ncaahoops
06-21-07, 05:36 PM
As I am trying to figure out what is the best strategy for buying dvd recorders, I am reaching another conclusion: it is an exercise in frustration!
HDD-based recorders are disappearing, cable companies are encrypting standard cable channels on digital cable systems, new cable cards, very few new hdd-based recorders in the US market, the february 2009 deadline, uncertain future of analog channels on cable before and after february 2009, DRM-crippled future recorders, and DRM-infested cable boxes, HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray...
Ideally I want a box that will do all my regular tasks, have 2+ tuners, a hard disk, be able to record analog and digital channels, be able to independantly tune all channels I paid for (via cable card?), high-speed burn from HDD to DVD, at a reasonable price :-) I will ignore high-def recording (hd-dvd vs blu-ray) to remove one of the variables.
Since no such thing exists right now, it means I have to come up with a strategy that covers the right now, the near future, the 2009 future, and post 2009. I don't want to buy new devices every six months, so I have to figure out a way to buy things that I can use until they break :-)
I wouldn't mind buying one of the remaining/existing HDD recorders [if I can find them] (eg Pioneer 640H), but if it's own tuner won't be usable by 2009, then I hesitate and hesitate. Also will the existing HDD recorders support the new cable cards (of july 2007 or later?) for independent tuning? [I don't even remember which current models have cable card slots]. And if yes, what will they be able to tune to since they does not have a digital tuner... There seems to be momentum to keep at least basic cable analog channels around until well after 2009. If that becomes a nation wide practice, then I would still be able to use its analog tuner. Since March Madness is on CBS, that's a big plus. And while CBS and ABC have some games on the weekend, the majority of the games are on ESPN, ESPN2, FSN and digital cable channels. I would also be able to use it to continue to time-shift network TV stuff. Ideally i do not want to be renting cable box DVRs, only until I get a multi-tuner DVD recorder. The problem is that right now those are the most flexible because you can tune in to any two channels, unlike dvd recorders where you can only tune in to standard cable right now (and basic or nothing later on). Grrrrr!
Okay I am confused now. Time for a coffee break before I continue :-)
OTOH, if the only unencrypted digital channels are the same channels available as basic analog, then the digital tuner advantage is not as significant as it should be. What will the new cable cards allow a dvd recorder with a digital tuners to tune to? This may be the answer to some of my questions.
Given all that, a single box solution is very unlikely, so in order to have tuner flexibility, I would need more than one box. Perhaps using DVRs as buffers and then record them overnight to an HDD-recorder, and then select whatever needs to be recorded and high-speed burn it. Thus the HDD recorder becomes more of a gigantic buffer for the dvd burner, instead of a DVR of its own. In such a case, an existing HDD dvd recorder would be good enough, but that would mean i would be stuck with renting (or buying) a DVR for its tuners and as a staging area for the dvd recorder. In other words, replace my non-HDD recorder with an HDD recorder... Given the currently available dvd recorders this seems to be the defacto solution for the short term?
But how about the medium to long term? Won't digital versions of the channels be better than analog? Or even if not, downrez'ed 16x9 HiDef to 480i will most certainly be better than off-the-wall analog or ADS/SD-digital. Especially for sports, this should be a big benefit. But how many of these channels will be recordable other than the equivalent of OTA HD? Grrrrrr Buying a stand-alone recorder with a digital tuner could help here but given that SP is only two hours long on a blank -ram/rw, that doesn't help that much for games, but regardless it could be used to record them at 245FR and then high-speed to/from a HDD-burner to a dvd if needed. Not as good as SP, but a digital tuner should perhaps give them a boost in qualify. Maybe...
What else? Do I instead get stand-alone STBs and feed each one to a non-hdd recorder? Sounds expensive and inefficient. Do I instead feed them to HDD recorders? Sounds more expensive but also more efficient, but also inefficient since it's more devices, more tuning and programming to do. Sounds like a big mess :)
What else? Do I give up on the notion that an HDD recorder can be an all-in-one box and use it simply as a buffer for the dvd burner? Then get 1-2 DVRs/TiVos for time-shifting and buffering? Sounds even more expensive. Again, the future cable card seems to be something that could help in this scenario as well.
Part of the problem is that with basketball games the schedule is not as predictable. Sometimes you have 4 games in parallel, then there is nothing to watch for hours (or even days). So having tuner flexiblity is crucial!
