You either use a DVD recorder (preferably with a hard drive) or you use a higher-spec computer either with the correct connections on the front or you connect it to the computer through a camcorder with firewire cable.

It all depends on

a) Cost

b) what you want to do.

My trusty VCR has just bit the dust so having looked on ebay I decided to try a local independent electrical store to see if they had any old ones they wanted to part with. Guess what, the young man tried to sell me a DVD/VCR combi as he said that I couldn't record using my VCR now that we had gone digital. Twaddle! I have been using the same cable and freeview boxes connected to my CRT TVs and have had no trouble. I am not concerned about picture quality as long as I can record a few programmes to watch in bed! I wonder if a lot of folks have been given similar info so that they buy a dearer set up? Still looking for a VCR though, they are like hen's teeth!

Rubbish. eBay, Freecyle, Freegle, Gumtree and any local repair shops will have tons of them that they are desperate to get rid of!

VCR's are always popping up on Freegle along with some high spec CRT TVs which will work for years with a set top box,long after your shiny new Flat panel TV has packed in.We average 2 or 3 VCRs on offer each week here.

Loads of VCRs in Cash Generators and Cash Converters, as well as in the bigger charity shops round here too.

Thanks for your tip. It's good to hear that they are still around.

That's interesting... maybe there is still a certain demand for them.

No, people just want to earn something out of getting rid of something they don't want anymore. Which is more desirable than simply slinging something away that could earn you money!

It's correct that many people don't want them (myself included) however there are plenty that do. Many older people like the fact they stick a VCR tape in the machine and just press play or record - if they've tried to use a DVD recorder they've have some justification for this though of course PVRs are very simple.

Good point...

Don't forget that most of us here are 'enthusiasts' - as far as that we know what technology is out there and purchace it as and when we think we need to or want the extra features, however many people are not like this. The older generation especially - not that there is anything wrong with this approach - but not so long ago each and every purchace was a tough decision and it would never be replaced unless it was broken.

Therefore, in 2011 many homes still have 'old technology' only. In the last few weeks I was given a copy of a CD - on cassette. TV recordings lent and borrowed - on VHS. Vinyl records still used as a main method of listening to music. No computers, no I-Player, I-Pod, I-Pad. Remote control confusion, digital TV misunderstandings, antimacassars and net curtains, bone china and leaf tea. But I don't mind - I enjoy simpler technology too and a VHS tape is easy to use and interesting too.

I have 2 VCR's in the garage but once or twice a year they get connected up to copy some VHS material to dvd.
There's still a lot of material out there on VHS thats not made it to dvd but most of it is not mainstream stuff so you only come across it when you set out in search of it.

I sold my Laserdisc player as soon as I bought dvd but twice over the next decade I bought a player again from ebay after I got fed up with waiting for some films to be released on dvd so I got the player and the discs and copied them to dvd then sold the lot on ebay again.

Same with vinyl.
In 1999 I got rid of my vinyl player aswell as most of my vinyl collection.
After a decade of searching I had to resort to buying a new unit with vinyl/cassette /cd etc with built in USB/memory card in order to get the tracks I was still not able to find on cd.

Limewire was a help in that respect but since its gone I've embraced vinyl again and have bought quite a few to copy to IPOD/PS3 that I've never found on cd

I got my 10-year-old Philips TV/video combi repaired last week. The VCR's mechanism had gone, I loaded a tape into it and it played it for a few seconds, wound the tape on and then ejected it. Turned out the VCR needed some re-assembly, so for £35 I got it done by a local repair centre. Have to say, it's definitely improved-the picture and sound quality seem sharper, and the combi's scart socket no longer has the graininess it had before, thereby eliminating the need by me to fiddle with the scart connector at the back to eliminate the graininess. It was it's first repair job in nearly seven years, and only the second one it's ever had. I called a call-centre based repair company to ask if they could do it, but the guy over the phone blew me off with an abrupt "no". (Customer service these days, eh?)

