Mike

Is there such a thing, or rumored to be coming out?

I'd love to buy a DVD/R mostly to record favorite TV shows & sporting events. Lots of the nicer recorders include their own TIVO-like recorders, but I can't imagine that would be too compatible with DirecTV.


Any suggestions for a DirecTV die-hard who wants to record shows onto DVD?


Thanks!
- Mike

Deftones

Actually it's more of a DVR w/ basic Tivo service. I think Toshiba made them.

djbrown

easiest way to do it right now is to get a standalone DVD Recorder and use the "Save to VCR" feature of the DTivos to transfer it to the internal harddrive of the DVD recorder.

I'm been doing it for about 2 years now, and it works pretty well.

Chew

With what kind of audio/video connections between the two?

djbrown

It doesn't support anything other than the standard 'banana plugs'. No DD audio output, S-Video or the like. That's the limitation with the DTivo.

I'm not sure what kind of A/V output jacks the new HiDef DTivos have.

Chew

Which is what I have: it has optical audio and either DVI or component for video. Obviously, I wouldn't be able to output HD, but would the recorder accept 5.1?

Jeremy517

I just got a USB2 capture device (you can use a standard PCI capture card too, but I wanted to use it with my laptop), then just used the DVD burner in my computer.

If you go this route, be sure to get a card/device with s-video in, so you aren't stuck with coaxial.

This is the device that I got. Newegg also had a deal for an 8x NEC DVD burner for $60.

djbrown

The model I have (Panasonic E80) does not. But it's an older model now. Some of the newer ones might. Dunno.

Not familiar with the HiDef DTivo's "Save to VCR" feature as well (ie, if it will even output 5.1 audio). Check the manual.

Nefarious

I have been researching this quite a while. No currently available recorders support digital audio input. The reasons I've heard is that that stream and bit rate make it a difficult proposition. I don't know if that's truly the case or not. I just slapped bigger hard drives in my DirecTivos and am holding off in hopes of a dual-layer standalone recorder and hopefully digital audio input sometime soon.

Mike

I didn't even realize there was a HiDef DirecTivo. Any info on where this is available?

Thanks for the help thus far. I'm leaning towards buying a stand alone DVD recorder, like djbrown recommended.

Chew

Demand has far outweighed supply. It'll be pretty hit and miss as to who has it available. Most of your big name electronic stores have had it at one time (Best Buy, Circuit City). Most of the online satellite dealers as well.

It costs $1000 though.