How does a digital video recorder work with cable or satellite TV?

Answer 1

DVRs are compatible with most any cable, satellite or antenna setup. Your exact setup instructions will vary according to the type of DVR you purchase. You'll need to review your owner's manual for more information, but here are some tips:

• Depending on your current home entertainment arrangement, you'll basically hook up your cable line to your DVR, plug your DVR into an electrical outlet, and leave your cable box as is. If you have services like TiVo or RePlay, you'll follow on-screen instructions for setting up your program guide and recording your cable channels.

• If you have a VCR or receiver, your setup instructions may be slightly different. See your DVRs manufacturer's manual for exact instructions.

Notes about setup if you use DVR services like TiVo:

• Some DVR services (like TiVo) require that you hook your DVR to your phone line (instead of plugging it into an outlet). The TiVo service does daily downloads of your cable company's program listings to your DVR during a pre-set time. If you have DSL and want to use a service like TiVo, place a filter on the phone line plugged into your TiVo DVR.

• Some may be incompatible with HDTV and C-band satellite systems.

If you need help with your DVR hardware and the answers aren't in the manual, visit your DVR manufacturer�s web site to locate tutorials, FAQs or a support center phone number. Some of the common DVR manufacturer�s include:

• TiVo: www.tivo.com
• Philips: http://www.consumer.philips.com/?
• Pioneer: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/article/top/two/0,,2076_4137,00.html?
• Toshiba: http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvr/?
• Humax: http://www.humaxusa.com/Products_dvr_framset.html

Note: This is not a complete list of DVR manufacturers. This list only serves as a starting place for your research. If you don�t find your manufacturer on this list, search for yours via a search engine like Yahoo or Google.