Sony RDR-HXD series recorders (or the Pioneer Video machines that they are based on) are very good machines which are to be found on gumtree for peanuts these days. [NB Sony DC series and GXD series machines are not the same thing at all.]
HXD series machines contain a freeview SD tuner, HDD varying from 80 to 500GB, and a DVD recorder/player that supports most disc formats. You can record TV for timeshift viewing, then edit and dub to DVD (usually at high speed, 10mins per 4.7G disc, as well as to dual layer discs) if you want to keep a copy. Series record, genre search via the EPG and other features are available. You can record/dub at vary levels of compression. There is an upscaled 1080p HDMI output
Unlike Panasonic machines they don't need a 300 page manual to work them and unlike many other machines they do what they say on the tin, easily, and without too many glitches.
cheers