Is there a dual voltage DVD recorder out there?

[gloriousglenn]

I have tried on the net and I've rang a couple of the big companies but I can't find a dual voltage DVD recorder. Are there any on the market?

Ideally I am looking for the following (in order of preference):
1. Dual voltage
2. Multi-region
3. DVD-/+RW
4. HDD
5. Component-video out and in

Is there such a machine?

Cheers
Glenn

[lenti_75]

lite-on is dual, but don't think it records on pal, just ntsc and plays pal also

[gloriousglenn]

Can a UK member confirm if the Lite-on 5045 is dual voltage. It looks like this machine does everything else that I want.

[CrazyCanuck]

Hi Glenn, not a UK member but I've been eyeing the new 5045 that's available in the UK, the model number is 5045 GDL (on Liteon's site). Very slick design and has additional features. Most importantly for you the power supply is AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz, Pal and SECAM tv system. It's a dual layer capable recorder, it reads Divx files and has the "just fit" feature for both the HDD and DVD recordings. I'd love to see this machine coming our way but not available to us yet.

I haven't seen any recorder with "component in" yet but the 5045 GDL has SCART in and out, component out only, S-Video front input.

Happy shopping !!!

CC

[lordsmurf]

My LiteOn 5001 is 100-240V ~ 50/60hz

[CrazyCanuck]

Update for Glenn, spoke too soon, the 5045 GDL is available in Germany, can be bought online. You might want to look at the 5025 GHC (Germany)

Same features except it's 80 GB instead of 160 and does not write dual layer discs. Price seems right.

CC

[gloriousglenn]

Excuse my ignorance, what's the diference between the 5045 GDL and the 5045?

you can get the GDL in Germany (seen in at http://www.directshopper.de/liteon-lvw-5045-gdl_dvd-festplatten-rekorder_p) and they run on the same voltage as us.

If there isn't that much difference between the 5045 and the GDL I might just go for the 5045.

[gloriousglenn]

I can get stuff sent from Germany no problem.

As long as it'll work in the UK and Canada I'm laughing.

[CrazyCanuck]

Glenn, the 5045 GDL is not yet ready for CanuckLand as it only has the PAL and SECAM tv system option for now, we would need the NTSC tv system option for North America.

The major differences are:

dual layer writer
Just fit recording on HDD
Plays DivX files



other than that pretty much the same, I myself would like the ability to do "just fit" project on the HDD, less wear and tear on the drive.

[gloriousglenn]

OK. Back to the drawing board then!

So I'm looking for a DVD Recorder that is dual voltage and Multi-region (PAL & NTSC).

Anything else looks like it would be a bonus!

[ofbarea]

My latinamerican Panasonic DMR-ES10 supports voltages from 110 to 240, 50/60 Hz. It also has a NTSC and PAL-M tunner, but I think it is able to record standard PAL signal from the Video in.

zorankarapancev in this post also noted that the DMR-ES10 for EU also supports NTSC and PAL. I cannot comment on the power suply.

[gloriousglenn]

Unfortunately on www.panasonic.co.uk they are showing as being AC 220-240V, 50Hz. Why don't the UK do dual voltage!!!?

[donpedro]

Not sure about current versions and HDD, but LiteOn and Cyberhome use to be "Dual voltage" recorders that could record in NTSC as well as PAL form inputs (TV tuner supports only one system).

[gloriousglenn]

Here's the problem.

I can get a recorder from the EU that records on NTSC and PAL, but not one that is dual voltage.

OR

I can get a recorder in the US that is dual voltage but they can only record NTSC.

One day somebody might do one that can do both.

[donpedro]

I can get a recorder in the US that is dual voltage but they can only record NTSC.

What about LiteOn and CyberHome ?

[ebenton]

Why don't you just buy a step-down or step-up transformer to go from 240 to 110 volts or vice versa? All U.S. military bases in the UK sell the step-down ones, or you could get both types here: http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/. You could even buy a step up/down transformer and buy whatever voltage DVD recorder you want and use it wherever, but you really only need to go one way.

Line frequency (50-60 Hz) used to be a concern back in the day. I remember being in the USAF back in the 1970's stationed in the UK, and I had to buy a different-sized (bigger) hub for my stereo turntable drive motor because it was designed for 60 Hz and the records all played too slow on 50 Hz. Today that's not much of an issue.

Or do a Google search for "step down transformer" or "step up transformer".

[donpedro]

http://www.liteonamericas.com/us/product/ce/LVW-5045-S-0909-Eng.pdf
There is an EU version too

[gloriousglenn]

Thanks for all of your help. I think the best bet is to get a multi-region recorder and then get myself a step-down transformer as suggested by ebenton (many thanks). I have a mate who's an exchange officer from the USAF, so he can sort me out with entrance to the facilities at Fairford which is just down the road from me.

Cheers
Glenn

[lordsmurf]

Step-down transformers often emit "dirty" power, and can cause quality issues, so be careful.

