Digital TV recorder - pros and cons
A digital TV recorder is an alternative to a set top box. It does the same job, but can also record TV programmes. You can use them with an existing or new TV. If you need to pop away in the middle of a programme, then come back, they can even ‘pause’ things for you so you can carry on watching on your return - often called 'pause Live TV'.
There are two types of digital TV recorder:
- a hard drive recorder that records onto a hard disc drive - sometimes called a PVR (personal video recorder)
- a DVD digital recorder that records on to a DVD disc, and some will also record on to their hard disc.
But don't confuse digital TV recorders with a traditional video recorder (VCR) – you can’t record or play video tapes on DTRs.
Depending on how you plan to get your digital TV signal – through an aerial, by satellite, cable or broadband phone line, you will need a different digital TV recorder. You cannot, for example use a Freeview digital TV recorder to record Sky programmes from a Sky satellite service.
The majority of digital TV recorders in the shops are Freeview recorders which deliver digital TV via an aerial. Also available from retailers are freesat from BBC and ITV digital TV recorders that connect to a satellite dish. For BSkyB, cable and broadband, the companies supply and install their own digital TV recorders as part of the service.
FOR AND AGAINST
For
- Growing choice of models
- Digital TV recorders with two tuners (also called twin tuners) means you can watch one digital programme while recording another
- Record programmes by selecting them direct from the TV guide
- If you’re called away from a TV programme, press pause and the recorder starts recording it. When you return you can carry on watching from where you left off
- You get a full 7-day TV guide – that means your TV screen will list a week’s worth of TV and radio programmes
- You don’t have to buy a new TV
- Extra channels without subscription
- Extra features with Freeview+ recorders, like setting them to record a whole series - see our Freeview+ page for more information
Against
- You can’t save endless programmes on a PVR digital TV recorder – connect up a VCR [Read an explaination of "VCR" on the jargon buster] or DVD recorder for tapes or DVDs to keep
- With a Freeview recorder you might need to buy a new aerial
- Some are easier to use than others – you need to choose carefully if this is important to you
Please note you’ll want a twin tuner recorder if you want to be able to record one digital programme while you watch another on an analogue TV. You can do this with a single tuner recorder if you have an iDTV - because that brings a second digital tuner to the mix. The majority, but not all, DVD hard drive digital TV recorders we've tested so far are single tuner.
Prices have been coming down so you can get single tuner hard drive recorders for less than £100 and most twin tuners from £100 upwards.
For what to look for in a digital recorder go to Features to look for. For all test results, go to digital TV recorders test reports. For more information on recording go to recording options.
