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Reccommend a DVD recorder with HDD drive and preferably freeview


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Old 05-11-2007, 12:58
zuluboy
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Hi, what's in the title really , would like the hard disk to be at least 160gb. Would prefer freeview to be included as I feel it'll be easier than connecting up a separate freeview box.

Want to be able to record off a freeview channel and watch a different freeview channel at the same time (is that twin tuner?).
Ideally want one that's very easy to setup scheduled recordings in advance and one with an easy menu system as I'm not terribly technical.
Willing to spend about £200 but may go to £250.
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Old 05-11-2007, 13:48
Dreamofgilgames
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Well my friend, i've just bought one of these;

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/5738...layer-rec.html

I've only had it a few days but i love it! It's easy to set up, performs perfectly and it looks good!
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Old 05-11-2007, 13:57
aerialview
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Hi i have just read your thread and will be able to help you out.
I have some spec on a product you may be interested in.

Samsung
DVD recorder with 160GB HDD and built in freeview.
It is however slightly out of your budget but it does tick all your boxes and also has HDMI connection socket for optimum picture on a high definition TV. For full spec email
one of the team and they will get right back to you
sales@aerialview.tv

I currently own and manage a shop in the northwest selling all types of electrical items. We are currently developing our website which will offer the same services - www.aerialview.tv
As yet the payment process is being set up and therefore does not work but it should up and running in a couple of weeks. If you require any products or even technical help feel free to PM me and we can arrange both.

If you were to purchase this item from us it would cost £255.32

Many thanks
Chris
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Old 05-11-2007, 14:07
zuluboy
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Well my friend, i've just bought one of these;

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/5738...layer-rec.html

I've only had it a few days but i love it! It's easy to set up, performs perfectly and it looks good!
I had seen and considered this machine but one of the comments on a review in Amazon put me off. ie

"The dual tuner is a fraud, 1 tuner is analogue and 1 is digital, meaning while recording a freeview channel you then can only watch an analogue channel (1,2,3,4 or 5), you can't watch another freeview channel, within the next year or so analogue will no-longer be used making this a single tuner !"

One of my requirements is to be able to watch and record 2 diffeent freeview channels.
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Old 05-11-2007, 14:14
Nellie1000
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I had seen and considered this machine but one of the comments on a review in Amazon put me off. ie

"The dual tuner is a fraud, 1 tuner is analogue and 1 is digital, meaning while recording a freeview channel you then can only watch an analogue channel (1,2,3,4 or 5), you can't watch another freeview channel, within the next year or so analogue will no-longer be used making this a single tuner !"

One of my requirements is to be able to watch and record 2 diffeent freeview channels.


You won't find a dvd/HDD recorder that is able to record 2 different channels at the same time. Only PVR's are able to do this.
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Old 05-11-2007, 14:29
Cobson
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Nor will you find one that will let you watch one digital channel whilst recording another. You might have to settle for a single tuner in the recorder, and use a digital tv or freeview box for viewing.
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Old 05-11-2007, 14:39
zuluboy
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Nor will you find one that will let you watch one digital channel whilst recording another. You might have to settle for a single tuner in the recorder, and use a digital tv or freeview box for viewing.
So if I have a dvd recorder with a built-in freeview box I can record from a freeview channel using it's own freeview box but need to huse a different freeview box if I want to watch a different channel at the same time.
If that's correct, is that easy to setup , ie I don't want to have to start switching cables etc when this situation arises?
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Old 05-11-2007, 15:52
Dreamofgilgames
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I can record one freeview channel whilst watching a different one. Is that what you meant?

Edit. or maybe you mean that your TV is analogue? If thats the case i think you'd need a set-top box for the TV.

Last edited by Dreamofgilgames : 05-11-2007 at 15:56. Reason: Terminal confusion
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Old 05-11-2007, 16:04
zuluboy
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I can record one freeview channel whilst watching a different one. Is that what you meant?

Edit. or maybe you mean that your TV is analogue? If thats the case i think you'd need a set-top box for the TV.
yes, my TV is analogue and I already have a freeview box.
So is it correct to say that I can record one freeview channel while watching another by using a seperate box as described in my previous post?
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Old 05-11-2007, 16:21
Nellie1000
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yes, my TV is analogue and I already have a freeview box.
So is it correct to say that I can record one freeview channel while watching another by using a seperate box as described in my previous post?

yep, watch freeview from your box and record a different freeview channel on the recorder. Problem solved.
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Old 05-11-2007, 16:30
zuluboy
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yep, watch freeview from your box and record a different freeview channel on the recorder. Problem solved.
Thanks, and is it possible to set that up so that I don't have to go moving cables when I want to record or playback from the box?
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Old 05-11-2007, 16:34
Dreamofgilgames
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Yes, once its connected up you can watch one freeview channel whilst recording another, and you wont need to keep on moving cables
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Old 05-11-2007, 17:14
zuluboy
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Yes, once its connected up you can watch one freeview channel whilst recording another, and you wont need to keep on moving cables
Excellent , thanks.

