Hi
My Sony RDR-HXD870 has died Does anyone know a good decent PVR I could replace it with?
That does not need a subscription?

You won't get better than a Humax IMO.

Do you want a like for like replacement, ie a DVD/Hard Drive recorder or what most people regard as a PVR which is a TV hard disk recorder with no optical disk drive?

If you want a DVD Recorder then you may find your choices rather limited. For PVRs despite their quirks Humax are probably one of the better makes to consider. A great many of the lower priced offerings from the likes of Currys and Argos are clones of the same machine with a variety of different badges stuck on the front.

And no Freeview only PVR requires any sort of subscription.

Not really sure but would like something to copy programmers from a Sky box and with freeview HD and to put them on a USB stick so can play on a PC would be handy if its possible?

Not sure why you'd want to move recordings from a Sky box to USB via a PVR?

The obvious question is if you have Sky, why you're not just looking at Sky + HD? That would probably be the best way forward.

If you want a terrestrial PVR, then Humax does seem to be the obvious choice - not sure if recordings to USB allows you to play on a PC though - I think there's some kind of 'write protection' to prevent that? Others may know better.

If you want to be able to record from external sources then you are pretty much limited to a DVD recorder. All the Freeview hard drive only PVRs I've ever seen record from the aerial signal only. They have no other audio/video inputs of any sort.

While there are recorders that can copy files to USB stick you have to be aware that they may only allow SD channels to be copied in a play anywhere format. Boxes like the Humax encrypt HD channels so they can only be played on the Humax (unless you load custom firmware).

Seems there is only one Panasonic DVD recorder that has external video inputs

http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer...-ex86eb-k.html

But it is not Freeview HD. Or there is the (expensive) Panasonic Blu-Ray recorder

http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer...-bwt740eb.html

Thanks it seems really hard to now be able to archive recordings from say a sky box to keep for ever for say personal use?

That's because it's piracy, and you're not supposed to do it!

Ok I got a really good deal on a Humax DTR-T2100 so have the PVR sorted out.
If I get another DVD recorder I guess it does not have to be digital but what I liked on the RDR-HXD870 were how easy it was to copy stuff and edit it.
I could buy another RDR-HXD870 but then it could have the same problem later not reading the disc again as these quite old now.

Yes, quite old and I wouldn't expect the parts to be available for much longer (assuming they still are now?) - I've replaced the DVD mech twice for one customer, and it's VERY expensive to do.

I have 3 SONY HDD/DVD recorders and fingers crossed all working well, all were 2nd hand but one is like new. Did you try a lens cleaner fmradiotuner1? Never had to on mine though.

Get a later Sony or Pioneer second hand. I have 7, all over 5 years old, all working perfectly. Best of mine is Sony 995, close second is Pioneer LX60D.

WOW the Pioneer LX60D DVD Recorder is selling over for £400 on most sites I think this is out I could get a bigger TV or a blu ray recorder for that price.

I thought the last of the good Sony HDD-DVDs were the ones starting RDR-HXDxxx. These were based on a Pioneer chassis/software but when Pioneer pulled out of the HDD-DVD recorder market Sony then based their subsequent machines on Samsung recorders which didn't get such rave reviews.

Not 'based' but manufactured by Pioneer, and then Samsung (Samsung also manufactured the later Sony VCR's as well - and for Toshiba and others as well).

The Samsung sourced DVD recorders were much poorer machines than the Pioneer ones, really pretty naff - you couldn't even record directly to DVD, but had to copy from the HDD.

Four years ago I was looking for PVR/DVD, I purchased an LG one which lasted a fortnight, returned it as faulty and got a replacement only for that one to die within a month. I returned that and replaced it with a Samsung that lasted a month. I finally ended up paying a little extra and brought a Panasonic DMR-EX83EB which is still working well to this date.

Laser assembly £89 on e-Bay for a do-it yourself job (assuming that is the problem) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-RDRHX...-/121283866284

I found this link

http://uk.eetgroup.com/i/A1443029A-Sony-TM-Service-Part

via Sony's uk support site for out of warranty spares.
To the right of the picture it includes the RDR-HXD870 as a compatible recorder. 6 month warranty.
I'm thinking of getting one for my Sony RDR-HXD890 as it has a bit of disc slipping/judder during high speed copy from the hard drive but have no idea how complicated the swap would be, hopefully there'd be instructions.
Mine may need just a clean up or replacement of the rubber ring but whilst I'm at it I may as well do the whole lot.

That's a good find pavier, good luck.

Local shop has a Panasonic DMR-EX769 at £90 not the best condition though?.
Wonder how it will compere do not really want to spend loads.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/...9e10c5e4_o.jpg

Well think I am going to sell the Humax DTR-T2100 On because half the channels keep having signal problems.
I took the aerial out and there all at 100% on my Sony 42 inch smart TV even London Live works yet this box just does not get them.
Even tried the other aerial which is tuned to Sudbury retuned and PICK TV comes in at 100% on yet still just pixelated on this box.

Try a signal attenuator, you may have too strong a signal.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/vhf-uhf-va...tenuator/29190

Was thinking the same thing.

Too much signal can be as much of a problem as too little. If the Humax is more sensitive than the TV it is possible that it does not handle high signal levels as well. Could easily be tipping the Humax into overload which can create all sorts of problems, such as picture break up.

I also have a boaster which has a gain on I turn it down but it makes the signal worse.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/...9f4c8f63_o.jpg

Is that from the Humax?

40% signal strength ought to work on it. Especially as you have 100% Quality. Or does the Quality reading vary a lot? That could be an indication of signal problems. But if it is stable then I would not be expecting any picture break up.