Recording cable TV programs

Well it changes mine
You can use any digital recorder with a QAM digital tuner
It will see the same channels that your TV will see
In short everything that's not encrypted, most of the recommendations will work
Including the Home Worx DVR that I use because you will be connecting to an RF cable input, not A/V or HDMI

Really good suggestions people. Thank you for your input.

I should have told you that this is to be used in my RV and using the campground cable as the input source. Does this change anyone's recommendations?

Chris Bryant wrote:

jcthorne wrote:

Current Tivo models record all cable channels in full 1080p HD resolution.

I wish- it won't record my current cable signal- the majority of which is switched digital, and not clear QAM.

Correct.

Although to clarify, the cable companies are still using QAM, however due to FCC rule changes they are now ALLOWED to enable the PRIVACY bit in the digital streams. This Privacy bit hides all the channels that are marked with this bit from QAM tuners.

In a nutshell rendering ALL TVs with QAM tuners that do not have a cable card slot useless..

Ran into this with my Dad's cable, local cable co switched this summer and no you MUST have THEIR cable box in order to get channels. They do offer "rental free" boxes but they are very limited and are not widescreen friendly? For some reason they only have 4:3 output and my dad has a widescreen TV..

They control the boxes and the access..

jcthorne wrote:

Current Tivo models record all cable channels in full 1080p HD resolution.

I wish- it won't record my current cable signal- the majority of which is switched digital, and not clear QAM.

MrWizard wrote:


if you don't mine recording analog SD signal, you can buy a tivo etc. style DVR


you did not specify if you wanted to record std 4:3 definition video
or full screen 16:9 HD video

Current Tivo models record all cable channels in full 1080p HD resolution. Up to 6 tuners to record 6 programs at a time. They also handle all the major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and Vudo and integrate the available streaming programming into your shows directory. ONLY box on the market that can do all this.

Cable company DVRs don't come close.

I record OTA channels using Simple.TV. It's a small box connected to a USB hard drive. It uses a browser interface to interact with and requires a wired network connection.

Cool part is I can record a show and view it via the network connection. That's the only way to view the recorded video... It also has a program guide - I can view a live program if wanted. AND, since I'm using a network interface I can be anywhere in the country viewing my recordings... Just depends on the bandwidth available to upload from home, and download at my iPad!

I am working under the "ASSUMPTION", that the OP wants too record cable at the stick house to watch in the RV later, he has not stated the exact details of what he wants to do

My recent experience with cable in campgrounds indicates that more and more are upgrading to digital. Because you normally use a cable box to view these channels, many are lead to believe that they are "encrypted".

I have found that not to be true. The channels are actually there, and viewable, but they don't appear on the guide channel. For example, if you normally tune channel 7 to see digital channel 7 on the cable box, you may be able to see that programming on channel 502.4 or something like that using your generic ATSC tuner.

It's fairly easy to record OTA TV with units such as the Home Worx DVR. The problem arises when dealing with cable TV. Many cable companies used to deliver some basic channels unencrypted. These channels can be recorded on units such as the Home Worx. Most cable companies are now encrypting all channels. To record encrypted channels requires a unit that will accept a CableCARD. The cable company can provide a card to plug into a unit that accepts one.

The simple answer as stated previously is to use the cable company's DVR. Tivo is one option but it is expensive and requires a subscription for the program guide.

i have a Home Worx DVR but it only records OTA HD signals, not cable hdmi or component video from a cable or Sat box

for recording in HD , from digital cable, their DVR box is the simplest and easiest

if you don't mine recording analog SD signal, you can buy a tivo etc. style DVR

HDMI signals are copy protected, it part of the requirements of mfg
there is no "inexpensive" equipment (that i know of) that will accept and record an HDMI output from a cable or Sat box

you did not specify if you wanted to record std 4:3 definition video
or full screen 16:9 HD video