Recording TV with out Cable or Internet

[Tiny]

I've attempted to google and I just can't get it right and find an answer to this question:

If I have a TV hooked up to an antenna (old school) is there some device I can buy that will allow me to record shows so I can watch them later at my convenience?   You know - like we use to do back in the Dark Ages with a VCR?     Would TiVo or Ruku or that Apple I thing attach to my TV/Antenna (no internet connection) and allow me to record re-runs of Bonanza and the Six Million Dollar Man?

Everything I've found seems to assume that if you don't have cable/or some service to provide TV stations, you surely must  have the internet attached to your TV (or tablet/laptop/phone) and you'd just use that to catch up on last weeks TV offerings.   

[Deleted]

I would "assume" that a DVR would do it. You would just have to hook it up with the TV as a source. (Guessing here).

[thyme4change]

So, in case you didn't get the memo, it is 2013, so we have sort of moved to a new technology.  If you want 1986 functionality, you can use 1986 technology - which is a VCR.  

[justme]

I'm pretty sure TiVo needs some type of connection. Not sure whether it's internet or it works over cable. I've always had a DVR through my provider - but it records based on a guide, I can't go in and manually input X channel from Y to Z.

[Tiny]

May 24, 2013 14:26:54 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

So, in case you didn't get the memo, it is 2013, so we have sort of moved to a new technology.  If you want 1986 functionality, you can use 1986 technology - which is a VCR.  

I'm a Luddite, what can I say.     If I could have an outhouse installed in my yard I would!


Hmmm,  I thought TiVo, RuKu, the apple I thing were 'brand names' for DVRs... and required Cable or Internet connection to get all the 'listings' and 'codes' to know when to 'turn on' from cable or internet...  

.... Off to research DVR...

[grumpyhermit]

TiVo is a name brand "smart" DVR. Roku and Apple are content streaming devices, they can't record.

What you really want to search for is a DVD recorder, a DVR typically is part of a cable box. If you are looking to record broadcast TV I think you would also need to make sure that the device accepts a coaxial input (assuming that's how your antenna connects).

Though this really is considered obsolete tech so you likely won't find much.

You could also research installing a TV tuner on your PC.

[DVM gone riding]

I kept a vcr so when I need to do this I do it the old fashioned way

[movingforward]

You don't have internet .  I don't have cable, but I would go nuts without my Netflix and Hulu

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Just buy the DVD sets of Bonanza and the Six Million Dollar man.  Get a DVD player and call it a day.

If you're looking to record current shows I don't think there is much out there anymore. You're right that most people stream it from the internet or use their cable/satelitte DVR.

 Even if you could find a VCR finding blank tapes would probably be a bitch.

[movingforward]

If you are just looking to watch some old stuff you can get most of it at the library (well, you can where I live anyway).  I just checked out the first season of Northern Exposure.

[thyme4change]

Hmmm, I thought TiVo, RuKu, the apple I thing were 'brand names' for DVRs... and required Cable or Internet connection to get all the 'listings' and 'codes' to know when to 'turn on' from cable or internet...

.... Off to research DVR...

No.  Sorry - the Roku and Apple TV are used to stream.  You often have to sign up for other services - like I stream Netflix through my Roku.  You must have an internet connection to use either of them - wifi internet.  DVR and TiVos do record, but they work in conjunction with cable and satellite.

[thyme4change]

timelife.com/products/the-six-million-dollar-man-the-complete-collection?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search-pla&utm_campaign=Y11GGSBGTL&utm_term=%7Bkeyword%7D

$200 for the entire series, and DVD players are like $60.

[Chocolate Lover]

May 24, 2013 15:08:17 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Just buy the DVD sets of Bonanza and the Six Million Dollar man.  Get a DVD player and call it a day.

If you're looking to record current shows I don't think there is much out there anymore. You're right that most people stream it from the internet or use their cable/satelitte DVR.

 Even if you could find a VCR finding blank tapes would probably be a bitch.

I have a VCR and even though I haven't recorded much, I have seen blank tapes at the dollar store. Guess I'm not the only one still using 1986 tech. 


Finding a DVD recorder is probably much easier though.

[jkapp]

I thought I remember hearing about a digital recording device that was like Tivo but you could select times to record on a specific channel, like old VCRs.  However, it might have still needed the cable connection?  I have cable internet but Antenna TV, so I might be interested in something like that - hopefully someone fills that niche market. 

[Tiny]

May 24, 2013 15:04:51 GMT -5 movingforward said:

You don't have internet .  I don't have cable, but I would go nuts without my Netflix and Hulu

I have internet service at home - but I don't have the whole wireless router thing  (yeah I could snake a 40 foot co-axial cable from the room with the PC to the living room but that seems like a lot of work).   I also have a slow internet connection because I'm too cheap to pay a lot of money for something I use a couple of hours a week.

