VCR to DVR

[psiclist]

I have discovered that my digital converter box, while it works well and gives me much better reception of my off-air programs, won't allow my vcr to work as before. i.e. I can't program the time and station. So, I have been looking for a digital version of my VCR. I bought a Direct TV HD 250 something and it receives the channels via antenna very well but I cannot record. I don't want Satellite or Cable service. So, is there a digital recorder to a Hard Drive (I don't want to go through stacks of dvds for shows I'll only watch once) that works like my VCR? i.e. I program it to record an over-the-air station at a certain time and forget it. I don't need channel guides, don't want to pay a subscription, I just want to time shift like I have been doing forever. All I can find are Tivo or Dish or Direct TV or cable. Is there such a thing? It seems like there are going to be a lot of people like me who's VCRs don't work correctly anymore after 2/09. Thanks.
Steve

[yoda313]

One option is to use a capture device on your computer to record. If you have it in the same room as your tv you can set it up for htpc use quite easily. (Windows Media Center is one option).

Another hardware option would be to get a dvd recorder that has a harddrive builtin. However from what I have read on this forum those are a dying breed. You may try ebay or another online auction site for one of those. That way you could record to the harddrive like a tivo and save to disc later.

Alternatively you could get a dvd recorder without a harddrive. Be sure you get an internal tuner with it otherwise you'll have your same problem again. You'd have to record to disc but with a rewritable disc you could treat it just like a vhs tape and erase it as many times as you want. Only downside is it is linear in a sense that if you have a four shows and erase the first and third shows you don't get the total recording space back only those two blocks (ie you can record in block 1 and 3 but not for the total consecutive length of both - if they were half hour shows you can only record two new half hour shows in thosse spots).

I'm sure there are other options I'm not thinking of right now. However these are the most readily available options I can think of. And a tv capture card for your computer is probably the cheapest aside from a noname dvd recorder WITHOUT a harddrive (a dvd recorder with a harddrive would be considerably more expensive if you can find one at all).

[SmokieStover]

If your DirecTV Box has a programable tuner, you could feed the RCA out to a RCA in on your VCR, and then set the timers on both units.

Also, there is at least one DTV converter box featuring a programable tuner (timed channel changing) that could be used in conjunction with your VCR.

Or, if you want a one box solution:

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic341172.html

[usually_quiet]

The Zinwell ZAT-970A, as well as the DISH DTVPal, DTVPal Plus, and TR40-CRA are the only converter boxes with timers. I have two of the DISH Boxes. With those, the clock can't be set manually. It relies on the time sent with the digital signal. Mine are usually about 2 minutes behind, but that varies. The Zinwell's clock can be set manually, and it supposedly provides a better picture than the DISH boxes. but the clock is a 24 hour clock, not the usual AM/PM.

If the Philips 3575/3576 and Magnavox H2160 HDD DVD recorders don't suit your needs, DISH will be coming out with the DTVPal DVR for recording OTA around the end of next month. A few days ago, I saw part of a TV program promoting it, and from what I recall. it will have 2 tuners and can record HD. If they gave a price, I missed that part. Rumor has it that the price will be around $300. There are no with no fees or subscriptions involved.

One warning: Based on personal experience, if you place a non-satellite related order with DISH over the phone, their customer service reps can get confused. You will have to be certain they understand that you are not ordering satellite service and are ordering one of their non-subscription DTVPal DVRs for OTA instead.