DVR Cards

Satellite TV Systems

DVR stands for Digital Video Recording, which is a method of recording satellite TV programs and video digitally by compressing the video signal with a video encoder. A Digital Video Recorder is similar to a VCR but instead of recording on an analog format, it records data in a digital format. DVR's encode video data that stores data in a hard drive using MPEG-1 or MPEG 2 formats, where VCR's use videocassettes to record and watch programs broadcast on television. DVR cards have all the same functions as VCR's but they have an added feature that allows you to pause live TV and continue watching without having missed any of the program, as well as tape more than one show at a time.

There are two parts that make up a DVR, a hard disk drive and power supply, as well as an electronic programming guide of some type. The electronic programming guide (EPG) allows users to program their recordings. TiVo and ReplayTV are the two most common DVR systems. DVR's are also commonly referred to as Hard Disk Recorder (HDR) or a Personal Video Recorder (PVR).