Why DVR's are Making TV Fun Again!

A Digital Video Recorder does the same thing that VCR's do. But, they do it better, faster, and cheaper. A DVR doesn't record shows on tape. It records everything on an internal hard drive similar to the one in your computer. So, no VHS tapes! Most DVR's have an electronic program guide that contains your area's program schedules for 7 days. It's automatically updated every day. This makes the job of setting up a recording as easy as a few clicks on your remote. The DVR searches through the program guide and finds your shows and sets up the recording automatically. Most have options to record a show just once, only new episodes, or all episodes. This means that you don't have to set up the time, buy VHS tapes, or worry about whether you're watching something else at that time.

The simple answer is NO! The first DVR that I remember hearing about was a TIVO. Their ads made a big deal about being able to watch television shows and skip the commercials. The TIVO service is still around and very popular with users. You can use a TIVO in homes without cable or satellite service although they work in homes with those services, too. There have been 3 generations of TIVO recorders. The latest is the TIVO series 3 which is capable of handling High Defintion (HD) broadcasts. I believe the popularity of the TIVO platform is why most cable and satellite TV providers began to offer digital video recorders as part of their services.

There's basically three ways to go if you want to join the DVR revolution. It depends on how you get your TV programs now or plan to get them in the future. All involve the installation of a set top box that contains the hardware for recording TV shows.

CABLE TV customers: Most of the cable TV providers in the US offer a DVR system of some type. This upgrade to your plan usually costs less than $8-10 a month. You must be a digital cable subscriber to add this to your plan.

Satellite TV customers: The two providers of this service in the US, DirecTV and Dish Network, offer a simple upgrade to their plans that include DVR service. If you're considering going with Dish Network, check out these three offers:

Over the air (analog) TV customers: This is where the TIVO system and other stand alone DVR's can be used. Cable and Satellite customers can also use these devices. The TIVO service requires a subscription of $12.95/month as of this writing. It's more interactive then other DVR's because it learns what programs you like and searches for other similar programs and records them for you automatically. There are other "stand alone" DVR's that you can buy and avoid any monthly fees. These are made by manufacturers like Pioneer, Panasonic, Sony, Philips, etc.