VCRs - luddite rant!
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You can get VCR/DVD players at Walmart. Should be around $70. Do they make a DVR that is not subscription dependent?
djj55 wrote:
Do they make a DVR that is not subscription dependent?
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You can get VCR/DVD players at Walmart. Should be around $70. Do they make a DVR that is not subscription dependent?
I looked at Walmart's website (it was one of the first places I looked) and while they do have some VCRs (mostly as DVD combos like this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-Dvd-Player-Vcr-Combo/9864612[^]), they are all advertised as "tuner free". I'm assuming this is because you can't say it has a tuner if it doesn't have a digital tuner since the switch to digital OTA broadcasts. What's frustratingly unclear is whether I could still tape off my basic cable?
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My trusty VCR seems like it might have finally died :(( and it looks like it's going to be next to impossible to find a replacement. Are there even "old style" VCRs available with NTSC tuners that can just tape my shows off basic cable? I.e. the type that I can just say "tape channel 50 from 11 pm to 12 am". I don't want a DVR with a monthly subscription because I'm sick of death of being nickled and dimed by the cable company as it is. All I want to do is record the Daily Show and the Colbert Report each night so I can watch them the next day during dinner (we very rarely record anything else). Yes, I know you can watch them online at Comedy Central's website, but I want to watch them on my TV, I don't eat in front of my computer. And I know I could connect a suitable computer to my TV, my work laptop has an s-video connection, but it's a PITA to fuss about with and I don't want to have to drag my work laptop home every day. And yes, I know Comedy Central repeats both shows at 7pm the next day anyway. So, does anybody have any ideas on a (cheap) solution? I'm not interested in digital (we have digital cable on one TV, but frankly I'd rather get rid of it because we rarely watch any of the extra digital channels). I'm using the basic cable analog system, I don't care about HD. I'd like to still be able to watch TV while recording and have a system that is capable of tuning into the right channel. In other words, something that works like my old VCR. Grrr...stupid new technology, costs more and does less. I remember when you could pick up a VCR for ~ $30! I should have stocked up.
There should still be tons of these haunting the Sally Anns and Goodwills. The trick here is to look for one with the remote taped to the top, a very promising sign that it will actually function. Attention to this detail will in most cases save the budding urban archeologist many return trips to the afore mentioned sites, as these units are notorious for their innate ability to not work too good.
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I looked at Walmart's website (it was one of the first places I looked) and while they do have some VCRs (mostly as DVD combos like this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-Dvd-Player-Vcr-Combo/9864612[^]), they are all advertised as "tuner free". I'm assuming this is because you can't say it has a tuner if it doesn't have a digital tuner since the switch to digital OTA broadcasts. What's frustratingly unclear is whether I could still tape off my basic cable?
In a local Electronics/Home store they had a more expensive model (last year) that had a digital tuner. (VCR/DVD combo)
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djj55 wrote:
Do they make a DVR that is not subscription dependent?
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In a local Electronics/Home store they had a more expensive model (last year) that had a digital tuner. (VCR/DVD combo)
I'm assuming a digital tuner won't work for me. A digital tuner for OTA broadcasts I'm sure would work, but *I think* digital cable, being encrypted, requires either the cable companies own DVR (which they charge you for each month) or one of those CableCard thingies (and that only works if the VCR/DVD combo has a slot for it, which I doubt) from the cable company that they will still charge you for each month.
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I'm assuming a digital tuner won't work for me. A digital tuner for OTA broadcasts I'm sure would work, but *I think* digital cable, being encrypted, requires either the cable companies own DVR (which they charge you for each month) or one of those CableCard thingies (and that only works if the VCR/DVD combo has a slot for it, which I doubt) from the cable company that they will still charge you for each month.
Good question. I never thought about the digital tuner working for channel 3 (or whatever).
