Any recommendations please

An/or is there some kind of mediacentre / server that will record from TV ?

Re: Anyone use HDD to record tv/movies

This is a huge can of worms. When signals were Analogue, you could buy a Hauppauge analog card, plug it into your comp, stick your cable into it and have it scan for available channels. You could then schedule recordings etc. and watch at your convenience. With systems going Digital and encryption coming into play (since broadcasters don't want you to record their HiDef shows and torrent them), its very difficult to do.

Ceton came out with a card that's supposed to let you do what Analogue cards did but I've yet to personally see or converse with someone I know who has managed to get it to work.

Hauppauge came out with a unit that will record in 1080i via RGB cables, but it's not the same as scheduling your recording. I've heard of add on software that will get the Hauppauge unit to schedule recordings but that's an additional expense.

What exactly are you trying to do?

Re: Anyone use HDD to record tv/movies

be able to record (then watch)- and where necessary keep - TV shows and movies shown on the TV; basically to recreat the old movie archive i had on vhs tapes - but digital for free from the movie chanels;

DVR thru the cable company is easy - but u dont get to keep them; tivo is most well know but its yet another monthly expense for the service;

Re: Anyone use HDD to record tv/movies

If this is an option for you Jeff, look for HD receivers that let you record to external hard drives. For example the USF912 from Kathrein is doing it: [URL]http://www.kathrein.de/en/sat/index.htm[/URL] but there are also other brands (Dreambox for example) available on the market. You can't do it with all receivers that come with USB plugs because the receiver needs special Software to make you able to record HD as well as SD formats. As far as the HDD is concerned, I recommend a 3,5"" drive because the 2,5"" drives suck their power through the USB plug and this can lead to an interrupted recording from time to time. So a 3,5"" drive with its own power cable is better if you wanna be on the safe side. If you look for a new hard drive, check if they offer an option to shut the power down when the receiver is off. Otherwise the HDD will always be on and some HDD fans are annoying. The Mybook Essential selection from Western Digitial is quiet and shuts itself down automatically but it's more expensive than other brands.

Re: Anyone use HDD to record tv/movies

i was jus t gonna get something like this -for ease;

[url]http://www.amazon.com/MAGNAVOX-MDR513H-F7-Recorder-Digital/dp/B003DPKOKK/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1296166719&sr=1-11[/url]

Re: Anyone use HDD to record tv/movies

What are you going to use it for? If you have Dish, you know that's going to be a throw-away of money right.

Re: Anyone use HDD to record tv/movies

nah just cable progs

i also determined that my tv does indeed have hdmi so i have a few options to roll round

thanks for all the info K