DVR without Cable/satellite

[spike1]

We have excellent OTA coverage and I want to upgrade my HD DVR. I'm currently using an RCA DVR-10, which is a pretty basic unit. It's just a hard drive which only works off the TV's tuner and recording function, and it has an 80 gig hard drive. There are bugs in the software and it misses recordings and often reboots the t.v. Like the little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead, when it is is good it is very, very good, but when it is bad . . .

So far my search for other units only comes up with cable or satellite recievers.
Suggestions?

Spike1
Oakland CA
Mitsubishi Diamond rptv 66

[mjones73]

There are no stand alone ATSC capable DVR's being made now. There is the discontinued LG LST-3410A and the Sony DHG-HDD250 and 500 models if you can find one used. Another option is to build a HTPC using a ATSC tuner card, your only limit on space would be how much disk you put in it.

[Toaster]

Building a HTPC would be my suggestion. The options are limitless, and upgrading is simple.

It will probably cost more initially, but then its absolutely configurable - just the way you want it.

I have a HTPC (running windows media center edition) and its awesome.

[HD Dude]

If you don't want to build, go for the Sony.

They're discontinued, but pretty easy to find....just yesterday I bought two of the DHG-HDD250's for $250 each...both were on the 'bargain' tables at nearby Tweeters.

EBay has them periodically. Mine have the 30-hour HD recording capability, the DHG-HDD500 has 60 hour HD recording capability.

And yes, they can record OTA HD beautifully. No cable required. No fees. Yesterday I hooked them both up to my OTA antenna...one that's been split 4 times, including one 100' run...and the Sony found every digital channel out there using its auto-scan feature. I did a test record on WUSA-HD, and the results were stunning!

Their program guide is provided by TV Guide...and its 'fed' into the box through a subfrequency of regular TV channels....no telephone line required. BUT...I've read stories about the guide taking days and days to load. That's a drawback.

As to the builders....I'm very interested in that idea. Are you talking about a modification to a regular Windows Media Center PC? Just adding the video card? Thanks...

[mjones73]

The key to MCE is adding an ATSC tuner card(s) and having a video card you can hook up to your TV... There are other DVR software programs such as Sage and MythTV that can be used instead of MCE also.