Electronics

[beach-mom]

Some of the shows I "record" on the DVR are ones I want to keep. I might want to watch them again, or they may be on broadcast networks that don't offer the show "on demand." Also, I have kept shows my children are in, either as an extra or as someone interviewed in the audience of a popular show. Of course I want to keep those. 

The old days of "taping" shows and keeping the tape are long over. Our service provider once advised me to call the local network affiliate to try to get a copy of the professional tape. That was fun. I had to pay quite a bit of money, and they won't guarantee that the tape they send is the correct one. Of course the one they sent was the wrong one. So I just gave up. 

We have two DVR's. They are not connected. One we use for shows we want to see and keep for a while; the other for shows we want to see and delete. I very rarely get to watch a show when it's on. 

So one day this summer I went to watch a show. It still said 75% filled, but all of the shows were gone. No one in the family deleted anything. I didn't call right away, and five days later they were back. OK. So then the other one went through the same thing, saying 67% full, but all shows gone. I called and they sent a refresh signal. They came back. But after that the shows were ALL gone from the other DVR, and it is saying 0%. I think they're gone completely, including one that one of my children was in two years ago.

So two questions: Has anyone else experienced anything like this? And more important, is there ANY way at all you can keep a copy of a show broadcast on a network? TIA!

I miss the days of privacy. With DVR's "they" know what you're watching and what you're recording. " It seems like "they" can play with your DVR for any reason. 

[Shelbelle]

I still have a working VCR, I use it al lthe time, and have no complaints, no DVR for me until it is absolutely necessary, and the best part about my VCR is that I know how to use it!!

[Mz iMac]

"And more important, is there ANY way at all you can keep a copy of a show broadcast on a network?"

Research the stations website.  Most have full episode videos which you can download then burn onto a DVD if you want to save for future viewing.

Check YouTube....same as above.

Do a Google and/or Binge search on how to burn shows from a DVR onto a DVD.  I do not own one so I do not know if its even possible.

Purchase a VCR.  If you can't find one at electronic stores, K-mart, Target, etc., check around at flea markets & pawn shops. 

I still have mine.  It's older than dirt & still works.  Like the previous poster mentioned, I know how to use it!

[Alison Wonderland]

I'm sorry you lost your shows - that's always awful. A DVR stores files on a local hard drive and, just like any computer system, if you want to keep something for good, you need to create a backup that's stored elsewhere in case something goes wrong.

How you do that depends on what kind of DVR you have. The TiVo website has instructions on backing up or transferring files from a TiVo DVR to a PC or Mac, but if you don't have a TiVo, you'll need to search for information for your own DVR.

Here's the page where TiVo has directions: https://www.tivo.com/support/how-to/transfer-recordings-your-pc

[hckynut]

@beach-mom

We have had Dish Network for years, and I have no plans to change my satellite service. With them I have a DVR(Hopper 3) in our patio room, and a receiver (Joey) in the master bedroom.

With the Dish Hoppers, I am able to connect an External Hard Drive, which I have done with all versions of their Hoppers. My External hard drive holds up to 2tb of information, saved shows recorded.

If somehow I run out of those 2,000+ Gb of space, I will buy another BIG External Hard Drive to connect. Now I am sure that Dish Network has their shows I have copied onto my External drive, Encoded, so it can only be played back with their equipment.

Since I have no plans to change my satellite company, that works just fine for my wife and myself when it comes to saving DVR programs we want to keep.

Sure, it isn't like the old VCR/VHS tapes, but anyone that hasn't transferred their saved VHS tapes to a Digital Media? VHS tapes break and degrade over time, and at some point are useless. I guess it depends on what you want to keep, and for how long, when it comes to VHS tapes.

There are DVD Recorders out there that can record onto a DVD, so that is yet another option available for you to save and store all kinds of programming.

I didn't read your whole post, your font is way too small for me. Maybe some of this info might help you, maybe not!

hn

[Nataliesgramma]

My granddaughter was on our local news in a story about her School......after I DVR'd it......I played it on my TV and stood in front of my TV and recorded it on my phone.....

From there I put it on my computer harddrive and then I also put it on a flash drive...so I have at least 2 copies now....

Probably a dumb way to do it but...better that losing the moment like I did the last time..

[beach-mom]

Thank you everyone for your replies! @Alison Wonderland - we don't have a TiVo; we have the DVR box from our provider. I'm going to have to do some research on this online. Electronics are not my "favorite" thing to deal with, and DH is not that great at it either. Since most of what he watches are sports, science shows, and car shows, he usually doesn't DVR anything - unless it's a game he's going to miss. 

I appreciate your advice and help!