do i need a digital tv recorder with a digital tv or dvd recorder?

Answer 1

Some recorders have built-in tuners. This allows the recorder to scan what channels you get. An analog tuner can handle those who don't have cable. In other words, if you use "rabbit ears," then an analog tuner will scan the stations your tv gets.

But starting early next year, all broadcasts, whether cable or just plain tv will be broadcast in a digital format. An analog tuner will need a converter box in order to handle this.

But if your recorder has a digital tuner, then it can handle this, plus the current standards.

So the real question is whether or not you need that built-in digital tuner. If you have a cable or satellite box, the answer is no because that's your tuner. But if you don't have either of these, then you'll either need an analog tuner now, and then the converter box later. Or you could get the digital tuner now. Which way to go is up to you, but just realize that you'll pay more for the digital tuner now. How much more? Roughly $50-100 depending upon the make and model.

Answer 2

It is not clear what you are asking. A PVR (or DVR), the TV, and the DVD recorder are 3 separate things.
If you want to record digital channels, you need a recorder with a digital tuner or a set-top box with a digital tuner but that can output analog video to the recorder.