Recommended DVD Recorder/DVR Combos

[tvlover33]

I was wondering if there was anyone here that knows about DVD Recorder/DVR, Hard Drive Recorder combos. What's the best brand to buy? And do they all require some kind of monthly fee to use a hard drive recorder or DVR? Or is this technology still in its infancy?

And a DVR will allow me to record any channel, no matter which one I'm watching right?

[bigk181]

I use a TiVo Series 3 HD DVR connected to a Philips DVR3505 with gold plated AV cables for audio and a Silver Serpent s-video cable. The Philips DVR3505 was recommended to me.

http://www.tvpreservation.com/forum/...rder-9576.html

Tivo has a monthly payment for service but they also have a product lifetime service for $399. They got rid of the lifetime service a while ago but I guess they decided to bring it back.

You can record 2 shows at the same time with a TiVo Series 3 or record 1 show and watch a different one.

Whenever I record something I want to burn to DVD, I always record it using the best quality option on my TiVo.

TiVo: https://www3.tivo.com/store/home.do

Silver Serpent: http://www.bettercables.com/s-video-silver-serpent.aspx

[tvlover33]

So what about DVD Recorder/DVR combos? Are any of those good?

[konfusion]

depends what your cable or sat service provider is

[bigk181]

There used to be a TiVo DVR/DVD Recorder combo and, from what I've heard, it was a piece of junk. I can't speak from experience or about any other brand.

You can try searching the Internet for reviews about them. I recommend just getting a separate DVR and DVD recorder that are good. That's what I did and it's worked well for me.

[konfusion]

ya exactly but most cable companys that are not tivo dvr automatically make things letterbox. If you want to record HD to DVD you def want either a Directv HD DVR or a Tivo DVR. you can output through s-video wide screen as well. if oyu dont plan to do any hd then it doesnt matter what dvr or tivo you have. if you are slow at recording to dvd then get something with a lot of space on the dvr. but if recording from tv not from vhs the philips to me is the best i have seen. Atleast until we get a bluray recorder.

[lordsmurf]

I know nothing about this, but wanted to pass on the deal: TiVo Series 3 High Definition 250GB THX Certified DVR - $169.99 + $5 shipping at http://www.woot.com

• Condition: Refurbished
• Product: 1 TiVo TCD648250 250GB Series 3 HD THX Certified DVR
• Available today only, from woot.com. If you're not familiar with Woot, they have 1 product per day, and then that's it, new product tomorrow.

I use these for recording TV to DVD:

• Philips DVDR3575 (160 hard drive) - http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DVDR35...8229840&sr=8-1
• RCA DRC-8030N (80GB HDD) - no longer available

Neither is good for VHS to DVD, only TV (cable, antenna, satellite) to DVD. The Philips can tune HD QAM channels, records them to 16:9 DVD, the RCA does not.

Few things to remember:

• You can't use a DVD recorder to natively tune digital cable or satellite HD. You have to use the DVR service from your provider.
• DVD recorders and capture cards can only tune the unencrypted HD QAM signals from cable, or over-the-air (OTA) HD with an antenna.
• The Tivo+DVD recorder units were limited in abilities andy sucked. Those were discontinued many years ago.

[tvlover33]

I'm thinking of getting this one:

http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...5&SC=W035C400&

Or this one:

http://www.heartlandamerica.com/brow...&BC=S&DL=SEH12

[tvlover33]

You know what, screw it. I'm gonna get this one:

http://www0.epinions.com/specs/Panasonic_DMREH75VS

DVD Recorder/VCR combo with a hard drive. And when you record with a DVR, you can record any channel, while watching a different one, is that correct? So, if I want to record something on CBS, I can set it to record CBS, but I can still watch a different channel while it's recording, right, like, say, NBC or HBO and it'll still record the CBS show?

[tvlover33]

Okay that one or this one, by Sylvania

http://www0.epinions.com/reviews/Syl...with_160GB_HDD