Digital TV recorders

If you want to go digital without replacing your TV, you’ll need to buy either a set top box or a digital TV recorder. A set top box is the cheapest solution, but a digital TV recorder will give you good recording options.

Digital TV recorders are available for use with an aerial, satellite, cable or telephone based digital TV signal. They cannot be used inter-changeably. See Getting a digital signal for information on these choices.

In addition to the stand alone hard drive recorders, we have now tested combined DVD digital TV recorders. These are more complex to use but add the facility of copying to and playing DVDs. See Recommended hard drive DTRs and Recommended DVD DTRs.

See Pros and cons of digital TV recorders for information on recroders and features to look out for. See Getting connected for information and diagrams to help with connection and setting up. For information on what our tests involve see Test Methods.