Easiest to use DVD digital TV recorders

Are these a good idea? It depends what you want to do. Our tests show the combined DVD digital TV recorders are more complex to use than a stand alone hard drive recorder.

DVD digital TV recorders combine Freeview or Freesat tuners and a hard drive recorder with a DVD recorder and player. They save space and can be easier to connect up as there are fewer units. They also make it possible to copy programmes at high speed to DVDs for sharing or storing programmes.

On the downside they are harder to use than hard drive digital TV recorders. In addition some on the market only have one digital tuner. This means that if you don’t have a digital TV or set top box, you will not be able to watch one digital channel while recording another. Our tests showed the following as easiest to use, all of these have twin tuners:

Through an aerial

• Panasonic DMR-BW780EBK £399 (64%), has twin freeview HD tuners and versatile audio description features

By a satellite dish

We do not currently have any easy enough to recommend.

For more information on equipment for recording see our FAQ section Recording different

For more information on connecting up your kit see Connection Wizard.