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"There are very little options for standalone HD video recording for consumers in the US all due to copyright laws"
There are many on Amazon. Tablo has two and four channel stand alone.
TABLO CLICKYI don't know about DISH, never had it, but with Directv, the DVR and HD fee are per account, not per box. I have three HD DVRs and they are $6/mo same as my one non-DVR box.
I recently upgraded all my tube TV's in the RV to HD flat panels so wanted to convert to SWM so I could use the existing co-ax to pipe HD signal around so I made a two year commitment to get a new SWM-3 dish and SWM boxes.
I have about a year left. When it expires I am dropping paid monthly service and getting a Tablo and living with Netflix, Prime and OTA.
When we travel, Ill live with OTA and my pre-recorded content.