I use a VCR for the tuner with my plasma monitor for my cable service. I just have basic cable and they don't offer HD. We watch more DVD's than TV. The VCR has analog outputs. I notice that I do pick up a "stereo" signal on some channels. Is there a Tivo or other tuner out there with digital outs? I have tried google searches but don't find what I'm looking for. Any thoughts?
Basic cable doesn't give you digital audio, so you're up the creek without a paddle, there. Really, more like up the creek without a canoe. You're stuck with analog outs, and it's not going to get much better than using the VCR. Now, on the other hand, TiVo is the way to go for watching/recording TV!
I have thought about TiVo. A 40 hour refurbed series 2 free with subscription right now. I usually only record the Scifi channel on Fridays. Should I go 12 months or lifetime? Is there a downside?
We use a VCR in playback mode only.......the kids like to watch movies we haven't found DVDs of yet
Doug
Really depends on what you want. If you've never used a DVR, you might try the 12 mos to see if you like it. I have lifetime on mine but only because I bought it on ebay like that. I'm glad it has lifetime.
Also, you might check w/ your cable provider. I know that Comcast offers an HD DVR that picks up digital cable AND HD channels. Here in the SF Bay Area, I think the box is about $10/mo, plus other service charges. My father in law has it, he loves it. You might be able to "negotiate" a deal for a higher package if you sweet talk them.
No DVR or HD from Charter Communications in our area. Maybe by 2015.
ah, bummer.
The standalone might be good, since it has a basic tuner built in, I believe. The only "bad" thing is that you can't take advantage of HD w/ your plasma.
If you have OTA in your area (I know, big "if"), you could do what I did for my parents to get HD. On ebay, I bought some Voom receivers for $50/piece. I set them up for OTA and now my parents have HD.
If you're willing to go whole hog, you could get the HD DirecTivo but then you need a dish package. But that is a big charge up front...
I have a voom receiver, but I'm too far away for OTA. I wish one of the satellite offers was HD only.
Only record the SciFi channel on Fridays?!?! Like there is any good TV there!!!!
Just kidding. My wife records tons of shows, but for me it is just Stargate SG1, Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica. Can't wait for thie Friday! Oh, and someone I work with is the mom of Jason Mamoa who is the new Ronon Dex character on Atlantis.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand.
If you get Tivo or some satellite service (we have Dish, so it is only like $5 a month instead of Tivo's $13 a month for the DVR function), and once you start using it, you will wonder how you ever did without.
I actually never owned a VCR, was too young when VCR was popular and then got DVD very early.
I have Dish Network DVR as well and am very happy with it. I used to have TiVo before switching from Cable to Directv and then to Dish, and Dish DVR is just as good as tivo and cheaper. After heavy use, me and my fiance realized we had so many shows did not want to delete, so we purchased a DVD recorder to create some space in our DVR.
HTPC > Tivo
=)
I had a ReplayTV and loved it to death. Then I got really into HTPC's, more specifically Windows XP Media Center Edition. The flexability they offer is second to none.
Heck, I moth balled my VCR about two years ago.
They've gone the way of the 8-track.
The only reason my VCR is connected right now is so I can tape shows off my TiVo and send them to my sister-in-law in Yakima, WA. She's just finishing up a year-long volunteer position, so hopefully this will change.
I use mine to tell the time. It even automatically changes with Daylight Savings Time. Fancy, I know.
You, Sir, would have been in the minority just a few years back!!
A common joke not that long ago was all the VCR owners with their displays flashing cause their owners didn't have the technical acumen to set the clocks
So true!
As long as I run my cable through the vcr and then into the tv, the vcr sets the clock automatically through a cable channel broadcast signal. Without this handy feature it would probably be blinking 12:00!
You know, I almost never use my VCR. I only have one tape, Baby Einstein.
Actually, it has something cool, Commercial Advance. After taping a show, it marks commercials according to volume. When playing back a tape, it fowards thru commercials automatically. Even my Tivo can't do that, only Replay can do that, from my understanding.
Commercial Advance Rocks!
Cuts out about 15 to 20 minutes of crap from an hour long program. Gives me some extra time to surf the Axiom message boards :-)
Sounds like I might need the TiVo Humax Combo.
For those of you with satellite and satellite provided local channels. Do local channels that have dual broadcast (HD and SD) come in wth HD or SD with an HD Sat Receiver? My local dealer doesn't know. And I haven't had a reply from Dish.
Still deciding how best to replace VCR.
I have DirecTV w/ the locals and HD package. The locals come in via SD. There's a whole big hub bub about new satellites providing locals in HD, but then those will require waivers, FMU. It's whole big political mess.
Fortunately, I'm in a region (SF Bay Area) where there a lot of over the air (OTA) HD channels. In fact, with an external antenna, I can pick up over 20 different stations. I've even set up my parents w/ obsolete Voom boxes so they can get about 10 or so HD OTA channels.
Any HD receiver from DirecTV will receive HD satellite channels and OTA HD channels.
Not sure what the deal is w/ Dish. I know they have an HD PVR (921 I think). From reports I've read, most users aren't happy because it's pretty buggy. Don't know if it supports HD locals or OTA, though. You might want to try one of the satellite discussion boards.
I know Comcast has both cable and local channels in HD. BUT, if the local channels can't provide HD content because of various network agreements, then you're hosed because typically those cable boxes don't have OTA tuners. Comcast does have their own HD DVR now though, and it's WAY cheaper than the HD DirecTivo. Most of my friends that have that are happy.
I don't know if it's sales pitch or not but I just got an online chat that said locals in HD. Why don't I believe? Local guy hasn't installed to anyone with HDTV.
I have Dish Network with HDTV 811 receiver. I get the locals on HD through an OTA, a very simple one without amplification, plugged to my receiver. Signal is pretty good in DC area. I need to move my antena a few times though, not all of it, just the part that gets the digital signal.
I'm behind a hill.
For OTA, you never know until you try. I had pretty good luck w/ an indoor Silver Sensor. Now I use a chimney mounted Channel Master 4228. MUCH better.
Try antennaweb.org to see if your area is w/ in range.
I have the new Dish 942 PVR....vastly improved over the 921.
I bought a $30 outdoor antenna from Radio Shack....works great. I get around 25+ OTA digital channels...ofcourse not all of them are HD.
I am about 30 miles from mountain that most of our local stations braodcast from.
I stopped to see an antenna man (also Dish installer) on Friday. He said Dish locals were digital only. So much for what Dish had to say. He is going to install an antenna on the chimney. He says, "If it doesn't work, I'll take it down". No payment until after install. We are going to try the Voom receiver as the tuner.
Oh. I haven't retired the VCR yet.