What is the cheapest way to record standard digital tv (not hd) on a record two (or three) and watch one live basis?
Some history:
In the days of analog television, I used a splitter and A/B switch to hook two vcrs (with tuners) to the cable outlet and hooked up one of the vcrs to the tv. This allowed me to record two programs simultaneously while leaving the tv free for someone else to watch a third program live.
After switching to digital cable, I could no longer split the signal with any kind of quality, which didn't matter much since timed-recording using a vcr and the new digital cable box never worked anyway. Eventually, I ended up with three vcrs in three separate rooms, two doing the recording, and the third in the living room for playbackclunky, but still frugal.
I've never seen a reason to switch to the cable company dvr: $17/mo for fewer recording options (record two or record one + watch one) than just buying a couple of used vcrs off Craigslist for $20. Nonetheless, vcrs with tuners are scarce these days, and while I could continue to buy all the older vcrs that remain in existence, what are some less ancient options?
What I have available:
Cox cable no obviously scrambled channels like hbo, but I watch some non-local channels (tnt, usa, syfy).
One digital cable box on a tv that must be available to other people.
Three other cable outlets in separate rooms.
Work computer: athlon 64 x2 4800+ (Vista x64) which is used daily and can't be in same room as as the television I want to view on. I also have an athlon 1800+ single core and most of a celeron 1100mhz box (both with XP).
Ideas?
Some history:
In the days of analog television, I used a splitter and A/B switch to hook two vcrs (with tuners) to the cable outlet and hooked up one of the vcrs to the tv. This allowed me to record two programs simultaneously while leaving the tv free for someone else to watch a third program live.
After switching to digital cable, I could no longer split the signal with any kind of quality, which didn't matter much since timed-recording using a vcr and the new digital cable box never worked anyway. Eventually, I ended up with three vcrs in three separate rooms, two doing the recording, and the third in the living room for playbackclunky, but still frugal.
I've never seen a reason to switch to the cable company dvr: $17/mo for fewer recording options (record two or record one + watch one) than just buying a couple of used vcrs off Craigslist for $20. Nonetheless, vcrs with tuners are scarce these days, and while I could continue to buy all the older vcrs that remain in existence, what are some less ancient options?
What I have available:
Cox cable no obviously scrambled channels like hbo, but I watch some non-local channels (tnt, usa, syfy).
One digital cable box on a tv that must be available to other people.
Three other cable outlets in separate rooms.
Work computer: athlon 64 x2 4800+ (Vista x64) which is used daily and can't be in same room as as the television I want to view on. I also have an athlon 1800+ single core and most of a celeron 1100mhz box (both with XP).
Ideas?
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