DVD HDD Recorder

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yipan

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#30602 14-Feb-2009 21:51

Hi Guys
A couple of questions here
1)Is much point purchasing a DVD HDD Recorder at this point in time? I have heard that some ppl are holding back as there most of them are not able to record programs in "Hi Def", is this true or false?

2)Came across a samsung HHD DVD Recorder that has an In-Build Turner, would this mean that even if you purchases a LCD TV with build-in Free-view turner & an DVD HDD Recorder(without build in turner) that you can not record any of the free-view channels?

Any information would be greatly appreciated guys.

Nety

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#195882 15-Feb-2009 09:37

Don't do it. HDD/DVD recorders are very much old technology. The tuners in them are analogue at this stage and have no EPG info.

If you get a TV with a built in Freeveiw turner you will not be able to connect to that turner to make recordings. This is the same as has always been the case with any TV. The difference is that your DVD recorder does not have a freeview tuner so you are stuck with analogue recordings.

PVR's are the replacement. They are not cheap but they do have EPG so it is easy to book recordings and I think most have more then one tuner so you can record two things at once.
The only down side is I don't think any have DVD/Blu ray recorders so you only have the HDD to save stuff on much like Mysky/Mysky HDi.

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sbiddle

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#195884 15-Feb-2009 11:11

IMHO a HDD/DVD recorder is the biggest waste of money in the market at present. It really amazes me that so many are still being sold.

You can't record Freeview content to any of these units and there will never find a HDD/DVD unit with a Freeview tuner, simply because DVD is not HD is MPEG2 based format while Freeview uses MPEG4/H.264 which is a different format.

What you can expect to see in the future is Blu Ray & HDD combo units, there are already some units available but the Panasonic for example sells for around $2k in Australia and doesn't work in NZ, it only has an Australian tuner it in.

HDD storage really is the future, last time I checked a blank Blu Ray disc was about $20 - $30 so it's not a cheap way of storing content.

yipan

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#195891 15-Feb-2009 11:40

Awesome info guys,

When you mentioned PVR are you referring to products like the Zinwell Dual Tuner 250GB HDD DTR Receiver? Seen it been advertised by Dick Smith, was under the impression that it was similar to MySki,but for Freeview HD channels. Would you recommend similar products such as these?

While both of you have given the idea that HDD DVDR are old technology & waste of money, what are you guys using in the mean time to record programmes? Do you guys have MySki HD or just have something hooked up via the computer?

I might just wait & buy my time for something like the Blue Ray/HDD Combo, I still happy enough to use my good old trusty VCR for a little bit longer.

Cheers

sbiddle

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#195895 15-Feb-2009 12:14

All my TV watching and recording is via my PC based PVR. That is the only thing I use and gives me Freeview|HD via DVB-T cards and TCL cable with a DVB-C card.

richms

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#195910 15-Feb-2009 15:04

dvd recorders I have seen lack even the ability to change channels on an external reciever, so you are stuck recording the messed up aspect ratio off an analog tuner on them, completly making them useless.

i guess someone could whack a dvb-s tuner in one, since thats mpeg 2 but there is little demand for that, and you can get several hdd based dvb-s pvr's for cheap as now, with some allowing for moving stuff off to a portable HDD - really the idea of burning things off onto disc is just stupid IMO.

Richard rich.ms