Wharfedale DVD recorder

[Stuart50]

Hello everyone! Computer-less friends have asked me if I can find a solution to the problem they're having with this unit -

Wharfedale DVDR24HD160F (DVD recorder with 160gb HDD)

They were watching a film from the HDD when the screen suddenly went dark grey, with a central vertical black stripe & a wonky white line to the left of the stripe.

I tried changing all the cables, which are - aerial in, back to the TV & scart from unit to TV, with no luck.

The unit will power on ok & show the channel at which it was last left & will allow me to change channels (according to the front display) but nothing shows on the TV except the grey/black/white combo!

They don't have many programmes recorded on the HDD & wouldn't mind losing them, so I was thinking...

...I'm sure I've heard that some recorders have a combination of buttons to press while powering on that will reset the box to "factory defaults" (?) If that's right, can anyone tell me how to achieve this on this unit?

I'll take any suggestions gratefully (be nice, I'm not that talented! )

With thanks for your time & attention, Stuart

[CobraPilot]

Will the DVD player/recorder work?

Have you tried the unit with a different TV in order to determine the working status of the TV vs. the recorder? Results?

[Seeker47]

Interesting: haven't heard that name in many years. Wharfedale speakers, or something else from the world of audio gear, a good while back. (I recognize most of the British mfr. names, even the less well known ones.) But not in video, and not a recorder. Is this yet another re-badged Funai . . . or something else ? (Calling Orsetto.) Just curious.

[nic2k4]

Not familiar with SCART; have you tried to connect the tele using other connectors? Does the DVD player show any picture? If you get a picture with a different connection, more than likely the SCART connector has a cold solder joint; just touch up the solder joints. Otherwise it's likely the VDAC is either blown or not all the pins are contacting. Once, I got a Norcent DVD player that lost video; it turned out the VDAC had a coulpe pins that needed re-soldered. These were renowned for having the VDAC overheat (poor design), adding a heatsink fixed that.

[Stuart50]

Firstly, thank you for your replies!

No, the DVD player runs but shows no picture.

nic2k4 - I'm afraid that even if I knew what a VDAC was, I'm not competent enough to be soldering anything! I did open the box & it was almost completely dust-free. The fan - which is beneath the HDD (which is riveted in place - not screws) - was running ok & not clogged & there were no obviously (to my untrained eyes) damaged components, nor signs of overheating.

They're going to be getting a new TV soon, so I think I'll have to suggest they go for a new DVDR at the same time...

Once again, I thank you all for your kindness - Stuart

[jman98]

nic2k4 - I'm afraid that even if I knew what a VDAC was, I'm not competent enough to be soldering anything!

Valid point. That's why replies like nic2k4's drive me nuts. Brain surgery is "easy" too - if you've gone to medical school and spent years training for it. I wouldn't hold my breath expecting him to get it though. People like him just assume that everyone on the planet has exactly the same experience they do.

[nic2k4]

Sorry you see things that way. I don't want to start a flame war, just want to explain my point of view. I really don't mean to come across as a know it all. I simply give the information, but never insist on the answer. People are free to do what they can/want with it. The easy answer would be to say sorry man you're S.O.L., go spend another $300 to buy a new HDD recorder.

There are things I figure I shouldn't have to explain, there's a nice glossary here for that and there's always Google for anyone who wants to learn more. Most of what I know I've learned from others in forums like this one. I've even learned from your posts as you are among the knowledgeable people here.

There are many soldering guides on the web; the tools are cheap enough. There's no harm in experimenting with something that's headed for the trash; worst case you spent 30 minutes, but you can say for sure the thing couldn't be fixed.

I don't assume what anyone can do, they should know their limits, but if they never try anything, how can they expand them? I didn't know I could re-solder a surface mount VDAC until I tried. All it took was a 30 Watt soldering iron, a razor blade and a magnifying glass. If someone really can't do it, ask someone who can. At least they'd know what to ask for.

I get it, not everyone has the same abilities. Heck, I have dyslexic friends and they still managed to learn to use their high tech equipement; just had to take a different path. I just give credit to anyone who knows enough to find this site and ask a question.

[Stuart50]

Oh, my word - nic & jman - I didn't mean to cause any offence with my reply! I should point out that even with the correct tools & a guide to follow, it's me we're talking about & it WOULD go wrong...

...As Mr Edmund Blackadder might have said,

"I have the skill-set of Mr Simon "Skill-less" Noskill, winner of the gold medal at the "Show Off Your Skills At Anything" show. He only won that because he remembered to turn the map the right way up & managed to find the arena!"

You're obviously long-standing & valued members of this community, so please don't fall out over what is essentially a trivial matter - life's too short!

I sincerely appreciate the time you've taken to answer though & hope that if I have to return here, it'll be for a quick & easy fix!

Be well, all - With genuine thanks, Stuart

[CrazyCanuck]

I had a ILO HD04 (Liteon clone) acted up like that a few years ago (dark screen with a stripe going down the middle, top to bottom). To get it to work again I had to install the firmware, the ILO works to this day. If you have the firmware file, try it out.

I think earlier Wharfedale dvd recorders were also Liteon clones.

[Stuart50]

I apologise for not replying sooner! My friends now have a new Grundig TV + Samsung DVDR & they're both working ok - well, once I sorted out the factory picture settings!

Again, my thanks to you all, Stuart