well, but at least you can scream at them and they'll fix it. With TiVO, they'll stall and tell you it isn't their problem.

Before trying anything else, disconnect the new box and hook the wires up the way your recorder was connected before. See how many channels your recorder can still get with its own tuner. You may get lucky, and most or all of your favorites will still be useable without the new box. No guarantees how long that will last, as they're desperately trying to phase out "boxless" cable, but you might get a year or two more.

[usually_quiet]

If all you want to do is watch some programming at a more convenient time, you should check to see what video on demand offerings are available through your standard cable box. My provider has several weeks worth of past episodes of the most popular TV shows in my package available that way. Usually they are available to watch the day after they air, but that varies somewhat. My parents now watch missed episodes that way because it is so much easier for them than figuring out how to record TV using their VCR with the cable box.