[gm4yrs]

What would you recommend to replace a vcr to record ? Is a dvd recorder, my only option?

 

[Davenlr]

What would you recommend to replace a vcr to record ? Is a dvd recorder, my only option?

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html

 

[boba]

VCR/ DVR/DVD/ computer what do you have already?

 

[gm4yrs]

I have a Toshiba vhs/dvd recorder. The vcr would no longer work. Last saturday was the first time, I recorded to a dvd. I want to purchase a dvr/dvd player. Also, a unit that will work with hd, when I decide to upgrade. Recording will be for weekly tv shows, to be re-recorded over. Unsure if link above, is what I am looking for.

 

[Inkosaurus]

I would go with the hauppauge personally.
I actually own a 1212, i primarily use it for recording gameplay of me playing Battlefield 3 online for my clan and blog but i sometimes record television as well.

Its incredibly simple to set up, very simple to use and manage and has many options in regards to file format and recording. And it also records straight to your pc so that you can store it, edit it and burn it at your own leisure.
DVD recorders are neat but when your out of blanks it can be a bit lame having to continually restock them. Where as with a PVR you can burn when ever you would like to and already have stuff cut out of the dvd before its ever burned

 

[MCHuf]

A simple method is replacing your vcr with a Magnavox 513 dvd recorder with a 320gb hdd. Walmart has them for sale online for around $230. Unlike the pc solution it only records in sd (it still looks better than a vcr), but it's pretty easy to use and you can still store shows on the hdd. If you want to make a dvd of a show on the hdd, it will burn it at high speed. It's really the easiest solution for someone who's only worked with a vcr. The Magnavox 515 is even better, but are pretty rare anymore. The Magnavox's are the only dvd recorders sold in the USA that have a hdd and they have clear QAM and ATSC ota tuners in them that make them pretty flexible.

I still have a older Panasonic DMR-EH75V that has a 80gb hdd. It's nice, but lacks digital tuners and depends on TVGOS for scheduling. So it's strictly used to record shows off of my 722K dvr anymore.

 

[gm4yrs]

Thanks for the info. I will look into the two options, listed above.
How many times, can you re-record over a dvd-rw disc?
And why are there few options for recording digitally?

 

[MCHuf]

Thanks for the info. I will look into the two options, listed above.
How many times, can you re-record over a dvd-rw disc?
And why are there few options for recording digitally?

I have no idea how many times you can record on a DVD-RW disc because I've never used one. Strictly DVD-R and DVD+R DL discs.

The reason why there are so few options is because people in the USA would rather pay $10 - $20 per month renting the pay-tv providers dvr's instead of buying their own equipment at $300 - $600. Since manufacturers can't make any money selling these devices here, there aren't many choices. And the ota market has shrunk and is mostly people who can't afford a dvr or have no interest in one.

If I ever dropped Dish for cable, I would bite the bullet and spend the $1100 for two Tivo Premieres with lifetime service. Tivo's are better than any cabelco dvr I've ever used or seen. And two or more can network together to form a WHDVR. And since those Tivo's can record ota broadcasts and stream Netflix, Youtube and Hulu+, they are perfect for people who want to "cut the cord".

In some parts of the world there are BD recorders with HDD's. Of course those units can cost anywhere from $700 - $1000! People here have the "Wal-Mart" mentality and won't pay that kind of money.

 

[Jim5506]

If you're not locked in to recording HD, i.e. you can do with SD, look at a couple of single tuner TiVo Series 2 DVR's with lifetime sub, these can be connected to any cable or satellite box via S-video or composite and record everthing that comes down the wire.

From a 322 the TiVo Series 2 single tuner (not the dual tuner) should do nicely.

 

[oljim]

Dump the 322 and get a 625 DVR for about $80

 

[garys]

Dump the 322 and get a 625 DVR for about $80

That will add at least $6 to your bill.

 

[gm4yrs]

Thanks, again for the advise. Great responses for a new member's question. I wrote down all recorder options.

I guess for now, I will use the dvd recorder and re-record weekly on the same disc.

I may purchase a dvd recorder without vhs, will check out the Magnavox listed above.

The extra fees were a factor, not to upgrade to a newer Dish receiver. I have two tv's connected, top 200 with local, for $60 a month.