What kind of DVR do I need for Cable TV with Digital Converter, Old TV?

[Marlene_WA]

Hi! I just discovered this forum and it looks amazing.

I've read a couple of "old TV" threads but am still confused. My cable TV company (small town, local independent company) is "going digital" and I need their Digital Converter box installed. I will lose significant DVD recording capabilities when this happens.

Current connections:
Cable TV coax from wall into DVD Recorder, coax out to old "fat" TV set
(JVC DVD Video Recorder DR-MV150B, JVC TV AV-27D303)
DVD Recorder is connected to one of the TV's composite connections ("Video 2")
Roku 1 player is connected to one of the TV's composite connections ("Video-1")
"Video-3" is open, not connected to anything
No HDMI connectors on any of this equipment
I can watch a TV channel while recording another channel to DVD
I can schedule DVD recordings by day. time, and channel

New connections:
Add Cable TV Digital Converter box between the wall and the DVD Recorder, everything else the same
Roku streaming is unaffected
I cannot watch one TV channel while recording a different channel to DVD
I cannot schedule DVD recordings by channel
The only thing the DVD recorder can do is "Channel 3", which is whatever channel the box is set to.

To get my recording capabilities back, they said I need a DVR. I could rent one from them for an additional $15 a month -- not inclined to do that, I'd rather buy my own. I will not be replacing my DVD unit with a DVR because I still want to watch DVDs (and VHS tapes!) so the DVR is being added to the mix.

They said the DVR needs to be able to take their "In Card", or maybe she said "MCARD"
The DVR has to be able to connect to my TV with composite cables
I want at least 1TB storage, or something that can have an expansion drive added

I'm reading stuff about MCARDs, RF modulators, "incompatible with OCAP", might not be compatible with your provider, not compatible with CableCard, etc. etc. and am totally confused about what I need or what to buy.
If I have to buy an old DVR to get the composite connection, I'm perfectly happy to buy refurbished or from eBay if I know what to buy and how to check that it will be compatible with my provider.

I can't afford a monthly subscription fee on top of my Cable TV bill. I really shouldn't spend any more than $150-$200 for a DVR. (I actually shouldn't spend anything!)

Is there a DVR solution for me? Or should I just go with their $15/mo option?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

 

[americanaudiophile]

I don't think you are going to find a DVR with cable card slot. They would charge you monthly for the card too. There are TV tuner cards for PCs with cable card slots and you could record that way.
If your main purpose is time shifting just go with the cable DVR. If you update your TV to an HD set it will record in HD which the DVD recorder won't.