Fios: Questions about recording on DVD

Factual Questions
1

We just had Fios installed, but we didn’t get the DVR–we have a DVD/VCR. We know we can record live onto the DVD, but can we set the timer to record a specific channel at a specific time? I mean, without physically changing the channel on the STB to the channel each time? Verizon tells us we can’t; we’d have to get the DVR to get this function. Does anyone know of a work-around?

Thanks.

2

I don’t have FIOS, but this really shouldn’t be any different from recording from any other cable box with a VCR. You need something that lets the VCR control the cable box to change the channel. Usually that comes in the form of an IR blaster that mimics a regular IR remote control, but there are other methods. If your VCR doesn’t support that, I don’t know if you’ll be able to do it (there may be standalone devices to do this; I have never really looked into that). FWIW, I’d personally get a TiVo or DVR before investing a whole lot of effort into this. The experience will be a lot better. But if your VCR already supports it and you have the stuff, go for it.

3

We have Verizon FIOS with the Verizon-supplied DVR (and used to have Comcast cable with their Comcast-supplied DVR), and I really don’t see how any sort of klooge involving a non-integrated DVD and “IR blaster” would give you any where near the functionality of an integrated setup. We regularly do the following (and were able to do this all with Comcast as well) which I don’t believe a setup involving a non-integrated DVR could handle:

  • Watch one program while recording another (I like sports; my wife likes soaps).

  • Record two shows simultaneously (did I mention that my wife likes soaps?)

  • Pause a live show anytime we want (say, when the phone rings when the Phillies are at bat)

  • You can probably set up to record series as well as one-time events with a non-integrated DVD, but how does that non-integrated DVD know when those series will air?

Seriously, it’s just simpler with an integrated DVR.

4

Thanks for your help. It appears our recorder’s doesn’t support an IR blaster, so we’ll either have to go for the DVR or just not watch tv while we record. We’re not huge TV watchers, so we’ll have to see how it goes.