subject: Desirable Dvr Characteristics For Home Entertainment In Vermont [print this page] For a lot of people out there, home entertainment without a DVR isn't really home entertainment at all. It's just one of those things: once you try it you can't go back. That's why they've become such strong selling points for satellite TV solutions in Vermont. In essence, when you're shopping for that kind of solution, you also need to look into DVR features too. All of them will have basic recording functionality, but not all of them will have other desirable characteristics.
The first thing you have to look out for is the amount of space it has. How many shows can it hold at one time? Like any other recording device, space will be somewhat limited. In the case of DVRs, that space is usually controlled by an internal hard disk drive much like the ones that are used on home computers. The more gigabytes it has, the better it's going to be for you. Keep in mind that after you start using it, you might find yourself using it more frequently. It gets to the point that you'll probably record satellite TV shows on pure speculation. You may not have ever watched them before and you'll record them, but you might not ever watch that recording. For that kind of potential viewing, you need to have a lot of space available. When in doubt, the more the merrier.
Another big consideration to take into account is whether or not the DVR can record high definition content. Most people in Vermont are going to want that because their televisions are capable of handling that kind of input. In standard definition, those shows you've grown to love might not look nearly as good. Therefore, you really should make sure your DVR is on the same level as your television set. But buyer beware, not all HD is the same. Currently the the top of the line is known as 1080p, and so you have to make sure your DVR outputs at that resolution. It's possible to see equipment out there that only outputs 1080i or maybe even 720p. In the end, you really wouldn't be doing your state-of-the-art TV justice with that kind of DVR. If you want to get the most out of it, you really have to make sure your DVR can give it 1080p content.
A consideration that's becoming increasingly important has to do with a DVR's networking capabilities. Although it's almost becoming standard, not all of them include an Ethernet port or Wifi connectivity. In terms of Ethernet, the more megabits the better, with gigabit being the best. If you'd rather not bother with wires, make sure that DVR has Wifi capabilities. The best Wifi is known as 802.11n and it features very fast transfer rates as well as good range. The next best would be 802.11g.
Finally, there's the sound to consider. That HD DVR isn't only outputting video. In order to get the complete home entertainment experience, you need to make sure that it's got the sound to match. In this case, THX certification is highly desirable.