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My trusty VCR seems like it might have finally died :(( and it looks like it's going to be next to impossible to find a replacement. Are there even "old style" VCRs available with NTSC tuners that can just tape my shows off basic cable? I.e. the type that I can just say "tape channel 50 from 11 pm to 12 am". I don't want a DVR with a monthly subscription because I'm sick of death of being nickled and dimed by the cable company as it is. All I want to do is record the Daily Show and the Colbert Report each night so I can watch them the next day during dinner (we very rarely record anything else). Yes, I know you can watch them online at Comedy Central's website, but I want to watch them on my TV, I don't eat in front of my computer. And I know I could connect a suitable computer to my TV, my work laptop has an s-video connection, but it's a PITA to fuss about with and I don't want to have to drag my work laptop home every day. And yes, I know Comedy Central repeats both shows at 7pm the next day anyway. So, does anybody have any ideas on a (cheap) solution? I'm not interested in digital (we have digital cable on one TV, but frankly I'd rather get rid of it because we rarely watch any of the extra digital channels). I'm using the basic cable analog system, I don't care about HD. I'd like to still be able to watch TV while recording and have a system that is capable of tuning into the right channel. In other words, something that works like my old VCR. Grrr...stupid new technology, costs more and does less. I remember when you could pick up a VCR for ~ $30! I should have stocked up.
You could setup a minimal PC with a wireless-N adapter to stream stuff from the web. That way, you don't need to tape anything, you could just watch it right off the network web site.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
You could setup a minimal PC with a wireless-N adapter to stream stuff from the web. That way, you don't need to tape anything, you could just watch it right off the network web site.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997That thought had occurred to me too. I have an old gateway computer laying around that I had a notion to set up with Linux a while back and use as a media computer (it already has a video card with an s-video out connection). However, the wife put the kibosh on that pretty quickly with a "I'm not having a computer in the living room". That and it looked like more effort than it's worth to even find a wireless card that I could be confident would work on Linux.
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My trusty VCR seems like it might have finally died :(( and it looks like it's going to be next to impossible to find a replacement. Are there even "old style" VCRs available with NTSC tuners that can just tape my shows off basic cable? I.e. the type that I can just say "tape channel 50 from 11 pm to 12 am". I don't want a DVR with a monthly subscription because I'm sick of death of being nickled and dimed by the cable company as it is. All I want to do is record the Daily Show and the Colbert Report each night so I can watch them the next day during dinner (we very rarely record anything else). Yes, I know you can watch them online at Comedy Central's website, but I want to watch them on my TV, I don't eat in front of my computer. And I know I could connect a suitable computer to my TV, my work laptop has an s-video connection, but it's a PITA to fuss about with and I don't want to have to drag my work laptop home every day. And yes, I know Comedy Central repeats both shows at 7pm the next day anyway. So, does anybody have any ideas on a (cheap) solution? I'm not interested in digital (we have digital cable on one TV, but frankly I'd rather get rid of it because we rarely watch any of the extra digital channels). I'm using the basic cable analog system, I don't care about HD. I'd like to still be able to watch TV while recording and have a system that is capable of tuning into the right channel. In other words, something that works like my old VCR. Grrr...stupid new technology, costs more and does less. I remember when you could pick up a VCR for ~ $30! I should have stocked up.
Pssst...I personally think there is nothing morally wrong with downloading a tv show you get already with your cable subscription: http://eztv.it/[^] If you want to cheaply hook up your tv get a Popcorn Hour direct from China, cheap and easy.
There is no failure only feedback
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That thought had occurred to me too. I have an old gateway computer laying around that I had a notion to set up with Linux a while back and use as a media computer (it already has a video card with an s-video out connection). However, the wife put the kibosh on that pretty quickly with a "I'm not having a computer in the living room". That and it looked like more effort than it's worth to even find a wireless card that I could be confident would work on Linux.
You could get one of those mini computers (like the Mac Mini, but that runs Windows), and put a USB wireless adapter on it. I recommend the Hawking HWUN2. Of course, you're gonna need a Wireless-N router/access point as well.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997 -
Will it record analog signals coming from basic cable? (also your like to Sony UK list them as currently unavailable and I don't see anything similar on Sony's US site.
