DVD Recorders?

Question

In 2/09, per FCC rules, all analog TV broadcasting will cease and everything will be digital. So, every current, non-digital, non-HD TV, VCR, DVD recorder (recording off the air), etc. will no longer work.

From what I see at Circuit City, the current crop of DVD recorders all have analog tuners (NTSC and PAL. not ATSC). Therefore, they have a lifespan of about 20 months and then they'll be useless, other than playing prerecorded DVDs. Am I missing something? Why are these not available with digital tuners, like the current LCD and plasma TV's?

Answer 1

You are correct that transmission after 2/09 will be Digital.
However, this change affects only those without a set-top box (satellite or cable). About 2/09 you should be able to buy a converter-box with a digital tuner and composite or RF output, which you can use with all existing VCRs, TVs, etc. FCC will even give 2x $40 coupons per family.

All existing products with analog tuner should show a warning that analog broadcasting will stop.

So, yes, it is better to buy a DVD recorder with digital tuner, but old ones can still record from composite/s-video or RF using an external set-top box.

Answer 2

in case you get the gadget with the VHS outfitted in you do no longer ought to connect the two jointly. in case you get the machines devoid of the VHS outfitted in you do get greater useful selections of machines for the main area. relies upon on how a lot you want to spend. yet definite, the better priced and greater solid machines have not got the VHS unit outfitted in. Connecting the VHS to the DVD recorder is an argument of connecting the video and audio outputs of the VHS gadget to the video and audio inputs of the DVD recorder (yellow to yellow, white to white and crimson to crimson) with RCA cable connections.

Answer 3

good point
but you could always set the feed from another source
and there will be converters out there to the general public ( as congress has debated how muc hand who pays for them ) for the switch over