Advice needed in a VHS/DVD recorder purchase

[higgins327]

Hi all!

I'd like to purchase a multi-regional DVD player with DivX/XviD capabilities.

I'd also like to transfer my VHS tapes into DVD media.

I was referred to this list, since 2-in-1 sets should make VHS->DVD transfer the easiest. I was planning to use DVD RW discs for the recording process and then rip/edit what I want to keep and store the media on regular DVDs.

I have two problems:
a) checking my local (Eastern European) retailers, the whole list that I referred above seemed quite obscure and unavailable. Maybe the models are just too old?
b) I have two working VCR's and maybe a regular DVD recorder would do the trick?

[jman98]

Be very careful because most DVD/VCR combo units cannot be put into multi-region mode. Some Philips DVD recorders do support Divx/Xvid and can (theoretically - I don't have one to try) be put into multi-region mode, but the ones I know about don't have VCRs.

[Baldrick]

This list is a bit better: https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders?DVDname=&vcr=1&hdsize=Any&divx=1&dvdportable=&dv...&Search=Search

Or try find a price comparison site in your country where you can search for dvd recorders.

[higgins327]

But is the VHS/DVD combo a better option than a separate DVD recorder and hassling with connecting it to a VCR?

[samijubal]

But is the VHS/DVD combo a better option than a separate DVD recorder and hassling with connecting it to a VCR?

No, combos are notoriously cheap recorders. It's always better to buy seperate. If any of those tapes are copy protected you won't be able to copy them with a combo. If they are copy protected you'll need seperates and a stabilizer.

[victoriabears]

If your vcr's are the ones yo used to record the vhs tapes on, start with using those.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHILIPS-DVDR3480-05-DVD-RECORDER-MULTI-REGION-FREE_W0QQitemZ1302...6.c0.m14.l1318

he says he will only ship to the UK ( I am guessing Estonia is a PAL country),but if you ask nicely and pay tracking insurance or tell him to use parcels to go.com.

I am sure in nearby countries to you there are plenty of dvd recorders that are sold region free, but as has been said combos do not usually go region free, but if you already have 2 good vcr's a combo is not a good idea.

Visited Estonia once on a cruise, great visit.

[higgins327]

Several local retailers sell Philips DVDR3480/58 at twice the price compared with that ebay offer, but I'm sure the shipping fees and chance for a realistic warranty compensate the difference. Do you have personal experience with that Philips stand-alone?

And what does the number after the slash mean? That ebay guy sells /05, but our retailers have /58.

And I haven't been to Canada.

[higgins327]

Okay, seems that the suffix represents an area code... I just hope the region-free hack works for /58.

[victoriabears]

I have bought many items from the UK and if you are careful and judge the seller well, equipment works fine and warranties are irelevant.

The modern batch of Philips dvd reorders are well thought of, Toshiba would be another suggestion.No I do not have specific experience of that model.

Does buying from nearby countries cause you any import issues, sweden/poland/denmark?

Welcome to the forum by the way.

[wabjxo]

Philips uses the slash suffix to indicate portions of the world the unit is built for. Countries for some units may have the same slash suffix but be intended for all countries in that area or TV system.

/05 is for the U.K.

/37 is for U.S. and Canada.

/58 is for Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Rep, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey(?) and Ukraine.

A few products have /021 which includes Estonia specifically.

[higgins327]

Does buying from nearby countries cause you any import issues, sweden/poland/denmark?

Some of the purchases I've made have come up to quite hefty customs fees and such. Buying locally would just give me a lot less legwork should there be a defect. I don't know if Philips products have a global warranty, and even if they do, the nearest (and only) Philips centre is in the other side of the country. Another bonus is that I could actually test the XviD playback in a shop. Officially it only plays DivX.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

Thanks.

[victoriabears]

I believe if it plays divx , it plays xvid.