Im about to buy a SD HDD digital set-top box but i cant figure out if you can record a tv program on one channel, and watch a different channel at the same time. Rang up a bloke at an electronics shop and he reckons all HDD set-top boxes let you do this. However, other retailers ive talked to say that some do and some dont...

Whats got me more confused is that i have a PC tv tuner card which obviously records programs straight onto my PC's hard drive, and if im recording a particular channel I cant watch another one at the same time.

Anyway to be more specific, i was going to get the 120gig Strong SRT 5390 set-top box but my folks are only willing to fork out $500 if they can do what ive descibed above. Any advice on this newbie question would be appreciated.

You'd need a twin tuner STB such as the Topfield (there are others on the market, but this one seems the most popular; just take a look in the DVD and HDD recorders forum). You'd be hard pressed to find one to suit your budget though. The Strong won't let you do what you want (but is still a good unit, IMO)

Serious? What is a ball park price for a cheap twin tuner? If its too much then we'd probably go for a set-top box without the hdd altogether.

Edit: nvm, just saw one for $750

Opentel is the cheapest Twin Tuner Hard Drive SD box on the market. E-mail them for a "DBA Forum Special" http://www.opentel-australia.com/ (My brother bought one)

From an E-mail just in from Philip