You can still use your DVD recorder to play discs or recordings you've already made.

If your DVD recorder has an integrated digital tuner and your are in a coverage area for the terrestrial (local) digital tv signal you will still be able to record digital television. If not, you'll need to connect a set top box to the DVD recorder.
If you're not sure what type of tuner you have in your DVD recorder you should check the manual.

Older DVD recorders and VHS recorders will generally not have a built in tuner and will only be able to record from a connection to a set top box that is tuned to the channel you wish to record.
The current alternates to using a set top box connected to your old DVD or VHS recorder is to upgrade to MySky, My Freeview, Magic or Tivo set top boxes which all allow recording and have differing options built in however only Sky and Magic has the Satellite option for rural areas.

• Is digital TV available in my area?
• What benefits will I get from digital television?
• What is a set top box?
• Do I have to buy a Freeview set top box?
• What is HD?
• How much will it cost for a Freeview set top box?
• What if I have a sky or Vodafone subscription or intend to get one?
• What is Freeview?
• What is an integrated digital television?