Number of Timer Events and recording from multiple channels

[RLHart]

I am looking for a DVD recorder with an internal hard drive to record classes for my children from our satelite system. We need need to be able to record about 20 classes per week. I would like to program them once and have it repeat weekly without the need to reprogram.

Some recorders can only schedule 8 events, and others 32, but I am having a hard time getting that information from the manufacturers. Pioneer does 32. Panasonic tech support says to "read the manual" (which does not say).

I would also like to be able to either record from two inputs simultaneously or watch one channel while recording another.

I would appreciate feedback from users who are happy with their recorders who know whether their units can do this.

Thanks.

[Frobozz]

Do you really need a DVD recorder? Are you going to be archiving these programs on DVD or are you merely going to watch them at a convenient time for the classes and discard them?

Your interest in recording two programs (or watching a live program while recording another) requires two tuners and I'm not aware of any two-tuner DVD recorder. However, there are two-tuner Digital Video Recorders that record programs to hard drives (but can't record a DVD). It is possible with DVD recorders to watch a recorded program while recording something else.

So to get that feature you'll need two DVD recorders or one DVR plus one DVD recorder.

I'm only familiar with Pioneer recorders. One feature they have is the option to set up as many as three recorders with each one working from different remote control codes.

As for a DVR, contact your satellite provider for what they have to offer.

[donpedro]

...requires two tuners and I'm not aware of any two-tuner DVD recorder.

I believe that DVD Recorders that are combined with VCR have 2 tuners.

I see bigger issue... He is recording from "satelite system" so he needs 2 tuners on "satelite system" and not on DVD Recorder.

[RLHart]

Thanks for the thoughts. Let me explain further. The satelite system provides four continuous channels of homeschool programming. On the satelite receiver I can program it to switch to the appropriate channel at the right time. I actually have two receivers daisy-chained together so I can output two channels at a time. Currently, I have those connected to five or six VCRs scattered throughout the house. The close ones I connect via s-video or rca connections. The ones in other rooms I use a modulated signal over coax cable.

Ideally, the hard drive would be located in the satelite receiver and be able to record multiple channels directly to the hard drive. For a short time such a system was offered (Topfield receiver), but they had to withdraw that option (perhaps due to TiVo patent issues).

Since we have five children using watching classes, I would like to stream the classes to a hard drive and burn DVDs as needed. Some could be streamed directly from the hard drive, and some dubbed (at high speed) to DVDs.

Another option would be to connect the hard drive to our wireless network. That would require each to have a networked computer or an ethernet video hub (if such a thing has been invented yet - little box with wireless input in one end and video to your TV at other end). This option requires more $$$. Also not sure I have enough bandwidth.

I would like the system to be robust, and easy enough that my wife and children can make it work.

Streaming to DVD recorder with internal hard drive at least would mean that I could set up the progam once per semester and let it run. Dubbing at high speeds to DVD may take a few minutes, but at least it could be done when convenient.

Any more ideas are more than welcome.

[do9999]

I believe the cheapest option that will work for you would be 2 low end direct-to-dvd recorders. Around $100 each.

No matter what though at this time I don't believe there are any multi-tuner DVD recorders on the market.

[donpedro]

Recomendation from do9999 sounds good.

Anyway... there is Panasonic DMR-E500HS that provides some sort of "Ethernet Network Connection" that can be used to connect 2 recorders together. But that is about all that I know about that functionality.

[RLHart]

Direct to DVD would not help because I would need to be there to swap the DVDs in and out, which I am trying to avoid. I currently do that with videotapes. We have 8 classes to record on Sundays, each over two hours. Streaming to a hard disk and copying them later would be much nicer.
The Pioneer DVR-633HS looks attractive, but I think it can only do one channel at a time.

[OneSickPup]

Probably not the answer you want to hear in this forum - but your unique situation is probably best served with a pc based solution. Assuming you have a pc with a couple free pci slots, you could get a couple ATI Theatre 550 Pros (under $80 each if you opt for a Sapphire-Powercolor-MSI-etc model). Same card - just not ATI's name on it. Software doesn't have to be MS MCE. You could use several 3rd party products including GB-PVR which is freeware. The guys over in the Capture Forum would know way more than I. But at least you could hardware capture to mpeg2 with little cpu overhead and store to hd. Burn whenever you see fit. Cheap and flexible (assuming the hardware is available for use of course). Good luck.

[DeepOne]

Take a look at the HP Digital Entertainment Centers . They are expensive, but it looks like they will do everything you want. You can download the manuals in .pdf format from the HP website.

[donpedro]

The Pioneer DVR-633HS looks attractive, but I think it can only do one channel at a time.

All of them can record only one channel at a time.