PVRs Buying Guide

A PVR stands for Personal Video Recorder, sometimes also called the DVR Digital Video Recorder. In essence, it's a sophisticated set-top box with recording capability as well as pause, rewind, stop, or fast-forward a recorded program. The PVR is basically the modern-day equivalent of the VCR. 

However, unlike the VCR (which uses an analog tuner and records to tape), the PVR uses a digital tuner and records to a Hard Drive of memory or an SD card. 

It can inject some powerful functionality into your home entertainment set-up. Amongst the range of PVRs at Appliances Online, for example, you'll find the ability to record multiple shows simultaneously, plus advanced programming capabilities and internet connectivity. Some models come with built-in Blu-rat or DVD players for greater functionality.

Records to a built-in Hard Drive

The core of the PVR is the built-in hard drive. This is essentially the brains of the operation. A

digital recording made from TV is stored in the memory.  This is awesome for these reasons:

- No more tapes.

- High-quality recordings that retain the sound and vision quality of the source material.

- The ability to pause and play live TV.

Hold up, what does "Pause and Play live TV" mean? 

Well, okay, if you have to visit the bathroom (for example) in

the middle of watching your fave show, you can press Pause on your PVR remote and return to it later when you're all done.

Pressing Resume will allow you to carry on exactly where you left off. Your PVR, of course, doesn't literally pause the transmission - instead, it sets up a buffer of recorded material to make sure you don't miss a thing.

Keep in mind, your hard drive will have a limited amount of memory. The standard amount is 500GB of recording space for a good PVR and should get you about 70 hours of high-definition recording quality.  

What to do if you run out of recording space and want to retain the recordings? 

You have options! For example, some PVRs allow you to transfer your recordings to an external hard drive via an inbuilt USB drive. And selected PVRs include a built-in DVD player which will make it possible to burn your recordings onto a disc.

Shop our range of media players & PVRs.

Electronic Program Guide (EPG):

One of the very cool things about the PVR is that you can use them to activate a guide (commonly referred to as an "EPG") via your TV. An EPG uses the digital info provided by the TV networks as part of their broadcast. This allows you schedule in which shows to watch, set reminders, and choose which programs to record.

Most PVRs features a 7-day program guide so you can plan for the week. A couple of high-end PVR models allow you to plan for a longer period. 

Recording a program becomes as simple as pressing the EPG button on your remote, scrolling through a list of programs, then press the 'Book' button.

Internet connectivity - access to the net:

 PVRs offer enhanced functionality for your entertainment system with connectivity to the internet. The extent of this functionality varies. Check out your humble manufacturer's specs for the full

details. That said, the advanced PVRs will give you the ability to stream content and share content with other devices, as well as allowing access to Smart TV apps.

The ability to record more than one program at once:

A lot of PVRs out there feature multiple tuners (most commonly two). With two tuners on your PVR, you will have the ability to record two shows that are playing simultaneously on different channels.

There are three different types of PVR available at Appliances Online:

1. DVD Player PVRs

2. Blu-Ray Player PVRs

3. Stand Alone PVRs

Enhanced powers (via subscription services) and Freeview

Some PVRs offer compatibility with services that provide greater functionality and convenience, with the payment of a subscription fee. For example, IceTV (a subscription service available on selected PVRs), lets you access your PVR via your phone and request it to start recording at a specific time. This is a great option if you happen to forget to set up your machine to record prior to leaving the house.

Freeview: Some PVRs models come with the Freeview logo on them, which means the player is endorsed by Freeview. So what's that all about? Is it some kind of badge of superiority and does a Freeview product have special powers the others don't have?

Short answer: No, Freeview is actually the collective brand name given to Australian free-to-air digital broadcasting. However, you don't need your PVR to have the "Freeview endorsed" logo for it to be able to pick up and record free-to-air- digital content. All your product needs is an SD or HD tuner.

Aside from those options for set-top box PVRs, there is one more recording option to be aware of. It's called a USB EXTENDABLE PVR function.

This function comes incorporated with select Smart TVs. And doesn't require you to purchase an extra device. It gives you the ability to record to an external hard drive connected to your TV. Check your TV's specs for this feature.

It may well be sufficient for those who only need to record once in a while and aren't looking for all the bells and whistles that come with a PVR.

Well, that's our take on the wonders of PVRs. Feel free to contact us if you need help selecting the right multimedia player.