I got a sony with hard drive last year and it's great you can record one programme while watching another, you can also play catch-up on a programme that is already recording. Mine's only got a single tuner, that means you can only record one channel at a time. This how mine is connected,
Aerial from wall to aerial in socket on back of dvd player
Aerial out of dvd player out socket to tv aerial in socket
Scart lead from dvd line 3 on back of dvd player to av1 in socket on back of tv
The only problem I encounter is when playing catch up on a recording programme and I decide to go back to tv while the dvd is still recording. I have to turn the tv off and then back on again to get it to revert to real time programmes
This is the one I bought last year from Richer sounds and it was region free, you have to pay a bit more for region free but it allows you to watch US dvds
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-RDR-HXD890 ... B0018PRXWE
Hope this helps
Peter