DVDR Between £100 and £200?

lozzerm · 30-08-2007, 10:09

Hi. I am new to this website so you have probably answered this question a thousand times. I have recently had Sky installed in my flat. Now I am looking for a DVDR so that I am able to set up to record programmes on Sky. I have been looking at all the reviews on Amazon and thought I found the right one until one person mentioned that you could only record one channel, the one you are watching which is pretty useless. And it's just become very confusing.

I am looking to spend between £100 and £200, any ideas? And obviously, it needs to be Digital Ready.

I am sure I will be back to ask how to connect the recorder

Thank you.

martytoo · 30-08-2007, 20:27

Personally I use a Panasonic DMR EZ25 with Digital Tuner.
The issue about only being able to record one channel at a time is I think common to all DVD Recorders.
If you have a Freeview TV (or STB) this is not an issue, since you can watch one channel on your TV (or via STB) whilst recording another one or recording from your Sky box.

TheUnholySinner · 30-08-2007, 20:31

This is what i used to do aswell on my Toshiba RD XS25 (which i am selling on ebay at the moment might i add if anyone is interested

)

I dont think you can record one channel on sky and watch another with any DVD recorder, and Sky+ is the only way to do it, unless as stated you record on sky/freeview and watch the other vice versa.

lozzerm · 30-08-2007, 21:16

Great advice. Thank you.

JBlink · 30-08-2007, 21:58

If the budget will stretch, go for a DVD recorder with hard drive. The real benefit is that you record to the hard disc first then can edit out the bits before and after the programme - plus any crap adverts, before burning to DVD. If you don't want to keep the recording you simply watch straight off the HDD and save the cost of a DVD-R!

lozzerm · 31-08-2007, 16:43

Thank you all. I will probably go for the Panasonic DMR-EX77 with 160gb Hard Drive.

JBlink · 31-08-2007, 17:57

Good choice. I have an earlier version (it is coming up to two years old so it is about 10 models out of date!). My Dad has a later version than mine and with the 250 gig drive). Both have been excellent.

TheUnholySinner · 31-08-2007, 18:12

Buy my toshiba

lol

roddydogs · 01-09-2007, 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catterbury

Buy my toshiba

lol

Get the V-Box or Sky + box, miles easier/Better!:yawn:

cardbus · 01-09-2007, 08:57

I would say get a sky+ box less buggering about, we bought a dvd recorder to use along side our sky+ box and would say have used it about 3 times.
If not go with the option that jblink said get one with a hard drive.

JBlink · 01-09-2007, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by roddydogs

Get the V-Box or Sky + box, miles easier/Better!:yawn:

Depends what you want from it. Completely agree that Sky+ is simple to use and has facilities no DVD recorder has. It is a PVR which no DVD recorder, even with hard disc, is at present. The functionality of a DVD recorder is basically similar to a VCR, only the recording medium is different. However, if the requirement is not simply to time shift but to be able to archive programmes indefinitely, then the DVD recorder is the way to go in addition to Sky or even Sky+.

lozzerm · 05-09-2007, 12:19

Thanks again for all your comments.

I did have Sky+ for a short period but because I live in a flat, you can only use some of the facilities, not sure of the technical reasons why, something to do with it being a communal aerial.

You could only record the programme that you were watching and it would cancel recording once the programme had finished. You couldn't set up the timer either to tape more than one programme. That's why I asked Sky to take back the box and install the standard one instead. The money that I get back will pay for a DVDR.

Nigel Goodwin · 05-09-2007, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by lozzerm

Thanks again for all your comments.

I did have Sky+ for a short period but because I live in a flat, you can only use some of the facilities, not sure of the technical reasons why, something to do with it being a communal aerial.

You need a better communal system, one that provides two feeds for Sky+ - unfortunately many of the older (or just badly designed) systems only provide a single feed!.

05-09-2007, 16:44

My advice would be a two-box solution.

Get a Digifusion Freeview DTR (PVR) from MicroDirect for £40, and top it up with an inexpensive HDD/DVD recorder.

Best of all worlds -- you'll be able to record 2 channels and watch a third, so long as two channels are terrestrial. A fairly basic DVD recorder is all you need -- Chances are you won't use its advanced features too much.

See if you can get one that works with the Phantom PVR (£20), that way you get Sky+ like features from your Sky box -- the box controls the DVD recorder, and you just leave the recorder switched on and tuned to the Sky AV channel.

