Not at all. In France we have DVB-T since march 2004. The specs say : 32 Mbits / s for a multiplex of 8 (or 6 ?) channels. By computation, this gives 1.8 Gb / hour. True only if :
- each channel uses the same load : I can't assert that
- channels are constant bitrate : I can't assert that either

No that isn't what update does. Update is a switch for repeat recordings that, when switched on, automatically replaces the recording of the previous weeks or days show with the new one. So if you set it on and don't remember to watch the recorded programme before its next episode, it will be replaced by the next episode.

Bill

Unlike others I have found the unit noisy but mine is in a cavenous wooden TV centre which does seem to amplify the sound of all the electical items in it. It is not noisy when off but there is quite a loud low frequency hum when the unit is on.

Bill

Edit

Just confirmed that the wooden unit is making it far worse, if I lift it off the unit the low frequency noise disappears.
Last edited by Bunter1815 : 27-09-2005 at 21:55

On noise...

I can hear mine reading and writing to the HDD when recording. Short infrequent bursts in LP mode about 3-4 seconds apart.

On DTS..

As yet untested (don't have surround amplifier) but the manual says in the section on connecting the audio cords (whilst referring to connecting to a digital audio input jack and the digital coax/optical out on the unit)

"If your AV amplifier (receiver) has a Dolby Digital, DTS, or MPEG audio decoder and a digital input jack, use this connection. You can enjoy Dolby Digital (5.1ch), DTS (5.1ch) and MPEG audio (5.1ch) surround effects."

On DVD -> HDD...

Yes, it is just down to copyright, I've recorded a home recorded DVD to HDD OK.

Bill

I've just tried mine and I can successfully record a 16:9 freeview program to DVD-R and it keeps the correct aspect ratio when played back. I tried recording a 4:3 program too and that still played back as 16:9! I had exactly the same problem with my RDR-GXD500, in the end I just used DVD+RW discs for 4:3 material, and DVD-RW discs for 16:9.

If you record in VR format it always gets the aspect ratio right, and if you you record on a -R in video mode it uses the aspect ratio you set in the menu, so I can't see why it doesn't work when recording from freeview in video mode.

I've just been having a play with mine, and you can't copy pressed DVD-video discs to the hard drive even if they don't have copy protection (I tried this with a Fiona Cooper disc - they don't have copy protection). A DVD-R can be copied with no problems.

Sorry to waffle without adding to the general sum of human knowlege, but what a brilliant thread this has turned out to be - agonising months of suspense while Sony dithered about, wondering whether these machines were mere vaporware, tantalising snippets on retailer websites suddenly retracted, grey analog imports muddying the waters, the useless uselessness of Sony UK's press office and website... right through to actual machines in actual shops and actual users giving us all firsthand reports and feedback on what they're like in everyday use. Are all digital spy threads this longlived and this interesting ?

Thanks Paul21, that's really put my mind and wallet to rest! I'm sure the 910 will have exactly the same bugs as the 710, but as long as everything is do-able with some sort of jiggerypokery, then i'll be buying one. As someone said earlier on this thread, if you wait around for the perfect machine to arrive, you'll end up never buying anything!

Thanks Again
Tinpot Radio

Yes

I have a couple of questions for the lucky owners of this machine:
- Can you record from VCR (via scart) to DVD/HD?
- When you record programmes from the EPG to HD, does it label the programmes with their proper EPG name?
- Is there any way to 'pad' recordings so you don't miss the vital seconds at the beginning or end of a show? Channel 4 has the annoying habit of starting most programmes 1 minute early!

Question!

If I hook my TiVo (which uses Sky Digital) to the Sony 710, could I:

a) Record off the internal Freeview tuner and watch Sky Digital at the same time
b) Record off the internal Freeview tuner and RECORD Sky Digital at the same time
c) Record music off my CDs onto the hard drive (preferably as MP3s) and then play them back via the machine

With my current Sony DVD player, the original 710 I believe from 1998????, I have my TiVo box hooked up to my DVD player. When I want to watch TiVo, I just turn the DVD player off or press the TV/DVD button. If this is the same then a) should be possible.

Long time lurking on this thread but first post.
Picked up my RDR-HXD710 last Saturday and have not been dissapointed so far. The build quility is up to the usual sony good standard. Freeview quality is excellent as is the playback from HDD and DVD.

