I am looking for a DVR or DVD recorder w/ a hard drive that will record HD OTA. I do not have cable or dish and am looking to record HD broadcasts. Any suggestions?

Check out the Philips DVDR3576H/37 or the Magnavox H2160MW9, virtually identical units. Click #1 in my signature for lots of organized info.

No current US/Canadian HDD DVD recorder will record HD programming. The HD is downrezzed to SD before it is recorded.

For more info, see this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=599173) thread.

Thanks! It says 1080p upconvert but does it record in 720p and 1080i (HD OTA broadcast resolution)?

The 3576 like all DVDRs with or without HDDs can record the HD programs but only do so in SD. Much better looking than analog, but still SD. Lastly it my upconvert the SD back to HD, but it's not the same, in fact most people just output in SD and let your TV upconvert the signal to it's native resolution.
You like many other people could wait for the TR-50 or get a Tivo HD now, oh or put something together on your PC. Not a lot of choices for recording HD right now.
I have a discontinued Panasonic EH-55 w/hdd and a CECB and am waiting for the TR-50 if or when it comes out.

No current US/Canadian HDD DVD recorder will record HD programming. The HD is downrezzed to SD before it is recorded.

For more info, see this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=599173) thread.

I thought that might be the case. Are there any STB w/ hard drive that record HD OTA? Again, not cable or dish. Thanks.

Thanks! It says 1080p upconvert but does it record in 720p and 1080i (HD OTA broadcast resolution)?No. The tuner down-converts any HD signal to 480i resolution before recording to the HDD. Forget about upconversion. In recorders and low-end players upconversion is little more than a marketing gimmick. If you have a good name display, the scaler in your TV will do a better job. Just get good thick component cables that use RG-6 coax and feed 480p from the recorder.

I thought that might be the case. Are there any STB w/ hard drive that record HD OTA? Again, not cable or dish. Thanks.Only TiVo HD. Requires a subscription to their service on top of the box purchase price. Lifetime subscription costs $400 for a new user.

This is the true bane of HD TV. Once you get a good display -- a big good display -- and start watching OTA HD, you don't want anything less. That Giants/Redskins game on 1080i NBC last night looked so damn good on a 50" plasma.

Agreed! I got a 52" LCD in May and am looking to record the both college and pro football this weekend. Humm...

That Giants/Redskins game on 1080i NBC last night looked so damn good on a 50" plasma.Lucky you.

They just added Universal Sports here a few days ago as an NBC subchannel, to go along with the weather one they already had, and now NBC-HD looks even worse than it already did - especially with sports.

Appears like they may have even down-rezzed it a bit, as people are not seeing as much detail.

That's three HD mains here that look like total cr*p now with fast-movement, and one more on the way when they add that new, Weigel "movie" subchannel (which will give that HD channel 4 subs).

The end is near. Enjoy it while you can.

During the recent presidential conventions I've had the unique opportunity to watch the same program on all the major networks OTA. My observations are as follows:

Best PQ-Hands down CBS. 1080i and in my are NO sub channels.
Second place-NBC. 1080i with one WX+ sub. Occasional macroblocking as balloons and confetti fell.
Third place-PBS 1080i with one sub, regular PBS which probably takes more bandwith than NBCs WX+ sub. Even more macroblocking than NBC and slight background noise.
4th place-ABC 720p, 1 sub that carries local news 24hrs. Big drop from PBS in resolution as always.
Worse-FOX 720p which has 1 sub of SD fox and for what ever reason broadcast the whole convention in 4x3 SD. FOX is usually tied for worse even when they are broadcasting true HD.
Worse Worse-Analog 480i PBS, CBS, ABC and NBC. What can I say, 480i and not DVD quality.
Worse Worse Worse, god awful made me sick to even watch-SD 480i PBS. I don't know how anyone can stomach digital SD. The macroblocking was terrible as always and the resolution isn't even as good as analog SD. If I only had the choice of digital SD I'd certainly not have a 46" TV and probably be watching everything on a 25" CRT. Maybe on one of those digital SD wouldn't look so poor.

