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Want Philips DVDR880 Firmware? (6 hour recording) |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: North West
Posts: 583
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Want Philips DVDR880 Firmware? (6 hour recording)
Right, over the past 2 months that I have owned the DVDR880 I have noticed that the only difference between this model and the DVDR890 are the recording modes and the i-link.
I don't have any use for i-link, but would love the 6 hour EP+ recoding mode and maybe the 2.5 hour SP+. I noticed on the Philips website that the DVDR880 records 6 hours (A mistake I guess), but decided to push Philips for an answer regarding this misinformation... Nothing!! - What a surprise. Although calling their customer service line twice gave the same response of "There should be a firmware update due in a few weeks." - liars. The offending web page is listed below, but you'll have to navigate through to it, but clicking products and then 880. http://www.consumer.philips.com/micr...l/personal.htm If you want firmware that upgrades your unit to record up to 6 hours, I suggest you complain now, as I am going to press them for an answer and if you guys help, we'll have the upgrade soon. Below is the form to fill in to complain/enquire. http://www.consumer.philips.com:80/g...irection.jhtml Gavin |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Gavin,
I have e-mailed Philips as you suggested. Does your machine not have SP+ mode? Mine does. Cheers, Chris. |
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#3 |
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Hmmm, I am at work atm, but I think...I am probably very wrong.
HQ =1 hour SP =2 hours LP =3 hours EP =4 hours so I guess I must have a SP+ of 2.5 hours. Gotta sat though that 6 hours would be great for those old VHS recording that you want to keep, but not in high quality. I think I read that even EP+ at 6 hours would still be better that VHS. Gavin (No reply yet!) |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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The 880 manual claims that :
EP : Extended play (better than VHS quality). Recording time 240 minutes. So I guess EP+ must be at least as good as VHS. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Apr 2001
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EP+ (Six hours recording) is rated as exactly the same as VHS quality.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: South Coast, UK
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I am still playing with my Panasonic "Hybrid" recorder.
It of course has "Flexible Recording Mode" which adjust the bit rate so the recording will fit the media (6hr max limit). And of course on it's hard disk it has space for the following... XP (High Quality) 8.5hrs SP (Normal) 17hrs - Default setting LP (Long Play) 34hrs EP (Extra Long Play) 52hrs I'm just burning my 3 DVD-R which is made of segments on the hard disk and then made into a playlist. Only real negative is that widescreen switching data is not written to the DVD. It does however widescreen switch with recordings on the hard disc. I was looking at the Philips 890 but I thought it would be worth paying the extra for the hard disk etc. Must go, it says onscreen dubbing has finished ![]() Automan. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 64
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hi guys,
I`m a total newbie when it comes to dvd . I am very interested in buying one of these philips dvd recorders . I have sky + and im very happy with it but i want to record anolgue satellite and and foreign satellite in broadcast quality as sky + . My questions are as follows - How does sky + quality compare to recorderble dvds ? - How close is it to brodcast quality ? - can you edit a dvd like a mini disc perhaps ? - can you post some links which has the advantages / disadvantages between dvd and vhs ?. - any other useful links to FAQs pages Remeber i am a total beginner so please state the obvious
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#8 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by AIKTEX Sky+ records the video stream as it was originally aired by Sky, which is of a much lower quality than the HQ and SP modes that a Philips recorder records at, so DVD+R will be of a better quality than Sky+, and can be used for transfering the stuff from Sky+ for permenant storage.- How does sky + quality compare to recorderble dvds ? - How close is it to brodcast quality ? - can you edit a dvd like a mini disc perhaps ? - can you post some links which has the advantages / disadvantages between dvd and vhs ?. - any other useful links to FAQs pages Greater than broadcast quality in both HQ and SP and maybe even SP+ and LP.... you'll have to check the specification in the manual. The beauty of the Philips (DVD+R and DVD+RW) format is that the media can be edited, so you can remove the adverts, or move thins around, and it's all done in seconds rather than the minutes it takes with -R and -RW discs. Erm, for the rest just visit www.philips.co.uk or search the net. Gavin |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Northampton
Posts: 639
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Quote:
