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, they provide added features and functionality.

There are a few negatives to 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. $250 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 also offers the DTVPal DVR (*est. $300). 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. CNET is among those who've reviewed the DTVPal, and Matthew Moskovciak gives it a strong rating. The user interface is a strong point, of course. Performance is also good, though some converter boxes provide better picture quality and/or have strong tuners. User reaction is mixed, but much of that stems from buggy software that was used when the converter was initially released. The DTVPal is mainly available through Sears.