Digital HD has such potential for great PQ, too bad it's rarely implemented. Sub stations aren't so bad when they have 4 or 5 SD ones on one channel, but when they mix them with a HD main.......lets just say it isn't pretty for either channel:D

Sorry to get OT, but Ramm started it:o

During the recent presidential conventions I've had the unique opportunity to watch the same program on all the major networks OTA. My observations are as follows:

Best PQ-Hands down CBS. 1080i and in my are NO sub channels.
Second place-NBC. 1080i with one WX+ sub. Occasional macroblocking as balloons and confetti fell.I'll mostly concur for my OTA experience -- CBS is the best in OTA HD hands down. Both in broadcast and the most HD content. In the Philly area they are at full power on digital (also no subs here); all my tuners are pegged at 100% signal for CBS -- even today with Hanna dumping water all over us. None of the other stations are at 100%, maybe after 2/09. NBC now has taken the #2 spot, also at 1080i. For the past 6 weeks they were dead in the air with frequently no signal registering at all. I've had to watch the analog SD channel. Once the Olympics ended they fixed their transmission problems and are usually 85% -- great HD picture but less HD content than CBS. I don't see any of the macro-blocking you do unless the signal does a momentary dropout, which it still does on occasion. For me, ABC and FOX at 720p are tied at third for HD PQ.

I've read many people post that you can't tell the difference between 1080i and 720p. Well, with a 50" 1080p Panasonic plasma sitting 6-8 feet away, I can. Which is why I consider ABC and Fox to be good but second class HD. This is also the reason I too want a DVR that records in HD. I have a Zenith CECB feeding my E-85 and the recorded PQ is really pretty darn good -- just not good enough.

I have a Zenith CECB feeding my E-85 and the recorded PQ is really pretty darn good -- just not good enough.

Even on my 32" 720p Panny LCD I could tell the same differences but not to the same degree as my new 46" 1080 Sony. On this set the good as well as the bad is magnified.
For the first time today I hooked up my Zenith 901 CECB to my Sony and side by sided it with my CM-7000 with S-video. On my Panny there were differences(the CM being better) but not to the degree I see now. The CM had better resolution(tested watching live Baseball) the grass had much more definition in color and contrast. The Zenith is still a darn good box but side by sided to a CM it really pales in comparison. Kelson, not sure if you are interested in getting another CECB, but if you are I'd strongly suggest the CM. It's not a prefect box(none are) but one can't argue with the PQ, I highly recommend it to feed a analog DVDR using S-video, especially if you are then going to play the recorded material on a HDTV. I'm sure you'll notice a difference.

Kelson, not sure if you are interested in getting another CECB, but if you are I'd strongly suggest the CM. I agree there. I've had lots of conversation with Rammitinski about the CM-7000. He has it feeding his E-85 and the E-85 can control the CM-7000 with the ir blaster for programming. He says he gets really good PQ on his 50" Pioneer plasma so I should see the same on my Panasonic.

The purchase of a 50" 1080p Panasonic plasma has really put me in a quandry as to which way to go. I'm strictly OTA DTV. All Philly locals are broadcasting digital and now that NBC-DT got it's act together I have all the analog channels disabled, so I've already made the transition to full DTV. After watching OTA-HD for 6 weeks, I'm hooked; I want my timeshifting to be in HD. Those analog recordings on my E-85 that looked great on my old 32" Sony now look like crap on the plasma. The Zenith makes a big difference but it's still not HD. My options for HD are TiVo HD or the TR-50.

I've resigned myself to the following course. Wait at least until 2/09 to see if the TR-50 becomes a reality. Until then, I intend to pick up a CM-7000 and do my timeshifting of the new season on my E-85. I sacrifice the TVGOS functionality I've grown to depend on for improved PQ. If the TR-50 appears and delivers good HD PQ, I'll go that way. If not, I go TiVo HD. The only thing nagging at me is whether or not to take a chance and pick up a Magnavox 2160. The E-85 would be my primary recorder, but I know already I'll need a conflict recorder for my wife's shows. I'll have to keep chewing this over and make a decision at the end of the month.