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Regain Ability to Record on One Channel and Watch Another Simultaneously

#1
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11/3/09 at 1:03pm
  • Joined: November 2009
  • Location: Glassboro, New Jersey
  • Post Count: 7
In my area (southern New Jersey) Comcast has started switching from analog to digital broadcasting of channels for basic cable customers.The digital starter box they supplied has diabled my ability to record on one channel with my VCR while watching another on the TV since I have to use the TV's video input channel to access the digital signal from the box routed through my VCR to the TV. I guess I could split the signal by installing a second digital starter box or a digital transport adapter (DTA) and connecting that to the TV while the first is connected to the VCR. The problem is that they want to charge for a second box and I am afraid there would be bleed over if the two boxes are too close to one another. I would go with a DVR but am not willing to pay $15.40 per month rental. Can I buy a DVR that would work that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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#2
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11/3/09 at 1:25pm
  • Joined: December 1998
  • Location: Michigan
  • Post Count: 7,661
You would need a DVR with a built-in QAM tuner, since all the digital signals from Comcast are in that format.

I am in a similar situation, but instead of a VCR I was using a DVD Recorder with a built-in hard drive as my VCR/DVR. Since I rarely record anything, I have not really missed the ability to record and have not researched recorders with built-in QAM tuners.

Btw, you should be able to get two free digital transport adapters (DTAs) from Comcast -- not one. I have two, plus a HDTV cable box, and did not get charged extra when I ordered the two DTAs. I now have four TV's still on cable -- the main HT with the HD cable box, two analog TV's with DTAs, and a 37" LCD HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner. The fifth TV in my den/office (13" analog) is now unused, since I did not want to pay an extra monthly fee for another DTA. I may buy a cheap LCD TV with a QAM tuner eventually, but do not watch TV in that room much anyway.
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#3
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11/4/09 at 2:58pm
  • Joined: November 2009
  • Location: Glassboro, New Jersey
  • Post Count: 7
I wonder if a digital to analog converter between the digital box and the VCR would work? Then the VCR tuner could do what it has always done with an analog signal. Am I overlooking something? I guess the signal might be degraded somewhat.
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