Where to get dvr

Learn more. Some people hesitate to cut the cable TV cord for fear they won't be able to record shows once they give up the DVR provided by their cable company.

But if you buy your own DVR, you'll be able to record over-the-air content you get free through an antenna. All of them let you record programs you receive with an antenna. But remember that you can't use them to record cable programs or anything from streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu.

All of these DVRs have a program guide to help you find and record shows, but there are also some important differences. These include whether or not the model has a built-in hard drive for storing shows, the number of programs you can record at one time, and how easy it is to set up and use the DVR. We've listed all of the options we tested below, in descending order starting with the best performer.

Note: If you use an antenna to get over-the-air signals, periodically rescan for channels. Many stations are moving to new frequencies as the Federal Communications Commission frees up spectrum for more wireless services.

Rescanning will let you find your favorite channels at their new frequencies. I reviewed the first TiVo digital video recorder back in We found it to be among the most versatile of the recorders we tested, and it comes with the best programming guide and interface. We did find that the initial setup—searching for channels, performing a firmware update, and restarting the player—took a bit longer with the Bolt OTA than with other models.

But the on-screen step-by-step setup guide made the procedure fairly straightforward. In addition to grabbing over-the-air signals, it offers access to streaming apps from several services, including Amazon, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube. And it comes with four internal tuners, so you can record up to four over-the-air programs at once or three shows while watching another.

Unlike some of the other models, which require you to supply an external hard drive to record shows, the Bolt OTA has a built-in 1TB hard drive capable of recording up to hours of HD-quality video. It also supports 4K videos with HDR. And there's a slot for adding an external hard drive if you need even more storage.

TiVo's main menu has a center bar with sections for My Shows shows and movies you're watching or have recorded , What to Watch program recommendations , Search, and Apps streaming services. TiVo's day programming guide, accessible via the Guide button on the remote, is top-notch, making it easy to find shows and schedule recordings. It also responds quickly to commands from the voice remote, which lets you search for programs using voice commands. The remote has a dedicated Netflix button, as well as one for its touted second skip feature, which lets you zip through commercials.

Given the number of buttons on the remote, however, it feels a bit cluttered. The only real downside is that you need a TiVo subscription, which provides the program guide you need to record shows and access the streaming services, to fully use the unit.

It has a GB hard drive, enough to record 75 hours of HD content. You set up the Recast using a mobile device loaded with the Fire TV app, which walks you through the setup process. Both the Recast and Fire TV media player need to be on the same network with the same Amazon account, but this isn't spelled out clearly in the instructions. The free channel guide, which can be viewed on linked Fire TV devices, the Echo Show, and the Fire TV app, lets you see what's currently on and what's coming in the next two weeks, plus a list of your recorded shows.

It also lets you schedule recordings. You don't need a subscription to use the Recast's channel guide or DVR features. But the guide is tough to find; you have to scroll to the bottom of the FireTV media player menu. Once you find it, the guide is easy to navigate.

Note that it displays a channel's call letters rather than its channel number in the local market, so you'll see a listing for CBS, not Channel 2 and so on.

This version lacks a built-in hard drive, so you'll need an external USB hard drive to record shows. You will need to add an external USB hard drive to record shows though. It will allow you to pause and play it when you want. Again, a great place to start with a low cost entry into cord cutting utilizing your older equipment. This is by far the cheapest way to enter into cutting the cord.

The amazon does have a bundle option that will get you in the game cheap. You can also add an hdmi cable and external hard drive if you like as well but I wanted to keep this affordable for everyone first. Now, onto a more update to date solution with streaming devices. You've heard of streaming TV What's awesome is that using a streaming media player , you may enjoy the services on your TV, too. You'll need to figure out how to get internet to your TV : use a router that's made for high quality video output, plus an Ethernet cable plugged into the router.

