Converter Box Alternatives

Some DVD recorders and DVRs can do the trick

Some new DVD recorders and digital video recorders (DVRs) also include one or more DTV tuners for capturing over-the-air digital signals. While these are more expensive than a digital converter box, and don't qualify for the government coupon program, they provide added features and functionality.

There are a few negatives with using the tuner in a DVD recorder as your sole digital converter. One obvious one is that you lose the ability to record one channel while viewing another. Additionally, the tuners in DVD recorders tend to be basic, including only a rudimentary programming guide or none at all. Still, if you are considering a new DVD recorder, or have purchased a recorder with a tuner in the last year or so, it might be all you need to be ready for the digital TV transition. See the ConsumerSearch report on DVD recorders for more information and some suggestions.

Over-the-air DVRs provide the most intriguing -- and costly -- DTV converter alternative. TiVo is the best-known supplier of these, and the company's models include the TiVo HD DVR (*Est. $260 plus subscription fees). That DVR has twin tuners capable of receiving over-the-air analog and digital signals and an internal hard drive that can store around 180 hours of standard-definition programs, or 20 hours of HD. The dual tuners let you record one program while watching another, or record two different programs while watching a third that's been previously recorded. The TiVo guide is considered the gold standard -- both elegant and easy to use. The biggest negative is the high upfront cost and the ongoing subscription fees. For more information, see the ConsumerSearch report on DVRs.

Dish Network has also just begun shipping its long-anticipated DTVPal DVR (*Est. $250). Like the TiVo HD DVR, the DTVPal DVR has dual over-the-air DTV tuners and the ability to record programming (150 hours of standard definition or 30 hours of HD) to an internal hard drive. The programming guide is good, but it falls well short of that provided by TiVo. However there is no subscription cost, and you do not need to be a Dish Network subscriber to buy the DTVPal DVR. We've yet to see a professional review of the DTVPal DVR. Discussion at AVSForum suggests that the DVR is great in concept, but that the initial software release is buggy. A downloadable firmware upgrade to fix the problems is expected shortly.