[BOFH_wannabe]

My Mum and Dad are in their 80s. I managed to get them to understand how to use their (now defunct) VCR with Freeview to record programmes, but it took some time. As I have just said the old VCR is now defunct and I bought them a Toshiba RDXV60KB to replace it.

Unfortunately the Toshiba won't record to tape on the timer - only hdd or dvd.

This gives us a bit of a problem as parents tend to record programmes on the main (living room setup) to watch on their bedroom TVs on tape.

Are there any combis out there that will record VHS via timers?

[BOFH_wannabe]

Hi

It took me a long time to get my elderly parents (in their 80s) to use the guide on their Freeview recorder to record to tape (yes I know).

Their VCR has now gone the way of all things and I'm having difficulty replacing it.

I bought a Toshiba 3 in 1 recorder for them but it will not record VHS tapes from the programme guide, only HDD and DVD.

I'm now somewhat wary about buying another recorder which "claims" to do everything.

Mum only has a VCR in her bedroom and will ask Dad to "tape" various programmes for her so she can replay them.

The question I have is if there are any Freeview recorders out there that will record to tape?

[stu0rt]

It's interesting that the advance of technology (and digital TV) seems to overlook the older folk who are very used to the old ways, and see no reason to change something that works.

I did manage to get my mum to move to a PVR setup, and she has taken to it very well actually. The problem now is getting her to move to a new PVR as the old one is dying. It's a struggle.

Not much of an answer to your issue, but an observation on how hard it is.

[David (2)]

Panasonic made a similar (nearly £300) combi Freeview - DVD recorder - VHS recorder. I don't know if this can record from in built freeview direct onto tape, and I don't know if this is still in production (or if theres a modern version of it). The one in question from the past obviously doesn't do FreeviewHD (just plain SD freeview)- though it does have a HDMI output socket (and scart). Also it was a single tuner device - you could record on it from the built in freeview tuner, but you would need to rely on the TV's own tuner to view a different channel at the same time (or have another set top box of some type).

[Nosedive]

Quote:

The question I have is if there are any Freeview recorders out there that will record to tape?

What a good question! The sort you need an answer for but no-one ever seems to know.

You might want to try searching on here: http://www.avforums.com/categories/p...recorders.521/

[call100]

See HEREI know it's a Toshiba again, but it does claim to record Freeview to either tape or DVD from the EPG. It doesn't have a hard drive so I'm guessing it's a different model to the one you experienced...

[Sue_Aitch]

I suggest asking the Manufacturers' Customer Services: Panasonic does a Combi, I know.

[Zenith]

Instead of recording onto tape, what about recording onto DVD-RW & replacing the bedroom VCR player with a cheap DVD player instead?

They are available for under £20.

The main learning curve is remembering to delete the old programme, rather than just rewinding & recording over the old one.

[oscar1]

Can't you find a working VCR the same as the defunct one on a well known auction site?
What make and model --- you never know someone here may be able to help.

Regards

[captainkremmen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by call100

See HEREI know it's a Toshiba again, but it does claim to record Freeview to either tape or DVD from the EPG. It doesn't have a hard drive so I'm guessing it's a different model to the one you experienced...

Although that site doesn't list the model number it appears to be the same model I have, the D-VR18DTKB. In which case it does record to VHS from the EPG, as well as to blank DVD. It isn't easy to use though, the EPG is very poor and old fashioned for example and picture quality from VHS is a bit poor, even when compared to older stand alone VCRs. No problems with DVD picture quality though, it's excellent. Mine doesn't get used much now, in fact it's only been used once in the last year for recording something on Freeview. Mine was bought back in 2009 though, so maybe the newer model has a better EPG etc, but from the reviews it doesn't seem to have been updated in all that time.

Everyday recording for me is now taken care of by a Freeview HD PVR, so the Toshiba is only ever used for the rare occasions I want to record three Freeview programs at the same time. I don't even use it now for VHS playback, as I have a Panasonic S-VHS VCR which is used for playback and for transfers to DVD as the picture quality, even from standard VHS tapes, is far superior to the Toshiba.

The one listed will do the job for the OP though.

[captainkremmen]

You don't need to create two different threads in two different DS forums.

Check your other thread, someone has given a link to a model that will work as you want.

[gemma-the-husky]

Not sure but maybe dvd ram discs are easier to use for flexible recording/erasong

Media transportability is a problem with pvr's though, isnt it.?

[call100]

Just put a cheap pvr in the bedroom and one in the lounge.

[poppasmurf]

I had this problem when my late elderly Mother had Sky+ installed about three years ago.

When everything was set up, the Sky man asked her if there was anything else she needed to know. The only question she asked was "Where do I put the tapes in?"

I installed a coaxial cable between the Sky box and her bedroom TV, and a Sky eye into a coaxial cable. Result - she could watch, and control, her Sky+ box in both lounge and bedroom with no problem.

A Video Sender would also give the same simple solution.