WiFi is also useful here, but may not be as fast as a hard-wired connection. That removes the need to get much of your TV-watching services from Cable, but you still need live TV. All of these devices plug into your TV via and hdmi cable. If you have a smart tv you will then have the ability plug in the amazon fire, Roku stick and comcast stick in the USB port. This will give you the ability to connect to the internet to play various movies.

This alone though will not give you the digital recording you are after. You still need the dvr device to record and store the shows and antenna. Which leads us into part 3 of what you need for the whole solution. For folks lucky enough to live in populated areas, most of the main digital TV channels are wonderfully available absolutely free , without a cable subscription. All you need is a digital antenna and you're good to go.

It has a mile range and customers even report up to This is by far one of the best ones out there. Winegard has been in the business a long time and they have really put out a product that is incredible for the cheap price you pay for this hd antenna. It has a range of 60 miles but it reaches out way farther. It also comes with an amp on it that is not loud but strong. You also have the option to power it using the usb connection on your smartTV. Lastly, it's a flat style antenna where you can hang it anywhere and paint it to match your walls.

You can see my a detail review for the FLa here. Please look at your local news channel website to see how far their towers are from you so you can decide what type of hd antenna you should buy. I'm not going for an antenna to put up in my attic, hang on my window or put in back of my tv.

It's a 60 plus mile range antenna that you can use indoor or outdoor. It's really compact and the wife even let me put it outside and didn't care! You can see my full review of it here. But who watches "appointment TV" anymore?

One thing cable subscriptions had going for them was the DVR service you got, allowing you to digitally record your shows and watch them whenever you wanted. I don't know about you, but most people don't like the thought of giving up the the ability to record live TV for viewing, so a DVR is essential as well.

Luckily, there's a whole line of DVRs for the cord cutting marke t. As this goes to press, these are your options in DVRs for cord-cutters:. The only problem has always been that DVRs used to require a monthly subscription. Not any more.

Channel Master has been the leading company that makes an independent DVR that works without having to get rigged into paying subscription fees. You'll be happy to hear that they do it well: after all they've been in the business since the early days of rabbit ear TV.

As of there are other players in the market now that give you a variety of options. Up to this point some of you might be thinking my gosh and whole Geekness!

Can you simplify this please. First and foremost. Get a price point in your head so you have a budget. Then ask yourself am I going to use my old equipment or upgrade. After that you need to ask yourself do you have room for more devices in your area you are going to watch TV or do you want one unit that has them all combined.

If you are looking to use your old equipment jump back up to Part I to use a convert. For the rest of you continue on. This is the new kid on the block put out by Amazon bringing DVR without subscription to a whole new level! It will do just about everything you need and comes out of the gate with 2 tuners.

Yep you can record two shows at once! Many stand-alone DVR set-top boxes offer more storage space, but at a higher overall cost. And while many DVRs allow simultaneous recording, the number of shows you can record at once is limited. This becomes more problematic when more than one person is recording content, and a war over DVR space erupts.

Most units hold around 40 hours of programming; if you want more storage, the price will go up. While the upfront cost of a stand-alone DVR is higher than a leased unit from a TV provider, the investment may pay off over time. However, a stand-alone box is yet another device that will be front and present in your living room.

This may cause an issue where space is tight. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider buying or leasing a DVR. The convenience and practicality of the service is impeccable as it gives control back to customers.

Vivint Smart Home Security Review. Disclaimer : The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. This is not a guarantee. All information is subject to change. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative.

Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase. Each individual's unique needs should be considered when deciding on chosen products.

Go to Reviews. Watch our video reviews on. Home Security Home Security Reviews. SimpliSafe Google Nest Secure vs. What is Home Security Monitoring? Internet Reviews. Verizon Fios Spectrum vs. Mobile Reviews. Verizon T-Mobile vs. What Carriers Use Verizon's Network? What Carriers Use Sprint's Network? What Are the Benefits? What Are the Disadvantages? Stand-Alone vs. Back to top.