Is your home theater area disappearing under a mountain of DVD's or VCRs? Are you hanging onto your expensive, low resolution VCR because it's the only way you can keep a record of that once-in a lifetime TV show? One option you might have on alleviating your home cinema pain is a satellite TV receiver or media center, the new solutions to an age-old problem.

How much storage space is dedicated to holding your DVDs and video tapes? If you are anything like me then you've got whole bookcases and cupboards full of them. They're taking over my house and what's worse is that I've now got two (and sometimes three) copies of the same movie.

Another problem I have is the television has disappeared from my life as a source for entertainment. Sure I watch the odd show occasionally on my home theater system but it wasn't so long ago that I recorded movies and shows to watch again and the networks provided 99% of my entertainment needs. Thanks to the DVD that's now an impossibility and I'm reduced to buying whole series of dramas or sitcoms just to watch my favorite one.

 So what are satellite TV receivers and media centers, where can you find them in the home theatre and how can they solve this problem?

The satellite TV receiver is a little box that sits on top of the TV or computer which receives DVBT/ATSC signals and puts them on your screen.

Satellite TV receivers most resemble VCRs in that they are able to store tv shows for later viewing. The most famous of these is the TiVO system.

Satellite TV receivers, or DVB S receivers make bulky and problematic VHS cassettes a thing of the past from the home theater system.... but that is not their biggest asset.

Satellite receivers can very easily be programmed to record anything at odd hours on a continuing basis (anybody ever successfully program their VCR please let me know) and will automatically fast forward through ad breaks.

Some units, like Chinavasion's satellite TV receiver even include child locks to help parents make sure their children watch only suitable programs.

Media centers, or hard disk media players as they are sometimes called, are just a hard disk (like the one used in your computer) used to store photos, movies and songs rather than documents.

Because everything goes onto a disk it means that you are able to fit almost all of your VCR/DVD collection onto one small unit, freeing up space in the house.

Some units, like the Apple TV and Chinavasion's HD wireless media center hard disk with WiFi and PC connection also act as wireless media centers (a hybrid between media servers and media centers) where it doesn't only store material on its hard drive but it gives you access to your computer as well.

Again Chinavasion has got a good model. The HD wireless media center hard disk with WiFi and PC connection extends its versatility by playing 11 digital video formats, multiple audio and picture codecs as well as having a host of inputs to make sure it can be used with any home theater system.

Bringing the home theater into the digital age is as easy as hooking a few boxes to your system, which doesn't need to be hard if you're using UPnP and wireless network streaming.

Chinavasion's range of affordable digital TV options makes it possible for you to keep your home theater system up-to-date in the 21st century even if some of the more expensive parts aren't.