My 710 finally arrived last Friday after set backs with both 121Electricals and their couriers. Eight days from order, not very impressive.

Took me some time to set it as I wanted (found you could adjust brightness, contrast etc. giving spot on control). I have burned my first DVD-R and played it on my other DVD player, SP quality superb. I also have set up my set top box so that I can watch one Freeview channel while recording another. You cannot do this by connecting the STB to the 710 as once you start recording you cannot do anything else, not even switch channels. Fortunately the TV I use with the 710 has two scart sockets so I can connect the 710 to one and the STB to the other.

I'm pretty happy the 710 will do all I want although I have yet to check feeding in video from my camcorder via i-Link.

I can't thank Eddie321 enough for all his helpful information (some of which I have printed). He has saved me hours of learning time.

Given that their price for the 710 is £10-20 more expensive than elsewhere, then this probably isn't a great deal.

I've never heard of this company, but it's a poor website!

Not really in the know but I've come across the same issue. It seems that if all the broadcast you recorded and now want to dub is in 16:9 then fast is available to you. If the broadcast is mixed 16:9 and 4:3 then fast is NOT available - don't know why though. I've dubbed whole programmes in 4:3 recorded from my Sky box at the fast speed (2 hours in 7 minutes is pretty good going) so I guess it only applies when it is mixed.

If you have a mixed mode programme you don't even get the option so there must be a flag set somewhere for the title so the system knows what can and can't be done. Maybe if it's dubbing at high speed it can't check aspect ratios etc. and change encoding as it goes along - going too fast? not enough time? who knows?

Anyone know the technical reason?

please forgive the question if it has been answered but I cannot face hacking through 550+ posts but...by mixed 16:9 and 4:3 would that include a film or other prog in 16:9 with commercials in 4:3? If you created chapters that separated the ads and only selected the programme chapters that were all 16:9 in the playlist would it then dub at high speed?

Good question! Don't really know as I cannot recall noticing one way or the other in the programmes I have dubbed - haven't watched them all through yet to find out. Strangely enough one of the programmes which could not be dubbed at high speed was the recent documentary on Bob Dylan on BBC2. As I still haven't watched it I don't know the reason. No adverts but every chance that there was some old footage included which would not have been 16:9.

Problem is I think the programme producers can possibly mess about - it may look 4:3 but they've recorded it onto a 16:9 "template" so electronically it appears as 16:9 but visually you see 4:3. This may be to do with setting the aspect ratio flag which digital TV's can detect to automatically set the TV to the correct aspect ratio.

Lots of guessing here and I'll be really interested if anyone has the "proper" technical explanation.

http://www.electronics-online.co.uk/..._Recorder.html

I have quite a fundamental and basic question which I have not seen asked in this forum yet.

I am extremely confused as to whether the RDR-HX110 (non Freeview model) is capable of controling my 5 year old Sony Digital STB. I have asked the question from a number of large High Street electronics retailers and they simply don't know, though they often think that it can't.

When a sequence of programs are selected for recording is the 710 able to change the channel automaticaly on the STB?

A number of retailers websites idicate that it can't yet other recorders, for example from Panasonc can!

Dos this mean that in order to record from my Sky STB I have to set the recorder using the manual timer and then use the STB to chose programs to watch using the Autoview function?

If the above paragraph is correct then this does seem like a big step backwards from using an old VCR which could change channel as and when required

Thanks in advance for any feedback this post hopefully prompts.

Had no problem finding the "M 3 Way SCART Block", for anyone who does the order code is "L32BN"

The question is not whether the 710 (I presume you meant that rather than 110) can control the STB but whether the the STB can trigger the record function on the 710. So long as the the 710 is setup to 'synchro-record' and the STB is connected to Line3 input it should work. I have a cable STB on Line 3 and IdTV on Line 1 and record from both but the cable box doesn't have the switching to control recording so I've never used synchro-mode.
(I'm assuming little difference between my HX900 or my other half's 510 and the 710 you refer to)

Covered a reply to a similar question in Post #524 but here is main thrust again.

If you have the Sky box connected to Line 3 then you can manually record by selecting line 3 input (beneath the sliding panel on the Sony remote) and simply pressing record.

You can set up the timer manually to record from Line 3 and leave the Sky box tuned to the channel you want to record.

You can set the timer up on the Sky box and use the "Synchro Record" button (again below the sliding panel). Mine's a Pace Digibox and you HAVE to set the "Autoview" option for the selected programme on Sky. The Sky box will then turn on at the scheduled time AND turn on the Sony 710 to start recording. You have to leave the 710 tuned to Line 3 as I think it will start recording from whichever input/channel is currently selected.

I tried to make the 710 "wake up" and record by manually turning on the Sky box but this didn't seem to operate using the Pace box which is why I figure you have to set up the Autoview feature so that the corrrect signal is output. Other digiboxes may behave differently. The Sony manual says that to use the digibox inbetween setting the synchro record and the recording starting you have to turn off synchro record and then, when you have finished watching whatever you wanted, turn it back on again. I didn't need to do this with the Pace digibox as only the Autoview seems to send out the synchro signal. This makes it more flexible.

Obviously you can set up several "Autoview" programmes on the Sky box and the 710 will turn on and off as needed.

I can't see that your suggestion would work really as the 710 would have to have the Sky EPG so that it could set the correct channel. If the STB is simply for Freeview then why use it when the 710 has Freeview built in?

Hope this helps.

