Simon C

Dumb question really.

As I have an aging VCR it needs replacing, so is there a modern equivalent.

The ability to record freeview and other channels would be good as I won't always just have freeview (at some stage will have Cable back or sky).

HDMI / component outputs would be good (so upscaling) as would firewire / USB conectivity.

Borat_Drives_A_Scooby

Yeh, its called a dvd recorder.

Odds on

mattstant

HUMAX - EASY DIGITAL

and others dont know about hdmi though

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I currently have the following which pretty much does what you describe minus the firewire:

Panasonic DMREX95V Vhs-Dvd Recorder Combi 250gb Sd Slot | EmpireDirect.co.uk Electrical Appliances

You can get others, and maybe with less features and cheaper too.

Geezer

Get a PVR, loads around for Freeview now, hard disk recording, time slip, pause live tv etc etc. Just like Sky+.

If you want HD too, have a look at Freesat.

Geezer

Simon C

Ahhh but aren't there HDD based systems too

stilover

I've got a PVR. Twin hard drives. Brilliant thing.

Watch one freeview channel while recording another freeview channel.

Or

Record 2 freeview channels while watching terrestrial analogue channel.

Never used my VCR since. Only have it on for the clock.

Simon C

Looks nice, but I want to be able to pick up either ZDF (german sports and news channel that carries live biathlon) or British eurosport for the same reason. Don't think freesat is going to have those.

Shark Man

Well first you want to make your mind up:

DVD recorder

Hard disk recorder

Or a combo.


Not to forget one that works with RAM discs (uses DVD-RAM discs, but offers the same flexbility as a hard disk - play whilst recording, time slip, live pause, less prone to finger prints etc).

Nimbus

You don't have a Topfield TF5800 do you by any chance? If so, you can install the TF5000 Display TAP and get the clock on the display (as well as some other useful stuff) so you can bin the VCR completly..

corradoboy

I have a Sony RDR HXD970. Twin tuner (1x analogue and 1x digital Freeview), HDD (250gb) and DVD-R (multi-region). You can feed external sources into it such as Sky, Virgin cable and others for HDD recording. Anything on the HDD can be dubbed to DVD in a few minutes. The HDD can record over 400 hours depending on the quality you choose, and can also store jpegs and mp3's as a media hub. I've only used HQ so far and it can fit 50+ hours of that. HDMI upscaling to 1080p too.

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

I only turned my vcr off an put it in the loft a few months ago. bloomin thing has been sat under the tv for nearly 7 years doing **** all but burning electricity and telling the time

Just doing my bit towards global warming.

Sonic'

If you were doing your bit for global warming you would have left it switched on

corradoboy

Mine's on. Hasn't played a tape in 2 years though

I can't wait until we have the climate of southern France Unless they're lying

MMT WRX

Have you looked at these

£90 from here or they sell them in Tesco similar money.
Built in freeview record 2 channels at the same time, time slip, pause live tv etc.

I know a couple of peeps that have them and really rate them for the money.

I have a Panasonic HDD DVD recorder with sd card, hdmi and upscales but they are 3 times the cash.

jpor

iTrader: (1)

I Hope it's better than the SKY HD boxes they make I.e hard drive intermittently doesn't work/ Switches itself off when trying to watch something when it 3/4 recorded etc...

Klaatu

A PVR, twin tuners, rewind live TV. The one I have has only a 160Gb drive and is only standard definition, but it works very well for the use I make of it. The only feature it doe snot have is the ability to edit the adverts out of the recording. Other than that, it does a great job of being a modern VCR.

daz1968

iTrader: (13)

I have a humax 9200T is a great bit of kit, has twin tuners and you can actually rewind live tv as well as pause it comes in handy when you miss something. The guide on it is good and you can set it to record complete series just like sky+, would recommend one to anyone.

Dream Weaver

Topfield 5800 here and I couldn't live without it now.

They can make errors though, Mrs set it to record The Apprentice last night and it didn't, so I got an ear bashing as it was "me" that bought it!

Klaatu

Toppies are great. I have a rebadged Homecast thingy I think.

MMT WRX

My daughter and a friend have them and rave about how good they are, "I can record Emerdale, Coronation Street and Eastenders etc all at the same time its great

I have a PC mag that tested 6 diferent units and this one got best buy.

I have heard a lot of complaints about failing sky+ boxes.

Klaatu

A lot of these types of "units" need the correct disk drive in them. Seagate produce most drives and they have "CE" designation, which means "Consumer Electronics". Some "cheap" retailers will install "cheaper" drives, one's for PC's, which preform too much "error correction" which, for the end user of a device like a PVR, isn't important. Some mfgs "updated" their BIOS, but others don't. Some sell "old" units...so best check your BIOS and/or firmware is up to date.

MMT WRX

I know my daughter said that she updated the firmware on hers and the epg went from 7 to 14 days. Possible other things that you dont notice as well.