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New Re: Giving up cable boxes generally means giving up DVR functionality
No. There are OTA (Over The Air) DVRs. Here is an example of one. Not all the reviews on this one are very positive. And, I'm sure you need to have the TV scheduling information from another source e.g. Yahoo TV website. This is less convenient then a cable/DSL/satellite DVR with built in schedules and more like the old-fashioned VCR programming where you had to know the channel and start and end times to record.

Because the TV signal is weaker, and digital reception is binary :) (you either get it or not) with perhaps pixilated or frozen pictures a directional Yagi antenna would make sense. You can check out how your location fares at TV Fool. If TV stations are all over the map you need a rotor for the antenna. If the stations are all from the same direction, you can skip the rotor. You may want a signal strength meter for aiming the antenna and possibly and signal amplifier. Winegard makes some decent gear. You do have the advantage of being in a fixed location.

I came close to buying a OTA DVR while wintering in our motor home in Florida. The wife did not want to miss Downton Abbey and missed other activities at the campground. Also, because my motor home's HDTV does not have a strength meter, I'm probably going to buy this. Finding a distant station is sometimes a real PITA.

This does not address the cable channels that are only on cable.
Alex

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."

-- Isaac Asimov
New Thanks for all the info!
New Pricey, but Winegard has an automated RV HDD antenna as well.
Rayzar Automatic. Nothing particularly magic about it being for an RV other than it runs off 12 Volts (i.e. "house" battery). I'm not sure what the effective range of the antenna is.

What I mean by pricey is here.
Alex

"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."

-- Isaac Asimov
New we bought a Panasonic DVR 4 years ago
because the wife and daughter like watching shows that are broadcast at the same time. The unit has worked well until around 6 months ago, when it started having trouble with the rewriteable disks. We'd reformat and keep trying, getting at least 50% rejection rate. Then it refused all disk brands except the Sonys I bought around the same time. Now it's starting to act up such that we set it to record, the time arrives, and it just sits there.

Can't find a replacement at retail, and I will not get cable.




Satan (impatiently) to Newcomer: The trouble with you Chicago people is, that you think you are the best people down here; whereas you are merely the most numerous.
- - - Mark Twain, "Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar" 1897
     Getting up-to-Speed re alternatives to F-ing Cable TV Merchants-of-Shyte - (Ashton) - (11)
         you have decent cell phone coverage? -NT - (boxley)
         It's becoming more popular. - (Another Scott) - (4)
             Re: Giving up cable boxes generally means giving up DVR functionality - (a6l6e6x) - (3)
                 Thanks for all the info! -NT - (Another Scott) - (1)
                     Pricey, but Winegard has an automated RV HDD antenna as well. - (a6l6e6x)
                 we bought a Panasonic DVR 4 years ago - (lincoln)
         With respect to streaming solutions... - (malraux) - (2)
             Cool, going to look into that -NT - (drook)
             We did the same thing three years ago. - (mmoffitt)
         Thanks! for the many real options.. just had a Surprise. - (Ashton)
         NYTimes quick summary of options. - (Another Scott)

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