Television sets, what to get

[Bird]

HD DVR is awesome! I have the half terabyte system that can record up to 350 hours of programs before I have to erase any. This is not a TV issue, but they go hand-in-hand.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find 350 hours of anything on TV in 10 years that I'd want to record.:laughing: I do occasionally but rarely record a program on DVD, but I know the DVR just wouldn't be cost effective for me. However, I have a couple of brothers who think it's great, and I can certainly understand that.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to find 350 hours of anything on TV in 10 years that I'd want to record.:laughing: I do occasionally but rarely record a program on DVD, but I know the DVR just wouldn't be cost effective for me.

If you have some of the newer HD Sat receivers (don't know about cable) some of them have a USB plug and are DVR ready. Just go to Future Shop / Best Buy etc - buy a compatible 1TB hard drive - plug it in & format & presto now you have a DVR for probably less than $100.

I recently decided to record something off PBS for DW and must have forgotten to specify an end time. Got 251 + hours of recorded PBS in glorious HD. Unfortunately I had not "protected" the other stuff that was previously recorded so it all was lost - learning lesson for me and any others reading.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If you have some of the newer HD Sat receivers (don't know about cable) some of them have a USB plug and are DVR ready. Just go to Future Shop / Best Buy etc - buy a compatible 1TB hard drive - plug it in & format & presto now you have a DVR for probably less than $100.

I recently decided to record something off PBS for DW and must have forgotten to specify an end time. Got 251 + hours of recorded PBS in glorious HD. Unfortunately I had not "protected" the other stuff that was previously recorded so it all was lost - learning lesson for me and any others reading.

And you get to pay them a monthly fee to use the USB port...

 

[Bird]

I recently decided to record something off PBS for DW and must have forgotten to specify an end time.

And even when I did set a recording time to record on the VCR or DVD recorder, I gpt all the commercials, previews, and other garbage. A couple of nights ago "Mark Twain Tonight", one man show by Hal Holbrook was on and I recorded it on a DVD. The first time I saw that (maybe the only time on TV) was early in 1972. I later bought the audio (phonograph record) of that plus some other of his MarkTwain act.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

And you get to pay them a monthly fee to use the USB port...

I don't....................

 

[celtsrevenge]

Alan L, and here I was going to offer you two Colorado pigs, two year warranty included.

 

[timswi]

If you are using an HDMI cable...you should be getting the best audio signal...

I only suggested the fiber optic audio ports for those without HDMI connectivity...

I'll have to look, but I'm pretty sure the audio from the satellite receiver is RCA. Everything else is HDMI...

 

[Alan L.]

Alan L, and here I was going to offer you two Colorado pigs, two year warranty included.

Might consider buying em, just don't rent em.

 

[/pine]

I'll have to look, but I'm pretty sure the audio from the satellite receiver is RCA. Everything else is HDMI

if you have an HDMI connection that is all you need....if you have other audio cables connected remove them but I think HDMI was probably already over-riding the analog (RCA) connection

 

[SARG]

Something to be aware of if you have the digital TIME-WARNER HD BOX service.

It does not work well with the Vizio brand TVs. You will have very poor audio volume and it can't be fixed without the expense of a surround sound or stereo system added on.

We had a Time-warner technician come and he worked several hours trying to remedy the problem on our 37" led TV. Even called Vizio to see if they had a software upgrade. He stated he had seen the issue before. The volume is just too low when hooked through the HD box.

Yesterday we went and purchased a 42" Vizio hoping the problem was remedied in a newer set. Got it home and had the same issue.

Took the Vizio back and got an LG brand TV.
Hooked it up and now the volume can be set at 30 percent and still be heard everywhere.

Just to warn everyone about the Vizio problems. It may very well be the manufacturer of a specific type HD box .... despite what the technician told us ... because we have a local friend that has the same digital HD service with a Vizio TV with ...... according to him .... No problems.