DVR - Is there a stand alone unit?


Hello, I was wondering if there is a such thing as a stand alone unit that is not tied into a subscription like TIVO or DISH or DIrectTV - I just would like to have a unit for the spare bedroom (non HD) so I can pause, stop, fast forward, rewind... Not really for recording purpose since I have a DISH NETWORK latest DVR-722 model. And I really don't want to pay extra for another DVR service through them....
wader1971
DVDPal (sold by Sears) does not require subscription but is only for OTA signal.
Panasonic., Sony and Toshiba all made them a few years ago. You may be able to find one on eBay or Videogon. Of course, they will only have analog tuners. This will be OK for most cable use but will be a problem if you want to record over-the-air.
You can try Myth TV for Linux. I haven't tried building and configuring one, but my understanding is that it isn't for the faint of heart. And you will need advanced Unix skills.

Michael