Can confirm that is what the manual says it does.

Bill

That's encouraging

He's not wrong

Yes, it works with EPG. Learnt that by accident but was pleased cos it was CSI and I can hardly dechiper the actors sometimes, mostly because of bad sound recording than my bad hearing!

I've just dubbed a programme lasting 1½ hours and it took 16 minutes - the 'fast' option was the default choice so I can't tell you any techie answer. I haven't removed the disc from the machine as I can't find out how to finalise it...



The addition of a 'mute' button would have made this the perfect machine but it's only a tiny niggle which shouldn't detract from the overall fabulousness of it.

Have now got my Pace twin tuner linked up and the Daewoo Freeview VCR as backup so can happily watch a second channel now.

If you press tools, then choose disc info there will be a button to finalise it.

I have a couple of questions for anyone with a Sony 710 -

Can it copy mp3's or jpeg's to hard disc ?

The Australian manual says it only supports MP3 audio bit rates up to 160 kbps, is that true for UK models ?

Is the layer change pauseon a retail DVD noticable at all ?

Can it record the same programme every week, like the Sky+ 'series link' feature ?

If a VCR is connected to the Sony with a Scart can I view a VCR tape while recording freeview onto HDD ?

Can I record a VHS tape to the HDD while watching a DVD ?

Is the 'D-Matrix Noise Reduction' any help for improving the picture of VHS tapes ?

Can the Sony output a VCR connected with a composite Scart (or 6 phonos) to its component sockets ?

How about a Xbox RGB scart to component ?

Can it also output the VCR audio to its toslink output ?

...and one for when the 910 comes out - can it upscale a VCR connected with a Scart to Hi-def HDMI or Component at 720p ?

So I must appologise as the quote above from my earlier post as it's complete rhubarb. I must have been suffering from brain fade or finger trouble somewhere along the line.

I recorded Room 101 last night in SP and then dubbed to DVD. The fast option was set as default and it took 3 ish minutes to copy and that was to a 4X -RW (as Paul 21 says the DVD went up a gear or two).
I then went back to the HQ recordings I'd made and again fast dubbing was an option but not on the HQ+ recordings.

So I never even got to test the 8X -Rs(DOH!)

Originally Posted by Tinpot Radio
I phoned Sony customer services and they comfirmed that DVD +R/+RW 16:9 recordings would revert to a 4:3 letterboxed format, but that -R/-RW should be OK.


Question:
but as it only support dual-layer DVD+r - I'm assuming that you will always end up with a 4:3 recording when using dual-layer ? Is that correct ?
Last edited by jdaniells : 29-09-2005 at 10:51

Most of these are far too techie for me, but here's a couple of the easier ones...



Yes - daily or weekly


Yes.


Yes.

Yes unfrotunately all +R, +RW single or dual layer will only record in 4:3. Have no idea why?

In the record options you can set the recorded aspect ratio for HDD and DVD. But it actaully says HDD Line Rec and DVD Line Rec so does this option only effect recordings from a line input and not freeview? The instruction manual is that clear about it.
I had DVD Line Rec set to 4:3 as only have 4:3 in the bedroom. Dubbed an original 16:9 freeview recording to DVD and played back on the 710 (which uses 16:9 display) and it was a 16:9 recording on the DVD. The TV even reported 16:9 and nothing looked distorted.???? Very strange....

I just considered that watching a retail VHS tape attached to the Sony then the TV could be a problem because of Macrovision. Perhaps its only a prob when trying to record a retail tape ?

I am considering buying the HXD910 but up until now, I hav eno Freeview/digital tuners in my house and I'm not sure if I'm going to get a good freeview reception. So, the 910 will only allow me to record from freeview ? or is there a way I can record from my telly's analogue tuner as well ?

- I assume the problem with this, if it did work, is that I wouldn't be able to select/change different analogue channels as the 910 would not be able to change the TVs channels ?

