DVR without satellite service

[chaleybrown]

I'm tired of paying fees for my television viewing and recording. I dont need all the channels you get from the satellite services, but i do love having a dvr. Greatest thing since sliced bread. Is it possible to get a dvr that will work with a regular old digital tv antenna? I'm sure that functionality cant be as good...

[freebird73717]

I think there is something from dish network called the DTVpal plus DVR that will pick up atsc and works without a subscription. I don't have one though so I couldn't say as to it's quality or how well it works.

I personally bought a cheap series 2 tivo and hooked it up with a dtv converter box and an ir blaster. Quality is not great but suites my needs just fine as I only have a crt tv anyways. For me it's worth the 12.95 a month tivo service fee. I like the features of a real tivo.

[usually_quiet]

The DTVPal DVR is not subscription-based. According to its specs, it uses PSIP data and TVGOS where available. Here's a link to a thread about it at the AVS Forum which has good information about this product: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1099071

[olyteddy]

There is the Magnavox 2160, a HDD and DVD recorder, but it suffers from on again, off again availability. It doesn't need a subscription, but you do have to enter the recording schedule manually.