DVD Recorders

Easy info on
DVD Recorders UK spec

Easy info on how to choose from the best DVD recorders. UK spec

You need to know about DVD formats, PVRs and HDD recorders, useful features, connections, reliability and setup.

Where to begin

If you're time-shifting or if you're planning to keep programmes to watch again and again, it's never been so easy to get high quality recordings from a TV. I'll show what you need to look for in choosing DVD recorders and PVRs (Personal Video Recorders).

Years ago, the dawn of the video recorder completely changed the way to watch TV. No need to be restricted by the broadcast schedules. Except for the really big sporting and national events, the whole idea of everybody sitting down to see the same thing at home has all but ceased. Plus, with more and more TV stations available, it's become absolutely necessary to use a recorder just so you can see what you want. You don't want to miss a series episode.

DVD recorders start to take over

DVD recorders are pretty much taking over from VHS video recorders. It's the DVD that's being chosen for home recording. On top of that, many DVD recorders now come with hard-disk recording (HDD) included. That's actually a really useful addition. Having a hard disk as well means that you can record lots of TV for time shifting and just use the DVD recorder part for the stuff you want to keep.

There are some very easy to use (one button) functions that come with a hard disk that you don't have with a DVD recorder alone. You get live pause, live rewind and some machines have a skip ad breaks feature.

How flexible is PVR recording?

Hard disk recording is the basis of personal video recorders (PVRs). The first to appear was the TiVo system (mostly US based). PVRs record and playback programmes (and even an whole series) without you having to keep putting a DVD disc into the machine in order to record. Hard disks (for PVRs) can also be included in set-top boxes for Freeview digital TV, cable TV from Virgin Media and from Sky+. Inside each of the Sky+ boxes and the new Sky HD receivers there is an internal hard drive which can store many hours of TV as Virgin Media's V+ box also does. You can copy standard definition recordings to another recorder if you want.

How many tuners do I need in a DVD recorder?

Basically, the more tuners in the machine the better. DVD recorders have at least one tuner, so that you can record a programme other than the one being watched on the TV.

You ought to check to see what kind of tuner it is, otherwise you may find that you won't be able to watch one Freeview programme whilst recording another. That might be the case if your TV has Freeview (digital) and the recorder is only analogue (not digital). If you plan to use the DVD recorder as a way of having Freeview on your TV, you must get one which has two Freeview tuners for the flexibility you'll inevitably need.

Three important points

1. What do I want the DVD recorder to do?

You'll be getting a DVD recorder to replace a standard DVD player (or maybe VHS video recorder) whilst at the same time adding new recording features. Remember that there is shorter recording time on DVD discs compared to VHS tapes. You could use a long play feature to lengthen recording time, but that affects picture quality and the results can be variable.

Make sure you buy a recorder with a hard disk and you'll then have as much recording time as you'll need and you can also store programmes onto DVD when you want to. PVRs and Sky boxes are best thought of as time shifting recorders.

2. How many tuners does it have?

If you anticipate doing lots of recording, then getting a twin tuner machine is a must. It will enable you record one programme whilst you are watching another - or simply record two programmes at the same time.

3. Freeview, cable and Sky: how do they differ?

Well, with Freeview the Freeview box belongs to you and the programmes are free (no subscription to pay), but you can't receive as many stations as via either cable or Sky; with Sky you buy the box and pay a monthly subscription; with cable you pay a subscription for the box.

________________________________________________________________

Things to check

* Ensure that you buy the correct blank DVDs for your format of DVD recorder.

* Be certain that the machine you get has the right type and number of tuners for the uses you want to put it to.

* If you're buying a Sky package, be satisfied that you've chosen one that suits your actual needs.

________________________________________________________________

What types of recorder are there?

That's something you'll need to know before choosing. Standard DVD recorders will copy from the TV tuner onto a blank disc. Once you record onto an "R" disc you won't be able to record anything else onto it. With the "RW" kind of disc you can record onto it over and over again. There is a DVD-RAM version which provides pause/rewind features whilst watching live TV.

