DVD recorders: How to choose a digital TV recorder Which features do the best digital TV recorders have?
A 150GB PVR would store around 75 hours of SD TV
Hard disk
At the heart of every PVR and combination DVD recorder is a hard disk drive used to store the recorded TV (and radio) programmes.
Hard disk capacity is measured in gigabytes (GB), and the larger the hard-disk capacity, the more programming can be recorded before the disk becomes full.
As a rule of thumb, if you divide the hard disk capacity by two, you’ll get an estimate of how many hours of standard-definition programming the recorder will hold. For example, a 150GB hard disk would be able to store around 75 hours (150 divided by two) of standard-definition recording or about 37 hours of high-definition content (150 divided by four).
When the hard drive is full, you’ll need to delete some recordings to free up space before the recorder will be able to store anything else.
Any recordings you want to keep can easily be downloaded to a separate VCR or DVD recorder if you wish. With a combi DVD recorder, you can transfer recording over from the hard disk to DVD.
Use our DVD recorder and PVR product finder to search for a Best Buy recorder with the hard disk capacity to suit your needs.
The electronic programme guide helps you plan your TV week
The electronic programme guide (EPG)
The electronic programme guide, or EPG, is an on-screen display of the TV (and radio) schedule for the forthcoming seven days (or occasionally the next 14 days).
All digital TV recorders have their own EPG layout, and some are much better than others. Ideally, it’ll be simple to navigate, clear to read and display several channels on screen at once.
By scrolling up or down you’ll access other channels, and by scrolling left or right, you’ll move forwards and backwards through the week to find the programme you want to record.
Once you've found it, you’ll be able to read a brief synopsis of the programme and set the recorder to record it at the touch of a button. Most recorders let you search for a programme, too, which is useful if you don’t know when it’s being shown.
When you're looking to buy a digital TV recorder, choosing one with a good EPG is crucial – a poorly designed one can have you pulling your hair out in frustration.
We’ve seen some very good and some very bad EPGs – to find the best, see our DVD recorder and PVR reviews.
Freeview+
When buying a Freeview recorder, look for the Freeview+ symbol. All new Freeview recorders should have this and it means that they offer several features that make recording easier and more accurate. At present, these are: accurate recording, series link and split recording.
Accurate recording
Alters the recording start and stop times if a programme starts early, runs late or is rescheduled, so you don't miss it. It's not completely foolproof, however, as it relies on the broadcaster updating the electronic programme guide.
If your recorder lets you, it’s wise to add a few minutes of extra time to the beginning and end of a recording to stay on the safe side.
Series link
Allows you to easily set the recorder to automatically record all programmes in a series so you don't miss an episode.
When you first programme the recorder to record an episode, it’ll ask you whether you want to record the whole series – click ‘yes’ using the remote control and it’ll grab them all when they’re shown.
Split recording
Allows you to record a programme that is split in two – for example, films that are shown before and after the news – without recording the programme in between.
Trailer programming
Some digital TV recorders now offer 'trailer programming' – you press a button on the remote control when you see a trailer for a programme you like the look of, and the recorder automatically adds it to its recording schedule.
Recommendations
The latest digital TV recorders will recognise the types of programme that you record and recommend other shows of a similar genre that they think you might like.
Twin tuners
If buying a PVR, it makes sense to buy one with two digital TV tuners, as this allows to you to record two programmes at once, while watching a third programme that you recorded previously.
Some PVRs will even let you watch a programme live while you're recording another two. The most versatile twin-tuner PVRs can be found in our PVR reviews section.
DVD recorders and combination DVD and PVR recorders generally have a single digital tuner. This means you can't record two digital programmes at the same time and can only watch one programme and record another if you also own a digital TV with its own tuner.
They’re also generally more complicated to use than good standalone PVRs. If you need both a PVR and a DVD recorder, we would recommend buying two separate devices, unless space is an issue.
Use our DVD recorder reviews to find the best standalone and combination DVD recorders.
Recording radio
Digital TV gives you access to both TV channels and digital radio stations. The EPG shows the upcoming schedule for both TV and radio, and most recorders will also let you record radio programmes in exactly the same way as a TV programme. If this appeals, make sure the recorder you buy has this feature.
Power consumption
Low standby power consumption is desirable, as a digital TV recorder is likely to be left in stand-by continually so that it can receive EPG updates and be ready to record selected programmes.
We measure the stand-by and running power consumption of all the recorders we test. Use our DVD recorder and PVR product finder to find one that’s kinder to the environment and your pocket.
A PVR lets you rewind live TV – perfect if you miss a scene
The hard-disk recording system inside a PVR lets you perform several tricks that can be very useful.
Pause live TV
When a PVR or DVD combi is switched on, most constantly record the channel it's set to. This means that you can pause a programme whenever you like.
If, for example, the phone rings or you fancy a cup of tea, you can press pause on the remote control. The picture will freeze but the PVR or combi will go on recording the programme while you take the call or make a brew.
Once you’ve finished, you simply press pause again and it'll begin playing back the programme from where you left off. Cleverly, it will continue to record the live programme so you don’t miss anything.
Rewind live TV
A typical PVR or combi recorder will store the last 30 minutes of the channel that you've been watching – a process known as buffering. This means that you can 'rewind' a section of live TV if, for example, you miss a section of dialogue or a crucial scene.
It will have continued to record the live programme so you won’t miss anything – you’ll simply be watching it a few seconds behind the live broadcast.
Chase play
One useful PVR or combi feature allows you to start watching a recorded programme before it has finished recording. Apart from added convenience, this also allows you to perform a trick known as ‘chase play’.
If you set a programme to record and deliberately start watching it a few minutes after it has started, you can chase the live programme, skipping over ad breaks when they come, as you catch up with the live broadcast. This is very useful if your programme is on a commercial channel and you find the ads irritating.
Find out more about PVR and DVD recorder features and options in our DVD recorder and PVR reviews.
