HDD videos - do they need a digital TV signal

[patently]

Apologies for the stupid question, but I reckon I'll look more stupid if I spend the cash on something useless!

We want to replace our VCR and DVD player, and the Mrs has suggested one of those video recorders that store the program on a hard disk instead of a tape - should save all that fuss looking for a tape we can use and finding the right one later.

My only fret is that, where we live, we have no digital TV signal at all. (We've tried!) Do HDD recorders convert an analogue TV signal to a digital file or do they need an digital TV signal to start with?

I've no idea, so I need your help before I admit to her that my technical knowledge is fallible

Oh, we're looking at this one, by the way.

[Chrisg]

I'm sure there was a thread on this a couple of weeks ago, have a look but Daz seems very well clued up on this ( and most other electronics !!) and I'm sure he will be along sometime.

All I can say is since i got Sky+ with the HDD I wouldn't go back, almost forgotten how to set up the VCR and only keep it as I have various bits mainly Audi/Porsche + a few films on tape

[colinc]

[ QUOTE ]

My only fret is that, where we live, we have no digital TV signal at all. (We've tried!) Do HDD recorders convert an analogue TV signal to a digital file or do they need an digital TV signal to start with?

I've no idea, so I need your help before I admit to her that my technical knowledge is fallible

[/ QUOTE ]

Almost all of the HDD recorders can record from analogue source (your aerial) and anything attached via a SCART socket. They will always record digitally on the disk but the quality will only be as good as the input source and not enhanced in any way.

If you dont want to go the Sky+ route then a HDD recorder is a good second choice, it may be worth looking at the Panasonic range as well as the JVC.(which will do what you want by the way)

Hope this helps

Colin

[danksy]

Depends on the model you get..

Sky plus records the raw digital stream, so that if you recorded a sky box office event and never watched it you'd never get charged

Likewise if you recorded a program off a premium channel (Sky movies) but downgraded your subscription, then yo could not watch it

I have a Pace HDD recorder, which records the raw MPEG streams, and decodes when the program is played back. Generally this is the best option for picture quality

I also have a Tivo which has a built in Analogue Tuner wo will record analogue TV, as well as any other source fed to it in analogue fashion

You could always get a Window Media Center PC, with an analogue card which would do pretty much the same thing.

PS where in the country do you live not to be able to get a Digital Signal? A decent arial upgrade (c. £120) will normally give you the strenght of signal required

[davidhodgkinson]

We've got an LG dvd recoder with HDD. It's got an anologue tuner in, so it can record any tv channel. Works great! Everything just goes to hdd, not used the dvd yet. :-)

[patently]

Thanks, everyone. Sounds like I can go and start spending.

We're in South Bucks - the freeview site confirms that there is no coverage. When we moved here we plugged our freeview box and left it overnight looking for stations - zilch.

Everyone else has Sky instead, so we called them and a helpful chap climbed up and tried to get a signal, but we are surrounded by trees so that was a no go!

So we just have terrestrial TV, DVDs, and our own company!