what do people use now rather than vcr's to record fox/tv ?

[laz]

I was wondering what 'boxes' people are now using to record tv/foxtel/dvds
etc ?

in the past my relatives used vcr's to record tv and fox show's
and also vcr's to record rental dvds, so they could watch them later .(but
with lesser quality)

what are people using now ?
dvd recorder set top boxes ?
are hard drive based units ?

what is easy to use ?
as some relatives are looking to upgrade from vcr's-so it should be easy to
use...

I just tend to rent or buy dvds, and don't really bother to copy off tv
so i'm not sure what to recommend to them

laz

[Trevor S]

"laz" <xmen@invalid> wrote in news:40b6d531@quokka.wn.com.au:

<snip>

> in the past my relatives used vcr's to record tv and fox show's
> and also vcr's to record rental dvds, so they could watch them later
> .(but with lesser quality)

I never bothered recording with VHS, to much of a PITA.

> what are people using now ?

> are hard drive based units ?

That's me...

> what is easy to use ?

HDD, HEAPS of space, eg multi day pay TV marathons are easy on HDD
equipped recorders (eg recent DS-9 on TV-1). AUSTAR boxes you can't pre-
program the STB to change channels, apparently the new FOXTEL Digital
box's you can. If you're a hard core FOX PAY TV user, I would wait for
the rumoured HDD equipped Foxtel PVRs that are supposed to be coming out
later this year. I have AUSTAR and have not heard anything about their
future plans in this regard, all I want to do is be able to use the
online guide to change bloody channels :) !

> as some relatives are looking to upgrade from vcr's-so it should be
> easy to use...

HDD craps all over VHS for usability, I found a VCR to painful to bother
with normally so IMO useability has gone up significantly. That being
said recordable DVD is no big step IMO as it's to small to be useful
(same thing with VHS) ie the tehcnology is useless before it got off the
groud and it's obviously useless for archiving or timeshifting HDTV.

A twin tuner HDD equipped digital STB might be the go (assuming HDTV is
of no interest to them) and connect the PAY TV decoder up to it as well ?

http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/product.asp?SKU=TF5000PVRT

A couple points.

1. I would not buy another DVD only recorder (I have one with and one
without a HDD) I got these as both my VHS decks crapped out on me, I
go s-video out on the PAY TV STB to s-video in, picture is very good*
IMO.
2. No digital tuner means I would not buy another HDD equipped recorder
either
3. For FTA I am waiting for a twin tuner HDTV PVR as the only FTA on
Austar is SBS and ABC and you can't program the STB to change channels to
them, bastards :)
4. Do you want to archive at all, as well as timeshift ? If so you will
need something that can burn to DVD as well as record to HDD, only thing
available at the moment I am aware of is the Panny E-100 and the Pioneer
510.
5. AUSTAR digital can kiss my ass until the STBs can change channels.


*compared to FTA analogue

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[Goforit]

Nice info Trevor.


"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94F7AE5D36927billgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> "laz" <xmen@invalid> wrote in news:40b6d531@quokka.wn.com.au:
>
> <snip>
>
> > in the past my relatives used vcr's to record tv and fox show's
> > and also vcr's to record rental dvds, so they could watch them later
> > .(but with lesser quality)
>
> I never bothered recording with VHS, to much of a PITA.
>
> > what are people using now ?
>
> > are hard drive based units ?
>
> That's me...
>
> > what is easy to use ?
>
> HDD, HEAPS of space, eg multi day pay TV marathons are easy on HDD
> equipped recorders (eg recent DS-9 on TV-1). AUSTAR boxes you can't pre-
> program the STB to change channels, apparently the new FOXTEL Digital
> box's you can. If you're a hard core FOX PAY TV user, I would wait for
> the rumoured HDD equipped Foxtel PVRs that are supposed to be coming out
> later this year. I have AUSTAR and have not heard anything about their
> future plans in this regard, all I want to do is be able to use the
> online guide to change bloody channels :) !
>
> > as some relatives are looking to upgrade from vcr's-so it should be
> > easy to use...
>
> HDD craps all over VHS for usability, I found a VCR to painful to bother
> with normally so IMO useability has gone up significantly. That being
> said recordable DVD is no big step IMO as it's to small to be useful
> (same thing with VHS) ie the tehcnology is useless before it got off the
> groud and it's obviously useless for archiving or timeshifting HDTV.
>
> A twin tuner HDD equipped digital STB might be the go (assuming HDTV is
> of no interest to them) and connect the PAY TV decoder up to it as well ?
>
> http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/product.asp?SKU=TF5000PVRT
>
> A couple points.
>
> 1. I would not buy another DVD only recorder (I have one with and one
> without a HDD) I got these as both my VHS decks crapped out on me, I
> go s-video out on the PAY TV STB to s-video in, picture is very good*
> IMO.
> 2. No digital tuner means I would not buy another HDD equipped recorder
> either
> 3. For FTA I am waiting for a twin tuner HDTV PVR as the only FTA on
> Austar is SBS and ABC and you can't program the STB to change channels to
> them, bastards :)
> 4. Do you want to archive at all, as well as timeshift ? If so you will
> need something that can burn to DVD as well as record to HDD, only thing
> available at the moment I am aware of is the Panny E-100 and the Pioneer
> 510.
> 5. AUSTAR digital can kiss my ass until the STBs can change channels.
>
>
> *compared to FTA analogue
>
> --
> Trevor S
>
>
> "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
> -Albert Einstein

