Too many shows, too little time. If you like to watch a number of television shows, particularly those that screen in the same time slot, then a digital video recorder should be high on your wish list. But when you set out to buy one of these recorders the abundance of products and information may be bewildering. Do your homework first, and consider the following major features:

Recorder Type: There are four types of digital video recorders you can buy.Stand Alone recorders are ones you can purchase from any store and simply hook up to your existing television set-up to record normal TV programs.

Set-top boxes usually supplied by a satellite or cable company provide you with reception to their broadcast as well as having an inbuilt digital video recorder. Computer digital video recorders use a PC to record programs form the internet, and portable digital video recorders store and transfer television shows, movies, pictures, and music.

Service Type: There is the option of subscribing to a full digital video service with regular updates or paying a one-off cost for a recorder.

Recording Capacity: There are two issues here – one is the number of channels that can be recorded from simultaneously, and the other is the total storage capacity of recorded material. Many digital video recorders, called dual-tuner recorders, can simultaneously record two shows at once or record a channel while you’re watching another one. More expensive models can simultaneously record on two, while you watch a third.

Storage capacity ranges from 80 to 300 hours. A 500 GB recorder may allow up to 170 days of recording. Recording in HD can reduce the capacity, to as little as 30 hours.

Compatibility: Compatibility with TVs and other devices such as DVD players or cable boxes can be variable. Look for recorders with the connectivity you need, such as digital audio, s-video out, component video out, composite video out, USB ports, HDMI out and CableCard slots.

Special Features:Extra features include sharing photos, using internet radio and podcasts; the ability to transfer shows, movies and pictures to a laptop or other portable device; parental control; intelligent search function and external RAID unit connectivity. You may also be able to use a recorder to receive online services and to receive weather, radio and traffic reports.

If you want to record high-definition TV, then you will need to look for a HD DVR. These DVRs have greater storage capacities due to the HD content they record. HD DVRs with a 250-gigabyte hard drive are a popular choice.
Tip: Picture quality can be reduced in order to increase storage space, so check whether the advertised storage space is for High Definition TV recording or standard definition TV.

For everything you need to know about buying the right Digital Video Recorder go to Buyz123.com: Digital Video Recorder Buying Guide