I was wondering if I get a DVHS recorder can I give my Samsung SIR-T165 HDTV receiver the boot? I know I can hook it up to my PC and record which I have done via firewire but its not something I can expect the rest of the family to use.

If I get a DVHS, I don't really want to have both sitting in my rack, but I would like to be able to watch programs live also.

In other words, can I simply watch HDTV using the DVHS tuner, or do I have to record it first and then play it back?

If I understand your question, this would be like having a tuner to watch TV on a monitor, and then buying a VCR which has a tuner, thus eliminating the need for a tuner-only device.

The answer is no, the DVHS decks do not have an ATSC or QAM tuner in them. I believe they have a plain old analog NTSC tuner, but that doesn't help any. You'll still need the Samsung HD receiver. Basically all a DVHS is is a plain old VCR, that can record the MPEG2 datastream to a tape in digital format. JVC decks take this a step farther and include an MPEG2 decoder so that the video can be output in plain analog over component connections. Mits decks lack this decoder and only output(and record) HD via MPEG2 bitstream, aka firewire or 1394 connections. If one gets a Mits DVHS deck, the only way to play back HD is to have a TV with firewire inputs(1394, or i-link as sony calls it) or run it through a JVC DVHS deck and use it's MPEG2 decoder to output over component connection, to any HDTV.

I think everything I said is correct, feel free to correct anything I said wrong

Ah I was afaid of that. They are now releasing the new DVD recorders with ATSC tuners, I imagine on those you can watch in HD, but the caveat with those is you cant record in HD. :(

No, if you check the threads about the new DVD recorders with ATSC, they only have a SD digital tuner in them (So you watch in SD as well as record SD).

Also I think one of the more expensive DVHS units does have a ATSC HD tuner JVC 5U? I think? or was that 100DT or something? But I don't remember any having a QAM tuner.

No, if you check the threads about the new DVD recorders with ATSC, they only have a SD digital tuner in them (So you watch in SD as well as record SD).

Also I think one of the more expensive DVHS units does have a ATSC HD tuner JVC 5U? I think? or was that 100DT or something? But I don't remember any having a QAM tuner.
I dont quite understand what you mean.....when you said that the DVD recorders with ATSC tuners only have a SD tuner in them?

I was thinking specifically about the JVC DR-MV99B, which has both a ATSC digital tuner and a NTSC analog tuner in it.JVC Link DVD RECORDER (http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD2000002&pathId=115)

The JVC HM DT100 is an Integrated HDTV receiver and recorder and is the only DVHS that has this feature.

yowza that sucker is a bit expensive ;)

Yeah I know it isn't cheap but for professional HD quality with an HDMI output there is none better.

I'm referring to the units mentioned here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=830619

Nowhere on that JVC page does it say HDTV tuner, it simply says ATSC. According to the marketing speak used in the other models, I would have to say, with 99% certainty, that the JVC doesn't have a HD tuner but only standard definition digital tuner. Every specification about that unit mentions only "upconverting" (SD to 720p/1080i for output to HDMI).

I think I follow you now. I wasnt sure what you meant since I have always thought of ATSC tuners as being able to output in HD. I did some reading thru the forum here and it does seem that none of these newer DVD recorders with ATSC tuners can output 720p or 1080i natively.

The specs page on JVC's website for the DR-MV99B mentions this:

TUNER DR-MV99B
ATSC (Digital) Tuner:
Air 8 VSB (2-69)
Cable Clear QAM (1-135)
NTSC (Analog) Tuner VHF (2-13)/UHF (14-69)/CATV (1-135)

So it has a QAM in it, but can't do HD. This VCR WOULD be "2009-proof" and will function just fine after the analog shutoff and could record digital OTA(non-HD), or HD downcoverted to 480 I guess.

But no mention of HD on those specs though.

I'm referring to the units mentioned here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=830619

Nowhere on that JVC page does it say HDTV tuner, it simply says ATSC. According to the marketing speak used in the other models, I would have to say, with 99% certainty, that the JVC doesn't have a HD tuner but only standard definition digital tuner. Every specification about that unit mentions only "upconverting" (SD to 720p/1080i for output to HDMI).

Uh...it's says so on the JVC page that it tunes HD for HD recording, so it has to output HD too.

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027315&pathId=50&page=1

Thats because you're looking at specs for D-VHS, not http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?productId=PRD2000002&pathId=115 the unit he originally asked about (DVD Recorder). Yes, obviously the DT100 tunes and records HD.