Anyone know who to contact at liteon for complaints.

[johnahl]

I have the 5045, and I purchashed it mainly to record TV progams to hard disc. Then edit and save those that I really like to DVD. The writing to hard drive, editing and writing to DVD seems to work just great. I have written about 30 DVD's with only 1 coaster.

My complaint is the horrible way the VCR+ function works. I have a VCR that has VCR+ function and the sequence is 1 keypress (VCR+), enter the code and press enter. With the 5045 the sequence is 3 keypresses, enter VCR+ code, then another 6 keypresses to complete. To add further insult, the timed functions are not deleted from the 16 possible timer events. So when you have filled the list, you have to manually delete one of the timed events (even if it was 2 months ago). This deleting takes 23 keypresses to delete and then another 9 + the VRC+ code.

Does anyone know who to contact that speaks and understands english. I am a little leary about sending anything to their tw site since I'm not sure they will be able to even understand the complaint. They state on their website that they don't acknowledge emails.

A little off topic but a little funny: Here is one of their faqs, question and answer:

Why the player is so warm even when "Power off"?

Due to engineering design (to conform our field test feedback, we've had implemented functions for easier operation, such as fast response to power on and tray out under power off status, thus, the power consumption has been increased to support all these design afterward) the IC part of the equipment is installed in the left side, with about 6W power not totally off. That means power-saving idea is used in this designing. To make it normal please cut the power by turning off the power supply completely. We are sorry for that. Hope this would not disturb your beautiful life.

I guess I'm really using this post as a rant. Warning anyone not to buy this unit if you want to record TV shows. It does work but you're going to get a lot of calluses from pressing remote buttons.

[lordsmurf]

I use the timer function, not VCR+

[johnahl]

I use the timer function, not VCR+

Why don't you use the VCR+ function? It's a feature that's supposed to make setting timed events easier.

[lordsmurf]

VCR+ has been buggy since the day it was invented. A good clock-based system is hard to screw up.

[johnahl]

VCR+ has been buggy since the day it was invented. A good clock-based system is hard to screw up.

I've had a Sony VCR that I've used the VCR+ system with for over a year and it has never failed.

1. press VCR+ button on remote.

2. Enter VCR+ code.

3. Hit enter key.

That's it. Never a failure in hundreds of timed events.

[Snakebyte1]

I tried the VCR+ feature when it first came out but I hated the fact that you could not have it come on 5min before and stay on longer. If the VCRs clock got slightly off or the TV station got behind you lwouldn't get the whole show/movie.

So I've always used the timer and allowed it to come on a bit early and run longer to ensure I get what I wanted.

Maybe they fixed that since those early days.

[lordsmurf]

Maybe they fixed that since those early days.

Nope. Still sucks for this reason, along with many others.

[johnahl]

IMO I still think the VCR+ function works great. I have used it on other VCR's and it works great. And in my opinion it should work like this.

1. Press VCR+ button on the remote.

2. Enter the VCR+ number from the TV listings and [enter].

3. The screen now displays the channel, date, ending and starting times, how often, and the recording quality the recording will have. The curser should have the OK button highlighted and ready for you to press enter.

If you want to change anything you can cursor around to make your changes before pressing OK.

To start recording a little earlier or later, you could set the recorders clock a few minutes earlier and then when the timer screen is displayed you would only have to add a few minutes to the ending time. However this process will cause problems if you try to record 2 programs that occur one right after the other.

About "Snakebyte1's" problem with the stations time being wrong, I don't know any way of fixing that no matter what type of timer function you use.

I'm 61 years old and the old thinker isn't what it used to be. If I have to enter a channel, date, start time, end time, how often, and recording quality, I usually get something wrong.

This is just my opinion, but I do think the VCR+ function is a great thing. And it is one of the major reasons I purchased the Liteon instead of the ILO.