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Community Newsletter: Q&A: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs
- 3/10/08 5:01 PM
Start/Stop late
by zysmith - 3/10/08 7:30 PM In reply to: TIVO - proprietary to the extreme by anna3333Starting and stopping late is for prograns that start or start outside the normal time windows. several shows run 1 hour and 5 minutes and the tivo may only tape the fist hour. you can set those programs to stop 5 minutes "late" to account for the added time. Start late is for shows that start at, say 8:15 as many premium channel movies like those on HBO do.
DVR
by auggie - 3/2/08 9:38 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have three computers that substitute for DVR's nicely. One, with XP media center, the other two with Vista Ultimate. I never, ever watch live TV(I can't the ads)I record shows on all of the computers,and they are shared on my network,so watching any show,from any one of them, is possible.The shows I want to save, go to a network storage, with 750GB's of room. I don't have one yet, but a nice addition to this, would be a media extender(that also plays DVD's)so I could watch shows, from the Vista Ultimate computers on the big screen TV, wirelessly. I might add that, I don't know what all the negativity about Vista is all about.It has lots of extra fetures, and is faster than XP.All I can say is,do a clean install,as an upgrade leads to many problems.The hot tip, is a dual-boot with XP & Vista.
DVR Possibilities
by jshoema - 3/2/08 5:07 PM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You don't say if you subscribe to a cable or satellite service, but both have DVR's combined with their box/tuner. Of course, there is an extra charge for this, but the cost is probably less than a service such as TIVO. My cable DVR from Time Warner has an output to a VCR or recordable DVD and it is easy to transfer a program which has been recorded on the DVR if you wish to keep it.
If you do not have a service provider with DVR's, then TIVO would certainly be a good choice. One suggestion - if you have VCR tapes, look for a combination VCR/DVD recorder. This unit allows for easy transfer from tape to DVD (if the tape is not copy protected).
The short and right to the point
by Lordbarronis - 3/2/08 7:13 PM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi,
Because I'm short on time this will be as short and direct as possible.
First off: I don't know if it is possible to find a DV-R with a built-in tuner. Most are made to record straight from the source via composite inputs: L-R video, or s-video, and a DV input (usually in the front for Cam-corders or cameras).
One important thing to consider is whether it has a built in hard drive or not.
You have to have a hard drive to pause live tv.
Make sure you read the manufacturers specifications to make sure it has the functions you need and/or want.
Knowing this if you want to record on one channel and watch another you will need a dual tuner cable or satellite box.
I've always been a Toshiba fan, great product for the money.
I hope this helps,
Jon
DVR
by jeffmcinnis - 3/2/08 8:57 PM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There are a couple of routes you can follow.
I guess from what you submitted you don't have cable. If your wife doesn't want to pay a subscription fee, the logic follows. Going on that assumption:
1. You can get a media center computer which will provides DVR functions. Relatively expensive but no subscription cost.
2. You can get a DVD recorder with a hard drive which will also work as a DVR and give you the advantage of being able to convert video to DVD. Again relatively expensive but no subscription cost.
3. Direct TV, and Dish both offer DVR service, I believe with two tuners, but you have to pay a subscription fee that ends up being much higher than TiVo. (I originally went the Dish DVR route, but the equipment was not very robust. I had to replace my equipment about every six months. That was a few years ago they may be better now. I didn't mind too much until they started to charge me shipping to return their equipment, which didn't seem fair. Pretty much the same problems with Direct TV. Needless to say that is why I no longer use either.)
4. Most cable companys offer some sort of DVR. You have a subscription and I'm not sure how good the equipment is. I have heard pros and cons for both.
5. Except for having to buy equipment TiVo is the best fit for me. (You can find deals on TiVo equipment that means you pay next to nothing for the receiver. Mine ended up costing around $50 for the dual tuner and $0 for the older single tuner. I have two with a 1/2 price subscription on the second.
Of course these are probably over simplifications and might not help you at all. Largely depends on your TV fix, cable or antenna would change your options. Hope this helps you in the DVR wars.
Jeff McInnis
DVR
by daemmett - 3/8/08 8:57 AM In reply to: DVR by jeffmcinnisSometimes These Q&A are providing misinformation.
As a long time DISH DVR user there is no truth to the statement that there are shipping charges for replacement.
3 times I have replaced PVRs and every time a free shipping label is in the Box for return.
This covers 6 years and single and dual channel units.
Jim
DVR plus DVD recorder
by goodrail - 3/9/08 7:34 AM In reply to: DVR by jeffmcinnisThat's what I use,AND, I've found that I can burn HI-DEF programs to DVD. Not in HI-DEF, but in very nice 480p.
DVR & VHS/DVD Recorder
by Winchester257 - 3/3/08 5:55 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If Verizon Fios is available where you live and you have a decent size HD TV,I would strongly recommend their triple play package with telephone (unlimited local and long distance),fiber optic internet,and fiber optic TV - you can also add mobile phone service.The key for you is that they offer a top notch HD DVR box for $14.99 a month,a home media HD DVR for $19.99 a month,and a standard definition DVR for $9.99 a month.You can record at least two programs at once (I'm pretty sure that it is three at once),you just have to be watching one of them if you're recording multiple shows.
