Very simple HDD requirements, bad past experience :o(

[Will Hay]

I need a HDD recorder around the £175-250 mark.

I need to save to the HDD, with a facility to output to a DVD disk at a later date.

Series link would be nice.

I'll be recording from cable [virgin], nothing else.

High quality is not essential, probably cartoons for the little ones and a movie or two to watch later.

The most important criteria is the ability to record to any media.

I bought a liteon a a couple of years ago and despite a repair and an exhange has been no end of problems, only reads original DVD's a very select view types of DVD media, and won't recognise any blank media anymore.

I suppose what I'm asking is a recommendation of a unit that has the broadest range of media types.

I've been looking at a few this morning and searching vcdhelp/google for reviews but none touch on the media issue, is this not such a big problem anymore?

Many thanks,
Wil [UK]

[rhegedus]

Hi Will - long time, no see. Everything OK?

Do you want a HD/DVDR combo or more of a PVR?

I'm not sure if the current crop of HD/DVDRs have a series link feature or not. You could bite the bullet and go V+ for the HD recordings and just buy a cheapo DVDR that records to + or - media.

[Will Hay]

Hi Rob,
Yeah, everything good here

To be honest, I'm terrified I'm gonna end up with another turkey that can't record to any disk I buy.

I don't expect to use the HDD facility too much to be honest, I guess if I found a reliable DVDR that would do but again, being able to stick six spongebob episodes on two disks for my three year daughter would be nice, something I guess would be far easier if I stored them on HDD first.

Good idea on teh V+, I'll go check out the Virgin site now and see the extra cost.

As far as a simple straightforward DVDR, Pionneer a safe bet?

Thanks, and good to hear from you
Rob...Will Hay Imposter

[Will Hay]

Another thing, if I go the V+ route I'd need to ensure I could drop the saved TV on a DVD disk...

[rhegedus]

I had a looksy at the Virgin site - it's a £150 install fee (but you could probably knock them down at least £50) and a fiver a month thereafter.

I've had a Pioneer for about 5 years now and the only thing bad I can say is that it's picky about -RW disks. Stick with TDK or Verbatim and you should be OK.

That said, I tend to buy most of my disks from PCWorld when I'm passing and my local branch has more choice of +R/RW. I'm sure if you get 50 tub of -R it will last long enough not to have to worry about special offers.

[oldfart13]

Liteon problems with discs are usually a result of the burner going bad. Several sites tell you how to replace them. I hope you didn't get rid of it. The first one I got from a friend who had broken the drive is still chugging along 2 years after I fixed it. I have another that I changed the firmware in that has been my workhorse deck for the past year. I just acquired a hard drive one recently that I hope to get operational soon. The Liteons I have are all using Verbatim +Rs (Made In Taiwan) and burn in all speeds with no coasters.

[Will Hay]

Liteon problems with discs are usually a result of the burner going bad. Several sites tell you how to replace them. I hope you didn't get rid of it. The first one I got from a friend who had broken the drive is still chugging along 2 years after I fixed it. I have another that I changed the firmware in that has been my workhorse deck for the past year. I just acquired a hard drive one recently that I hope to get operational soon. The Liteons I have are all using Verbatim +Rs (Made In Taiwan) and burn in all speeds with no coasters.

To be honest, the reason I didn't yet go with some good advice [from two old veterans!] is because there's been something at the back of my mind telling me that this liteon can't be as bad as the experience I've had.
I'll check out how to replace the drive and try that first [I think!].

Thanks,
Will

[orsetto]

Recent or current (2006 and later) Pioneer DVD/HDD recorders are VERY reliable and will burn any imaginable disc including +, -, RW, DL and even RAM.

[RabidDog]

ONly current Pie-in-Ear recorder in the Uk appears to be the 550hx and that comes in around the £400 mark. Appears to be slightly better than previous 440hx (bigger disc and some flim-flam) for twice the price.

[mray]

The Sony 870/970 series are Pioneer clones, and excellent too.

They record to + and -R and Dual layer.

Built in Freeview and analogue tuners. They also have series link I believe.

I haven't had ONE bad disc (using all sorts, + - and DL, and different brands) from the 870 I use.

I didn't like Sony's recorders until I found out about the new range being Pioneer clones . They are basically 550HX machines without DVD-RAM writing capability, though they can read them.

I had a Lite-On for a while. There is no comparison!

[StuR]

Hi I presume your UK PAL, as you say its £175..
Anyway if so the only one to go for is JVC DR-MH300.
Why, as your rec. from digital/sat/cable the best quality you can get is via RGB scart, it has that, some other JVC only have SVideo inputs. Toshiba are good to but again recently they are not RGB input.
The Sony's do but my experience shows they darken the image and are poor at even 2hr/DVD.
The JVC has 160GB HDD which is ample recoding every thing at HQ and I then dub to disk. It used 'dualpass' which when dubbing down in quality increases the bitrate where needed and deceases it where not. Info on this is monitored when first recorded. This stretches DVD content to 2.5hrs, and it looks good.
This model plays +R/+RW and rec. is the usual -R/-RW/RAM.
Only JVC recorder with HDMI output 720p/1280i.
Best bet is bought via ebay £100-£150 used, recon and new.

[Will Hay]

Liteon problems with discs are usually a result of the burner going bad. Several sites tell you how to replace them. I hope you didn't get rid of it.

I went with your advice and successfully replaced the drive with a brand new liteon drive, but not without some serious consequences

Thanks to everyone for all replies

Will