I'll have another look at the Sony you recommended, anybody got any other suggestions?
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Old 05-11-2007, 18:03
JBlink
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Any of the Pansonics are worth a long look too
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Old 05-11-2007, 20:13
bobcar
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You can buy dual tuner PVRs for less than £100, these are easier to use than a DVDR with HDD. You could then buy a DVDR without HDD (if you want to save money) or one with if you want to edit your archived recordings.
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Old 05-11-2007, 20:18
JBlink
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You can buy dual tuner PVRs for less than £100, these are easier to use than a DVDR with HDD. You could then buy a DVDR without HDD (if you want to save money) or one with if you want to edit your archived recordings.
If you get the DVD/HDD with Freeview then you can record 3 and watch a 4th via the set top box attached to the TV. The need to do this doesn't happen often, but when it does...!
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Old 05-11-2007, 22:20
Gilson
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I am also looking at this type of product - see my post today!

I think the choice is Panasonic EX77DB or Sony HX870

Both are 160GB have HDMI upscaling . Record/read most formats etc.etc
There are minor differences but I am leaning to the Panasonic on flexibility and ease of use

Both can be had for around £200
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Old 05-11-2007, 23:55
zuluboy
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what's 'HDMI upscaling ' ?
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Old 06-11-2007, 09:03
RobAnt
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None of them will be able to receive Freeview HD. If you don't mind throwing money away, fine - but I'm going to wait a little longer for a freeview box with onboard storage. Chances are, if you think that's important you'll also be interested in HD.
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Old 06-11-2007, 09:15
Pete Watermelon
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Do you want DOOVDE?
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Old 06-11-2007, 09:23
Gilson
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what's 'HDMI upscaling ' ?
Both are capable of upscaling standard definition material to 1080p and feeding this format to a HD TV via a HDMI cable.

The benefits of this are the subject of much discussion both on this and other forums as it is argued that connection to a HDTV via say RGB will give the same result as the TV has its own upscaler that it has to use to fit the 576i standard definition picture to the display. So it is then argued as to whether the external device (DVD Player, Sky HD box , VM+ box etc ) or the TV should do the upscaling. It is then said to be down to the quality/capabilities of the relevant upscaling .

So it is then said that say attaching a top brand (e.g. Panasonic or Sony) external upscaler to a cheap LCD will give better results than the TV's own upscaler. And of course vice versa for a cheap brand external device and a top brand LCD.

My own experience is that, on the 4 occasions I have had the opportunity to compare, using the external upscaler has given significantly better results including from a sky HD box on 3 occasions all on top brand LCD's. The 4th was atrocious but this was a multiple feed from a sky HD box in a TV store and via component not HDMI.
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Old 06-11-2007, 09:31
bobcar
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If you get the DVD/HDD with Freeview then you can record 3 and watch a 4th via the set top box attached to the TV. The need to do this doesn't happen often, but when it does...!
That's what I do, I have Sky+, a Freeview PVR and an HDD DVDR with built in Freeview.
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Old 06-11-2007, 09:46
Nigel Goodwin
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So it is then said that say attaching a top brand (e.g. Panasonic or Sony) external upscaler to a cheap LCD will give better results than the TV's own upscaler. And of course vice versa for a cheap brand external device and a top brand LCD.
We've sold, and installed, a LOT! of the 870's - good round here because of almost no FreeView coverage - in fact we even stock HDMI leads on the delivery vans solely because of this model.

All the ones I've tried, all on Sony LCD's, are no better via HDMI than Component or RGB SCART - which leads me to believe the upscaler is as good as that in a Sony LCD.

Using it on a cheap LCD or Plasma then is likely to substantially improve your SD pictures, as the upscaler is usually what cripples the picture on cheap TV's.
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Old 06-11-2007, 10:00
Gilson
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We've sold, and installed, a LOT! of the 870's - good round here because of almost no FreeView coverage - in fact we even stock HDMI leads on the delivery vans solely because of this model.

All the ones I've tried, all on Sony LCD's, are no better via HDMI than Component or RGB SCART - which leads me to believe the upscaler is as good as that in a Sony LCD.
So why are you using HDMI on the 870 if its just as good via RGB and what has that to do with the absence of Freeview?

I would expect that the SonY 870 has an upscaler that is the same as a Sony LCD - but which one? IMHO there is a wide variation between top and bottom of the Sony range in ability to handle SD, but you see far more of them than I can hope to compare.
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Old 06-11-2007, 10:07
Nigel Goodwin
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So why are you using HDMI on the 870 if its just as good via RGB and what has that to do with the absence of Freeview?
The 870 has both analogue and DTT tuners, so we sell a lot of them - the previous models were both more expensive, and either analogue or digital only.

As for providing HDMI leads on install (which we do for free), it's simply because HDMI is the current 'wonder connection' (as these forums show) and the customer expects it!.


I would expect that the SonY 870 has an upscaler that is the same as a Sony LCD - but which one? IMHO there is a wide variation between top and bottom of the Sony range in ability to handle SD, but you see far more of them than I can hope to compare.
They all seem pretty impressive - I took two out on Saturday (I don't get out a lot!), a U series, and a more expensive D series. Both on analogue only (as usual), both were good pictures, but to be honest I thought the cheap U series set actually looked better than the more expensive D?. Perhaps the result may have been reversed if they were on Freeview?.
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