I have vcrs attached to my cable boxes. I get Directv (which I know is a digital signal). The guy on tv says "you don't have to do anything, you already get a digital signal so when the thing changes, you do NOTHING".

Just now, someone told me "all vcrs are analog so you have to hook them up to a converter box".

I don't believe him.

Someone help!!

And no, I can't afford the dvr thing just yet. We still have many co-pays so for now, we have the vcrs.

Thanks much

Melody

we have an dvd/vcr combo with an analog tuner - so when they go all digital - i think we will only be able to record off the TV.
not watch a tv show and record a different channel.
but we haven recorded much since the kids grew up - I think we have 10 yrs of the Simpson's recorded on tapes and nobody watches them now... They're on reruns here anyway.


I'm thinking if yours is hooked up to the cable box you should be OK.
The recordings might not be HD quality.
But if you have a regular TV {vs HDTV} it wouldn't matter.

I guess I would just wait and see and not go buy something that you might not even need.

The lower priced VCR & DVD might just play or they might only record off the TV.
the higher priced ones have tuners built in so an antenna or cable, can be connected separate from the TV
- to watch a tv show and record something else on another channel.

Since the recorder mode will still be relying on a set which has digital (TV), the fact that you have digitial TV will determine how the VCR records. I believe, nothing is needed for digital TV; it's already digital-compliant. (And, when a tape is popped in the player, it's not dependent on the TV for anything other than its play mode.)

People with satellite or with cable needn't do a thing when the transition takes place. (They're getting digital signals/transmissions).

People with newer TVs, that are digital, also needn't do a thing.

Well, I don't have a digital tv. I have a 10 year old tv which works perfectly well. I have Directv which is satellite, so I believe I am just fine.

Thanks very much. It's good to know I don't have to run out and buy 3 converter boxes.

Melody

You should be fine, as you said and as I believe. You get digital signal via your satellite, which is having your TV signal route digital. Hence, I said, digital TV.

If your VCR or other connectivity devices/components need routing through a converter box, then, there is a different connection pathway needed - to assure that those components are hooked up correctly. (It's totally moot for me to go into how to connect a VCR to a TV that has a converter box, though, since that's not your situation. ).

Anyone with Dish/Satellite or Cable is fine... as long as x-tra components are presently hooked up correctly.

I hope I win the lottery. Then I'll get the cable-dvr combos and Alan won't have to drive me crazy when he says "I hate this cable box, I don't know how to program it".

Give me a break. I showed him 3 times. He keeps programming stuff that he DOESN'T want, and then he yells "how come the channel changed?"

I picked up the remote and said "you programmed it'.

He then said "no I didn't I HATE THIS NEW CABLE BOX".

I'm sorry I replaced his 10 year old cable box. It loaded up slowly, you had to jump through hoops to get the program guide to load up but nooooo,

HE DOESN'T LIKE NEW THINGS, HE DOESN'T LIKE CHANGE.

Hey, at least he likes my sprouts.

I wonder what he'll be like when he's 70. He's like an old codger now.

I mean, really, what is so hard about pressing the info guide on the cable box?

I should stop talking. My neighbor around the corner calls up her son to come up from the basement and press play on her dvd remote.

I just looked at her and said "you've got to be kidding'.

And when she tried to change the channel on her cable box, she turned it off, then she looked at us and said "I don't know how to use this remote".

She's only had it for 5 years.

Good Lord, help me help these techno challenged people!!

lol
Melody