MetaChat - Do DVRs work for broadcast TV?

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30 November 2007

Do DVRs work for broadcast TV? →[More:]We have 1 analog-only broadcast TV, and one digital broadcast TV. We don't have cable or satellite. Can we still use a DVR?

post by: IndigoRain at: 15:39 | 7 comments

Doesn't it simply record whatever is currently playing on the screen?

Note: I don't actually know the answer to this question, but I still think I'm right.

posted by mudpuppie 30 November | 15:45

Most DVRs have internal tuners, so you can run them in series with your television set like a VCR and switch back and forth. You could also buy a splitter for your antenna and run your DVR and TV in parallel.

posted by eamondaly 30 November | 15:56

Thanks. Mudpuppie... well, I don't want it to necessarily record what's on the screen... if I want to watch a program on channel 7 and record on channel 32, for example.

Will it be missing some features like auto-recording a series?

posted by IndigoRain 30 November | 16:30

The TiVo DVR will ask you when you're setting it up if how you get your teevee (cable, satelite, over the air) and does the program guide that way. So you'd have all the bells and whistles, but just for the channels you get.

posted by birdherder 30 November | 16:40

To clarify: mudpuppie is incorrect. Most (all?) TiVos and all ReplayTVs have the ability to record one channel while watching another.

posted by eamondaly 30 November | 16:55

I WAS INCORRECT!

posted by mudpuppie 01 December | 17:21

hehe, but thanks anyways. :)

posted by IndigoRain 01 December | 18:50

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