The ultimate solution to my 'problem' is to upgrade my internet speed, get wireless set up and then tell my fancy smancy new Flat Screen TV it can connect to the internet (yes, the TVs got all the 'stuff' it needs - and even a way to upgrade it's built in 'software').  

But, that sounds like a lot of work and expense so I can conveniently watch  2 or 3 hours of TV a week - if that.   I'm not really interested in Bonanza or The 6 Million Dollar Man... they are just old out dated TV shows (Dinosaurs) like me.    I would be recording current TV shows that haven't hit the after market or DVD yet.

[Tiny]

Ok, I'm finding DVD recorders that seem pretty reasonable (under $200) but they say they've got a TV tuner along with them... doesn't my fancy smancy big screen TV have a tuner?  or is that tuner for the old tvs so they get HD?   

It looks like the DVD recorder will let me record TV...     I'll check that out.  T+

[skweet]

I have used tiros since 2000. The original incarnations used phone lines  to update.  I have used them with analog broadcast tv, satellite, cable and just two months ago back to broadcast this time digital.  Since 2005 I've connected them to the service by high speed Internet.  You don't have to pay for their service, but has always been worth my while.  I don't know if they still make the phone line tivos, or even provide service to them.  I would look for a used TiVo with phone line connection, on eBay, and ask TiVo tech if they are still serviceable.  They are big step up from VCR.  From analog broadcast to back to broadcast (supplemented by streaming) the only thing I haven't changed is TiVo.

[iono1]

I have a combo VCR/DVD recorder with a digital tuner.  I can record the local free stations.  I like it because I can still use tapes, which will record anything while the DVD part won't record some copyrighted programs.  However, I rarely use it because I can't record in high-def, so I DVR most programs.  I use VCRs if I want to save something on tape that won't record to a DVD on my recorder.  Some sporting events I like to keep on tape and they take up space on the DVR, so I don't want them on there indefinitely. 

If you want a DVD recorder, make sure you can record your programs without the restrictions I have on the programs I want to record on mine but can't. 

[Deleted]

You can use this to record over the air either directly on the hard drive or with a dvd:

www.walmart.com/ip/Magnavox-MDR-513H-F7-320GB-DVR-and-DVD-Recorder/14291489

I have this, it works with an antenna, however it will not record in hd as a cable dvr or tivo would.  But it's a great machine, and the last of its kind.

[tallguy]

Even if you could find a VCR finding blank tapes would probably be a bitch.

Either Freecycle or the free section of Craiglist would work.  I used to record many things for a friend that didn't have cable and I would pick up boxes of tapes for nothing.  Still have hundreds of 'em....       (And you can likely find VCR's there too.  People just giving them away.)


If one wishes to record with a DVD recorder, you may want to make sure you get some rewritable disks.  DVD+R and DVD-R are one-time only recording.  DVD+RW and DVD-RW can be erased and rewritten.  DVD-RAM works too.

[8 Bit WWBG]

You have a couple of options.  The DVD recording device is a good start, but you need to keep a steady supply of DVD-R discs and they only hold so much.  The discs would be single use, so its not like tapes that you can record over.  Also, you are stuck watching the content on a DVD enabled device.  You could go through the trouble of ripping/converting the DVD.  Its not that hard, there are plenty of freeware one-click converters out there.

Another option is to get a "TV card".  This is a device that gets added to a desktop size computer and can record video.  There are many flavors out there.  I have one that connects directly to the antenna, and I could set a timer and have it record.  Some are able to hook into online services that say what is on.  Others are old school: you set the timer to start at 7:58 and turn off at 8:32.

If you go the TV card route, you need a lot of hard disk space.  A half hour of HD content can be about 5 Gig (assuming a full quality transport stream at 25Mbps).  You can convert and compress these files down also with some one-click freeware programs if you want to keep the show for later, or for use on another device.

There are some "non-branded DVRs" out there as far as I know.  Again, if you want to get your content off it, there are varying degrees of complexity in doing so.

[8 Bit WWBG]

Also note, I should probably move this to YM-OT, so once you get your answer, I likely will.

[Deleted]

We just have an antenna for service and Tivo works awesome. Its like having cable with only 15 channels. LOL. With Tivo you have an on screen program guide and can set it up to record entire seasons just like any other DVR you'd use with satellite or cable. There is a fee unless you pay a ton upfront for a lifetime service box. We pay 15 dollars a month but totally worth it to watch what we want when we want and skip commercials.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I have a DVD recorder with a hard drive. They aren't as easily found as those w/o a hard drive, but you can find them. I record to the reusable hard drive, and transfer I've I want to keep anything more long term. The hard part is tuning the tv. I have basic cable, and the cable system can set auto-tune to shows. it works okay.