new dual format recorder $139.00 @walmart

[b.caz]

new dual format dvd recorder for 139.00 @ walmart anyone now who make this dvd recorder and what do you like or dislike about this recorder

Thanks

CAZ

[handyguy]

Maybe you could post a link to it so we know what you are talking about.

[NightWing]

Not another one!

Here is the link.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3429491&cat=62055&type=19&dept=3...3A3944%3A62055

Looks like a simplified 5005 but minus the VCD/SVCD/CD Audio record and box display. But may have user select on filtering on input signal?

Oh well here we go again!

[NightWing]

Loosk like it just flew of the shelf. Wally's world now shows none in stock. or as its stated "Not Available at this time". Does not show on the list of DVD Recorders. But shows in stock? Go figure!

[b.caz]

The Balance Dual Format DvD Recorder is back up for sale on the walmart web site for these who were looking for it. I also noticed the aspire is out of stock.

Caz

[Capt_Diode]

b.caz,

The remote control for the recorder looks familiar the Shinco family (Apex, GE, etc.) remotes that I have that came with my DVD players. I own 1 Apex and 2 GE models that are Shinco based players (703 & 5803p). The Apex died after the first year but the GE models are about two years old and still working well. All three of my players say standby rather than On/Off.

I ordered a Balance unit today to replace the VCR in my bedroom that just stopped working. If it is a Shinco unit, I wonder if there will be hacks for the firmware. Anyone else have any ideas?

Cheers,
Captain Diode

[b.caz]

has anyone try this recorder yet and what do you think of it???????

this it the balance web site

http://www.balance-digital.com

caz

[NightWing]

Tnks for the link.

Well it answer one queston. It does have a display. But they dont have a downloadable manual.

It still a puzzler to see this unit for 139 while they have the DVDR04. Unless the 04 is a limited run, not moving or they are getting too many returns.

Thinking hard on turning in the 04 and getting this unit.

Are they even out in the stores yet?

[Davidgbr]

Thanks to Walmart's liberal return policy I decided to take a chance and order one from their website; I've been to 3 WM stores and none of them have this unit yet. My website order came in today, so I'll try it out in the next couple of days and post my thoughts.

[NightWing]

If you would not mind. Can you do a quicky report on the following.

1) Stereo or Mono tunner. Should have a setting for Stereo/Mono/SAP.
2) Does the time clock keep acturat time. Set it and see if gains any second over 24 hours.
3) Does the tunner add noise lines etc.

These are some of the show stopper for the DVDR04

[NightWing]

Just check its out of stock again!

[Davidgbr]

I'm sorry, but I was so disgusted after setting up the DR4111 that I didn't check it out very closely. The tuner was the pits. When viewing the TV through the tuner it made all channels look a little "muddy", or not sharply in focus. Then when I tried to record something, I got all kinds of noise lines and grainy stuff in the recording (and on the TV). I tried several channels and a couple of different recording modes (2-hr, 3-hr) with the same results. I checked all connections to make sure they were secure. I'm returning it to Walmart today for a refund.

[NightWing]

Tnks for the report Davidgbr!

Same with the tuner on the R04. It introduces junk. It filter about 90% in the LSI chipset but should not need to do it.

Rather spend more on a unit with a quality tuner.

People have cure that problem with the 04 with higrade cables and spliters but why.

When I split off of the same spliter into the 220 and the 04. Get an outstanding picture on the 220 and garbage on the 04. Its shows that the weak link on these bottom end units are the tunners.

[kabanero]

guys,

I don't understand why you record through the tuner. Tuner gives the worst video quality compare to Composit or S-Video. Have you ever tried S-Video?

I have LiteOn LVW-5001, it has mono tuner, but I never used tuner input. I always record via S-Video from my Dish Network reciever. Quality is great.

[tipstir]

How can you be getting the worst recording though the tuner. I get the same type of picture I see on the big tube. Replace your coax cables make sure everything it balanced.

I record stuff off the TV at LP, some stuff at SP on DVD+RW Maxell brand.

LiteOn 5101.. Don't have any problems with it since the last firmware update.
Now there are so many returns on the ILO version and no one is buying them at Wal-Mart in my area.

[soundforbjt]

I must be lucky, Aside from the clock gaining a few seconds a day, and I never use the tuner, It (iLo 04) has performed perfectly for my needs.

[thxkid]

well I have been sticking with Sams Club Liteon 5101, 1st one - manufacture date 8-04 had a few problesm, clock gain time and after more than 2 days of no use the LED clock display would go completely away. Since Sams Club has the best return Policy - time FOREVER, I know took a DVD recorder back one year old and got full credit for it, to get back the 5101, just returned this past week to sams, They got in new 5101's with manufacture date of 10-04, fixed every problem that this deck had

fast clock, no clock, Failure of recorded RW's reading in DVD Author, lines in tuner, plus I got another year or so to see if they update again specially with sams return policy.

[linetest]

"plus I got another year or so to see if they update again specially with sams return policy."

That is just too cheesy.

[NightWing]

This thing must be made from a bunch of Yo-Yo's. Since Wally's word just poped it BACK in stocked!

They must have another container ship dock in Long Beach!

