Long gone are the days when the only way you could record a television program was with your VCR. Today, all you need is a DVR are you can automatically record as many shows as you like.
DVRs are basically hard drives that are placed inside a box that can be connected to your cable box. When the television signal enters the DVR, it goes through a built-in-tuner. This tuner digitalizes the data and ships it to the hard drive for storage, and to a decoder which sends it to the television for viewing.
This system opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to television recording and viewing. First of all, a DVR does not require a tape. All the data is stored to the machine, so you just simply scroll through your list with your remote and pick which show you would like to watch.
Another benefit of DVRs is that you have the control over playback. A program can be viewed at anytime, even while you are recording it. In many cases, you also have the ability to pause and rewind live television.