Dear HDTV Recorder Forum Members,
I would like to upgrade to OTA HDTV but must have the equivalent of a VCR for timeshifting programs. I often have two VCRs running simultaneously. What is the lowest cost (and hopefully simplest to use) solution for recording OTA HDTV transmissions?
Thanks, Trevor Bartram.

Well, there's the Sony DHG-HDD500 or DHG-HDD250. I don't know if it's the absolute cheapest way, but it is definitely the simplest. It includes the free TV Guide on Screen guide which picks up it's info from an analog OTA host channel, usually PBS. All you have to do is highlight the shows you want recorded, either once, daily, regularly or weekly. You can also manually set the timers if you so wish. It has an ATSC,QAM w/cablecard & NTSC tuner, but you cannot watch one show live while recording another through it. If your TV has an ATSC tuner, you can split the signal to do that, though. (You CAN watch one recorded show while recording another.) And that 500 GB's DOES hold a lot of shows.

Lots of people here will try to sell you on the TiVo S3 DVR, which is a great unit, and will let you watch one thing while recording another and has more versatility and features recording-wise, but there's a monthly fee involved. And the unit itself costs as much as, if not more than the Sony's. Personally, I kind of feel that it's overkill just to use for OTA, but, to each his own.

The only issue with the Sony is that nobody knows if it'll be fully functional as a DVR once they cut off all analog OTA transmissions. If it can still get the time at least, it will still be able to be programmed manually.

Neither the Sony's nor the TiVo is compatable with satellite. Just OTA and cable.

The only other reasonably affordable way to record HD would be with your computer.

D-VHS recorder(s) + firewire equipped HDTV and/or firewire equipped STB. I'm doing exactly what you want to do with 2 Mits 2000U VCR's, a Mits HDTV, and a Samsung T165. I started with just the TV as a recording source but it was limiting since I couldn't watch anything else while recording (single ATSC tuner). Picked up the Samsung on e-bay and problem solved, also allows me to record 2 HD programs at the same time or record one and watch another. I have one VCR connected to the TV's firewire and the other one connected to the STB, which is then connected to the TV on the HDMI input - eliminates any possibility of the firewire devices getting confused about who's talking to who.

The Sony unit is pretty nice and probably simpler as an all in one unit but might be a bit harder to find. If I had seen a deal on one of those before I picked up the second D-VHS and the T165 I might have gone that route instead. My approach does have the advantage of no limit on the amount of storage space. I believe the 500 GB Sony will hold 60 hours of HD. I get 2 hours on a T120 S-VHS tape, so a few boxes gets me to the same place. I've been recording with VCR's for close to 30 years so it's a format and process that's second nature.

Hi Ramm,
The Sony recorders are no longer available. You mentioned a PC solution. I've seen several HDTV cards for PCs. Does anyone out there have a recommendation for fully worked out solution (PC, cards, & software)?
Thanks, Trevor.

FYI, Panasonic announced at CES that they'll be releasing DVD recorders with ATSC (HD) OTA tuners this spring. The basic one without VHS or the SD card (for pictures) will list for $230.

FYI, Panasonic announced at CES that they'll be releasing DVD recorders with ATSC (HD) OTA tuners this spring. The basic one without VHS or the SD card (for pictures) will list for $230.

It will have an ATSC tuner but will it record in HD? Seems pretty unlikely at that price point seeing as you would need a Blu-Ray or HD DVD recorder to handle the amount of data for HD - unless they have some magical new compression scheme that nobody knows about yet. I'm guessing it will output the signal to a standard burner at 480p which will still look good but is definitely not what the OP was asking about.

The Sony recorders are no longer available.Many Fry's still have them in stock, and you can find them on ebay, although not that cheap.

It will have an ATSC tuner but will it record in HD?No.

My local Fry's has 7 of the 250GB models and they are still at the original price of $599. I keep checking for a clearance but it hasn't happened yet.

Somebody here said that they were listed at retail on the shelf at his local Fry's, but when he went to purchase it, it rang up at a discount.

Maybe try taking it up to a register and having it price checked.