[Kerryn R]

I've upgraded to a digital receiver / PVR (Strong 5290 with 80 gb hdd) since my VCR dropped it's innards. Super happy with it - no more videotapes! No more taping over stuff that I've not seen, no more[cueing up of tapes, losing tapes, frantically trying to find blank tape space / running out of tape 5 minutes before the end..etc. I can transfer to videoptape if I want to store it for longer periods - but I'm finding the 80g's to be enough to store for the most part - with the occasional weeding out of stuff that has gotten old. I used to have about 10 tapes on the go - now, none! Highly recommended.

[mclaren]

Im actually going through a complicated way of doing it but i do it all through my PC capture card onto HDD with a program called Showshifter DVB and i do this just cause its convenient for me as im using my PC as a theatre box .

In saying all this , the only thing i NEED to record is Big Brother so ive preset it to record on the weeknight shows and also eviction and nomination and it does me fine . Ive got one of those Video cards with TV out which is pretty standard these days so i can watch it in the lounge room when i finish work .

I have also recorded it in the highest quality on HDD and burnt it to a DVDR and it was excellent .

On another note , this program also allows you to use time shift which means that if your watching free to air and the phone rings or you just cant wait to go to the toily , just push pause and when you get back , push play and it will continue from exactly where you left off so you dont miss a thing .

Anyway , it is a hard way of doing it but if you have a decent PC already , it will only cost you a capture card ( $80 ) and thats pretty much bout it if your Video card has TV out as you can find the program over the net if you look hard enough .

I still have to try the software that came with my TV tuner card ( Win Fast brand ) , this software claims to also record to DVD in real time , ill keep you posted .

[Pepe Duran]

I use a Pioneer DVD Recorder with 80Gb Hard Drive. I don't really use the
DVD Recorder side. I just use the HDD to record to and its great especially
the storage side of it.

"Goforit" <blow@me.com> wrote in message
news:40b6fe96$0$8107$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net.a u...
> Nice info Trevor.
>
>
> "Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns94F7AE5D36927billgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> > "laz" <xmen@invalid> wrote in news:40b6d531@quokka.wn.com.au:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > > in the past my relatives used vcr's to record tv and fox show's
> > > and also vcr's to record rental dvds, so they could watch them later
> > > .(but with lesser quality)
> >
> > I never bothered recording with VHS, to much of a PITA.
> >
> > > what are people using now ?
> >
> > > are hard drive based units ?
> >
> > That's me...
> >
> > > what is easy to use ?
> >
> > HDD, HEAPS of space, eg multi day pay TV marathons are easy on HDD
> > equipped recorders (eg recent DS-9 on TV-1). AUSTAR boxes you can't pre-
> > program the STB to change channels, apparently the new FOXTEL Digital
> > box's you can. If you're a hard core FOX PAY TV user, I would wait for
> > the rumoured HDD equipped Foxtel PVRs that are supposed to be coming out
> > later this year. I have AUSTAR and have not heard anything about their
> > future plans in this regard, all I want to do is be able to use the
> > online guide to change bloody channels :) !
> >
> > > as some relatives are looking to upgrade from vcr's-so it should be
> > > easy to use...
> >
> > HDD craps all over VHS for usability, I found a VCR to painful to bother
> > with normally so IMO useability has gone up significantly. That being
> > said recordable DVD is no big step IMO as it's to small to be useful
> > (same thing with VHS) ie the tehcnology is useless before it got off the
> > groud and it's obviously useless for archiving or timeshifting HDTV.
> >
> > A twin tuner HDD equipped digital STB might be the go (assuming HDTV is
> > of no interest to them) and connect the PAY TV decoder up to it as well
?
> >
> > http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/product.asp?SKU=TF5000PVRT
> >
> > A couple points.
> >
> > 1. I would not buy another DVD only recorder (I have one with and one
> > without a HDD) I got these as both my VHS decks crapped out on me, I
> > go s-video out on the PAY TV STB to s-video in, picture is very good*
> > IMO.
> > 2. No digital tuner means I would not buy another HDD equipped recorder
> > either
> > 3. For FTA I am waiting for a twin tuner HDTV PVR as the only FTA on
> > Austar is SBS and ABC and you can't program the STB to change channels
to
> > them, bastards :)
> > 4. Do you want to archive at all, as well as timeshift ? If so you will
> > need something that can burn to DVD as well as record to HDD, only thing
> > available at the moment I am aware of is the Panny E-100 and the Pioneer
> > 510.
> > 5. AUSTAR digital can kiss my ass until the STBs can change channels.
> >
> >
> > *compared to FTA analogue
> >
> > --
> > Trevor S
> >
> >
> > "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
> > -Albert Einstein
>
>

[Goforit]

"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94F7AE5D36927billgatescom@130.133.1.4...

