HD DVD recorder suggestions please.

Nocturne · 15-03-2011, 19:39

Hi, I would like to get a DVD recorder with hard drive, 160gb, higher preferably, I want to use it to transfer & store recorded programmes from my sky HD box as it fills up so quickly with HD content & burn some stuff I want to keep onto DVD. The TV is a Sony as is the Blu-ray player (is the Bravia link bit worth it to get a Sony?) any pointers as to machine & current price or offers much appreciated.

tomfoolery1 · 15-03-2011, 21:31

If you want to record content in HD your only option are Panasonic Bluray recorders.
These hard drive models have built in Freeview or Freesat tuners that can be recorded direct to Bluray or hard drive.

Regular recorders do not have HDMI inputs , so while you would be able to copy Sky+ recordings to the hard drive it would be via scart and therefore not in HD.

If its a major issue why not buy one of the 1Tb Sky HD boxes .

Which ever device you buy the only HD content that can be copied to Bluray disc are free channels like BBC and ITV

Panasonic HDD/DVDR machines are very good too.
Built in Freeview tuner .
In all cases anything copied to dvd will be in sd not hd

Nocturne · 15-03-2011, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomfoolery1

If you want to record content in HD your only option are Panasonic Bluray recorders.
These hard drive models have built in Freeview or Freesat tuners that can be recorded direct to Bluray or hard drive.

Regular recorders do not have HDMI inputs , so while you would be able to copy Sky+ recordings to the hard drive it would be via scart and therefore not in HD.

If its a major issue why not buy one of the 1Tb Sky HD boxes .

Which ever device you buy the only HD content that can be copied to Bluray disc are free channels like BBC and ITV

Panasonic HDD/DVDR machines are very good too.
Built in Freeview tuner .
In all cases anything copied to dvd will be in sd not hd

Thanks for the info, sd would be fine if thats the case, its mostly for mainstream progs we record on series link etc, as long as I can transfer them from the SKY box and free up space. We dont have an aerial connected to the TV as the signal is very poor so cannot record with Freesat. As for a 1 tb HD box, tempted, but I have had many sky boxes over the years, some good & many, very poor, lasting six months or less.

tomfoolery1 · 15-03-2011, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturne

Thanks for the info, sd would be fine if thats the case, its mostly for mainstream progs we record on series link etc, as long as I can transfer them from the SKY box and free up space. We dont have an aerial connected to the TV as the signal is very poor so cannot record with Freesat. As for a 1 tb HD box, tempted, but I have had many sky boxes over the years, some good & many, very poor, lasting six months or less.

There is only one reason to get a dvd recorder.
And that is if you want to archive shows to a dvd to keep forever.
If that is not important then there's no point in getting one.

A Sky 1Tb box would be your best bet.
Even after the 12 month warranty is up any repair cost can be waived simply by telling Sky you will go to Virgin .

As all Sky+ recordings need to be copied to an external recorder in real time its a bit of a waste of time and electric doing that.
I'm assuming you have the box with only 160Gb for personal use that I had and with the increasing amount of HD its becoming a pain.

The Sky 1Tb box will cost you not much more than an external HDD recorder and there are none that hold 1Tb.

If you are good at bluffing ring cancellations and tell them you are switching to Virgin as they have offered you Tivo and you've been tempted because of the recording capacity issue.
I'm pretty sure you will be able to get at least some discount on the price of a 1Tb box .
It will record much more and in HD and DD sound.

So unless you want to collect dvd recordings to keep there is only one answer to your problem

grahamlthompson · 15-03-2011, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturne

Thanks for the info, sd would be fine if thats the case, its mostly for mainstream progs we record on series link etc, as long as I can transfer them from the SKY box and free up space. We dont have an aerial connected to the TV as the signal is very poor so cannot record with Freesat. As for a 1 tb HD box, tempted, but I have had many sky boxes over the years, some good & many, very poor, lasting six months or less.

Big confusion here, Freesat uses and records the same free transmissions as a Sky box and connects to the same dish. Freeview not Freesat is the terrestrial service. Free to air satellite boxes do the same, the only difference basically is

Sky and Freesat boxes have seperate epgs, fta boxes don't generally have a epg.

Sky boxes don't give any direct access to any recordings.

Freesat boxes with USB capability give full access to SD recordings some allow transfer and replay from a usb drive.

Take the Humax Foxsat-HDR

It will connect to the same pair of dish connections as as Sky+/Sky-HD box. All recording is free.

SD recordings can be copied to a usb drive, replayed from there and also transferred to a PC for archive to DVD.

HD recordings are usually encrypted so won't play on anything else (BBC1-HD currently is not encrypted so will play on kit capable of HD playback), but can be archived to a usb drive (HD needs a Linux EXT 3 formatted drive for most programmes simply because of the 4GB limit of FAT32). These recordings will play on the hdr that recorded it.

