My DVD recorder will not record straight from the antenna. Do I need the digital box that the government was giving away years ago?
184576
I would say yes. Run your coax from the antenna through the box then the vcr then the tv, that should take care of it. But remember you are at the mersey of the box. You can only record the channel the box is tuned to. You can't record one and watch another.
184577
You don't wanna do that. Even if you could get it to work, it wouldn't select channels by itself, you'd have to manually change the channel on the digital converter box to whatever you want to record next. Plus, it'd all be low-def. To record from a rooftop antenna to a DVR, you need a DVR with an ATSC tuner -- or, preferably, several ATSC tuners so you can record multiple channels at once. Since everybody using a rooftop antenna can't live without such a DVR, there are zillions to choose from -- NOT! I dunno what's wrong with this market, but finding such a DVR is ridiculously difficult. I have two. The first and best is the Channel Master CM-7000PAL, which has two tuners and therefore can record two programs at once in full HD. The other is a Magnavox MDR515H which only has one tuner and only records in low-def, although it's still widescreen and a very good fidelity low-def so it's quite watchable. It also can record on a rewritable DVD which would be nice when the HD fills up, but being low-def it has 250 hours of space on the HD so it'll never fill up. Last I heard, one or both of these models are NLA -- but that *might* be because they've introduced new and better models. Channel Master, for example, was supposed to introduce a 3-tuner model. I'm sorry the options aren't better. I'd very much like to find out why the market for ATSC DVR's is suppressed and throttle somebody.
130733
Yes. With an old-fashioned TV antenna hooked up to the unit, its built-in DTV tuner (like the one Congress, in their infinite wisdom, basically forced everyone to buy in order to be able to use their old TV's and VCR's at all) will pick up local TV stations, which you can then record on the unit. There's a timer function allowing you to record programs automatically (as you could with your old VCR). Additionally, it automatically records whatever you're watching from the time you turn it on, saving up to 6 hours. When you turn off the unit, that part all "disappears" -- UNLESS, you decide before you turn it off that you want to keep all or part of it. You just have to know from the instructions how to transfer that to the built-in hard drive. One disadvantage is that, unlike your typical old TV-and-VCR hookup, you CANNOT watch one program while at the same time recording another, since the unit has the only tuner that works... unless you have one of the newer TV's with a built-in DTV tuner, and you know how to hook up the two units to take advantage of that function. Or you can get extra units to simultaneously record (or watch) separate channels. I have 2 units both hooked up to the single antenna through a splitter, with a switch to select which one I want to watch through my single old-fashioned "functionless-tuner" 50-inch TV. I also have quite a nice old-fashioned TV antenna mounted outside. Rabbit ears will work, too. It depends on the strength of the local TV signals. And just to be extra clear, I do NOT have any type of cable or satellite TV service in my house. (IMHO, there are a million better uses for my money than that.) Nevertheless, it seems to me (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) you could probably manage to hook up any cable or satellite service to it and record or watch that, too.
622087
If you don't have a cable or satellite receiver and are receiving your tv signals with an antenna, you either have a tv with a digital tuner or a separate digital tuner/ converter box connected to your tv. If you're using a digital converter box from your antenna to the tv, connect the outputs from the digital converter box into the inputs of Toshiba DR430 Recorder and then connect the outputs of the recorder to the TV inputs. You will be connecting from the video (yellow jack), audio (red & white jacks) to the same colored jacks in & out from the Toshiba DVD Recorder to an input on the TV. If you're not using a digital converter box already for your local stations, you will have to buy one to connect to the Toshiba Recorder to record local shows because the recorder does not have a tuner in it. You can buy them for about $30 bucks at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack. I gave you a lot of information but it's easy to setup. They can guide you at Radio Shack. I have one box hooked just this way and it works fine. Hope this was of help.
1076954
It's the same concept as a VCR. You have a Digital Tuner in the DVD recorder, so you can record your TV program, 'Over the Air', and be able to watch another program on your HDTV at same time. OR if you still have analog cable (no cable box) you will still be able to record a program and watch a different channel at the same time. *This has a 'Standard Definition' Digital Tuner in it, not a HD. So the quality may be different than an HDTV.
1082002
If you can connect to the output rca port of your tv tuner. Since the dvd recorder does not have a tuner it cannot record directly.
1187381
I am not quite clear what the External Box is. So long as your external box has the a/v input and output cables, I am sure you can connect. I don't think the connection has anything to do with antenna. I have 4 receivers for Dish Network, but I have never taken the DVR because the DVR does the recording for the moment only, whereas I need dvd recording for future use and storage/collection. I have directly connected the recorder to the TV, and it works well, although after a year or two it doesn't function that well. Since I have never used an external box I cannot give a clear answer. There aren't too many dvd recorders in the market. I have a Panasonic that I bought 20 yrs ago and still works well. A new Toshiba, and the other 2 are Magnavox which I have replaced several times. Sorry but this is my honest answer.
1945290
If you have a analog TV, your digital TV converter can act as a tuner. I have a smart antenna and I connect the smart antenna to the converter. Then, I connect the digital converter to the VCR/DVD Recorder with RCA cables.