My BeyonWiz DP-P2 does. Ordinary Video In records to hard disk. It's nice.
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You could get one of those mini computers (like the Mac Mini, but that runs Windows), and put a USB wireless adapter on it. I recommend the Hawking HWUN2. Of course, you're gonna need a Wireless-N router/access point as well.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997If he's in a denser suburb or apartment building, he'll probably want 5ghz N hardware instead of the more common 2.4ghz sort. Between channel conflicts with your neighbors degrading signal quality, and their microwaves jamming you entirely 2.4ghz isn't good for high availability services.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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My BeyonWiz DP-P2 does. Ordinary Video In records to hard disk. It's nice.
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I looked at Walmart's website (it was one of the first places I looked) and while they do have some VCRs (mostly as DVD combos like this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-Dvd-Player-Vcr-Combo/9864612[^]), they are all advertised as "tuner free". I'm assuming this is because you can't say it has a tuner if it doesn't have a digital tuner since the switch to digital OTA broadcasts. What's frustratingly unclear is whether I could still tape off my basic cable?
If you remember back in the day we used to be able to change channels directly on our VCRs. You could program your VCR and tell it what channel to record and it would do it. That's because it had a TV tuner built inside. Back in the 80's and 90's my friends with "nice" TVs that had more than one input could actually record one thing while watching another if they had a cable splitter that split the antenna cable between their TV and VCR and then the TV had two inputs, one for watching live TV and the other for watching off the vcr. If you don't have a tuner built into the VCR it just means that it will blindly record whatever is sent through the video cable. Thus, you cannot simply plug your cable to the back of the VCR. You have to have something in between that will actually select the channel. With cable, satellite and OTA digital TV you usually have something that does this anyway so it makes sense to remove the tuner from the VCR and save some money. In your case it sounds like you have cable. This means that your VCR input will come from the cable box output. When it starts recording you have to set the channel on your cable box first and make sure its turned on of course. If its not on you will just record a bunch of static. Our satellite box automatically turns off live TV at 2am assuming you forgot it on. If I was to record something to a VCR at 3am I would need to disable this option. If you are recording live tv and you change the channel on your cable box you will see this on your recording. One way around this is like the multiple output/input scenario above assuming your cable box has multiple outputs. As long as you have an analog out connection on your cable box (such as RCA or Coax) you should be fine. It doesn't matter what the signal is from your cable company, if the cable box can output standard definition to a TV the VCR will record just fine. Even if your cable box only has HD output you can get an HD-SD converter fairly cheap and your VCR won't know the difference. We have the Magnavox VCR/DVD-R from Walmart and it has worked great (though it recently started eating tapes, hence "worked" in past tense). We have a SD DVR from Dish Network for only $5 a month (perfectly reasonable for our taste and loads of a lot simpler than a VCR). We use the DVD-R to record shows off our DVR that we want to keep for a long time. Good luck! :)
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That thought had occurred to me too. I have an old gateway computer laying around that I had a notion to set up with Linux a while back and use as a media computer (it already has a video card with an s-video out connection). However, the wife put the kibosh on that pretty quickly with a "I'm not having a computer in the living room". That and it looked like more effort than it's worth to even find a wireless card that I could be confident would work on Linux.
I don't mean to derail your goal but any computer based option, whether it be a Mac Mini, old computer in a closet, set top appliance like the WD TV Live, is going to be more troublesome and costly than simply paying a small extra fee for the DVR option. I know you hate paying the cable company but if you cannot find a VCR out there most likely their solution will be more cost effective and much easier than any other solution you will probably find. Once you start dealing with wireless, Internet connections, Linux, media center software, multiple remotes (that's a biggie for non-techy family members) it's often just easier to go with an all-in-one solution. We have an all-in-one SD Satellite/DVR box from Dish and it only ran us $5 more a month over the non-DVR box. It is WELL worth the price. Any one who picks up the remote knows how to use it including my mother-in-law when she watches the kids. No more tapes to rewind or sort through, one remote for everything and it just works.
