It works!

My DVR finally does everything it's supposed to! Getting the guide data took a while because none of the official documentation told us that NTL doesn't transmit guide data, so we had to dig out our steam-powered aerial cable and plug that in, and hey presto! We have one week's worth of TV guide. And because the DVR is getting its data through the aerial rather than the set top box, we don't even have to remember to tune to a particular channel every now and again. Setting programmes to record is a simple matter of finding the programme in the guide and pressing the red button, and then leaving the DVR to get on with changing the channel on the cable box at the appropriate time. It picks up the programme name and everything. Hurrah!

wimble, you asked what it was: it's a Philips HDRW720, and it's shiny ;-)