Digital TV Guides

Digital TV recorders

By becca.talbot@consumerchoices.co.uk

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Digital TV recorders convert your TV signal to digital, and allow you to record programmes at the press of a button. Use this guide to check what you should be looking for in a digital recorder. Updated on 12/06/2009.

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For a relatively low one-off payment, you can buy a piece of kit that allows you to record your favourite programmes straight onto a hard-drive, pause live TV and set a whole series to record at the touch of a button. They are also known as Personal Video Recorders (PVRs).

What features should I look for on a digital video recorder?

A typical digital video recorder should have all or most of the following features, but they are all useful options and you should check that yours meets the standards you require.

• Twin tuner - This allows you to record one digital channel while watching another
• EPG - Electronic programme guide - This is an on-screen TV listings service that makes it easy to select the shows you want to record. Some are easier to use than others
• Disk size - Check the size of your digital video recorder’s hard disk. This tells you how many minutes of TV you can record and store at any one time
• Top-Up TV - Freeview digital video recorders may include a top-up TV card slot. This will allow you to access subscription-only channels for a monthly payment if you wish
• Series link - This option allows you to set your favourite shows to record future episodes in sequence, so you can sleep peacefully at night knowing that next week’s Doctor Who is already set to record.

What companies provide digital video recorders?

Perhaps the most famous digital video recorder right now is the Sky+ box, which is incredibly versatile. You must be a Sky customer to use it, but it allows you to record up to two channels at once while watching another, you can pause and rewind live digital TV , and record programmes a week in advance as well as using Series Link.

If you’re not a Sky customer, you can choose a Freeview digital video recorder from companies like Sagem, Daewoo, Sony and Goodmans. Virgin TV (formerly ntl:telewest) also offers a digital video recorder for its customers. This allows you to record up to 80 hours of TV for an extra monthly fee (on top of your Virgin Media subscription).

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