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I'm assuming a digital tuner won't work for me. A digital tuner for OTA broadcasts I'm sure would work, but *I think* digital cable, being encrypted, requires either the cable companies own DVR (which they charge you for each month) or one of those CableCard thingies (and that only works if the VCR/DVD combo has a slot for it, which I doubt) from the cable company that they will still charge you for each month.
Something like this might work: http://www.amazon.com/JVC-DR-MV150B-DVD-recorder-combo/dp/B001UHMCT4[^] The important thing is that it has an NTSC tuner which supports CATV, I think. They still make those, but your cable company might not use it much longer. Otherwise you have to do this with a tunerless VCR: http://www.ehow.com/how_6386909_use-vcr-record-lcd-tv.html[^] As a third alternative that gives you less freedom... If those shows are available online via Hulu Plus or Youtube or Amazon VOD... I have a Sony BDP-BX57 Blu-ray player, which also gives me lots of video-on-demand services and streaming from my PC via my existing Wi-Fi. You can get one of those for less than that VCR and you now have a Blu-Ray player. You're exactly the target market that cable companies are trying to get rid of (or more likely convince to come over to the DRM side, search your soul, you know it is your destiny), because they can't nickel and dime you. Keep fighting the good fight!!
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My trusty VCR seems like it might have finally died :(( and it looks like it's going to be next to impossible to find a replacement. Are there even "old style" VCRs available with NTSC tuners that can just tape my shows off basic cable? I.e. the type that I can just say "tape channel 50 from 11 pm to 12 am". I don't want a DVR with a monthly subscription because I'm sick of death of being nickled and dimed by the cable company as it is. All I want to do is record the Daily Show and the Colbert Report each night so I can watch them the next day during dinner (we very rarely record anything else). Yes, I know you can watch them online at Comedy Central's website, but I want to watch them on my TV, I don't eat in front of my computer. And I know I could connect a suitable computer to my TV, my work laptop has an s-video connection, but it's a PITA to fuss about with and I don't want to have to drag my work laptop home every day. And yes, I know Comedy Central repeats both shows at 7pm the next day anyway. So, does anybody have any ideas on a (cheap) solution? I'm not interested in digital (we have digital cable on one TV, but frankly I'd rather get rid of it because we rarely watch any of the extra digital channels). I'm using the basic cable analog system, I don't care about HD. I'd like to still be able to watch TV while recording and have a system that is capable of tuning into the right channel. In other words, something that works like my old VCR. Grrr...stupid new technology, costs more and does less. I remember when you could pick up a VCR for ~ $30! I should have stocked up.
