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| Recently Panasonic introduced a DVD recorder that also has a 40GB hard drive. In their ads, they tout the fact that you can dump video from the hard drive onto DVDs--very cool. Here's my question: If I bought this thing to record programs from Dish Network, 1). Will it work? 2.) Will it actually record a DIGITAL signal? My guess is that it won't. (In other words, the Dish signal would be converted from digital to analog at the Dish receiver, sent to the DVD recorder via analog outputs(probably S-video and RCA cables), into the DVD recorder, and converted back to digital data for burning onto DVD (or storing onto the hard drive.) If I'm correct, then the notion of recording source material in Dolby Digital goes right out the window. Also--are there any copy protection issues here? |
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Derek | You are correct in the way it records. Tivo or a computer are the only way to record DirecTV in its original digital form. Since you are recording the analog signal, I guess no one cares about copy protection. It's kind of like a VCR. |
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| Dish Network features its "PVR" receiver line which integrates a hard drive recorder that captures the actual Dish Network bitstream. Because there's no D/A conversion, as such, it records Dolby Digital source material in true Dolby Digital and the picture quality is identical to the live feed. The problem with this system is that you can't record other sources--locals coming OTA, MiniDV sources, etc. There aren't any input jacks whatsoever--analog or digital. The receivers are cheap, though and do provide a TiVo-like experience without any monthly fees. Alternatively, DVD recorders or standalone hard drive recorders don't seem to have any digital implementation with the source components--digital gets converted to analog and back to digital again. The problem here is that some picture quality would be lost, you lose the satellite programming guide interface. And of course, digitally driven sound (DD or DTS)evaporates. Is there anything out there that does it all--digital capture of satellite feeds AND analog-to-digital recording of other sources? |
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Derek | Tivo is supposed to be bringing out an HDTV compatable PVR. Add the Media upgrade and it should be able to connect to computers in the house. http://www.audiorevolution.com/news/0103/10.dishnetwork.shtml http://www.pc-dtv.com/ http://registration.hauppauge.com/webstore/hardware.asp#wintv_hd http://www.accessdtv.com/accessdtv/index.htm http://www.dvico.com/products_mul_hd.html http://www.mitinc.co.kr/mitinc/e_site/index.jsp Hope [all of this] helps. |
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Derek | Oh yeah. RCA announced one a couple of weeks ago. http://www.rca.com/content/viewdetail/1,2811,EI700488-CI258,00.html |
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Anonymous | I recently subscribed to a Dish service and am very frustrated by being unable to watch a program and record a different one at the same time. I've read your statements that it can't be done, but why, when VCR's have been able to do it from antenna or cable service? |
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Derek | VCRs, Tivos and Replays can record one channel while you watch another because they have tuners that are capable of receiving all of the channels. Your television has one too. Both devices are free to tune to any channel they want whenever they want until... The cable companies started protecting thier signals. First it was simple filters but once digital cable arrived, a cable box was required eventually for 80% of the channels. Digital cable became like DirecTV with respect to the need of a set-top-box to receive channels. The cable companies have protected thier channels from thieves but they lost one of thier advantages - recording one channel while watching another. That's why so many people are going to satelite - they may as well. I don't know about Dish but DirectTivos can record TWO different channels at the same time AND you can watch an existing recording. I hear that some of the new ones comming out will allow your to watch a third channel. Hope that helps. |