I have the same problem. We have the DVR on the main tv, but we often want to record something onto VHS or DVD RW to "keep and share" - ie when a friend appeared on a local news program. I have found no way to DVR something and transfer it to VHS or DVD RW, so using the VCR/Recordable DVD seems to be the only option. However, I can only record the channel I am watching at the time, so it does no good to program our expensive recordable DVD/VHS combo to record when we are not here because it will only record static. Does anyone know why Verizon does this and if there is a way to work around it? I'm not sure we would have switched if we had known these limitations.