DVR Advice Needed

[JohnRich 4]

I hate paying a monthly service fee for my cable TV DVR (digital video recorder). I'd like to record TV shows for later viewing, using a box with a hard drive. I don't want to use my old magnetic tape VCR, or a DVR that requires loading DVD discs upon which to record.

Tivo seems to be the only game in town for TV recording to a hard drive, and they require their own monthly subscription fee, with no option to record without it.

Is there a hard drive recorder that records for free after you buy the darn thing?

I know the subscription fee allows you access to channel guides and such which let you pick shows to record based upon name, etc. But I don't need that functionality, I want to do it with just a channle number, date and time, for free. Just like the old VCR, but without having to juggle different tapes around all the time.

What's out there for me?

[pincheck 0]

Don't know about the state side of things John but what your talking about is like the UK free-view service. Where you receive certain channels for free and they need a digital receiver(UK changed from analogue to digital recently ), that doesn't cost much and now they usually come with back up drives in built

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[Morrison79 0]

Do you have an extra computer that can use? I know some people who have setup a desktop as thier DVR. Hard drives are cheap these days so you can store a lot.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/126104/apps_turn_your_computer_into_a_powerful_dvr.html

[Squeak 17]

I have a DVR digital box with a USB socket, when i want to record free to digital air TV, i just plug in an external drive and it records direct to that.
I can then play back on the TV or connect the drive to any computer and watch the programs on the move.

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[PhreeZone 20]

A really good option if you are not looking for recording of HD content is to look for Series 2 Tivo's with the Lifetime subscription option. Years ago Tivo used to run specials where you could buy lifetime service on their DVR for like $150 after buying the unit. Tons of people did this but the issue with the Series 2 units is they can only use one channel and they can only do Standard Def content, they will not even get HD content. I see them go on Craigslist for less than $75 all the time. I even have one I am looking to get rid of with the WiFi adapter for around that cost.

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[Morrison79 0]

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