joesjunk
07-15-2006, 01:59 PM
What are the current costs of an OTA digital (With or Without) HDTV recording? Recording to DVD? Recording to Hard disk?
I can currently record OTA NTSC (analog) signals on a VCR recorder. Picture quality sucks. I would like to check out recording the ATSC (digial) programs to disk. I don't have cable or satelite. Idealy, I would like to be able to record HDTV w/Dolby 5.1. But, I believe that that would eat up diskspace like crazy. Any thoughts on this?
Ratman
07-15-2006, 03:14 PM
Without cable or satellite subscriptions and a DVR package/incentive, your best option is an ATSC tuner for your PC which provides a PVR function.
Caveat...
You will be able to burn DVD copies, but not in HD at this time.
1. See the HDTV FAQ "Recording HD".
2. I don't believe there are many integrated HD ATSC recorders. There are one or two if I recall, however, they are fairly expensive
3. Most people probably use a firewire connection to their computer to record OTA HD, or use an OTA card for their computers. See the HTPC forum here.
4. DVD recorders are not HD. They're 480i, so, although you can record to a DVD recorder, the quality will be the same as a non-anamorphic DVD, but obviously better than VHS, provided you record at the 1-2 hour recording time. You get VHS quality at the longer times.
You can't record DD5.1 to a dedicated DVD recorder, since the connections are analogue audio and composite or S-video. Some DVD recorders have component video connections, however, those inputs are limited to 480i. I assume that PCs can record DD5.1.
5. You can burn HD on a PC if the original file is HD, however, the recording time is quite limited. Or you can "sacrifice some bitrate" to record "close to HD". This will depend on the software that you use.
