Basic DVR?

[JTsyo]

We get satellite service that gets one or two channels that my wife watches. What she would like to do is just record some shows on one of the channel while she's at work. It would just have to work like a old VCR. Put in the time to start and stop recording.
We have the Cablevision DVR for cable TV but it can't seem to record from the input.

 

[Brutus04]

addJYsyo,
I asked a similar question and got no response from this forum, try these folks:

http://www.htpcforums.com/

http://www.avsforum.com/

R/ Brutus

 

[sivart]

We get satellite service that gets one or two channels that my wife watches. What she would like to do is just record some shows on one of the channel while she's at work. It would just have to work like a old VCR. Put in the time to start and stop recording.
We have the Cablevision DVR for cable TV but it can't seem to record from the input.

The easiest way would be to get the DVR from the satellite provider. The only other way I can think of is to get a DVD Recorder (preferably one with a hard drive) and use an IR blaster to control the satellite box. Of course, this would be SD only and you couldn't watch another show on the TV while recording.

 

[Emulex]

windows media center is top notch. better than tivo. free with most pc purchases.

 

[sivart]

windows media center is top notch. better than tivo. free with most pc purchases.

True, but you have to buy additional hardware to record satellite (or cable) and is far from "basic DVR" status as you have to maintain a PC system.

 

[queequeg99]

The easiest way would be to get the DVR from the satellite provider.

This is good advice.

Because you want to record from satellite, the HTPC options will all cost a fair amount upfront as they will all require something like the Hauppauge HD PVR (about $180). I know the HD PVR integrates well with SageTV (another $80 for the program alone or $200 for the program plus an extender). I'm not sure about Windows Media Center. Plus, there are the many hours you'll spend getting everything to work right.

 

[Modelworks]

Tivo makes some units that do this but you are probably better going to the provider for a dvr. Cost wise its about the same.

 

[mmntech]

Check the back of your satellite box. Many non-DVR units have USB ports on the back that allow you to plug in external drives. That's what I've been using. Since the ports are powered, you can use a 2.5'' drive without an external power adaptor.

 

[jopan]

Walmart sells a digital tuner DVD/HDD recorder for around $200 (513 and 515 models) w/drives of 300GB. If she only tunes one satellite channel she can set the recording hours of the shows she wants. About as close to "It would just have to work like a old VCR." as you can get.