Backups and Converting VHS

[burd]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum. I've been searching and browsing the forums for a solution to my "problem," and I have found that it has been discussed extensively, but I was wondering if I could get some more current opinions/suggestions. I have gone the route of trying to burn backups for my DVD's on my computer. I have discovered that the resulting DVD's are unstable and may or may not play on other DVD players. Also, I lacked the ability to convert my numerous VHS tapes to DVD. So, I went out and bought a Panasonic DMR-E80H DVD Recorder. It works great and has fantastic editing abilities. The problem is--you guessed it--it refuses to record any commercially produced DVD's and VHS tapes. I get the message: "Copying of this material is not allowed." Now, to be honest: the DVD's and tapes that I am trying to copy are ones that I have purchased over the years. I have hundreds of VHS movies, and I'll be damned if I'll go out and buy them all on DVD! (Some of them are not available on DVD.) So, I have no illegal puprpose in mind here. Now, in my travels through the various forums, I have noticed some people trying to sell little gizmos which are supposed to filter out macrovision or whatever anti-copying method is being used. Has anyone had any success using any of these. Or, are they just snake oil (a scam)? Basically, what I am asking is has anyone had success in copying DVD's and VHS tapes to DVD, and how have you done it? Thanks in advance for any help and/or suggestions

[DVWannaB]

Yes, there is gear available that can by-pass macrovision. I have a Canopus ADVC-100 (a tiny little box) that has a hidden feature that disables macrovision. There are others also available that can do this.