Originally posted by ghorricks Hang on a minute! Sky+ records the video stream as it was originally aired by Sky, which is of a much lower quality than the HQ and SP modes that a Philips recorder records at, so DVD+R will be of a better quality than Sky+, and can be used for transfering the stuff from Sky+ for permenant storage. OK, as you've said the Sky+ records the exact original broadcast signal, so effectively the output of a recording from a Sky+ box is identical in quality to the output of a broadcast from a Sky box. However: 1) The output quality of the DVD+R can never be greater than the input quality from the Sky or Sky+ box. Since the encoders used by the broadcasters are almost certainly superior to the encoder in any home DVD recorder, it's likely that there will be at least a minor degradation of the picture from the Sky+ box when it's re-encoded by the recorder. So the conclusion has to be that for simple time-shifting the best quality output will be obtained by using the Sky+ box. Even if the difference at HQ is undetectable, the greater capacity of the Sky+ and the option to select your DVD recording quality later based on the source material make this the more sensible choice. 2) The quality/rates used on Sky Digital vary with broadcaster, channel, time of day or in some cases they vary continually. As Sky+ owners will have experienced, an hour of TV can take up anything between 3% and 10% of the standard 40Gb hard drive. So it's dangerous to make sweeping statements about the quality of Sky/Sky+ output. There are some things I've recorded from Sky One at EP with horrible results but other things from E4 look just fine at that rate. Don't get me wrong, I have a Sky+ and a Philips DVD-R880 and I think they're both great, I wouldn't part with either, I just think we need to be careful with the generalisations. For more details about the DVD+ format, the pros and cons and the available hardware check out the DVDplusRW site. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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Mark,
Yeah, I would agree with what you have said 100%, but the point i was trying to get across was that buying a Philips DVD+RW recorder would give the user the greatest quality 'recording' available to the 'home user'.. Both HQ and SP modes as we know can be seen as using a greater bandwidth that what Sky allocate per channel, so as I said I 100% agree with you, but as I have just re-read my post I think I meant to say that using SP and HQ modes would give a better quality recording than Sky+ which is true, providing the input quality was better than Sky+. There may be slight degredation in quality, but we all know that Pre recorded DVD's are better quality than any for of Digital Broadcast even High Definition right? As for the more sensible choice, I doubt that in 5 years time, you'd be able to playback the back catologue of programmes you have recorded on a Sky+ box. I dont have Sky+, but would choose it over any other form of PVR. (If Sky+ can be called that as some people argue this point.) I would like Sky+ for convenience, certainly, but need the DVDR from philips if I wish to keep the recordings.... Hey - you have both so you know what I mean. But HQ on the DVDR has to be better quality than what ANY channel on Digital TV is prepared to go to... Bandwidth costs money and the amount of bandwidth that is used in a HQ recording would be stupid to use for Digital TV... Can anyone back this up with figures? Gavin |
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#11 |
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PS - just been on the phone to Philips and have got an answer regarding the 6 hour recording mode on the DVDR880...are you ready.
It's currently under development and will be released in the near future, but have no idea when... so then the only difference between the 880 and the 890 should be the i-link for camcorders. Gavin |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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From the 880 leaflet at:
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/video/leaflets/dvdr880_eu.pdf Recording time HQ 60’ 9.72 Mbit/s SP 120’ 5.07 Mbit/s SP+ 150’ 4.06 Mbit/s LP 180’ 3.38 Mbit/s EP 240’ 2.54 Mbit/s |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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Many thanks guys just the news i wanted.
I have checked in argos for the price of the disc`s its seems very expensive . Are there places that sell them cheaper ? another link perhaps ?
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jan 2002
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LOL found one myself.
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/cgi/forum/i...ST;f=12;t=2232 i should have my dvd recorder by the end of the week thanks for your help .
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
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#16 |
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“Both HQ and SP modes as we know can be seen as using a greater bandwidth that what Sky allocate per channel, so as I said I 100% agree with you, but as I have just re-read my post I think I meant to say that using SP and HQ modes would give a better quality recording than Sky+ which is true, providing the input quality was better than Sky+”.