<snip>

> 4. Do you want to archive at all, as well as timeshift ? If so you will
> need something that can burn to DVD as well as record to HDD, only thing
> available at the moment I am aware of is the Panny E-100 and the Pioneer
> 510.
> --
> Trevor S

This may be a ridiculous question, but would it ever be possible to
timeshift with 2 HDD's rather than the regular 1 DVD and 1 HDD?

[Trevor S]

"Goforit" <blow@me.com> wrote in news:40b9364b$0$8115$5a62ac22
@freenews.iinet.net.au:

<snip>

> This may be a ridiculous question, but would it ever be possible to
> timeshift with 2 HDD's rather than the regular 1 DVD and 1 HDD?

Sure but the question I would ask is, why ?

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[Goforit]

"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94F99788A872Ebillgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> "Goforit" <blow@me.com> wrote in news:40b9364b$0$8115$5a62ac22
> @freenews.iinet.net.au:
>
> <snip>
>
> > This may be a ridiculous question, but would it ever be possible to
> > timeshift with 2 HDD's rather than the regular 1 DVD and 1 HDD?
>
> Sure but the question I would ask is, why ?

No reason other than to satisfy my curiosity.

[Jamie Wilson]

Hey Trev, with the pronto remote you can program it to change channels at a
certain time and date. Might come in handy for you?

--
Regards

Jamie Wilson


"Trevor S" <bill@gates.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94F7AE5D36927billgatescom@130.133.1.4...
> "laz" <xmen@invalid> wrote in news:40b6d531@quokka.wn.com.au:
>
> <snip>
>
> > in the past my relatives used vcr's to record tv and fox show's
> > and also vcr's to record rental dvds, so they could watch them later
> > .(but with lesser quality)
>
> I never bothered recording with VHS, to much of a PITA.
>
> > what are people using now ?
>
> > are hard drive based units ?
>
> That's me...
>
> > what is easy to use ?
>
> HDD, HEAPS of space, eg multi day pay TV marathons are easy on HDD
> equipped recorders (eg recent DS-9 on TV-1). AUSTAR boxes you can't pre-
> program the STB to change channels, apparently the new FOXTEL Digital
> box's you can. If you're a hard core FOX PAY TV user, I would wait for
> the rumoured HDD equipped Foxtel PVRs that are supposed to be coming out
> later this year. I have AUSTAR and have not heard anything about their
> future plans in this regard, all I want to do is be able to use the
> online guide to change bloody channels :) !
>
> > as some relatives are looking to upgrade from vcr's-so it should be
> > easy to use...
>
> HDD craps all over VHS for usability, I found a VCR to painful to bother
> with normally so IMO useability has gone up significantly. That being
> said recordable DVD is no big step IMO as it's to small to be useful
> (same thing with VHS) ie the tehcnology is useless before it got off the
> groud and it's obviously useless for archiving or timeshifting HDTV.
>
> A twin tuner HDD equipped digital STB might be the go (assuming HDTV is
> of no interest to them) and connect the PAY TV decoder up to it as well ?
>
> http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/product.asp?SKU=TF5000PVRT
>
> A couple points.
>
> 1. I would not buy another DVD only recorder (I have one with and one
> without a HDD) I got these as both my VHS decks crapped out on me, I
> go s-video out on the PAY TV STB to s-video in, picture is very good*
> IMO.
> 2. No digital tuner means I would not buy another HDD equipped recorder
> either
> 3. For FTA I am waiting for a twin tuner HDTV PVR as the only FTA on
> Austar is SBS and ABC and you can't program the STB to change channels to
> them, bastards :)
> 4. Do you want to archive at all, as well as timeshift ? If so you will
> need something that can burn to DVD as well as record to HDD, only thing
> available at the moment I am aware of is the Panny E-100 and the Pioneer
> 510.
> 5. AUSTAR digital can kiss my ass until the STBs can change channels.
>
>
> *compared to FTA analogue
>
> --
> Trevor S
>
>
> "Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
> -Albert Einstein

[Trevor S]

"Jamie Wilson" <james3073@bigpond.com> wrote in
news:awFuc.19958$L.14824@news-server.bigpond.net.au:

> Hey Trev, with the pronto remote you can program it to change
> channels at a certain time and date. Might come in handy for you?

I know, I have done it once as a work around but it's a PITA. I have been
trying to talk the missus into cancelling PAY-TV basically after we had it
installed years ago :) my constant whining must have gotten to her, she
said will probably cancel the subscription. So I am waiting to turn that
into a "yes, we will cancel it" in th enext month or two and I will let
AUSTRA know the main reason is the inability to change channels from the
online guide and to call me if they ever decide to add it as a feature.

--
Trevor S


"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

[Andyt30]

i Can't wait to get the new Mystar so i can try the taping a show on each channel eg a movie on one and a movie on the other it be good:)