30-08-2007, 10:09	#1
lozzerm Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	DVDR Between £100 and £200? Hi. I am new to this website so you have probably answered this question a thousand times. I have recently had Sky installed in my flat. Now I am looking for a DVDR so that I am able to set up to record programmes on Sky. I have been looking at all the reviews on Amazon and thought I found the right one until one person mentioned that you could only record one channel, the one you are watching which is pretty useless. And it's just become very confusing. I am looking to spend between £100 and £200, any ideas? And obviously, it needs to be Digital Ready. I am sure I will be back to ask how to connect the recorder Thank you.

30-08-2007, 20:27	#2
martytoo Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bilston West Midlands Posts: 1,387	Personally I use a Panasonic DMR EZ25 with Digital Tuner. The issue about only being able to record one channel at a time is I think common to all DVD Recorders. If you have a Freeview TV (or STB) this is not an issue, since you can watch one channel on your TV (or via STB) whilst recording another one or recording from your Sky box.

30-08-2007, 20:31	#3
TheUnholySinner Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Newport, Wales ♂ Posts: 2,309	This is what i used to do aswell on my Toshiba RD XS25 (which i am selling on ebay at the moment might i add if anyone is interested ) I dont think you can record one channel on sky and watch another with any DVD recorder, and Sky+ is the only way to do it, unless as stated you record on sky/freeview and watch the other vice versa.

30-08-2007, 21:16	#4
lozzerm Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	Great advice. Thank you.

30-08-2007, 21:58	#5
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 2,926	If the budget will stretch, go for a DVD recorder with hard drive. The real benefit is that you record to the hard disc first then can edit out the bits before and after the programme - plus any crap adverts, before burning to DVD. If you don't want to keep the recording you simply watch straight off the HDD and save the cost of a DVD-R!

31-08-2007, 16:43	#6
lozzerm Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	Thank you all. I will probably go for the Panasonic DMR-EX77 with 160gb Hard Drive.

31-08-2007, 17:57	#7
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 2,926	Good choice. I have an earlier version (it is coming up to two years old so it is about 10 models out of date!). My Dad has a later version than mine and with the 250 gig drive). Both have been excellent.

31-08-2007, 18:12	#8
TheUnholySinner Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Newport, Wales ♂ Posts: 2,309	Buy my toshiba lol

01-09-2007, 07:06	#9
roddydogs Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 6,351	Quote: Originally Posted by Catterbury Buy my toshiba lol Get the V-Box or Sky + box, miles easier/Better!:yawn:

01-09-2007, 08:57	#10
cardbus Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,651	I would say get a sky+ box less buggering about, we bought a dvd recorder to use along side our sky+ box and would say have used it about 3 times. If not go with the option that jblink said get one with a hard drive.

01-09-2007, 10:57	#11
JBlink Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 2,926	Quote: Originally Posted by roddydogs Get the V-Box or Sky + box, miles easier/Better!:yawn: Depends what you want from it. Completely agree that Sky+ is simple to use and has facilities no DVD recorder has. It is a PVR which no DVD recorder, even with hard disc, is at present. The functionality of a DVD recorder is basically similar to a VCR, only the recording medium is different. However, if the requirement is not simply to time shift but to be able to archive programmes indefinitely, then the DVD recorder is the way to go in addition to Sky or even Sky+.

05-09-2007, 12:19	#12
lozzerm Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks again for all your comments. I did have Sky+ for a short period but because I live in a flat, you can only use some of the facilities, not sure of the technical reasons why, something to do with it being a communal aerial. You could only record the programme that you were watching and it would cancel recording once the programme had finished. You couldn't set up the timer either to tape more than one programme. That's why I asked Sky to take back the box and install the standard one instead. The money that I get back will pay for a DVDR.

05-09-2007, 12:38	#13
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by lozzerm Thanks again for all your comments. I did have Sky+ for a short period but because I live in a flat, you can only use some of the facilities, not sure of the technical reasons why, something to do with it being a communal aerial. You need a better communal system, one that provides two feeds for Sky+ - unfortunately many of the older (or just badly designed) systems only provide a single feed!.

05-09-2007, 16:44	#14
jase1 Posts: n/a	My advice would be a two-box solution. Get a Digifusion Freeview DTR (PVR) from MicroDirect for £40, and top it up with an inexpensive HDD/DVD recorder. Best of all worlds -- you'll be able to record 2 channels and watch a third, so long as two channels are terrestrial. A fairly basic DVD recorder is all you need -- Chances are you won't use its advanced features too much. See if you can get one that works with the Phantom PVR (£20), that way you get Sky+ like features from your Sky box -- the box controls the DVD recorder, and you just leave the recorder switched on and tuned to the Sky AV channel.

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DVDR Between £100 and £200?