As you will quickly surmise, I have never had, nor operated a DVD recorder. My questions are simple to those who know the answers. If I buy a DVD recorder, can I...

1) record a movie or regular tv programming from satellite tv via the "conventional" networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, A&E, TBS, TCM, AMC) or are they protected and trying to record such would not work?

2) record a movie from satellite tv via "paid/premium" networks (HBO, ShowTime, etc) or are they "protected" and trying to record such would not work?

3) transfer a movie recorded by my DirecTV DVR onto a disc in my new DVD recorder so as to have a "burned copy" and free up space in my DirecTV DVR?

4) record a "pay-per-view" event from D* directly onto my new DVD recorder by connecting the D* DVR output my new DVD recorder input, then connect the DVD recorder output to the television input so as to watch and record at the same time?

5) Any other capabilities that occur to you that I, as a newbie, have not thought of?

Thanks very much for your help

I have recorded both standard and premium channels from D* to my Panasonic DVD recorder with absolutely no problems. Mine has a hard drive, so I just copy onto the hard drive and edit there before burning the disc. I have never had either source prevent a recording due to copy protection. I transfer movies from my D* DVR all the time with no problems.

I never purchase Pay-per-view events, so I cannot say if there would be any restrictions copying those directly as you indicated.

SMK

Matchmole,

I have DirecTV and often record to my Toshiba RD-XS32 DVD recorder with hard drive. Recording, and transferring to DVD, from network broadcasts have never been a problem (I have not recorded from A&E, TCM or AMC). I have had mixed results recording from Starz (during their "free weekend" events). I have been able to record most anything to my hard drive. However, there have been some movies that I can not copy to a DVD. My Toshiba HDD-DVDR recognizes the copy protection and won't let me make a copy (even directly from the broadcast).

So long as I have hard drive space, I just keep the movies on the hard drive and watch them when I want to. As I don't regularly subscribe to any premium movie stations, that has been my only experience. Hope that helps.

I am new too and am out to buy a DVD recorder. So from what I surmise in reading... all DVD recorders don't have a hard drive and it is best to get one with a hard drive? Any recommended brands? Or warnings of ones to stay away from? (or is that allowed?)

I just bought new HDTV and direct TV is upgrading me to HD this weekend and installing the DVR and I want to record movies and such
and just like matchmole,
I have never owned or operated a DVD recorder either. Moving up from VHS.

There are only two current Us models of DVDRs with a HDD, a Polaroid, and a Philips, with a 160GB HDD. The consensus seems to be that the Philips is the best. It has a thread on this forum, with something like 1,200 posts. :eek:

it is best to get one with a hard drive?

Basically, a hard drive (HDD) is useful for two things: timeshifting (recording something to watch later, then erasing it), and editing recordings before burning them to DVD (for example, to remove commercials). Your DirecTV DVR will take care of your timeshifting needs, unless you tend to accumulate a huge backlog of programs in which the extra HDD space in a DVD recorder can be useful.

So for you, the main advantage of having a DVD recorder with HDD would be in editing recordings. If you think you're going to want to do this, then you should check out the Philips unit that kjbawc mentioned, or look for discontinued models like the Panasonic DMR-EH75V (which also includes a VCR).

I just bought new HDTV and direct TV is upgrading me to HD this weekend and installing the DVR and I want to record movies and such
and just like matchmole,
I have never owned or operated a DVD recorder either. Moving up from VHS.The Panasonic DMR-EH75V that jtbell mentioned also has the "TV Guide on Screen" 8-day program guide, which is supposed to be compatable with Direct TV. That's a nice feature to have, as it makes scheduling recordings virtually effortless, in case you ever need to do that if you run out of room on your Direct DVR (SD only, of course). Even if it doesn't work, or you just prefer to schedule recordings manually, you can also do that.

Plus, if you've still got a lot of VHS tapes, the VCR part might come in handy.

You might still be able to find one at a Circuit City store if you look hard enough, either new or open box.

Other that that one, at least for hard drive models, I'd only recommend the Philips, as the Polaroid doesn't sound too hot according to it's thread here.

The Philips is on Walmart's and CC's websites, but may be backordered. Otherwise, some Walmart stores may carry it (but they're usually scooped up right away when they get them in stock).

Also, being that you're new to all this, I just want to re-iterate that you can only record in SD on these recorders, in case you weren't aware.

The Panasonic DMR-EH75V that jtbell mentioned also has the "TV Guide on Screen" 8-day program guide, which is supposed to be compatable with Direct TV. That's a nice feature to have, as it makes scheduling recordings virtually effortless, in case you ever need to do that if you run out of room on your Direct DVR (SD only, of course). Even if it doesn't work, or you just prefer to schedule recordings manually, you can also do that.

Plus, if you've still got a lot of VHS tapes, the VCR part might come in handy.

You might still be able to find one at a Circuit City store if you look hard enough, either new or open box.

Other that that one, at least for hard drive models, I'd only recommend the Philips, as the Polaroid doesn't sound too hot according to it's thread here.

The Philips is on Walmart's and CC's websites, but may be backordered. Otherwise, some Walmart stores may carry it (but they're usually scooped up right away when they get them in stock).

Also, being that you're new to all this, I just want to re-iterate that you can only record in SD on these recorders, in case you weren't aware.

THANKS!
On that model can I transfer VHS tapes to DVD?
No I didn't know I could only record in SD, so no way to transfer or tape HD ?

I want one to make hard copies of movies etc because I am told the direct TV DVR will not make hard copies.

***I can't find that model on Wal-Mart but I do find this one
Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK would it be a good one for my needs?
or they have this
RCA DRC8335 ?

No I didn't know I could only record in SD, so no way to transfer or tape HD ?

I want one to make hard copies of movies etc because I am told the direct TV DVR will not make hard copies.

You can record HD programs on any DVDR, but they will be in SD. You will want to run the S-VID, and R/L audio outs from your DVR to your DVDR.

DVDs recorded from a HD source will be sharper. Also, you will get movies in wide screen, at or near their original aspect ratio, so you don't miss 40% of a 2.35:1 film, like you do on SD, with a 4x3 aspect ratio.

IF your DVR can output a squeezed picture over the S-VID out, you can even make anamorphic DVDs from HD sources, that will rival commercial DVDs in picture quality. I don't know if your DVR will do that, my Comcast Moto DVR won't, but some will.

THANKS!
On that model can I transfer VHS tapes to DVD?
Only vhs movie/tapes that do not carry the copy protection signal. So commercial tapes are out. If you have some commercial tv series tapes, you can try it. Many tv series tapes don't have the cop-pro signal on them.