Excuse if this request for advice is a bit basic - unfortunately my AV knowledge is just that.... In setting a timer recording on my previous DVD Recorder, when the program/channel list came up in the setting menu they appeared as BBC1/BBC2/ITV1 etc. etc. On this Sony they appear as Prog 1/2/3/4 etc. I am OK remembering what the first five are but beyond that I haven't a clue. I appreciate that I can set a timer recording from the EPG, but is there a way of listing them other than numerically.

Sorry,No.

I've just checked the manual timer settings,by switching to the Digital epg.
The name of the channel is listed,above the channel number,in the left hand corner.

This is what I have found, pity, such an easy bit of equipment to set up and use. I bought a Samsung 850 first and it was really terrible to setup and then found it had a fault so it was returned and replaced by this Sony. I will just have to familiarise myself with a few more channels.
Thanks for you help.

Here are a couple of photos,showing the channel name,above the channel number,so you don't have to remember them.

Pic 1
Pic 2

Like redvet I have a new HXD-870 and little AV knowledge.

I live in a non-Freeview area and use a Sky digital box attached to a satellite dish.

After two weeks I have managed to get to a situation where I can set the timer to record a programme and watch an analogue channel on the Sony TV while the recording is taking place.

So how, I wonder, am I going to achieve the full joy of being able to watch a digital broadcast while recording any other? There is a paragraph on p37 of the manual that might help, but it includes too many "ifs" for me to be able to understand it. It also says "set your TV to the TV input" - which seems to be the way I can see the analogue broadcasts.

Sorry,you can't,as the Sony only has one digital tuner and one analogue tuner.
You need to buy a seperate Freeview box,to allow you watch,and record another(digital) channel.
You can watch any recordings on the hard drive or dvd,whilst its recording though.

Thanks very much for taking the time. That makes life a lot simpler for me! You do mean the Sony recorder, I assume - not the Sony TV.

Yes,I meant the Sony RDR-HXD 870 recorder.
I assume your Sony Tv is simply an analogue tv and not an IDTV(Integrated Digital Tv),as you didn't say.
If it is a IDTV,you could watch a digital channel on the Tv,and record a digital channel on the Sony recorder,at the same time.

Very many thanks your time and response most helpful. Don't think I will ever be able to use the box to anything like its full potential but help from forum members such as yourself greatly assist.

Has anyone with a U.K. machine successfully recorded Secam onto the Hard Disk and subsequently onto a DVD.

I have a number of Secam VHS tapes with programmes that I have recorded from French TV and would like to transfer these to DVD. This Sony machines does look like it would fit the bill but I would be happier knowing that someone has actually managed to do this.