I agree with Paul 21 about the menus switching the TV from 16:9 to 4:3 but this is only a small niggle. I suppose this is done to ensure compatibility with 4:3 displays. Maybe?

On the noise issue, yes there is some fan noise but it's not enough to worry about and the HDD is silent so far. I had a Fusion FVT100 and that was chronic..
The power save function is great, when in standby it looks and sounds like it's been unplugged from the mains.

The twin tuner issue was not a concern for me as I have enough trouble finding 1 thing good to watch/record never mind 2 things that are on at the same time. There's always bad old VHS just in case.

As Porridge has experienced I have had no joy with the supposed fast dub from HDD to DVD either. I recorded the simpsons edited out the adverts as an excercise and then dubbed to DVD. The front display counts down the time remaining for the dub to complete and for a 22minute program it took.... 22 minutes... In fact I haven't even had the fast dub option available yet. I've been using 4X -RWs. I'm going to try dropping the recoded quality and have also just picked up some 8X -Rs to see if that helps.

Only other problem to date is that a few recordings from the EPG have missed the first 1 minute or so.

All in all very happy, just need to sort out this dub feature.

You can record from VCR to HDD or DVD vis SCART.

Yes the HDD recordings are labeled from the EPG with name and date/time of recording. These can be changed manually and manual timer recordings can also be changed.

Haven't found a way to 'pad' the recordings yet.

Hope this is some help.

Yes, you can record from VCR to both DVD and HD. There are loads of sockets for connecting external sources.

Yes, when you record programs using the EPG it will label them with their proper EPG name, when you look at the timer list each entry displays the program name as well.

You can't pad timer setttings made with the EPG, this is a problem that existed in the RDR-GXD500 and Sony still haven't sorted it out. The only way to get round it is to manually set the timer. It's such a basic flaw and I can't understand why it wasn't picked up in inital testing, let alone carry through to the next product.

I'm sure the fast dub option worked for me. When you have chosen the title from the title list and selected dub, there is any entry for the recording quality to use on the DVD (SP etc). One of the options is fast.

They mailed me back with this link so yes, they do do an upgrade.

Hear-Hear and well said!!

I selected the fast option. As an exercise it took 15 minutes to dub a 15 minute recording, then told me it would take 32 minutes to finalise it (so I could take DVD upstairs to watch).

This is going to be a problem, though not a major one. A call to Sony, I think, unles any of you guys come up with a soluion?

I'd be interested to hear how centurion gets on with faster DVDs...

I think this automatically adjusts record mode (quality) based on available memory.

I'll check later.

More than happy (if I can )

Thanks for elaborating on your questions, though I think others here have answered them fairly comprehensively... I think it's about time you bit the bullet and bought one!

Thanks for keeping us informed porridge.

What's the best price seen so far?

I nominate Guildtronics with a price of £377.37 inc. delivery.

Fast dubbing ???????

I've never even seen the fast option when dubbing to DVD. My 710 was set to HQ+ mode and IIRC the manual says that fast dubbing wasn't an option for HQ+. So I turned it down to HQ and still no fast dubbing option. I can drop the quality if I wish, SP, LP, SEP etc for example.
So the question is what quality are you recording in?

If the analogue 710 spec from the sony Australia site are to be believed for the digital 710 it boasts a maximum of 64x dubbing HDD to DVD?????

And to add further confusion http://www.dttboxes.co.uk/dvdrvcr/sony-rdrhxd710.html says "Up to 24x Speed Dubbing from HDD to DVD (4x in SLP mode)"?????

I'll let you know how I get on with the 8x -Rs but I don't have much faith myself. Ah well they'll get used at some point.

Your help is much appreciated, cheers.....

I've just done a dubbing test with a 48 minute SP recording I had on the hard drive. It took 3 minutes to dub this to a 8X Datasafe DVD-R, and a further 2 minutes to finalise. I could hear the DVD drive really speed up when it was dubbing.

http://www.bestcameras.co.uk/shop/ac...rder_1345.html


This is very good if the description rather than the model number is correct

Just for info, if you have the subtitles switched on and record a programme, the subtitles are recorded too. Don't know if that works with an EPG or timed record but I just tried recording what I was watching manually and the subtitles carry through.

Bill