Although I willingly gave up my VCR a long time ago I, too, have preferred to stick with analog TV. Primarily because I still enjoy vintage video games and I just don't like the way NES/SNES/Genesis/etc... games look on a high def machine and I don't mind the poorer quality, standard def analog signal for TV watching. I'm already wondering what I'm going to do when my 32" CRT kicks the bucket. Anyway, I suggest a change of perspective. Instead of looking for new, reasonably priced options, look for vintage hardware in excellent condition. Most old VCRs (from the late 70's to mid 80's) appear to go for varying price ranges from $5.00-250.00. I guess it depends on the seller. After a quick five minute look, here are a few pieces that caught my interest on eBay. Maybe with a little research you can find an old system (possibly one you remember owning from the 80's) that is known for being a super-reliable, unbreakable piece of hardware. After finding the preferable hardware, take the time to look for one in good to excellent condition on eBay or Craigslist and be willing to search for a few months until you find what you are looking for. 1978 Magnavox [^] Galaxy 2100 (Has an LCD on the front?!)[^] Magnavox from the Mid 80's (OMG, that's what I had as a kid!!1!)[^]
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My trusty VCR seems like it might have finally died :(( and it looks like it's going to be next to impossible to find a replacement. Are there even "old style" VCRs available with NTSC tuners that can just tape my shows off basic cable? I.e. the type that I can just say "tape channel 50 from 11 pm to 12 am". I don't want a DVR with a monthly subscription because I'm sick of death of being nickled and dimed by the cable company as it is. All I want to do is record the Daily Show and the Colbert Report each night so I can watch them the next day during dinner (we very rarely record anything else). Yes, I know you can watch them online at Comedy Central's website, but I want to watch them on my TV, I don't eat in front of my computer. And I know I could connect a suitable computer to my TV, my work laptop has an s-video connection, but it's a PITA to fuss about with and I don't want to have to drag my work laptop home every day. And yes, I know Comedy Central repeats both shows at 7pm the next day anyway. So, does anybody have any ideas on a (cheap) solution? I'm not interested in digital (we have digital cable on one TV, but frankly I'd rather get rid of it because we rarely watch any of the extra digital channels). I'm using the basic cable analog system, I don't care about HD. I'd like to still be able to watch TV while recording and have a system that is capable of tuning into the right channel. In other words, something that works like my old VCR. Grrr...stupid new technology, costs more and does less. I remember when you could pick up a VCR for ~ $30! I should have stocked up.
I also had the same problem and also hate the nickel and dime attitude of the cable. So I went with the Magnavox H2160MW9 A. This is a HDD/DVD recorder/player for the US market. (HDD, NOT a VCR) I've had it about 6 months and it works fine for me. It tunes and records both NTSC channels and digital over-the-air channels. I'm on FIOS, and you can't get around their subscription set top boxes -- bah humbug! But the minimal box outputs NTSC and composite video. So I feed that to the Magnovox. It includes editing ability of the recorded information on the HDD, and then you can record it on the DVD if you want. I just checked Amazon, and it may be an older model as it appears to be unavailable, but they show a MAGNAVOX MDR513H that looks like the same thing. When looking for this I think there were only two or three companies making a stand alone, non-subscription, HDD/DVD recorder/player, and I settled on this one.
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My trusty VCR seems like it might have finally died :(( and it looks like it's going to be next to impossible to find a replacement. Are there even "old style" VCRs available with NTSC tuners that can just tape my shows off basic cable? I.e. the type that I can just say "tape channel 50 from 11 pm to 12 am". I don't want a DVR with a monthly subscription because I'm sick of death of being nickled and dimed by the cable company as it is. All I want to do is record the Daily Show and the Colbert Report each night so I can watch them the next day during dinner (we very rarely record anything else). Yes, I know you can watch them online at Comedy Central's website, but I want to watch them on my TV, I don't eat in front of my computer. And I know I could connect a suitable computer to my TV, my work laptop has an s-video connection, but it's a PITA to fuss about with and I don't want to have to drag my work laptop home every day. And yes, I know Comedy Central repeats both shows at 7pm the next day anyway. So, does anybody have any ideas on a (cheap) solution? I'm not interested in digital (we have digital cable on one TV, but frankly I'd rather get rid of it because we rarely watch any of the extra digital channels). I'm using the basic cable analog system, I don't care about HD. I'd like to still be able to watch TV while recording and have a system that is capable of tuning into the right channel. In other words, something that works like my old VCR. Grrr...stupid new technology, costs more and does less. I remember when you could pick up a VCR for ~ $30! I should have stocked up.
I finally gave up the old VCR when Comcast moved from analog to digital. So my VCR would've been useless without a cable box in front of it. The dvr isn't bad, but I agree i resent paying for it per month. Ended up getting a "package" with high def, phone, internet that was cheaper than all 3 without high def before. I really like HD, but we now get way too many channels... Trying to teach my 8x year old dad to use a dvr (he had the same conversion) was "interesting"... :doh: Last I looked you could find simple VCR's online; try Best Buy or Amazon.