When the hard drive does fill up, you can offload content to a VCR or DVD recorder using the available outputs. More than one S-video input and output would be welcome, as signals coming through the unit’s composite video input don’t look as good as they would going to a better-than-average TV. S-video will always look better. A digital video FireWire connection would also be nice, even if it weren’t HD quality. However, that would require components you record from, like satellite receivers, to have similar types of connections, which they don’t. The RTV-5504 does have a progressive-scan component video output, which is useful for HDTV owners (even though this unit won’t record HD signals). The DVR does a fine job of converting interlaced sources into a higher-resolution progressive output and compensates for film-based source material (most of what’s on TV) to prevent any motion artifacts. The result is a solid picture with no distracting jagged, diagonal edges.

You’ll also find an Ethernet connection, which can link to your home network and broadband connection. (Whaddya mean you don’t have a home network?) While you can’t e-mail shows to friends anymore, you can stream a show recorded on a bedroom DVR to a similarly equipped DVR in the living room. You can also transfer digital images from a PC and display them on the TV. I couldn’t get this to work and wasn’t really sure I cared, but ReplayTV claims a future software patch will better communicate with Windows XP-based networks like mine. The Ethernet connection mostly allows you to download the program guide via the Internet. Those without a broadband hookup can use the built-in 56K dial-up modem to download program guides.