Instruction: Given a question and the related document, and generate the answer to the question based on the information provided in the document.

Input:
Question: Can you record from satellite TV without having to down load to a computer first?
Document: This is my first DVD Recorder so the comments are slanted: The unit is slow as compared to Tape, it takes upward of 30 secs to initialize and load. It does not recomend pass-thru to TV for VCR connection, it is connected from VCR to do recordings which I have not attempted, yet. The Display function default was ON and it took me awhile to realize I could set it OFF, Default should be OFF.
If you purchase, view your available buying options (retailers), and choose one with a price and review rating that satisfies you.Notes on the chasing playback:- While recording, you click Options, a menu extends from the right- You hit Enter to select the default highlighted item, which is chasing playback.Other notes:- The slow load times (60 seconds) occur when you have a disc in the drive, but you can watch TV and do other functions while your disc is being read.
It's not a menu based sellect item and record from inside the satellite box. I may be able to get my satbox to do control the dvd recorder but haven't had time to figure it out yet.Quality and interface is typical Sony, solid but nothing extraordinary.
Have copied my full DVD+RW's using the computer to other DVD formats so I can re-use the original DVD+RW's. Also I regularly record my DV camera tapes to DVD with the DV in.- I love this machine for what it provides.
If you have experience burning dvds on your computer, this will be a cinch. I've read previous reviews and I can definitely understand any frustration when it comes to electronics. The reason this DVD player will not "PAUSE" during recording is because you need to press "stop record" so that it can write what you've recorded to the disc. Once you hit "record" again, it will continue to record where you left off as long as it is NOT a re-writable disc.
This a nice product and easy to hook up. I have had the unit for two weeks. I, however, have not been able to record to DVD using Directv satellite system. I have the DVD recorder installed as shown in the instruction maunual  but it does not record. I will need additional help to get it to work or maybe it does not work unless you use only an antenna or cable service.
There's only one reason why you record tv shows--so you can watch them later commercial free. Now, maybe there is some fancy, high tech way to edit commercials out with this unit, but the manual is barely understandable by the everyday layperson who just wants to collect season 3 of Numbers to watch later. I don't know what VR is, or chasing, or any of that crap. All I want to do is record a tv show without commercials.
in playing maybe 400 dvd's! So...I just had to lean towards Sony again even though this was more dough-ray-me.Many others have written at length about the recordable media and I'll not repeat any of that, but this will record in Dual Layer! Something Panasonic doesn't offer. Also, there is no VCR plus. A TV guide. Didn't want it anyway.
Record mode works great - but I have over FIVE "Area 1" commercial DVD's that won't play on this unit. I KEPT my old Sony combo DVD/VCR unit - it has no issues at all with these 5 DVDs. Each of these is listed as a "Dual Layer" Type 9 DVD (all Disney releases).My conclusion? Get the unit if you want to RECORD. But first? Go out & buy a cheap DVD player for playing commercial releases.
This one feature makes recording shows and movies off of the TV terrible. The is NO way of pausing the recording during commericals! You could use DVD+RW discs to record on, then later go back and use the A B erase function to edit out the comericals, but this can be time consuming. Luckily, my GX-300 still works pretty good, so I'm using that to record off of the TV.
Answer: Yes, you need to connect RCA cables from sat receiver to DVD unit and select the DVD-R input for those particular jacks on the back (Line 1). There is no HDMI input on this model but it has RCA composite, S-Video and if memory serves me right, component input. I would use S-Video if my sat/cable receiver has such output for better picture.