My friend was in the audience of an NFL game recently and I have it recorded (in HD) on my DVR (it's a standard Motorola DVR thast comes with Cox cable). I want to put it on a tape for him, but I have a feeling trying to record HD to a VCR is probably not possible. Can someone clarify this?
Thanks.

Also, is the only other option to record it to a PC with a video card that has an HDMI input?
Thanks

Without going into too much detail, it's possible. Assuming your HD DVR box is connected to your TV via HDMI, connect your DVR box to your VCR via component cables (and connect the VCR to your TV via Coax or something). When you watch TV through your VCR (just like the old days, put the VCR on channel 3 or whatever), you should be able to record what you are watching.

To clarify, I have my HD DVR set up this way so I can run it to a 2nd TV. My bedroom setup has the HD DVR box going to my TV via HDMI. It also has component cables going to a VCR/DVD combo unit I have. From that unit, I have coax cable going to a 2nd TV (a computer monitor that doubles as a TV). So I can watch the same programming on 2 different TVs/monitors (the one at my computer desk and the regular 32" HDTV in the room).

Without going into too much detail, it's possible. Assuming your HD DVR box is connected to your TV via HDMI, connect your DVR box to your VCR via component cables (and connect the VCR to your TV via Coax or something). When you watch TV through your VCR (just like the old days, put the VCR on channel 3 or whatever), you should be able to record what you are watching.

If I am wathing TV through my VCR, how would I watch the recorded HD program on my DVR through the VCR??

Because you're still watching the DVR box, it just runs through the VCR (tuned to channel 3). So if you were to record, it would record anything you are watching. Put a tape in, hit record, and start flipping channels on your DVR box. The recording would be of you flipping channels.

I burn shows recorded on my DVR to DVDs all the time. You can do the same to a VCR. My DVR has composite video and S-video outputs. I take the s-video outputs and stereo outputs and input them to my DVD burner. I can burn widescreen near commercial quality DVDs.

To record to a VCR take the composite video and stereo outputs and input them to your VCR. If your VCR does not have composite video/stereo inputs you may need a modulator available at most stores in the electronics section for about $20. The modulator generates a channel 3 or 4 from composite video and stereo.

You play the show on the DVR you want to record and hit record on the VCR.

Rick R

Recording to D-VHS via firewire from certain cable STBs and DVRs allows for HD recording to "a VCR." But I assume a D-VHS VCR is likely not what you had in mind.

Because you're still watching the DVR box, it just runs through the VCR (tuned to channel 3). So if you were to record, it would record anything you are watching. Put a tape in, hit record, and start flipping channels on your DVR box. The recording would be of you flipping channels.

Thank you very much. I just did everything you said and it worked great. I would not have thought that the HD signal would have played through the VCR, but it did (it was distorted of course, black bars on top and bottom, but I would expect that).

Anyway, I made the tape for my friend and he will be happy. Thanks again!

Thank you very much. I just did everything you said and it worked great. I would not have thought that the HD signal would have played through the VCR, but it did (it was distorted of course, black bars on top and bottom, but I would expect that).

Anyway, I made the tape for my friend and he will be happy. Thanks again!

The DVR actually is outputing an SD signal, over the composite(or coax cable/RF output) that the VCR can understand, so the VCR can record it just fine. They can do that at the same time they are outputing an HD signal for something like an HDTV.

Happy to help. Now your friend can show all of his family and friends his 15 seconds of fame. Every single time they go to his house.... :eek:

Happy to help. Now your friend can show all of his family and friends his 15 seconds of fame. Every single time they go to his house.... :eek:

The funny thing is you are right. He is a huge Saints fan and goes to a lot of games. If you keep up with the NFL at all, you know this is the best team and best start the Saints have ever had. So, yes he will show it to everybody!

All this Saints talk has really got me looking forward to Sunday now!

Thanks Again

Saints fan here as well. It's nice to be able to cheer for them without a bag over my head. *sniff*

Geaux Saints!

Here's a solution for you.
Connect the firewire from your STB to your PC, install the ExDues driver package, install CapDVHS, transfer the game to your PC in HD, then use H2M/VideoreDo to edit out the commercials, split into DVD sized ts's and burn to DVD (or simply a large capacity thumb drive).
Give the dvd/thumbdrive to your friend and have him use Media Player Classic Home Cinema/VLC to watch the game in full HD resolution.