Switching the hdr to a generic free to air box allows recording of any free HD channels and archiving without restriction (no timer recordings though)

ArumLily · 17-03-2011, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturne

Hi, I would like to get a DVD recorder with hard drive, 160gb, higher preferably, I want to use it to transfer & store recorded programmes from my sky HD box as it fills up so quickly with HD content & burn some stuff I want to keep onto DVD. The TV is a Sony as is the Blu-ray player (is the Bravia link bit worth it to get a Sony?) any pointers as to machine & current price or offers much appreciated.

I have a Sony HDD/DVD recorder & it has been a problem from the beginning. Don`t buy Sony. I now have a Panasonic Blu-Ray HDD/DVD recorder, it`s so much better. I have a Sony Bravia TV too which works ok buI I`ve had for quite a while.They`ve gone downhill since I bought my TV. I don`t know what has happened to Sony as I have a problem with my VAIO laptop too. Sony customer service is bad too. My personal choice would be Panasonic but I`ve heard Humax are good too.

Last edited by ArumLily : 17-03-2011 at 15:04. Reason: typo

Nocturne · 18-03-2011, 00:27

Thanks to all for the advice. I suppose Sony are spreading themselves a bit thin these days, fingers in lots of pies! I think I will go the larger HD sky+ HD box route, see if I can get it any cheaper somehow, been with them 20 years so given them a good wedge in all that time, but then they do only care about getting new subscribers rather than offering long term subbers anything at all! Cheers.

tomfoolery1 · 18-03-2011, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturne

Thanks to all for the advice. I suppose Sony are spreading themselves a bit thin these days, fingers in lots of pies! I think I will go the larger HD sky+ HD box route, see if I can get it any cheaper somehow, been with them 20 years so given them a good wedge in all that time, but then they do only care about getting new subscribers rather than offering long term subbers anything at all! Cheers.

In order to get the best price from them you must go through to the cancellations people.

Best idea would be to initially ring to cancel and tell them the capacity is the problem and the Virgin Tivo box is 1Tb and you've been offered it for £99 (its actually £149).

When cancellations hear that is the only problem I don't think you'll have trouble getting the 1Tb box for a good price especially if you subscribe to movies and / or sport

Nigel Goodwin · 18-03-2011, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nocturne

Thanks to all for the advice. I suppose Sony are spreading themselves a bit thin these days, fingers in lots of pies!

Sony have only rarely made HDD/DVD recorders, and have discontinued them entirely now.

The last ones were made by Samsung, and while they haven't been particularly bad they weren't a patch on the previous 870's which were made by Pioneer.

I don't know what ArumLily's problem is, or what model he had? - but Sony service is probably the best in the UK, along with Panasonic.

15-03-2011, 19:39	#1
Nocturne Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,781	HD DVD recorder suggestions please. Hi, I would like to get a DVD recorder with hard drive, 160gb, higher preferably, I want to use it to transfer & store recorded programmes from my sky HD box as it fills up so quickly with HD content & burn some stuff I want to keep onto DVD. The TV is a Sony as is the Blu-ray player (is the Bravia link bit worth it to get a Sony?) any pointers as to machine & current price or offers much appreciated.

15-03-2011, 21:31	#2
tomfoolery1 Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 643	If you want to record content in HD your only option are Panasonic Bluray recorders. These hard drive models have built in Freeview or Freesat tuners that can be recorded direct to Bluray or hard drive. Regular recorders do not have HDMI inputs , so while you would be able to copy Sky+ recordings to the hard drive it would be via scart and therefore not in HD. If its a major issue why not buy one of the 1Tb Sky HD boxes . Which ever device you buy the only HD content that can be copied to Bluray disc are free channels like BBC and ITV Panasonic HDD/DVDR machines are very good too. Built in Freeview tuner . In all cases anything copied to dvd will be in sd not hd

15-03-2011, 21:45	#3
Nocturne Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,781	Quote: Originally Posted by tomfoolery1 If you want to record content in HD your only option are Panasonic Bluray recorders. These hard drive models have built in Freeview or Freesat tuners that can be recorded direct to Bluray or hard drive. Regular recorders do not have HDMI inputs , so while you would be able to copy Sky+ recordings to the hard drive it would be via scart and therefore not in HD. If its a major issue why not buy one of the 1Tb Sky HD boxes . Which ever device you buy the only HD content that can be copied to Bluray disc are free channels like BBC and ITV Panasonic HDD/DVDR machines are very good too. Built in Freeview tuner . In all cases anything copied to dvd will be in sd not hd Thanks for the info, sd would be fine if thats the case, its mostly for mainstream progs we record on series link etc, as long as I can transfer them from the SKY box and free up space. We dont have an aerial connected to the TV as the signal is very poor so cannot record with Freesat. As for a 1 tb HD box, tempted, but I have had many sky boxes over the years, some good & many, very poor, lasting six months or less.

