Build Your Own Dvr Cable Box

Buy your own cable or satellite equipment.

Build your own dvr cable box.

How to build a cheap cord cutting dvr using raspberry pi the 35 raspberry pi is the most cost efficient way to roll your own dvr. A typical computer doesn t have a video input that can accept a signal from a antenna or a set top cable or satellite box. If you have a different cable tv company than the ones listed above you should check out all the features tivo edge offers. Using cablecard you rent a card from your cable tv provider that slides into the back of your compatible dvr.

For cord cutters with an over the air ota antenna we recommend the fire tv recast. Cable tv companies will let you use their tv services with your own dvr via one specific method. We ve provided some considerations below when thinking about purchasing your modem router and set top boxes. You ll need a tv capture card which has its own tuner to receive television signals to take the incoming signal and read it.

Since 2009 united states t elevision programs have been broadcast over the air ota exclusively in digital format. The fcc requires that cable companies allow their customers to buy your cable or satellite equipment do not. Better capture cards have onboard processors that handle the encoding of the signal into the digital format the show will be saved as. However if you re interested in buying a dvr here are some questions to ask yourself before spending your hard earned cash.

Over the air dvr is useless if your antenna can t receive channels so unless you ve got coaxial cable wired to the roof you ll need to set up your dvr in a place. If you don t own a tivo you ll likely end up using one of the dvrs supplied by your cable company. If you re buying a dvr to record content from your cable tv provider get one that supports cablecard technology.