Page 1 of recording from NTL digital - can you programme vcr or dvd recorder to set the channel

a long title which sets out the problem! currently have NTL analogue and thought about getting sky+ but planning permission put paid to that one, for same reason can`t use a aerial. Therefore stuck with cable and thinking of upgrading to digital. If I buy the panasonic e85 hd/dvd recorder will it communicate with a NTL digital box to set the channel I want to record? At the moment I have to set the channel on the analogue cable box and then set my video timer - videoplus is a distant dream in my household. If the NTL digital/dvd recorder combo works can I use two NTL boxes so I can watch one thing while recording another (why can`t NTL supply twin tuner boxes and save the hassle?)?

Helo Sailor ,In NTL Digital if you wish to record more than one broadcast channel you set your recorder,tape or disc, to the times of the programmes you want, and put the recorder on whatever channel you use to watch your cablebox,
leaving the box on the first channel you want to record, you then use the programme Guide to select the other programmes on other channels you want, and press reminder, it will now change channels at that time,

At one time on NTL pressing reminder only gave a reminder on screen that the programme you wanted is about to start, you had to press something else (i`ve forgotten what !) , for it to change over, after an upgade of there display i though this had been removed ,until i read a posting that just enabling reminder did change channels.
The only problem may be that the infomation on the guide may not load for the time in advance you want to record.
If there is time between recordings its a good idea to switch the channel on a programme earlier than you want as there is an on screen reminder about the change over, and as i
find some programmes may start a little early , i don`t want the reminder covering the start of my programme, the voice of experience here !!
Usually nothing to interest me that i want to record these days, i find so little to interest me compared to a few years ago,still i can use the time plowing through all my old tapes as i put them on disc, but it seems to take ages , by the time i`m finished i`ll be drawing my old age pension ,( 56 ,at the moment!)