TIVO / PVR type device in Japan???

[momotobananaoishii]

I want to buy a PVR type device. The Elgato system for computers is really nice.

Does Japan have something like that or TIVO?

More importantly does the cable system accept these devices?


Thanks

[omae mona]

Sure. These are usually known as "HDD Recorders" at your friendly neighborhood electronics store. All the TV manufacturers have their own lineup, and often these boxes are combined with DVD or Blu-Ray recorders too. If you're planning on connecting to cable, the first thing you should do is check with your cable company. Many of them will sell or rent you one which was specially designed & configured to work with your cable system (and it includes the cable tuner, so you don't need a separate cable box). Renting is nice - it's easy to get rid of the box if you hate it.

I believe that if you buy a standalone HDD recorder, it will not be able to directly tune into cable channels, so you need to use it in conjunction with your cable box. They usually provide several methods for the HDD recorder to remotely change the channels on your cable box, including an infrared link, or wired links that may work if the HDD recorder and cable box are from the same manufacturer.

[ttjereth]

Sure. These are usually known as "HDD Recorders" at your friendly neighborhood electronics store. All the TV manufacturers have their own lineup, and often these boxes are combined with DVD or Blu-Ray recorders too. If you're planning on connecting to cable, the first thing you should do is check with your cable company. Many of them will sell or rent you one which was specially designed & configured to work with your cable system (and it includes the cable tuner, so you don't need a separate cable box). Renting is nice - it's easy to get rid of the box if you hate it.

I believe that if you buy a standalone HDD recorder, it will not be able to directly tune into cable channels, so you need to use it in conjunction with your cable box. They usually provide several methods for the HDD recorder to remotely change the channels on your cable box, including an infrared link, or wired links that may work if the HDD recorder and cable box are from the same manufacturer.

Some of them do prevent copying to other devices though, so if you are looking to move stuff to say your PC or to disc/tape then you need to be more careful in your selection.

I know our local cable company doesn't offer any HDD or on demand devices that will output video unscrambled to anything but a tv.

[momotobananaoishii]

well yeah I know there are DVD recorders but I was curious about something like the Elgato systems where you can tune in to free TV and record right to laptop.

Right now our cable is free in our apt. It's common in Japan. Technically not full cable though. I don't know what you'd call it. The standard 10 free channels you get if you manage to tune them in manually.

I just want to go out from the coax into some type of recording device so I can record inainaba and okaasan to issho.

I could just buy a SD card for my 1seg KDDi/AU phone and record that way but it's small. Anyone know if you can simply insert the SD card with the 1seg recording into and SD reader and transfer to PC/Mac?

[ttjereth]

well yeah I know there are DVD recorders but I was curious about something like the Elgato systems where you can tune in to free TV and record right to laptop.

Right now our cable is free in our apt. It's common in Japan. Technically not full cable though. I don't know what you'd call it. The standard 10 free channels you get if you manage to tune them in manually.

I just want to go out from the coax into some type of recording device so I can record inainaba and okaasan to issho.

I could just buy a SD card for my 1seg KDDi/AU phone and record that way but it's small. Anyone know if you can simply insert the SD card with the 1seg recording into and SD reader and transfer to PC/Mac?

Does the coax run direct to your tv or do have a cable box? If it runs direct to your tv you can just by a tv tuner card for your pc. If it runs through a cable box, you'll have to check with the cable company to find out if they scramble the signals/allow output to recording devices.

Here's a pcmia card:
http://shop.tsukumo.co.jp/goods/4981254981078/202020099999900/

And here's a usb box:
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/murauchi-denki/4981254981023/

Either one of these let's you plug the cable directly into the card/box (or split it off to the card/box) and both watch and record tv on your pc.

Of course once Japan goes all digital in a few years these will be mostly useless since they are analog tuners.

[james]

I want to buy a PVR type device. The Elgato system for computers is really nice.

Does Japan have something like that or TIVO?

More importantly does the cable system accept these devices?


Thanks

are you saying you actually want to record japanese tv? that really begs the questions "why?" and "are you insane?".

[Iraira]

are you saying you actually want to record japanese tv? that really begs the questions "why?" and "are you insane?".

It could be for educational purposes. Maybe I haven't watched enough TV lately, but there seemed to be more full breastial exposure (especially on the "Budget, budget, we have no budget" TV-Tokyo) like maybe 6-8 years ago, than there is now. If NHK splays some nekkid girlies here and there, jumping on a trampoline while eating BBQ'ed spareribs, I'd have no problem paying the old NHK biddie that comes by for my door in her face once a month.

[momotobananaoishii]

I watch the bilingual educational series with George and the other show with the other gaijin with the famous Japanese model and the newer show with the bilingual radio DJ on Monday nights. I learn a lot of Japanese with those shows. The first two are NHK shows.

[james]

It could be for educational purposes. Maybe I haven't watched enough TV lately, but there seemed to be more full breastial exposure (especially on the "Budget, budget, we have no budget" TV-Tokyo) like maybe 6-8 years ago, than there is now. If NHK splays some nekkid girlies here and there, jumping on a trampoline while eating BBQ'ed spareribs, I'd have no problem paying the old NHK biddie that comes by for my door in her face once a month.

yeah, i'm told there is a lot less soft-core porn in the off hours now than there used to be, if any. i really have no use for any j-tv though. it's about as fucking banal as you can get and completely insulting to anyone with reasonably functional brain. as for learning japanese, i've learned far more by interacting w/ the people around me than from any nhk program.

[momotobananaoishii]

yeah, i'm told there is a lot less soft-core porn in the off hours now than there used to be, if any. i really have no use for any j-tv though. it's about as fucking banal as you can get and completely insulting to anyone with reasonably functional brain. as for learning japanese, i've learned far more by interacting w/ the people around me than from any nhk program.

Problem is I don't learn only from people. I learn from a multitude of sources. That's what happens when you're actually studying the language for real, not just for chatting with your friends. When I'm not hitting the books I'm with friends and girlfriends basically practicing all day and night. When I'm home or on the train I like to watch language material on my iPod to supplement. Also talking with friends doesn't help you with writing and reading. There are a few cool new TV shows for learning kanji.

The TV shows are to supplement my studies, not to replace real world conversation. Just like the many awesome new Nintendo DS Japanese language games now available.

[james]

[Blah Pete]

There are a few websites that have info on building your own recorder or PVR using a PC or mini pc. Check this website
http://www.byopvr.com/

There is also freeware available in Windows or Linux that will make it fuction like a TIVO/DVR/Media Center.

[FG Lurker]

The TV shows are to supplement my studies, not to replace real world conversation. Just like the many awesome new Nintendo DS Japanese language games now available.

You're melting your brain -- and it shows.