Is it true that it is no longer possible to record TV shows from your cable box using your VCR or DVR machine?

Question

I bought a combo unit from BestBuy, VCR/DVR. The salesman cautioned me that all new units have a "blocking chip" and that unless I buy Verizon's DVR service (I have Verizon FIOS for TV), I won't be able to record ANYTHING off my TV. I told him that I was always able to do so off my Verizon FIOS box using my old VCR and he claimed that this was because it was an older unit without this blocking chip.

Has anyone else heard of this? Is he right or is this bogus? It seems ridiculous that I should pay for the privilege of watching TV and then have to pay a second time to record something I like!

Are there are fixes to this if this is true?

Thanks,

Joe

Answer 1

The new DTV standard does have a provision for a "flag" that can be set at the broadcast source that will prevent the recording of copyrighted material.  However, I believe the FCC mandated it and the courts over ruled them.  So, at the moment the issue seems to be dead and viewers can still record stuff.

Here's some info:

http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2...

http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/feature...

http://bpdg.blogs.eff.org/archives/00014...

Answer 2

There was an anti-pirating chip in VHS machines years ago, but I don't have any problem dubbing DVD to DVD on my 2 DVD Recorders... so I don't know what he's talking about.

Answer 3

I just finished watching a movie on a TIVO that's set up on basic cable and it records just fine.

If you have a cable box, it'll just need to be on  and set to the channel you want to record.