I still like having a VCR for my 100-plus video collection I have built up over the years. Also, the mistiness of LCD could never match the pristine images I get with a CRT TV. It may be old, but it truly is gold! I also have a nine-year-old Daewoo Nicam VCR as well-possible mode switch problem with that one, but generally still works fine! Saw the exact same model in a charity shop I was in yesterday too, along with a budget DVD player I traded in last week after getting a new DVD recorder!

Also, going by what I've descibed above, the more technical-minded among you may be able to determine exactly what was wrong with my combi, and how they may have repaired it?

Can I ask how old you think someone will be when the brain refuses to function? I'm 62 and I know I can match anyone 20 years or more my junior in my technical ability and knowledge. We baby boomer generation are not all over the hill.

Still, I never throw anything away if I think there may be a use for it. I still have my trusty Pana VHS-HQ recorder (it's in a cupboard) and get it out now and then when I want to digitise a tape.

Oh, and I still have a turntable, but it's connected to my computer, not my home theatre amp.

It might have been a mode switch problem again or a belt/idler problem. I'm still learning electronic repair (in my own time), so I can't say for sure, but the symptom of the Televideo combi that you described seems to match my understanding of shafted mode switch or wearing belts/idler tyre.

I don't speak of age affecting the brain, rather that some older people (mainly over 75) see home entertainment differently. I live in an area with a high proportion of older people and am known as someone who will help with technology if needed. I have no explanation but after 20-ish years of using VCR's, when that breaks and a relative buys them a PVR or flat panel TV, they have trouble with the new tech. It ends up stuck on an unwanted channel or just unplugged from the mains in frustration. They may press 'menu' by mistake and then get stuck. The 'AV' channel causes problems - I tell them to turn on the TV first and then the DigiBox (auto switching) but they get them reversed. Perhaps because 'AV' is not a station name? They use the wrong remote, press the remote too quickly, don't give the machine time to respond and then stab at buttons. I have tried blocking off buttons, written basic instructions, repeated verbal instruction, highlighting the user manual - all sorts - but still there are issues. Some older people have no trouble and we chat about DVD recorder technology, optimum settings and they ask good questions.

My old Sky digibox packed up the other day and I got a reconditioned Amstrad replacement from a trusted technician.The problem is that I can watch programmes that I taped from my old digibox but when I now try to record anything from Sky the picture fades in and out.I've tried taking out all the plugs,SCART leads etc. but nothing works.What am I missing? Also, I got a new Bravia TV in March and I didn't have to tune in a video channel then so I'm assuming that the problem lies with the new digibox.My VCR is an LG LV890 and it's not that old.

Sounds as if the replacement box is using videoguard copy protection which screws up the synch signals required for a vcr to get a stable picture.

Can I get around this somehow? I usually tape stuff during the day when I'm at work.

I can tape Sky News and that's fine but when I try to tape other channels the picture fades or goes to a blue screen.

You can, but I believe giving links to products to do so might be against DS terms and conditions. Google "Macrovision remover", and you'll get some links to various small boxes and dedicated cables capable of doing so. You can buy them for around £20-£30.

I can't tune in the video channel on my LG video and since yesterday both AV1 & AV2 tv channels on my Sony Bravia have changed over! On my old digibox I used Prog 2 for Sky on AV2 and used AV1 for recording and playback and had no problems whatsover with recording anything from Sky.Yesterday Sky was on Pre-Set Ch 38 but now it won't tune to any number.It's driving me mad!

Also, according to the guy who sold me the new digibox I should still be able to record Sky.

Thanks for the tip, Captain, I'll try that.

I can't tune in the video channel on my LG video and since yesterday both AV1 & AV2 tv channels on my Sony Bravia have changed over! On my old digibox I used Prog 2 for Sky on AV2 and used AV1 for recording and playback and had no problems whatsover with recording anything from Sky.Yesterday Sky was on Pre-Set Ch 38 but now it won't tune to any number.It's driving me mad!

Also, according to the guy who sold me the new digibox I should still be able to record Sky.

Thanks for the tip, Captain, I'll try that.

P.S I taped Hawaii 5-0 last week so I don't think Sky are blocking me from recording.