15-03-2011, 22:11	#4
tomfoolery1 Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 643	Quote: Originally Posted by Nocturne Thanks for the info, sd would be fine if thats the case, its mostly for mainstream progs we record on series link etc, as long as I can transfer them from the SKY box and free up space. We dont have an aerial connected to the TV as the signal is very poor so cannot record with Freesat. As for a 1 tb HD box, tempted, but I have had many sky boxes over the years, some good & many, very poor, lasting six months or less. There is only one reason to get a dvd recorder. And that is if you want to archive shows to a dvd to keep forever. If that is not important then there's no point in getting one. A Sky 1Tb box would be your best bet. Even after the 12 month warranty is up any repair cost can be waived simply by telling Sky you will go to Virgin . As all Sky+ recordings need to be copied to an external recorder in real time its a bit of a waste of time and electric doing that. I'm assuming you have the box with only 160Gb for personal use that I had and with the increasing amount of HD its becoming a pain. The Sky 1Tb box will cost you not much more than an external HDD recorder and there are none that hold 1Tb. If you are good at bluffing ring cancellations and tell them you are switching to Virgin as they have offered you Tivo and you've been tempted because of the recording capacity issue. I'm pretty sure you will be able to get at least some discount on the price of a 1Tb box . It will record much more and in HD and DD sound. So unless you want to collect dvd recordings to keep there is only one answer to your problem

15-03-2011, 23:13	#5
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by Nocturne Thanks for the info, sd would be fine if thats the case, its mostly for mainstream progs we record on series link etc, as long as I can transfer them from the SKY box and free up space. We dont have an aerial connected to the TV as the signal is very poor so cannot record with Freesat. As for a 1 tb HD box, tempted, but I have had many sky boxes over the years, some good & many, very poor, lasting six months or less. Big confusion here, Freesat uses and records the same free transmissions as a Sky box and connects to the same dish. Freeview not Freesat is the terrestrial service. Free to air satellite boxes do the same, the only difference basically is Sky and Freesat boxes have seperate epgs, fta boxes don't generally have a epg. Sky boxes don't give any direct access to any recordings. Freesat boxes with USB capability give full access to SD recordings some allow transfer and replay from a usb drive. Take the Humax Foxsat-HDR It will connect to the same pair of dish connections as as Sky+/Sky-HD box. All recording is free. SD recordings can be copied to a usb drive, replayed from there and also transferred to a PC for archive to DVD. HD recordings are usually encrypted so won't play on anything else (BBC1-HD currently is not encrypted so will play on kit capable of HD playback), but can be archived to a usb drive (HD needs a Linux EXT 3 formatted drive for most programmes simply because of the 4GB limit of FAT32). These recordings will play on the hdr that recorded it. Switching the hdr to a generic free to air box allows recording of any free HD channels and archiving without restriction (no timer recordings though)

17-03-2011, 15:02	#6
ArumLily Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,243	Quote: Originally Posted by Nocturne Hi, I would like to get a DVD recorder with hard drive, 160gb, higher preferably, I want to use it to transfer & store recorded programmes from my sky HD box as it fills up so quickly with HD content & burn some stuff I want to keep onto DVD. The TV is a Sony as is the Blu-ray player (is the Bravia link bit worth it to get a Sony?) any pointers as to machine & current price or offers much appreciated. I have a Sony HDD/DVD recorder & it has been a problem from the beginning. Don`t buy Sony. I now have a Panasonic Blu-Ray HDD/DVD recorder, it`s so much better. I have a Sony Bravia TV too which works ok buI I`ve had for quite a while.They`ve gone downhill since I bought my TV. I don`t know what has happened to Sony as I have a problem with my VAIO laptop too. Sony customer service is bad too. My personal choice would be Panasonic but I`ve heard Humax are good too. Last edited by ArumLily : 17-03-2011 at 15:04. Reason: typo

18-03-2011, 00:27	#7
Nocturne Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,781	Thanks to all for the advice. I suppose Sony are spreading themselves a bit thin these days, fingers in lots of pies! I think I will go the larger HD sky+ HD box route, see if I can get it any cheaper somehow, been with them 20 years so given them a good wedge in all that time, but then they do only care about getting new subscribers rather than offering long term subbers anything at all! Cheers.

18-03-2011, 00:41	#8
tomfoolery1 Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 643	Quote: Originally Posted by Nocturne Thanks to all for the advice. I suppose Sony are spreading themselves a bit thin these days, fingers in lots of pies! I think I will go the larger HD sky+ HD box route, see if I can get it any cheaper somehow, been with them 20 years so given them a good wedge in all that time, but then they do only care about getting new subscribers rather than offering long term subbers anything at all! Cheers. In order to get the best price from them you must go through to the cancellations people. Best idea would be to initially ring to cancel and tell them the capacity is the problem and the Virgin Tivo box is 1Tb and you've been offered it for £99 (its actually £149). When cancellations hear that is the only problem I don't think you'll have trouble getting the 1Tb box for a good price especially if you subscribe to movies and / or sport

18-03-2011, 08:49	#9
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Nocturne Thanks to all for the advice. I suppose Sony are spreading themselves a bit thin these days, fingers in lots of pies! Sony have only rarely made HDD/DVD recorders, and have discontinued them entirely now. The last ones were made by Samsung, and while they haven't been particularly bad they weren't a patch on the previous 870's which were made by Pioneer. I don't know what ArumLily's problem is, or what model he had? - but Sony service is probably the best in the UK, along with Panasonic.

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HD DVD recorder suggestions please.