Hello - I have no experience with DVRs, I had never even seen one until yesterday at Walmart. I had always thought DVR = Tivo. I'm seeing this as my entry into the DVR world, once I use one for a while, I'll probably upgrade my expectations.

My bare minimum goal is replace my VCR with with a digital recording medium like DVD or a hard disk. And to do this, I want no monthly fee, and I want to spend less than $200 for the box.

I have basic cable through comcast, and my TV picks up the QAM channels. I'd like to be able to pick up the QAM channels on the DVR, but I can do without.

I don't have any desire for long term storage of shows, and I'd rather not have to swap out DVD's, so the Hard Drive is preferable. I don't record a lot, maybe 3 hours a week, watching the content within the next week.

There may be times when I want to save something, so DVD recording would still be nice.

I can deal with a lower quality of picture from the DVR, but component outputs would be nice (at least S-Video). High Def would be nice, but I get very little HD content anyway.

The ability to pause live shows would be neat, but not important.

So if anyone can jump-start my research here it would be greatly appreciated!

Good luck because I don't know of anything that is a "DVR" that costs less than $200 and has no monthly fees.

Maybe I know even less than I think.

Is this a DVR or is it something else?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5030815

Maybe I know even less than I think.

Is this a DVR or is it something else?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5030815

It is a DVR, but if you take a look at some of the reviews of it, it is piece of junk. I'd steer clear of it. Just Google DRC8030N and you'll see what I mean.

Yeah, i saw the reviews for that, I was just trying to see if I was talking the right language.

But anyway, I just realized that I posted this in the HDTV thread and there is a DVD Recorders thread that may have been a more appropriate place to post my question.

Comcast should offer a DVR box with Digital cable.

I'm in the same boat as the original poster...

Disregarding the 200$ limit, what are some good DVRs I could look into?

Up your budget to $3-400 and look at the sony HDD-250 on e-bay. HD DVR, QAM, no fees, free guide - may be obsolete in 2009 when NTSC turns off. Occasionally flakey.

I'm in the same boat as the original poster...

Disregarding the 200$ limit, what are some good DVRs I could look into?There aren't any "good DVRs" in that range without a monthly see. The discontinued Sony HDD-250 mentioned above is your best bet for a DVR without a monthly fee, if you can find one. That Sony lacks more modern DVR features like the ability to record two different programs at once, and program / guide information (with lots of ads) isn't available in all areas, but it does the basics.

The DVR that Comcast will rent you for $10-$15 per month is a $600 box. It will simultaneously record two SD or HD programs at 100% original quality while you watch a third, previously-recorded program. Comcast areas that use Motorola DVRs will soon have this software (http://www.tivolovers.com/Photos/CES2007/) available. If you are new to this technology, those pictures (http://www.tivolovers.com/Photos/CES2007/) will give you an idea of what you get with a modern DVR.

Up your budget to $3-400 and look at the sony HDD-250 on e-bay. HD DVR, QAM, no fees, free guide - may be obsolete in 2009 when NTSC turns off. Occasionally flakey.If he's only using the Sony for basic cable, he shouldn't have a problem. Same with OTA.

The problems are mostly related to digital cable with a cablecard (not passing an analog host channel).

If he's only using the Sony for basic cable, he shouldn't have a problem. Same with OTA.

The problems are mostly related to digital cable with a cablecard (not passing an analog host channel).

Agreed. That's how I use mine. No real problems.

The DVR that Comcast will rent you for $10-$15 per month is a $600 box.

Just out of curiosity: is that $600 the wholesale price that Comcast pays for box, or does that reflect the equivalent "retail price" that it would sell for if you had to go to Best Buy for one?

Just out of curiosity: is that $600 the wholesale price that Comcast pays for box, or does that reflect the equivalent "retail price" that it would sell for if you had to go to Best Buy for one?It is Motorola's list price. It's also what Comcast charges you if you somehow "lose" the box.

I'm sure Comcast pays less given they order them by the tens of thousands.

Thanks for the info.

Recording season is almost over for me and so I think I'll revisit this in August.