What is a personal video recorder?

Personal video recorder (PVR), also known as a digital video recorder (DVR), is an electronic device that records TV programs or movies in a hard disk storage medium rather than a compact disk or DVD. After saving on the unit, the program can be monitored directly from the unit, burned to the disk or transferred to the inch unit for portability, depending on the PVR.

brought to the market in 1999, Tivo® was one of the first commercially available DVR. Several features have made a popular video recorder, including the ability to suspend live television and play a recently viewed scene. Perhaps the most convincing feature was the ability to easily program devices in several different ways, making it easier to capture the required programming. For example, you could set the tivo to record the "seasonal pass" of a particular series, automatically capture each episode without the need for individual programming.KS. Can be connected to a home network to download online multimedia content, inNuch access to Watch Netflix® Watch immediately for movies, documents and anime. One can also listen to online music or share digital images, receive weather and transport messages, and watch videos on YouTube.

While Tivo has been a great success, he also has his critics. To obtain these functions, the TIVA box requires a monthly paid subscription. Secondly, Tivo collects and keeps records of browsers of each of its customers, albeit in summary form, at least according to the set principles. Also in 2005, Tivo also accepted the flag ; Digital right management type, in which the program cannot be transferred to disk or other media and is automatically deleted after a certain period of time, limiting its use.

satellite and cable companies have seen success and began to distribute its own version of a personal video recorder built into selected set-top boxes. PVR flavor boxOnly a few grands are more than a month than a set-top box for rent and the DVR service runs another $ 5 to $ 10 USD a month. For someone who does not need all bells and whistles, it is a cheaper alternative that does not require cash for PVR boxing. Like the TIVO box, the built -in DVR contains two tuners, so one can record one program while watching the other. Another option is to record two programs simultaneously when watching the third pre -recorded program.

6 Boxes like this may record air broadcasting (OTA) received by antenna or decrypted cables or satellite signals. Note, however, that even if a personal video recorder has two tuners built, two broadcasts will not be able to reproduce at the same time if they are not both OTA, or one is OTA and the other is a decrypted signal because the standard set-top box decrypts only one channel at a time. To bypass it, you must order a two-setting set-top box.

Personal video recorder is also to diSleeping in the form of an internal computer card for desktop systems, sometimes called TV tuner card. These cards contain in ports to connect a set-top box or TV to record programming directly to a computer disk. Most cards come up with software, but there are also many free PVR software programs that will work with different cards.

Although this option can be an economic choice and comfortable in this content goes directly to a computer where it can be easiest to be manipulated, there are disadvantages. The computer must be placed close enough to the signal source (TV or set-top box) to physically connect the device together. The computer must also remain connected and powered. For these reasons, another computer can be well used as a personal video recorder, streaming the captured data on an external unit that can easily be accessed to other computers without having to disconnect a dedicated computer from a TV or set-top box.