Advice needed: HDD recorder & media player

[StuartAberdein]

Hi,

I am looking for the best solution for recording DSTV for later viewing or burning to DVD as well as playing media downloaded from the Internet. I have an LG RH7624W 250Gb HDD DVD recorder but it has just died and anyway it has various limitations:

1. No way of copying the files off besides burning a DVD (in real time = 1.5Hrs / movie)
2. Timer only works if it's turned off.
3. No way to add a bigger drive

I would preferably like:

- A remote
- WiFi or failing that ethernet access to the data files
- Timer recording
- Record DSTV via the normal white/red/yellow RCA connectors
- Play AVIs and other Internet downloaded files
- Preferably a simple remote-driven interface for basic editing of recorded files (cutting out ads etc.)
- Burn DVDs directly (but can work around by copying to an PC and burning there).

I see a lot of cheap media players which seem +/- OK but most don't seem to have recording facility.

Can anybody suggest anything?

Thanks

 

[Happy Camper]

Expensive option: AC ryan HD recorder (but not sure if it captures via rca?)

Cheap option: get a tv capture card (with remote) and plug in directly to PC

Media recorders will be pinned down to whatever codecs they support, so if you're downloading flv files use Download helper in Firefox to download + convert to avi at same time.

 

[StuartAberdein]

Thanks but I did a bit of research on the AC Ryan and it seems pretty buggy. Adding a TV card to a PC isn't really practical because the PC is in another room.

Has anyone tried the Hauppauge HD PVR? Would that do the job?

Thanks,

Stuart