DVD/HDD recorders

[gbbird]

Hi all,

I am looking at purchasing one of these shortly, with a budget of around £300. After an initial browse, i am considering a Panasonic DMREX79 or DMREX89. Or even an LGRHT399h or Sony RDRHXD890. Anyone have any info/comments on these units, or any suggestions for decent alternatives?

Thanks

Greg

[langy]

I'm looking at exactly the same and would prefer a panasonic so i can use the viera link thingy

[PJ S]

Panasonic or Pioneer would be my default choices - not sure though if Pioneer have anything HDD based in the £300-350 level.

Almost - http://www.multizoneav.com/Product/PIONEER/DVD/DVR... - but I'd try haggling since a couple of other sites were knocking theirs out at £269.95 (one noted as ex-demo).
http://www.tlcbroadcast.co.uk/pioneer-dvr-lx61d-ex...
http://www.askdirect.co.uk/Blu-ray-DVD-and-HDD-/DV...

Edited by PJ S on Friday 6th November 15:49

[S7Paul]

I've got the Sony RDRHXD970 and it's been excellent. Dead easy to use. 250GB HDD, DVD, and built-in analogue & digital tuners. The digital tuner is more sensitive than the one in my Panasonic plasma TV and so picks up Freeview channels the TV can't get. I was looking at either the Sony or the equivalent Panny, and don't regret buying the Sony (despite not being able to use the Viera-link).

[gbbird]

Hi, just one more question as i am new to this DVD/HDD recorder lark. Is it possible to use one to record an external source playing on the TV eg Camcorder, Games console?

[jshell]

Don't these only have a single Freeview tuner so you cannot watch one channel whilst recording the other?

[PJ S]

Yes, they're the modern day equivalent of the VCR, which never acted like a set top box either - it was to allow you to watch another program on another station at the same time, later on or the next day or so.
You're confusing things with Satellite/Cable decoding boxes with recording features in-built, to save having to buy a separate recorder - but then you're still going to have to buy a player to watch your DVD's on.

[Tuna]

You can get ones with twin digital or satellite tuners, and most of them can also control an external sat box so you can record one channel and watch another that way.

[gbbird]

Yes i'm referring to the DVD/HDD recorder units, not the sattelite/Sky boxes. So, like with a VCR, could i potentially record another TV source input eg games console, or am i just limited to recording TV?

[PJ S]

No, like an old VCR, where you could record the SCART input, as well as the internal analog tuned presets, the same is applicable on the HDD based recorders.
Input will be limited to the aerial, SCART, and Composite AV (typically), whereas the HDMI (most have them now) and Component, will be output only, since they only record SD material.
So you'd need to set the games console to 576 using a SCART lead, if you wanted to capture that.

[gbbird]

Thanks PJS. That sounds clear enough. I think i should be OK with what i want to do, as i have an old camcorder with sentimental footage on a damaged disc that cannot be finalised yet can be viewed on the camcorder which also outputs Compostite AV. So, if i attach this to the composite AV in on the DVD recorder then i should be able to record it

[headcase]

Panasonic actually do one that will record HD but tbh you would be better spending the cash on a new house

[S7Paul]

I've used mine to copy from VCR to HDD then burn to DVD, and also to copy from Camcorder to HDD then burn to DVD.

[gbbird]

S7Paul said:

I've used mine to copy from VCR to HDD then burn to DVD, and also to copy from Camcorder to HDD then burn to DVD.

Thats exactly what i want to do S7Paul. Which recorder do you have?

ETA - sorry just realised you stated this in your earlier post.

Edited by gbbird on Friday 20th November 10:06