Yes but it isn’t, and never will be if you’re comparing like with like. A bitstream recording will ALWAYS be better quality than something which has been decoded into analogue and then re-encoded into MPEG via a domestic quality encoder. Sure a higher bitrate will help, but will never be as “pure” a capture of the original source as the initial MPEG encoding. ”There may be slight degredation in quality, but we all know that Pre recorded DVD's are better quality than any for of Digital Broadcast even High Definition right? “ Hmm, whilst its true to say that multi pass encoded DVDs will usually look better than “on the fly” bit rate restricted interlaced video, Hi-Def is another matter all together. But if you are saying that a DVD recorder capturing analogue video from a pre-recorded DVD at a relatively high bit rate (ie the SP modes) can look good, then I’d agree with you. ”But HQ on the DVDR has to be better quality than what ANY channel on Digital TV is prepared to go to... Bandwidth costs money and the amount of bandwidth that is used in a HQ recording would be stupid to use for Digital TV...” Yes but it wont improve the quality of the recording – ie garbage in, garbage out. I taped “Tripping the Velvet” onto one of my DVHS decks. These record at 14.1 mbps, ie higher than any domestic DVD recorder, yet still the pics were swarming in artefacts. All the high bit rate had done was capture more accurately the low bit rate transmission, ie I got a more accurate copy of the artefact than if I’d recorded it at a lower bit rate. Personally now I’m spoilt for choice – I can record onto the TIVO for pure timeshifting, onto the DVHS or internal HD on my Panasonic DVD Recorder for stuff I want to keep, and then archive onto either DVHS or DVDR. I also can take stuff recorded onto DVD Ram and re-author it in my PC to add menus before burning a cheap DVDR. |
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#17 |
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The point behind this entire post was not to determine that recording from Sky+ would be worse than the playback of Sky+.
It was to determine if it is worthwhile the original poster getting a DVD Recorder to use with his Sky+, and I would say that getting a DVDR is the best all round method of recording from Sky+ onto a medium that you can store away and rewatch/rerecord on for a long time. It is clear to me and always has been that whenever you record Via Scart leads, you lose some quality. And I also totally agree that recording from a Sky+ box to a DVDR will lose quality, but I put it to all of you who may have questioned my answers... Is there a better way (considering value for money) to record from Sky+ to an external device for permanent storage?? So, I think I have my answer already, just waiting for you guys to agree. (You all seem to have a DVDR anyway so I must be right) Gavin |
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#18 |
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Well the cheapest method would be to use Super VHS - invest a further £70 in an RGB to S Video convertor and you have pretty good recordings, with no concerns about lowering the bit rate.
I use Pro Grade SVHS tapes for my DVHS and for £6 I get 17 hours of 4.7mbps digital recording. Using standard play SVHS works out about the same price as DVD blanks with the added advantage of being able to record over 2 hours without a drop of quality or changing the disc. Decks are cheap as well - sub £200 IIRC |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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But you're still using magnetic tape, though. Not ideal for archiving and you have to wind backwards and forwards to find the bit you want to watch.
I didn't realise that DVHS machines were so cheap, mind. |
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#20 |
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DVHS machines arent - SVHS ones are.
Theres nothing wrong with tape, and for long films or TV series its more practical to use than discs - I dont like to record more than 2 hours onto a DVDR as this compromises picture quality. |
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#21 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by Duncan Harvey Sorry, I didn't read your post properly.
DVHS machines arent - SVHS ones are. |
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#22 |
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well on re reading my post I should have been clearer.
I paid £999 for my first DVHS and £700 for the others. SVHS I think (havent checked) clock in at about £200 |
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#23 |
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I think I will stick with DVD+RW
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#24 |
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PRICE OF DVD+R DISCS
Quote:
Originally posted by AIKTEX Many thanks guys just the news i wanted. I have checked in argos for the price of the disc`s its seems very expensive . Are there places that sell them cheaper ? another link perhaps ?
The lowest price that I have seen for blank dvd+r discs is at the following website: http://www.digitalpromo.co.uk example: box of 10 datasafe 4.7gb dvd+r discs = £12.49 +p&p |
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#25 |
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Re: PRICE OF DVD+R DISCS
Quote:
Originally posted by avensisman Woah. That is a damn good price! Are the Datasafe discs good? If so then I might go from Infinity to them.The lowest price that I have seen for blank dvd+r discs is at the following website: http://www.digitalpromo.co.uk example: box of 10 datasafe 4.7gb dvd+r discs = £12.49 +p&p Im paying £20 for ten so that will be a good saving Thanks for that! Dan |
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