[hech54]

Just to clarify a bit....I grew up in America and now live in Germany.
1) There are quite a few DVD recorders that will record in both NTSC and PAL.
2) Playback of a "foreign" disc in the machine is a completely different animal...especially with Region Coded Discs(factory pressed).
3) *associated with #1 - A tuner on a DVD Recorder from a foreign country will NOT work at all....IE...you will not be able to record TV shows with it. When a DVD Recorder is capable of recording both PAL and NTSC....that is only via alternate inputs like RCA/cinch inputs. I need to use an external tuner(from my VHS) then into my DVD Recorder if I need to record from TV.
4) I use a power converter for each and every record job on DVD Recorder(the recorder is 110(USA)...we have 220 here in Germany) and have not noticed any difference in video quality from America to here.
Most electrical appliances have a "range of operation" as far as power requirements. They do not need exactly 110 or 220 to run.

[ebenton]

I'm not sure what lordsmurf means by "dirty" power, but there is not much processing that occurs in a step-down transformer that would cause square-waves, triangular-waves, sawtooths, spikes or other waveform anomalies. They're mostly just transformers with half the number of windings on the secondary (output) as there are on the primary (input).

[ebenton]

I have a mate who's an exchange officer from the USAF, so he can sort me out with entrance to the facilities at Fairford which is just down the road from me.

It's been awhile since I have been a member of the USAF, but I don't think that you will be able to buy anything at the BX without a military ID card, even if your mate does get you into the base. However, things might be different now, or maybe they sell them in some base facilty that does not require this.
Worst case, he might have to buy it for you, or he could at least tell you the name and/or address of the company that provides them.

[gloriousglenn]

OK. So even if I overcome the 'dirty power' problem, I still won't be able to record from my UK TV onto a US DVD Recorder.

And even if I get one that is 'so called' multi-region, I won't be able to play factory pressed DVD's from different regions.

Looks like I'll be better of just buying a DVD Recorder from the UK (220V) that plays and records in PAL and forget about the rest!

[gloriousglenn]

I have a mate who's an exchange officer from the USAF, so he can sort me out with entrance to the facilities at Fairford which is just down the road from me.

It's been awhile since I have been a member of the USAF, but I don't think that you will be able to buy anything at the BX without a military ID card, even if your mate does get you into the base. However, things might be different now, or maybe they sell them in some base facilty that does not require this.
Worst case, he might have to buy it for you, or he could at least tell you the name and/or address of the company that provides them.

That isn't an issue. I would just tell him what I was after and he would get it for me.

[hech54]

OK. So even if I overcome the 'dirty power' problem, I still won't be able to record from my UK TV onto a US DVD Recorder.

And even if I get one that is 'so called' multi-region, I won't be able to play factory pressed DVD's from different regions.

Looks like I'll be better of just buying a DVD Recorder from the UK (220V) that plays and records in PAL and forget about the rest!

Yep...the tuner issue is a NO GO...sorry.

Don't worry about the power issue....it's a non issue.

When a retailer mentions multi-region...99% of the time they ARE talking about the ability to play discs from other regions. Retailers...and as a matter of fact....many factory/sales reps from the DVD manufacturer themselves....do not know if their own machine records in both formats.

When I want to convert from PAL to NTSC or vise versa...I just use my €80 Thomson DVD Player....set IT to convert....then record back to my DVD Recorder via the RCA/cinch connectors....or even via the S-Video connectors if my recorder is cooperating that day...it is a bit quirky these days...

[donpedro]

Information given by hech54 is detailed and true.

I am not sure why do you look for such recorder, but maybe if you provide reason that help can be more clear.

If it is just to save on money by buying overseas, than it is a bad idea. If you are person that moves a lot (EU<->US) that it is different story. For example I needed NTSC and PAL suport becouse I have a lot DVD's from US and my camcorder is NTSC, but now I live in EU where tv broadcasting standard is PAL and also I have a collection of PAL DVD's.

[donpedro]

BTW: Those voltage step-down or step-up transformers make a little annoying noise. I know it, I have about 4 of them at home

[gloriousglenn]

I was originally looking for a simple way of doing this because I am in the RAF and move around. Also, I am a Brit, but my wife is Canadian and we get DVD's sent over from her family etc.

If I buy a UK model, I can always use DVD Decrypter to get around the DVD region problem.
OR
Just do as hech54 says in the above post.

[hech54]

I have two power converters....one is for short term use(like hair dryers and shavers) and the other one I use for my Philips Recorder is made for long term use. Sure there are better ones than mine but have never noticed any decreases in recording quality.
My Philips Recorder does have a removeable power plug.....which usually means that an appliance has dual-power capabilities....but I'm not gonna try it....
Again...Philips Help(less) Center had no clue if my unit was actually dual power or not....typical. I didn't dare ask them if they were aware that is also records in either format...

[showtaper]

I have tried on the net and I've rang a couple of the big companies but I can't find a dual voltage DVD recorder. Are there any on the market?

Ideally I am looking for the following (in order of preference):
1. Dual voltage
2. Multi-region
3. DVD-/+RW
4. HDD
5. Component-video out and in

Is there such a machine?

Cheers
Glenn

Try here:

http://www.world-import.com/panasonic-dvd-r.htm

While the page is titled Panasonic, they have PAL/NTSC multi-region
capable DVD recorders from a bunch of manufacturers. Some also have
VHS capability. Most are dual voltage as well.

I've bought several S-VHS multi-standard recorders and standards
converters from them (I work about 5 miles from their store location)
and recommend them highly.

They can solve just about any PAL/SECAM/NTSC dvd or vhs issue you
might have.