Dvr

The technology of the DVR, or digital video recorder, has revolutionized home recording and TV watching. With a DVR, you can rewind, fast forward or pause live television programs. You can also record them now and watch them later. Or, you can program a whole season of your favorites shows to record and view at your convenience. DVRs digitize broadcast and cable TV and save the information onto a hard drive, just like a computer. And, if you're 'behind' on the program (meaning you're watching what's already aired), you can fast forward to catch up. DVRs use MPEG-2 compression like DVD movies, making the picture quality similar to that of DVDs. Through the phone lines, your DVR can call your service provider and download program updates and software updates. In addition, companies offer combination DVRs with DVD burners and VHS recorders. This allows you to record your programs to DVD or VHS so you can clear them from your hard drive and make room for more hours of programming. Most DVRs from major manufacturers come with hard drives that can hold upwards of 300 hours of programs, though, so a DVR alone may be enough for you.Home networking and broadband access are required for a DVR and DVR service. The DVR itself won't work without being connected to a service that you pay for monthly. The DVR box can be purchased separately, but the service has to be compatible with your existing cable provider. Some providers require use of their DVRs exclusively, so research your provider's policies before you buy.