Have read a lot of the comments on the Sony 710 digital but no one to my knowledge as said wether this expensive machine is capable of allowing extra minutes either side of the electronic program control for when a program is running early or late. Surely this is a must. Finally where is the cheapest place on the net in the UK to buy the Sony 710D. Your comments please,Thanks in advance.

Yes, it has already been mentioned, and no, you can't 'pad' the EPG times unless you set up a recording manually.

I keep an eye on Pricerunner for prices for the standard and multi-region models. The lowest prices I've seen are still Gultronics and TotalDigital at £369, although I can't comment on their quality of service.

There are 2 previous threads on this one from myself and the original one from Eddie 321. Although it is not possible to pad EPG timings there is a way round it by modifying the EPG setting first which changes the times to a manual setting and then adding a few minutes either side - its far easier than it may sound and a lot quicker than a manual setting from scratch. I can recoomend cheapelectricals which sells the D710 for £397 inc multi region and delivery.

Please read my post, number 406 on page 17. It's a bit long winded but explains how to do what you're asking.

Thank you Stig.

When you say manual record how do you go on to record say a BBC1 film that starts at say 2 in the early morning and finishes at say 4. I know nothing about DVD recorders.
With a Video recorder you would set the time on the recorder and leave the set top switched on BBC1.

Finally according to my local Sony Centre he says probably the Guiltronics etc price of £370 is a graded DVD recorder which is a reburbished set which was sent back to Sony before it was sold because it was slightly damaged. He says he could match these prices on a graded DVD. I await your comments.

Another quirk of the Sony is if you record to the HDD in a lower bit rate than LSP, when you transfer to a DVD-R it dubs it to the disc in 4:3 letterbox. What is going on. Therefore if you've got a program recorded on your HDD over 2.5 hours ( LSP DVD-R capacity ) then your going to have to view this program ( on DVD-R ) in 4:3 letterbox. Also when you open up, if your TV allows you to, to full screen the picture quality definitely drops.
Not tried DVD-RW though. Would thought it would be the same.
I don't normally record anything lower than SP quality but I recorded the snooker final on Sunday and thought I would try the lower record rate ( due to length of program ) and this is what happened Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Thanks Sandcat and Aldaweb for your collective feedback.

It obviously appears to be a case of role reversal here with the STB actualy controlling the 710 (or 910 depending on which model I choose) via the Autoview in the Sky EPG and the SynchRec feature on the 710.

Not an ideal way of recording. From the Sony blurb I've read I thought the EPG from Sky or other providers was somehow intergrated with the EPG on the Sony via the ShowView feature. I guess I was wrong.

The reason I won't be using the built in Freeview is that I live in Switzerland so get Sky via a NASA sized dish located in my Garden. The 710 and 910 available here don't have the Freeview tuner. the HXD's are for the UK only I believe.

I think I will probably plump for the 250 Gb Sony RDR HX910 as it's available here for 1,000 CHF which equates to 450 pounds. This is a lot cheaper than the UK I think so a relative bargain!!!

hmmm. It appears you may have inadvertantly answered my question (post #545). Sony's LP modes seem to be all over the shop (in comparison to Panasonic's DMREH60). Shame, cos I really wanted to buy the sony over the Panasonic (the Sony looks nicer! )

Are there any tech specs for the 710 or 910? The instruction manual pdf's don't give enough info about recording resolutions for the different (SP/LP) modes.

That sounds like your Sony shop talking rubbish! There are lots of places selling the HXD710 for less than £400, and they can't be all 'refurbished'. Also, the thing has only been out for a few weeks, so how many could get sent back and refurbished in that time? I bet Sony Centres won't tell you how easy it is to change the unit to multi-region either!

Check out few pages back for the Sony Oz link for tech specs on the 710 and 910.

Just checked out Total Digital and you have to physically go in store and buy it, it is not availble to order online or over the phone.
In that case 121 Electricals looks the next best bet, although Lengore seems to have hade a few delivery problems?

Sandcat, thanks for the recoding from Sky guide, thats exactly what I wanted to know, i just need to decide if i keep Sky when i have freeview in the 710?

Can't find *any* info in those pdf instruction manuals about SP/LP recording resolutions. (To clarify, I'd like to know what horizontal resolution the Sony 710/910 records to DVD in their EP & LP modes).

Suprising really cos Panasonic are shouting info about their (DMREH60) high-resolution LP modes on their website. Its difficult to make an informed buying choice when Sony are hiding info!

I'm considering to buy either Sony RDR-HXD710/910 or Panasonic DMREH60D.

What I want to know about 710/910 is that can it record subtitles onto its HDD and DVD discs? Is the subtitles permantely recorded or can it switch on and off during playback?

Is subtitles alway being displayed when switching it on without press subtitles button?

Does it support "60 Hz mode" because I found out that RDR-GXD500 only supports 50 Hz mode!

And the menu interface - is it "animated" because I dislike animated GUI!

Is it true that 910 has HDMI output?

The answer is here and the answer is yes, the subtitles are permanently recorded.

Would anyone like to volunteer to write a FAQ for the Sony RDR-HXD710/910? A lot of people seem to asking the same questions, and the thread is getting fairly long! I would offer to do it myself but I don't actually own a 710... yet.

In the meantime perhaps all new posters could try using the Search this thread option at the top of the screen.

If only Sony would make the D710 manual available online then you wouldn't really need a FAQ - just point people at the manual.

Cliff
(who went looking for it at sony.co.uk the other day but, ultimately, couldn't find it)