HD recording Dumb question

[hikerak]

Can I record an HD OTA signal with a regular VCR?  
If not what is the least expensive way to do it....

[Gregg Lengling]

Yes you can, but realize that you will be recording in SD as a VCR is not capable of HD (unless you have an HD-VHS recorder).  All in all though you should get a rather good recording.  You will have to use either composite or S-Video output from your HD receiver.

[hikerak]

Thank you, I thought it would not work at all...

[hikerak]

So does that mean that a DVR will record HD content, just not HD quality???

[Greg Oman]

No, I believe what Gregg meant to say is that you're actually using the HD receiver to output the NTSC signal that a VCR can record.  A fair number of Set Top Boxes (STB) actually will output a 480i format picture simultaneously with a "digital" output.  The old Hughes E86 receivers did this for example.

Unless you're buying a HD Tivo or something, you're recording the conventional NTSC signal.

A Time Warner HD cable package w/HD Tivo (a Scientific Atlanta product) is probably the easiest to use solution for recording HD content, but you need to subscribe to TW cable obviously.  

There are other ways to do this is, generally they are inversly proportional to your technical saavy.  If you're moderately to heavily skilled with computers, buying a HD Tuner card is about as inexpensive of a way to record true HD presently.  Several options exist, look at my and Gregg L's signatures for some examples, and visit the HTPC forum out at //www.avsforum.com  .  A tuner card will cost between $200-400.  But it's not as simple as a good old fashion VCR.

Next is a Digital VCR.  JVC and Mitsubishi both make these, D-VHS is just not as handy as it used to be-- we've been spoiled by the DVD   Prices for D-VHS recorders run $600-$1200 (for the JVC's), Mistubishi's runs about $600 as well.

On the high end, a HD Tivo like box, or the Mitsubishi HD-6000 (I couldn't quickly find pricing for this) will probably cost $900-$1200.  A Tivo type box will have a monthly service fee associated with it, the Mitsubishi product claims not to.

Hope this helps.

Greg O.

[hikerak]

Let me explain a little further what I want to do.  I would like to find the least expensive way to tape TV.  I have the Samsung 3275 and would like to be able to have it just shoot a signal to the VCR to tape.  I am not that concerned about the quality, as long as it looks like regular SD looks.  Then when some more HDDVRs come out and the price goes down a bit, I would like to get one of those.  

By getting out of Dish, I loose the 508 which I really like.  I am not interested in the computer card opton....  

When Gregg said that my VCR should do the trick I thought, if I don't mind a SD DVR,  would it work with the HD signal that my TV puts out(it has a built in tuner)?   Does that make more sense?

Because, for viewing recorded programs, I wouldn't mind SD if it would work with my HD TV signal from my TV...

I think I am REALLY going to miss the PVR functions of the 508.

Matt

[StarvingForHDTV]

If your display has a built in tuner, and that's what you plan to use for OTA, it might not work with the VCR.  I don't know why a TV would output what you are watching.  You better read the owner's manual on that one.  

With a separate set top box to get your OTA instead of the built in tuner, the VCR would most likely be the least expensive option.  I don't know if it will even be possible with your setup to use the VCR.  Unless you use it on it's own and record analog TV through the VCR's built in tuner.  That seems pretty ancient these days.

Good luck.

[Greg Oman]

Matt-- Yes, that helps tremendously!  I have basically the same set, but 26".   The initial post mentioned recording HD, therefore I was speaking to that.

Upon further review, yes, you have two options according to the manual.  Your set has a single RF input that feeds both the ATSC and the NTSC tuners.  Simply put the VCR inline like you would for a conventional TV of all you want to do is record OTA-SD.

See page 19 of the owners manual for the connection options to a regular old VCR.  If you don't have the manual, you can get it here:

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/200408/20040812193016484_AA68-03263B-00Eng_0421.pdf

Greg O.

[hikerak]

Thanks, I appreciate the help.