Dear ddDave & mr weather....Thanks for your input. What I am attempting to do is receive digital signal on the Sony XBR 40" set and to tune the digital channels, I must have an ATSC tuner...isn't that correct?

Now.... the converter boxes that everyone got via the FCC simply reconverted the digital signals back to analog so that the older sets with NTSC tuners could receive them (at least that is my understanding).... so I want to get a digital dvd recorder with an ATSC tuner and use one of the digital inputs on the set to receive the signal from the dvd recorder tuner. If I do this I will be able the receive both analog and digital signals by simply using the remote to select the input....either through the NTSC tuner in the set, or via ATSC tuner in the dvd recoder/player unit for the digital signals.

Am I making this unduly complicated, and is there a better or simpler way to accomplish this? If so, please let me know.

Locating a really good dvd recorder/player ATSC unit is my next step so I will try to locate the Panasonic unit per mr weather's advice but hopefully there are more choices available. If so, anyone who might suggest a source for the dvd recorder/player w/ATSC tuner, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again to everyone for your assistance and kindness.....rocknroller

rocknroller, you've summed up your situation very well for us, so I've merged your posts into this thread covering ATSC-equipped DVRs and PVRs so please read through it for reviews and other tips.

You should also check out this one too:

DTVPal (EchoStar TR-50) OTA DVR (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=95820)

There is a Panasonic DMR-EZ28 which is the newer model to mine and is apparently carried by 2001 Audio Video in the GTA. For the record, my EZ27 has component and HDMI output but as I indicated in an earlier post it downconverts everything to SD before passing it on to the tv.

There are ATSC set top boxes that offer component and/or HDMI outputs that will allow you to watch real OTA HD on your HD-ready tv. Boxes by Samsung and Zenith come to mind.

The vast majority of boxes, however, only output an SD or worse (analog via RF coax). You'll really have to do your homework to ensure you get what you want.

Yep, the HD-output ATSC boxes are in this thread, but they aren't DVRs/PVRs:

ATSC High Definition Tuner Boxes (Non-Recording) (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=108740)

and the most highly regarded of those is currently the Winegard.

Just to make sure you have your expectations correct, the "converter" boxes built for the Coupon program in the US are basic DTV tuers with SD only analog video/RF out.

The FCC didn't provided the boxes, nor even the coupons; an Act of Congress suppied the coupons.

In regards to OTA ATSC PVRs, I recommend you look into FTA Receivers that have built in OTA (ATSC) tuners. I use mine to record NASA TV (FTA) and OTA channels on to an external hard drive in full HD.

There is a separate thread regarding this although it is out of date:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=34990

Instead of that old thread, OTA HD PVRs based on FTA are discussed in this thread:

ATSC Tuners in Satellite or Cable Receivers (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=20730)

ok, this is getting very frustrating. I've been searching for a good unit that will play/record DVD, HDD and have a ATSC/NTSC tuner. My search through here can give me great units that do either DVD or HDD, but not both.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a unit out there that can do the above?

Thanks!

I think the only thing that can do what you want is a HTPC (home theater PC)...

Have there been any thoughts or experiences with the Sony RDRHX780?

I've been searching for a good unit that will play/record DVD, HDD and have a ATSC/NTSC tuner. My search through here can give me great units that do either DVD or HDD, but not both.

Phillips used to make one, but it downconverted everything to SD.

Other than an HTPC, your best bet might be to buy a box that can record to a hard drive and be networked to your PC so you can burn programs to DVD there. One option for this is the TVIX R3310 PVR (http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/products/HDR-3300.aspx). You can read about it starting at post #141 (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=872317#post872317).

Have there been any thoughts or experiences with the Sony RDRHX780?

I have the 750 model and neither it nor the 780 have an ATSC tuner. Other than that it's a good machine.

A freind of mine realy wants a DVD recorder with a harddrive. He also needs it to have a digital T.V. tuner. I told him I would take a look around on ebay for him. Any model sugestions? I'm not a big fan of these things but it sounds like it would work for him as he just wants to be able to record over the air T.V. shows and maybe burn them to a DVD.

Thanks
RZ500

An HTPC with SageTV or Windows7 could do that. OTA is usually recorded raw and is several gigabytes per hour.

Thanks for the reply blue. The guy I'm trying to help out is older and doesn't even own a PC. Even if I was to try and set something up for him I don't think he would be able or willing to use it. It really needs to be a stand alone unit.

Thanks
RZ500

RZ500Guy, have a look in the ATSC Tuners in Satellite or Cable Receivers (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=20730) thread for info on FTA PVR box sold at our sponsor's web site (http://www.saveandreplay.com).

I've read most of this thread and I'm surprised that DVHS hasn't been discussed. It's a dead format but nevertheless the cheapest way to record ATSC in HD to my knowledge.

BHPhoto has a limited stock of a DVHS deck with ATSC tuner.

Personally I would jump on this if I didn't already own a DVHS deck. Mine doesn't have an ATSC tuner but it has another use: recording cable in HD. Before I cancelled Rogers, I had a SA3250HD connected via Firewire, and built up a nice collection of recordings in full HD and 5.1. The model above should also be able to do this since it has a firewire port also.

If you search this site with its main search tool for "DVHS Firewire" you'll find a ton of posts on those machines as used by CATV subscribers, but you are correct that they surprisingly haven't been mentioned here as an option.

I installed a good old Yagi antenna on my roof and I get a few OTA HD channels when I use an USB tuner on my laptop. I am now looking for a HD DVR to record digital content from my antenna and play it on my SD TV and on a HD LCD monitor (with HDMI and DVI inputs).


I saw many HD DVRs like the Tivo that gives the output I need ( s-video and HDMI) but they need a subscription to a service. I simply want to be able to record my weekly programs and to play them when I want. I can't imagine why I would pay a subscription for this.

Do you have a HD DVR to suggest me to purchase for this? My budget is between 200 and 400$.

Ken

HMDT100URB has built in ATSC tuner, records at 720p, has HDMI output