There's no substitute for actually trying it, but but have you looked at http://www.freeview.co.uk/canireceiv...iew/index.html ?

I assume that you don't want to continue using a VCR, but if your TV does not output via SCART, you could use a VCR in the same way as a stop-gap until you can use Freeview.

The freeview post code checker is not very accurate. I know several people who get freeview with quite strong signals in areas where the checker states that it cannot be received. one of those uses a set top loop aerial! ( In the loft admittedly)

Before investing in the DVD/ HDD, why not buy a cheap set top box. If that works then you can be confident the 910 will be okay. You then have a box for a second TV or could connect so that you can watch one freeview whilst recording another - or e-bay it.

If you make a 16:9 recording on a DVR-R and use a PC to copy it to a DVD+ then it will stay in 16:9. I guess the recorder must set the DVD+ to 4:3 when it formats it, it seems odd that it won't format it to 16:9 as an option.

If you record freeview on to a DVD-RW in VR mode, then the recording keeps the aspect ratio. If you record freeview in video mode in SP or better then it will record in 16:9 regardless of the freeview aspect ratio, it's only if you record from line in that it will change. This is a bug tha has been carried over from the RDR-GXD500.

In your example it is ignoring the DVD rec size setting and recording in 16:9, so everything is displayed correctly.

Sorry to mention the P-word in a Sony thread, but for this poster, it *might* be worth pointing out that Panasonic's new DMR-EH60D Freeview recorder (hard drive of 200GB) can also receive analogue channels, which is a handy backup. It doesn't have the HDMI facility of the Sony 910 though, in case that's important to you.

I really keen on the HDMI otherwise I would probably opt for the Panny but I can't get any infor on release dates or specs for the next set of Panny recorders

Hence my comment about "actually trying it".

Now that Freeview boxes are down to £30-ish, I agree about getting one as a test. Hmm, perhaps you could take it back to the shop if it didn't work anyway?

Paul 21, Thanks for that explanation.

It doesn't actually say that these setting only affect the Line inputs in the manual, something lost in the translation perhaps?

Ta muchly....

Everyone I asked and every website I checked told me my postcode area does not receive Freeview. The bloke in Currys told me I can buy one and get a refund if it didn't work (even though e reckoned it wouldn't). Never looked back since!!

I agree with nikyzf - and other posters - buy a thirty quid box, if it doesn't work e-bay it (or return it)

Did it work on the HQ recordings? My -RWs are 1x or 2x, is this why it won't dub quickly?

I'll try recording something on SP and dubbing it, but I'm not happy about having to compromise on recording quality on the off-chance I may want to burn it onto a DVD so I can watch it in another room.

I've ordered some low-cost -Rs that are 16x, so I'll give them a whirl

Or keep it until you can get Freeview. Having that extra tuner could be very handy, esp if your recorder has only one.

Could anyone recommend a cheap one, or warn about ones to avoid?

ok - I've actually thought of someone who might lend me theirs to test, so I'll give that a go.

Am I right in saying that an analogue record with an external freeview receiver wouldn't be able to programme/select the freeview channels to record from ? just, for instance 'AV2' and rely on the freeview box to set the channel ? This would be the same with a Sky receiver I guess so if you wanted full Sky programme recording, you'd have to get Sky with built-in recorder ?
Sorry if my questions seem a little basic !

You're right in that the recorder can't change the channels on the freeview box, however there is another way to achive this with certain equipement.

Sony analogue DVD recorders have a feature called synchro rec, which automatically records when a signal appears on the scart input, and stops recording when the signal disappears. If you coupled this with a freeview box with a built in timer, then you could set the timer on the freeview box to to turn on and tune to the relevant channel for your program, and then the DVD recorder would automatically record it.

Something like the Thomson DTI1000 has got a good timer that you can set easily from the EPG, and I'm sure there must be other DVD recorders aside from Sony that have a synchro rec feature.

So, is the Sony 710 better than the pana DEMREH60D EBS ?