Transition to digital TV?

Question

In February 2009, will I be able to watch my analog TV if it is connected to the tuner of a digital video recorder (DVR) and the DVR is connected to a basic aerial antenna? I do not have cable TV and not home enough to watch cable TV.

Answer 1

I'm assuming you're talking about the UK Digital TV switchover.

There will be no analog TV, so no.

If your DVR has a freeview tuner, you'll be fine.

If it only records the five basic channels, you'll need to upgrade to one that has a freeview tuner in.

Alternatively, plug a freeview box into the back of the DVR. If you do this, though, it won't be able to change the channel on the freeview box, so you'll need to set the freeview box to change the channel itself in addition to setting the DVR for *when* exactly you want to record.

Check out more information at http://www.digitaluk.co.uk

Answer 2

> If I connect a digital video recorder (with digital tuner) to my analog TV....

Yes.

You don't have to wait until 2/2009. There are already digital over the air broadcasts in NYC. Just go into your DVR's menu and have it scan for digital over the air channels.

If the DVR doesn't have a way to scan for digital channels, then it doesn't have a digital tuner.

You  may want to request a $40 off coupon and buy a converter box anyway. For $10 - $20 you would add the capability to watch one channel while recording another. Also a box like the Zenith/Insignia model has a state or the art tuner that might be better than the one in your DVR.

You may need  a more directional antenna for digital TV signals. Try your existing one and find out if it's good enough.