HD Dvd recorder

[garman]

What current models have EPG. I am looking at an inexpensive unit if that is possible. Older units are fine as long as their is availability. thanks

[Krispy Kritter]

Assuming I am reading your title correctly, I don't think there are any HD (Hi Def) recorders available (aside from units provided by DirecTV/Dish/cable). At least none that I have seen.

If you mean, HDD (hard disk drive), then that is different.

And by EPG I suppose you mean a version of a program guide?

[handyguy]

There are some recorders with hd tuners. There arent very many so that makes your choices easier.

[jman98]

Do you mean HD = High Definition or HD = Hard Disk? This is a perfect example of why you should avoid abbreviations because if you mean the latter, 2 people have misunderstood your post and you have not yet received a helpful reply.

What the heck is EPG? I don't think anybody but you knows what that means. Again, you really ntaah (need to avoid abbreviations here - ha ha).

[CrazyCanuck]

EPG = Electronic Program Guide

In the past, there were some with the TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) nothing but problems in most cases, a lot of complaints, I'm thinking of Philips. The info is streamed along with the video data from mostly PBS stations, not always but mostly. What would happen is that the stream would be either shut down because no longer supported or just technical flaws at the PBS station as in shutting it off by accident. Units with TVGOS would no longer be able to download info and everybody was screaming at the recorder manufacturer or the cable companies but really the problem was with either TV Guide or the broadcasting tv stations so most dvd recorder manufacturers dropped the EPG from their subsequent models.

All this to say it might work in some regional areas and not in others.

Cable companies' and satelite boxes and PVRs have propriatery EPG systems supported by the cable companies and satelite providers themselves, so no issue there.

[wabjxo]

EPG = Electronic Program Guide

In the past, there were some with the TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) nothing but problems in most cases, a lot of complaints, I'm thinking of Philips.

I think you're referring to Pioneer...I had a 531 and struggled with the TVGOS problems first hand!

[redwudz]

I have a Pioneer 633 that uses a hard drive, and EPG from my cable provider. It actually works very well for me. The big complaint was that EPG ran the internal hard drive a lot and often while updating and the noise could be irritating. And it could occasionally become confused and record the wrong channel.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of DVRs out there at present with hard drives, but you should be able to use our 'DVD Recorders' page to the left to sort through them. Select the 'Built in hard drive...' option. 'EPG' goes by different names, depending on the manufacturer. Only works on cable, AFAIK. And not on all cable systems.

And I guess it is more proper to call a hard drive a 'HDD' to keep it from getting confused with High Definition, 'HD'.

[garman]

Sorry guys. HD meaning Hard Drive. I am so detached from video equipment lately that HD was so elemenatry to hard drive for me not HiDef. I apologize.
At home I have a pioneer 533h-s I love it and the epg functionas well, it's been hassle free for the past year. I am looking for somethin like that, but the 533 has been discontinued and I think the 633 as well. I did happened to find a refurb version of the Philips hdrw720 without a remote. But I don't have much user information on this product. So I have been perusing the internet for inexpensive versions of units such as mentioned above. Used or discontinued is fine with me as long as it works well. Thanks for all the replies, garman

[CrazyCanuck]

wabjxo;
I've read about the Pioneer's 531 tvgos problems , but not owning one, couldn't speak of it. I was refering to the Philips hdrw 720/17 which I have with a couple of spare ones. It has component line in and I use it to back-up my dvds using a hacked liteon as a feed player, it's still 480i but is better than S-Video.

Garman;
here's a link to manuals and firmware for the 720, hunt for a remote as it is key to use the 720.

http://www.usasupport.philips.com/consumer/productDocuments.html?ProductCode=HDRW720/1...SU_US_CONSUMER

[garman]

thanks, I'm reading it now. Looks pretty good. How good is the 720. Do you have to be tech savy to run it. My Pioneer 533 I find easy to use. I am looking at the 720 for my mother who is so far behind the times that she still use two sticks to start a fire. and that's what I'm dealing with in terms of user friendly.


BTW. I am able to pick the 720 for 135$ without a remote. Philips will send me a remote for 40$ so a 175$ Is it worth it for a refurb?

[Krispy Kritter]

Cost/value is a user choice. If they are offering a standard warranty on the refurb (some manufacturers do, some don't) then that makes the decision easier.