[Capt_Diode]

I received my unit last night and it seems to work OK. I agree the tuner is weak or at least the composite out could use a comb filter. All in all I am satisfied with the unit. I was surprised at the 8 hr record mode. It compared to my computer capture at MPG-1. I did not notice the complaints from Davidgbr but agree it's no Sony! The Balance unit is still better than the VCR which the unit just replaced. Mine's a keeper.

Ho Ho Ho,
Captain Diode

[NightWing]

One other good question is how is the black level?

IE are the blacks black on somthing else playing thing back? Found that the 04 is ok if played on itself but not on anything else.

[Capt_Diode]

Nightwing,

I performed some testing today on the various recording speeds. In comparing the results against my Sony 900, It could not keep up with the quality of the 900. In its best mode it produced results compared to the 4 hour mode on the Sony 900. I never saw any issues with black level. I recorded from DVD to DVD using the opening scene from Star Wars IV (A New Hope) since the opening has a lot of Black in it. The unit performed reasonable well for 139 Dollars. Sadly the unit seems to have some low frequency whine in the background when recording from the tuner. I noticed that the output whether composite or S-Video was always darker than the original. I think a good comb filter in this unit would also help matters. I also found the clock lost about 10 seconds in the last few days and that the clock stops altogether if it is unplugged. I will have to return the unit tomorrow. I will now consider the Sony 300 or the Lite-On 5045.

Happy New Year!
Captain Diode

[NightWing]

The clock basically looses 2 seconds a day. Which over time makes time recording a pain. It sounds like its a software clock off of a freq when divided down to 1pps is wrong. come out to about 1.084 pps feeding the "clock" circuit. IE Botch job! It may be possible depending on designed to "alter" it so it some what stays closer. 2 seconds a week would be nice. Be intersting to compare xtals found on its board to the other units using the LSI chipset.

Better chip sets and pipeline on the sony. The only time I noted a black level problem is when you play a recorder disk on another unit. Playing on it comes out ok. The sample VS immages in the 5101 thread shows that it just too bright.

Desied to hold onto the iLO for two reason. 1) Want to see if I can clean up the tunner that could be replicated for other user. 2) Had a horrible case of Stomic Flu and missed the turn back date!

Wondering if there are some signals from the logic board seeping into the tunner?

[EvilWizardGlick]

I must be lucky, Aside from the clock gaining a few seconds a day, and I never use the tuner, It (iLo 04) has performed perfectly for my needs.

Same here. S-video in, and never a problem.
I don't get the green tint thing either.
I'm archiving from vhs, and computer mainly.
When I do copy something from Tv it tends to be older and not DD5.1.
Still never a problem, and compatable with four of the five players I tried and computer.

[lc1783]

This unit is supposed to have an OTR record function to record in 30 minute intervals. This feature does not work. If I press the record button more than once, the recording stops. Has anyone been able to use this feature?

[EvilWizardGlick]

This unit is supposed to have an OTR record function to record in 30 minute intervals. This feature does not work. If I press the record button more than once, the recording stops. Has anyone been able to use this feature?

The Ilo or the Balance?
The Ilo records fine with OTR. The button being so small is tough to hit though.

[lc1783]

I have the Balance DR4111. You are supposed to be able to record in 30 minute intervals just by pressing the record button (once for every 30 minutes). On my machine, pressing the record button more than once stops the recording. If you repeat this, the unit stops recording altogether with message "Disc Full'. You have to erase the last title to record again.

[roadcoach]

Had to return mine. Did not work in MANY ways. Hum when recording. Recordings would not always play back even on the Balance 4111 unit.
Recording froze my PC when I tried to play them back. When recording and watching the tv at the same time the picture and sound was distorted. When I turned the unit off it would sometimes ot turn on again until I unpluged and repluged it from AC. I was unable to "make compatible" until I had "Finalized" the disk, and even then I got errors. What a piece of JUNK. I was unable to reach customer support even after trying for 30 min. You have to press 1 every 30 seconds or you will be transferred, so you can not just leave it on speaker phone...a new trick.

Only good thing is that when I returned it to Walmart they paid me back for my shipping charges.

[RickHouTx]

Has anyone been able to find a hack for this recorder that will allow you to make backups on this recorder from VHS tapes and DVD's that have MacroVision?

Thanks

[sir]

I have the Balance DR4111. You are supposed to be able to record in 30 minute intervals just by pressing the record button (once for every 30 minutes). On my machine, pressing the record button more than once stops the recording. If you repeat this, the unit stops recording altogether with message "Disc Full'. You have to erase the last title to record again.

I've had this thing a few days now and it is definately "quirky".
Yes, this "feature" doesn't appear to work as advertised. Looks like you need to hit stop to get it to quit recording without creating a disk-full condition or use the timer. Experienced a couple of lockups the last one being when recording from my video camera through the DV connector. When it reached the end-of-tape the unit locked up tight. I had to pull the power plug to bring back. It didn't lose the recording made to the DVD, though. I am going to see if this is repeatable.

Not ready to return it yet. It appears to make decent recordings as I have been able to make a few DVDs from some laserdiscs and DISH on +RW and - R media. I also like the generous number of input sources. If I don't experience too many more issues perhaps I can live with it in hopes that Balance comes up with an update to the bugs.

-Sir

BTW - The remote appears to work perfectly with my Apex AD600A player.