You keep hearing about digital video recorders. But, what are they and what exactly are the benefits of having one?

A digital video recorder is like a VCR – only better. No programming needed, no blinking clock numbers or complicated timer recording procedures.

Digital video recorders don’t utilize tapes either, so no more hunting frantically for a blank tape 3 minutes before your favorite show is about to come on!

When using a digital video recorder, your television signal comes through it’s built in tuner. The source of that signal can be cable, antenna or satellite. After the digital video recorder receives the signal, it sends it to the encoder in the system which converts the signal from analog to digital. Then the encoder sends the signal to two different places within the DVR – to its hard drive and to its decoder to be converted back to analog for television viewing.

The hard drive of the DVR acts much like the hard drive of your computer. It stores the program and makes it available for playback, allowing for a multitude of features such as pausing live TV, recording two television shows at the same time and recording your favorite shows with the touch of a button – without needing a tape to do so.

Digital video recorders are seen by some as the wave of the future and combined with DVD players may make the VCR go the way of the dinosaur.

Want in on this latest boom in technology? Get yourself a FREE DVR for a limited time when you sign up for Dish Network Satellite Television Service.