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Should a DVDR record radio?


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Old 08-12-2009, 13:46
Toastrack
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We bought a replacement DVD recorder 3 weeks ago.
We regularly used the old one to record stuff off Radios 2, 4 & 5 (via a set top box), and we just assumed that the new one would as well, but it won't (confirmed this by calling the manufacturer).

There was nothing at the point of sale or on the box to indicate this. We've scoured the manual, and the only reference is in small print way back on page 35.

We feel like returning the recorder, but is this reasonable? Should a DVDR record radio channels?

Thanks.
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Old 08-12-2009, 14:01
g-bhxu
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It should be just like recording a TV channel on a blank DVD

If you were to put in 705 as the Freeviw channel, I would have though that it would record just like a normal TV channel. You'd get the 5Live caption with the 5 Live audio.


Will your dvd recorder allow you to record just the audio on a blank CD?
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Old 08-12-2009, 14:04
chrisjr
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Make and model would help. As would how you are trying to record.

Do you now have a Freeview equipped recorder and are trying to record from the built in tuner or are you still trying to use the external STB?

If using the STB how do you have it connected?

If using the STB can you record a TV station or does it not record anything?
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Old 08-12-2009, 14:17
Toastrack
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The STB was used to record Freeview stuff on the old analogue Panasonic model.

The new model is an LG DRT389H, complete with Freeview+ logo and "Digital Approved" tick.

It'll receive radio channels and relay them through the TV, but it's simply not capable of recording them - as confirmed by LG customer services - by any method, in any format.
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Old 08-12-2009, 14:54
chrisjr
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Can't off the top of my head think why it coludn't record radio. Does seem a bit of an odd restriction.

Have you tried plugging up the STB you used previously and see if it will record from that? Bit of a faff but might be one solution. And a bit cheaper than the option of throwing the recorder out and getting a new one!
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Old 08-12-2009, 15:12
Toastrack
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Yes Chris, it's a real pain. We can use the STB to send radio to the LG via the AV2 feed, but that means we can't set the timer to record from 2 different radio channels.

But should we have to use a STB?
Is it reasonable to return a Freeview DVDR that has this restriction on the basis that it's not "fit for purpose" and the restriction wasn't flagged up at the point of sale or on the box?
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Old 08-12-2009, 15:37
chrisjr
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You may have a problem returning it as not fit for purpose.

Basically it is doing what it was designed to do. The fact it does not do what you expect it to do may or may not be relevant.

if you asked the sales person in the store where you bought it explicitly if it could record Freeview radio broadcasts and the answer was "yes" then you have a much stronger case.

Basically if you didn't ask the seller has no way to know that you want to do something with the unit for which it was not designed. They may know it cannot record radio and may mention that is describing the unit to you before purchase but if you got it at somewhere like Currys or Comet it is doubtful the average muppet that passes for a sale person in those stores even knows it records to DVd much less the fine detail about what it can or cannot do.

You can try and get it exchanged. I did manage many years ago to get some VCRs (yes it really was that long ago ) refunded at a Currys because they were unable to record video in LP mode. They took them back without too much arm bending on my part. So you never know.
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Old 08-12-2009, 17:27
Chris Frost
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There's a good chance that the LG won't record from the internal radio tuner because there's no video sync timing signal. It's an audio only signal from the broadcaster. The recorder adds it's own background image and text on the TV output, but that's not enough to fool the internal recording mechanism.

The STB does the same thing. But the difference is that the LG recorder sees this as a video signal, so it treats it like an ordinary TV signal for recording.
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