[CrazyCanuck]

Hi again Garman, now I understand why you're looking for a recorder w/EPG !!!. The unit is not that user-friendly for the novice. As I mentioned the TVGOS on it is problematic and crashes a lot. If mom likes to do a lot of watch-and-erase type of recording, a PVR from your local cable provider might be a lot better for her use.

At $175 US for a refurb is a little steep, especially when at the end of its retail life they were going for $200 brand new. I only use it to record raw data through the component-in line which I burn on +RW and then bring the +RW to a ILO HD04, upload on the HDD for editing and then burn my final copy.

I go through all of this process as I can replace the HDD or the drive in the ILO if and when they die, not so with the 720 therefore I limit its wear and tear as there are not many component-in recorders around.

[wabjxo]

I think there might be many people on AVS Forum who might like this unit just for use as an intermediary to a HDD machine, like some are using the older Polaroid 2001G. Only diff. might be the older SN Polaroids maintain aspect ratio passthru even when OFF! (Maybe this one does too?)

These users don't like the Polaroid's editing features, so that's why they want to record on their better-editing machines, like Toshibas.

Apparently, their cable/sat receivers output only 4:3 letterboxed over their composite/S-Video connections, but they maintain 16:9 thru their Component ouptuts, which the intermediary sends thru to the recording DVDR as anamorphic... exactly the reason why no more DVDRs with Component inputs.

[handyguy]

hdtv dvd recorders come with hds too. As a matter of fact, hdtv vcrs have been around a longer time.

[garman]

Is thier a comparison between the Philips 720 from the pioneer 533 in terms of tvgos and user friendliness. I recall when I had my 533 that many users complained about the tvgos feature. I personally had that happen to me twice last year, but has not happened since. Maybe gemstar has ironed out the problem.
I really like the tv guide feature and I am certain my mother would love it and stop asking me what channels are her favourite shows are on. As if I would know!! So... I have held on from the purchase, the store owner said that another shipment is coming next week and I could buy the sucker for the same price.
I guess what I'm saying that the TV Guide option is paramount on the purchase and the Hard drive option is the cherry on top. So if a TVGOS option is available with a DVD option would be sadly acceptable, but beggers can't be choosers.

[Krispy Kritter]

Assuming she has cable/SAT service, the most user friendly option would be from the provider. Cost should only be $5-10 a month, but that could be several years of service compared to a hardware cost of $200. Plus if it ever fails or has any issues, you just call and they replace it.

[Seeker47]

I go through all of this process as I can replace the HDD or the drive in the ILO if and when they die, not so with the 720 therefore I limit its wear and tear as there are not many component-in recorders around.

The only other one I had heard of was that first Polaroid model, so this makes two. I think this feature went away in the subsequent Polariod model that doubled the size of the HDD.

[garman]

Assuming she has cable/SAT service, the most user friendly option would be from the provider. Cost should only be $5-10 a month, but that could be several years of service compared to a hardware cost of $200. Plus if it ever fails or has any issues, you just call and they replace it.

Yeah, but she wants them put on a dvd after and than take it to the cottage or play it in car... (as a passenger). So I see it this way. She scrolls through the guide finds a show she likes and records to hard drive, than move it to DVD if she needs to take it with her.

[MCnDaHouse]

I'm in the same boat. I have a Pioneer DVR-531 with the 80gb HD and TV Guide EPG. It works great. My aunt's VCR just died, thought I could move her to the new technology. Now I find that Pioneer and Panasonic don't appear to make DVD Recorders with Hard Drive (at least they don't have them on their web sites). Any recommendations. She's not going to go for paying the cable company a monthly fee.

Thanks,

MC

[lordsmurf]

Philips 3575

[LCSHG]

garman

Assuming she has cable/SAT service, the most user friendly option would be from the provider. Cost should only be $5-10 a month, but that could be several years of service compared to a hardware cost of $200. Plus if it ever fails or has any issues, you just call and they replace it.

Very good Advice

For a lady that uses two sticks to start a fire but I'll bet that you and many others couldn't do that

[handyguy]

Does a Philips 3575 have TV Guide On Screen? I didn't see it mentioned in the docs LS....

[wabjxo]

Does a Philips 3575 have TV Guide On Screen? I didn't see it mentioned in the docs LS....

No, no TVG.

Here's lots of info on the Philips 3575, if interested.