1590554
The one I got was not a recorder. Also, the number of shows recorded is a feature of your satellite service provider. The standard is record 2 while watching 1. You have to pay extra to get the additionals. Not sure about your 2nd question. It is not "wireless", so it will grab the signal only as far away as the cable length allows <;-)
153249
I am still using VCR's and my cable goes directly to my TV so right now I can watch and record different channels. If I get digital cable, then everything changes because I will have a cable box.
1257855
I have one I bought from Amazon, but I have not been able to function. I have hired technicians Directv. Nor. The archive, return it because it costs more money to buy another of a different brand
1621114
We had to return that DVD recorder as it didn't work. They were then out of stock, so I ended up getting just a Phillips DVD player instead. (It's been great!)Sorry, I can't help you.Suggestion though - Contact.the Phillips website and you can pull up the different manuals for every model. See if they show you the different ways to configure the wiring. You'll have your answer. If not - call their customer help line/contact number and give them the model number. They can tell you. Hope this helps.
1351120
The unit should record the show from the original broadcast and it should play back exactly how it was recorded.I don't believe this unit has any extra "features." Leave those up to your TV.
2013862
My VCR is also still working, but I fear any day it will "konk out" and I'll be lost. I also use a portable DVD player which is OK, but it would be nice to have an "all in one" which would be relatively easy to install and would still enable me to record shows directly from the TV without a hassle. I only have the very basic cable system (no separate box or satellite).
56274
Actually close to what I'm looking at doing. Recording script debugs from the RF output of a commodore 128.I'm guessing if it can record /any/ video coming on the composite signals then it's quite possible to record retro systems. You'll just need something to pass [more accurately convert or transition] the signals. In my case and probably yours too, simply look at DVD players (or late model VHS units) that have rf/cable/antenna input and composite output. They start at 10 dollars used on amazon and in many cases you can find one down the street on trash day. ;-)I see how old his post is but for the future IF I end up purchasing this I'll post my results shortly after trying it. Actually close to what I'm looking at doing. Recording script debugs from the RF output of a commodore 128.I'm guessing if it can record /any/ video coming on the composite signals then it's quite possible to record retro systems. You'll just need something to pass [more accurately convert or transition] the signals. In my case and probably yours too, simply look at DVD players (or late model VHS units) that have rf/cable/antenna input and composite output. They start at 10 dollars used on amazon and in many cases you can find one down the street on trash day. ;-)I see how old... » Read More Actually close to what I'm looking at doing. Recording script debugs from the RF output of a commodore 128.I'm guessing if it can record /any/ video coming on the composite signals then it's quite possible to record retro systems. You'll just need something to pass [more accurately convert or transition] the signals. In my case and probably yours too, simply look at DVD players (or late model VHS units) that have rf/cable/antenna input and composite output. They start at 10 dollars used on amazon and in many cases you can find one down the street on trash day. ;-)I see how old his post is but for the future IF I end up purchasing this I'll post my results shortly after trying it. « Show Less
2092852
I have a dvr through directv. I'm thinking about getting this toshiba dvd recorder. Let me make sure I understand... If I have a show recorded on my dvr, I can then record it to a dvd in my dvd recorder? But while the dvr'ed show is being recorded to dvd, I cannot watch a different show? Is this correct?? Thank you anyone for your help. I have some shows that have been on my dvr for a long time now that I occasionally like to rewatch and would much rather have them on dvd so hopefully this toshiba dvd recorder is what I need.
1270161
I just started TV service through our local phone service (TDS-TV). The installer said the box is the same as a U-Verse box, just a different label on it. I was getting an "unable to copy" notice when trying to copy from the TDS DVR to our DVD recorder (Magnavox MDR535H) so I bought this Grex-7.4 unit. I can't get it to work. I have printed out the connection diagrams from the Dimax web site and none of them work for me. I get the DVD signal to the TV but no TV programming to it. I'm thinking that I may have gotten a bad unit, but I thought I would ask here if anyone has any tricks to getting this thing to work that I am missing. Thanks. I just started TV service through our local phone service (TDS-TV). The installer said the box is the same as a U-Verse box, just a different label on it. I was getting an "unable to copy" notice when trying to copy from the TDS DVR to our DVD recorder (Magnavox MDR535H) so I bought this Grex-7.4 unit. I can't get it to work. I have printed out the connection diagrams from the Dimax web site and none of them work for me. I get the DVD signal to the TV but no TV programming to it. I'm thinking that I may have gotten a bad unit, but I thought I would ask here if anyone has any... » Read More I just started TV service through our local phone service (TDS-TV). The installer said the box is the same as a U-Verse box, just a different label on it. I was getting an "unable to copy" notice when trying to copy from the TDS DVR to our DVD recorder (Magnavox MDR535H) so I bought this Grex-7.4 unit. I can't get it to work. I have printed out the connection diagrams from the Dimax web site and none of them work for me. I get the DVD signal to the TV but no TV programming to it. I'm thinking that I may have gotten a bad unit, but I thought I would ask here if anyone has any tricks to getting this thing to work that I am missing. Thanks. « Show Less
1671507
Does your HDTV have an HDMI out port or at least component cables to hook up to the input of the DVD recorder? I doubt it does so it is highly unlikely that you could record from the TV. In order to be able to record anything you need an input source that has its own tuner, or cancels the need for a tuner, as this recorder does not have one built in, but without some type of input source there will be nothing for the recorder to record