How do I use my dvdrecorder to control channels of DirectTV?

[Foo]

With cable I could change which channel I was recording while watching a different channel.
With DirectTV it seems I have lost the control to do this.
Is it possible to do this with a standalone dvdr or am I going to have to invest in a special receiver unit?

 

[sheridan]

You haven't said what equipment you have.

But with D*, in order to watch one channel and record another, you need a D* DVR and 2 sat feeds to it.

 

[lou_do]

With cable I could change which channel I was recording while watching a different channel.
With DirectTV it seems I have lost the control to do this.
Is it possible to do this with a standalone dvdr or am I going to have to invest in a special receiver unit?

With most current D* receivers you have to sync the receiver with the DVD or VCR. Set both timers to record anything, and feed the a/v output from the D* receiver to the input of the DVD or VCR.

Some of the older D* receivers used to control to DVD or VCR, but the newer models do not have that feature. I think it is to get you to buy their DVR, instead of using your own DVD or VCR.