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efhjr
07-02-2007, 10:31 AM
I don't feel like paying for the privilege of renting a DVR and then the ability to actually record with it -- that's what Grande Communications does to me.

Can I just buy a standalone DVR and record with it, like I'd do with a VCR?

I'm sure the answer will be, "Yeah, as soon as a-la-cart channels are available, which will be right after monkeys fly out of my butt," but I'm gonna ask anyway.
luvvinvinyl
07-02-2007, 10:32 AM
The local Best Buy carries DVR's.
efhjr
07-02-2007, 10:40 AM
The local Best Buy carries DVR's.

Yeah, but the ones I'm seeing at BestBuy.com -- TiVO and DirectTV -- both require monthly subscriptions, which I don't want to do.
luvvinvinyl
07-02-2007, 10:44 AM
Look for the DVD recorders, that have built-in hard drives, like this (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10089835&catid=22494).

This is from the Canadian site, but I am fairly confident that your side will have something similar.
dew042
07-02-2007, 10:51 AM
Build your own HTPC.

I have one with dual OTA HD Tuners, high quality sound card, nice case, etc. It doubles as a music server too.

Tuners these days come in many flavors to match and control any source.

The HTPC section at the AVS forums is wealth of information this kind of stuff.

dew.
efhjr
07-02-2007, 11:12 AM
Look for the DVD recorders, that have built-in hard drives, like this (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10089835&catid=22494).


Yeah, that's what I'm looking for.

Thanks for all the info, folks.
RichPA
07-02-2007, 11:24 AM
I'll second the DVD-recorder-with-hard drive suggestion - I've had a Panasonic with built-in hard drive for several years now, and it works great. The only issue I have is that its built-in tuner cannot be used with the digital-only channels on our cable system, so I have to set the digital cable box to the correct channel and use one of the line-inputs on the Panasonic to record those channels. If this is an issue for you, make sure you check out what will be necessary in your setup.
efhjr
07-02-2007, 01:50 PM
I'll second the DVD-recorder-with-hard drive suggestion - I've had a Panasonic with built-in hard drive for several years now, and it works great.

Please post the model number if you've got it handy. Thanks!
RichPA
07-02-2007, 01:56 PM
Please post the model number if you've got it handy. Thanks!

Panasonic DMR-E80H