Antena and OK (not great) recept., but dark image through DVD recorder

[alfonsoalfonsis]

I just got a a DVD recorder with a Hard Drive. I don't have Cable or Satelite, only an indoor antenna. With only the TV on, the picture is bright, usually a bit grainy, occassionally wavy. but completely viewable.

With the DVD R HD on, the image is obviously darker with wilder colors. Why is this? Nothing else has changed. Would getting cable fix the problem?

Equipment Philips DVDR3455H
Old Sanyo TV (only Coaxle input, so I have an RF converter).

The antenna goes to the DVDR, which then goes to the RF converter, which then goes to the TV.

Thanks

[alfonsoalfonsis]

Update, it does the same thing when trying to watch a DVD, so the antena is a red herring.

With the exact same cables and the exact same path, my old DVD player (not-recorder) looks completely normal. Same cables, same setup and the new Philips image looks darker, with whacked colors.

I called a customer service person from Philips and they said ti must be defective. I'm not convinced, but I'll exchange it anyway. Unless someone else has any ideas.