As far as making DVD's out of VHS tapes go,I would recommend 1st) the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK or DMR-EZ475VK 2nd) the JVC DR-MV99B or 3rd) the LG RC797T or the LG(no HDMI)LRY-517.
DVR
by batman823 - 3/3/08 6:21 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Jim,
I'm sure you will get plenty of models and very specific advice. However; I would like to provide a couple of pointers.
1)There are many dvd/vcr combos out there that you can buy. Some will record DVDs, some will not. The recorders will be a bit more expensive, ranging from $100-$200.
2)There are many DVRs out there, you would have to find a good electronics comparison site to see which model fits your exact need. You can purchase many of them without subscribing to a specific service.
There is one problem with some DVRs. Some cable/satellite companies encrypt their cable transmissions to prevent you from recording their shows. If this is the case with you, you may have to rent one from your provider or go with TiVo. You most likely won't have this problem and will be able to return a purchased DVR if it won't record. In either case, buying a DVR would mean you own it and it's yours forever. If you rent it, it could cost you less if you only use it for a season and stop paying for it during the summer when there's primarily just "filler" shows on cable networks.
Simply put, I would buy the DVR and see if I were happy with it. If I didn't like it, I would return the unit and try subscribing to TiVo. If it were not worth the price on my budget, I'd cancel the subscription.
Your personal budget is probably different than mine, so those variables are something you'll have to consider on your own.
Best of luck
LG recorder recommendation
by lwillard - 3/3/08 8:33 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I purchased the LG - Multiformat DVD-R/-RW/+R/+R DL/+RW/RAM Recorder/VCR Combo from Best Buy a few months ago and I love it. I had 22 old VHS tapes dubbed at slow play of my kids growing up that I wanted to put on DVD. This was too easy. I just put the VHS tape in, put in a DVD, recorded it and then finalized the session. I got all of them done in one weekend. Plus you can record from other a/v devices by connecting them to the handy ports in the front of the machine. I plugged my digital video camera in and burned some contect of my granddaughter on dvd. You can add more content later as long as you didn't finalize the disc. I would highly recommend this device.
Dinosaur "HAH" --Beta any one.
by aberathy - 3/3/08 10:19 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I still have a Sony Beta machine. It records all DVD and VHS onto standard Beta DVD's. Its for sale if u want a cure-all. Amazing to see Blue ray won-you see, I had it right, just 20 years ahead of my time...lol...Steve A
Beta DVD ??????
by peter4012 - 3/9/08 6:02 PM In reply to: Dinosaur "HAH" --Beta any one. by aberathyThough it's outside the concept of the post, you got my curiosity, I know of Apex 1" Video Casette, U-200, Beta Video Tape, VHS Video tape, 8 -mil video (all three in HI/Super format (not to be confused with with HD), 8 mil digital tape (actually there is a digital Beta tape in comercial markets) , one should include Video CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray *though I don't recall any recordable ones yet) but Beta DVD ??? - the only disc format I recall back then was Philips Laser and they wern't home recordable.
From Beta tape through DVD's I own at least one each --- but you got me
DVR...
by zysmith - 3/3/08 10:28 AM In reply to: Advice needed for an all-in-one DVR that can burn DVDs by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Panasonic offers a line of DVD recorders that can give you what you are looking for. I own a Panasonic DMR-E85HS that includes a hard drive, free TV guide and a DVD burner. I have connected my VHS player to it and copied family VHS tapes and burned them to DVD.
I can watch one channel while taping another, I can schedule a program to taple once, every week etc... so I don't have to miss an episode. I can record over 200 hrs of programming to the hard drive so vacations aren't a problem either.
Recently we made DVD copies of my niece's wedding to give to several family members. Using DVD-R, they played without error on several different mfg. DVD players, a consideration if you are going to make copies of content for friends and family.
Flexible and free (after the initial cost) this is a great alternative to TIVO and it's monthly costs.
Be careful! A unit with an anolog tuner = useless in <1 year
by dcalhoun38581 - 3/7/08 7:56 PM In reply to: awesome solution by confuxionMine was among the first few replies to this question of Jim's. I must point out again that the digital transition MUST be considered. There are *many* DVR/VCR combinations available and a lot of them include a built-in tuner. The thing is, the upcoming transition to digital TV will render a unit with only an anolog tuner virtually useless in less than one year.
I've been doing a LOT of looking around lately. I'm trying to find a DVD Recorder that includes a DIGITAL tuner, a hard drive, and several features found in the Phillips DVDR3575H. It's amazingly difficult to get highly specific information about such units online. many ads don't make it clear if a unit includes a Digital tuner (ATSC) , an Analog tuner (NTSC), both, or neither.
The thing is, I live so far out in the country that I can NOT get DSL, so all broadband options are off the table for me. Besides, I refuse to pay a monthly fee for TV of any kind.
If anyone knows of a unit that's very much like the DVDR3575H and clearly includes a digital tuner, please let me know of it! 
Dennis C.
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