Ideally, you'd be leaning towards a machine with a hard disk drive included for day-to-day recording, with the ability to save onto a blank DVD any recordings you want to keep.

What about Pay to View - Sky+ or Sky HD?

If you already have an HD-ready TV, it makes sense to go for the Sky HD box. It has all of the features of the Sky+ system, like straightforward recording and huge storage. In addition, it can receive and also store high definition programmes. OK, so the box costs quite a bit more compared to Sky+ and you'll pay a little extra a month, but the extra cost is well worth it.

What about formats: DVD-R and DVD+R ?

More than one format seems to be the norm with this kind of consumer electronics. There are two incompatible blank disc formats. Just be very certain that buy the right one for your particular DVD recorder. One good thing is that many machines are now built as dual format to record and play both -R and +R discs.

Do I need to be concerned about PVR recording capacity?

The Sky+ box has sufficient space to store approximately 40 hours of TV. The HD box has a somewhat larger capacity at 150 hours, but it's less if you record only HD programmes (which use up a lot more space on the hard disk) rather than recordings equally split between HD and standard TV. It's worth being aware that half of the HD box hard disk space is in fact kept free for future services.

Which to choose - Sky or cable?

That particular decision might have already been, effectively, made for you. Should you not be in a cabled area, it would have to be Sky. If you live in a flat you might have a cable service already installed. Other than that and what's been mentioned earlier, it's most likely that your choice will turn on which service offers the channels/package you like best.

________________________________________________________________

More info

Connections - Recorder to TV and AV system

Connecting up a DVD recorder is almost as easy as connecting up a standard DVD machine. You'll connect it to the TV with a Scart cable. To get better picture quality more and more recorders now come with an HDMI output socket and a video upscaling option. In practice, the only connection you're likely to need beyond what comes with the machine is an aerial loop-through (the cable for it is supplied with the recorder) - to let the TV and recorder share one TV aerial feed. If you intend to use the recorder with an AV receiver, a digital connection will carry the sound between them. Both Sky+ and Sky HD boxes have HDMI and component video output socket. An audio out socket uses an optical digital feed to connect to a home cinema receiver. Read more about DVD recorder setup.

Can I use my mobile 'phone to set Sky+ to record?

Yes. The latest thing from Sky+ enables you to programme the Sky box in your home by using a mobile phone. It's just a matter of calling up the electronic programme guide (EPG) on your phone. Then choose a programme and set to record. Sky are making it possible to achieve the same on their website.

Can I use a PC as a DVD recorder?

Today's Media Centre PCs provide an alternative solution. You can get Freeview and analogue TV tuners built-in with PCs or as add ons. Using the right software and with a big capacity hard disk included, the PC then becomes a home entertainment centre. With a DVD writer you'll have all you need to do what a standard DVD recorder can do (and quite a bit more).

________________________________________________________________

Two DVD disc formats

The main DVD formats are: DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM. Just keep two facts in mind. Firstly, R means Record once (you can record on the disc only once) whilst RW means ReWritable (you can record onto and re-use the disc many, many times). Secondly, the + and - discs are not compatible with each other. In terms of quality, there's not really anything to distinguish between + and -, but - discs do usually cost less to buy. There's a difference with DVD-RAM which has more recording capacity because you can record on both sides of the disc. Another difference is that they can do 'time-shifting' so that you can watch the start of a recording while you're still recording the end. You can pause while watching live TV. Unfortunately, DVD-RAM discs will not normally play back in either a standard DVD player or a DVD player you might have in a PC.

HDD Recorders

With an HDD recorder you can record straight onto the hard drive. Sky+ was the first to make this really popular in the UK. You don't actually need to buy a Sky+ branded machine in order to have time-shifting and pause live TV, but you ought to make sure that you get a machine with a good Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). HDDs are available in several shapes and sizes. In straightforward terms, the bigger the capacity of the hard disc, the more TV you'll be able to record. This means that you should try to get a model with the biggest disc you can reasonably afford. That disc is almost certain to be filled up sooner than you might suppose. UK spec