To be continued...
HDD-based recorders are disappearing, cable companies are encrypting standard cable channels on digital cable systems, new cable cards, very few new hdd-based recorders in the US market, the february 2009 deadline, uncertain future of analog channels on cable before and after february 2009, DRM-crippled future recorders, and DRM-infested cable boxes, HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray...
Ideally I want a box that will do all my regular tasks, have 2+ tuners, a hard disk, be able to record analog and digital channels, be able to independantly tune all channels I paid for (via cable card?), high-speed burn from HDD to DVD, at a reasonable price :-) I will ignore high-def recording (hd-dvd vs blu-ray) to remove one of the variables.
Since no such thing exists right now, it means I have to come up with a strategy that covers the right now, the near future, the 2009 future, and post 2009. I don't want to buy new devices every six months, so I have to figure out a way to buy things that I can use until they break :-)
I wouldn't mind buying one of the remaining/existing HDD recorders [if I can find them] (eg Pioneer 640H), but if it's own tuner won't be usable by 2009, then I hesitate and hesitate. Also will the existing HDD recorders support the new cable cards (of july 2007 or later?) for independent tuning? [I don't even remember which current models have cable card slots]. And if yes, what will they be able to tune to since they does not have a digital tuner... There seems to be momentum to keep at least basic cable analog channels around until well after 2009. If that becomes a nation wide practice, then I would still be able to use its analog tuner. Since March Madness is on CBS, that's a big plus. And while CBS and ABC have some games on the weekend, the majority of the games are on ESPN, ESPN2, FSN and digital cable channels. I would also be able to use it to continue to time-shift network TV stuff. Ideally i do not want to be renting cable box DVRs, only until I get a multi-tuner DVD recorder. The problem is that right now those are the most flexible because you can tune in to any two channels, unlike dvd recorders where you can only tune in to standard cable right now (and basic or nothing later on). Grrrrr!
Okay I am confused now. Time for a coffee break before I continue :-)
OTOH, if the only unencrypted digital channels are the same channels available as basic analog, then the digital tuner advantage is not as significant as it should be. What will the new cable cards allow a dvd recorder with a digital tuners to tune to? This may be the answer to some of my questions.
Given all that, a single box solution is very unlikely, so in order to have tuner flexibility, I would need more than one box. Perhaps using DVRs as buffers and then record them overnight to an HDD-recorder, and then select whatever needs to be recorded and high-speed burn it. Thus the HDD recorder becomes more of a gigantic buffer for the dvd burner, instead of a DVR of its own. In such a case, an existing HDD dvd recorder would be good enough, but that would mean i would be stuck with renting (or buying) a DVR for its tuners and as a staging area for the dvd recorder. In other words, replace my non-HDD recorder with an HDD recorder... Given the currently available dvd recorders this seems to be the defacto solution for the short term?
But how about the medium to long term? Won't digital versions of the channels be better than analog? Or even if not, downrez'ed 16x9 HiDef to 480i will most certainly be better than off-the-wall analog or ADS/SD-digital. Especially for sports, this should be a big benefit. But how many of these channels will be recordable other than the equivalent of OTA HD? Grrrrrr Buying a stand-alone recorder with a digital tuner could help here but given that SP is only two hours long on a blank -ram/rw, that doesn't help that much for games, but regardless it could be used to record them at 245FR and then high-speed to/from a HDD-burner to a dvd if needed. Not as good as SP, but a digital tuner should perhaps give them a boost in qualify. Maybe...
What else? Do I instead get stand-alone STBs and feed each one to a non-hdd recorder? Sounds expensive and inefficient. Do I instead feed them to HDD recorders? Sounds more expensive but also more efficient, but also inefficient since it's more devices, more tuning and programming to do. Sounds like a big mess :)
What else? Do I give up on the notion that an HDD recorder can be an all-in-one box and use it simply as a buffer for the dvd burner? Then get 1-2 DVRs/TiVos for time-shifting and buffering? Sounds even more expensive. Again, the future cable card seems to be something that could help in this scenario as well.
Part of the problem is that with basketball games the schedule is not as predictable. Sometimes you have 4 games in parallel, then there is nothing to watch for hours (or even days). So having tuner flexiblity is crucial!
To be continued...