Digital Video Recorders (DVR systems)

Where can you get a DVR (digital video recorder)?

You can either a buy a DVR from an online store -- such as through the BestBuy link above -- or you could consider getting a free DVR system with new satellite TV service. If you begin new satellite service from either the Dish Network or DirecTV, you can get a free dish and up to five free receivers. And some of these satellite receivers already have DVRs built into them.

• Visit our free satellite dish page to find out more.

What is a DVR?

A DVR (which stands for digital video recorder) is an electronic device that records television programming digitally onto what is essentially a hard drive. It has RCA terminals for A/V wires so you can hook your cable access and television up to it.

If the signal that enters the DVR system comes from satellite TV or digital cable, it will already be in the MPEG-2 format and will be recorded straight onto the hard drive. But if the signal is from a TV antenna or analog cable service, it must be converted into this digital format before it can be recorded on the hard drive.

Since the DVR is a big hard drive, this means that you don't ever have to worry about a tape when it comes time to record your favorite shows. This is truly a positive feature unless you're the type of person who likes to tape and catalog lots of movies or shows. A DVR system probably won't work in this case since it will only record 140 hrs.

But even though digital video recorders have this 140 hour limitation, for must of us, it will be worth it since the DVR will give you total playback control when you're watching recorded programming. Since the program is digitally recording (not manually recording on a magnetic tape), you can begin watching a program minutes after you start recording it. And a DVR lets you fast forward, rewind, pause, and skip commercials all as if you were watching a DVD!

DVRs are driven by operating systems, of which TiVo (employing Linux) is the most widely known.