After a new DVD recorder but need advice....

[TheGMan]

I live in the UK. Am after a DVD recorder with two scarts - must be mutiregion (or multi-regionable via the remote)

I would like it to have freeview built in and prefer it to have a HDD.

I have a decent VCR that I would like to connect to the DVD recorder to enable me to put my video library on DVD.

Any suggestions as each one I've seen in catalogues so far says "no hacks" in the DVD Hacks section.

TIA

[guns1inger]

I hope your video library isn't made up of commercial tapes, or your will to throw a TBC into the mix as well.

[TheGMan]

Got a lot of old films from the 80's - They mainly don't have protection on them - If I can get them on DVD I can put the originals in the loft to save on space (and I still have the original should I have a problem with the DVD) There's an LG Video/Dvd Recorder in Argos that appears to be multi-regionable but I really want a DVD Recorder with freeview built in so I can get rid of the existing freeview box (making space for the JVC VCR) The HDD is preferred but optional.

[orsetto]

In the USA, we occasionally hear good things from UK members about the Sony (870,970,1070) and Pioneer (DVR550Hs etc) DVD/HDD models with FreeView. Both roll out of the same factory and the UK versions are more similar to each other than the North American versions are, so you should be OK with either. Both have pretty stable input buffers that handle crummy VHS signal issues that sometimes cause problems in other recorders. Of the two, the Sony models supposedly have slightly better FreeView performance but are more sensitive to copy protection on tapes. The Pioneers are slightly more forgiving. In the US, many people buy the current Phillips model and report good experiences, you might want to check the UK Phillips 3575 (EPG but no DVB-T) or Phillips 5520 (includes both EPG and DVB-T): they could be attractive alternatives for you.

Multi-region is another kettle of fish. You can get an expensive multi-standard recorder, such as Pioneer DVR-LX70, which will record whatever signal you input. But it will not necessarily act as a multi-region player, most recorders don't, they also don't convert standards internally. The preferred method is to buy a recorder you like and supplement it with an inexpensive multi-region or hackable player. Because of international copyright concerns, mfrs intentionally make recorders hack-resistant if not utterly hack-proof.

[ntscuser]

A friend does a huge amount of DVD recording off Freeview. He swears by the Panasonic DMR-EZ25. He sends the recordings to me so I can vouch for their quality even in 4 hour mode. For transferring recordings from VHS to DVD he uses an external video stabilizer connected between the VHS player and the DVD recorder.

This model has since been replaced by the Panasonic DMR-EZ27. One drawback is that it must be region hacked by the supplier when you first buy it like this one:
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/3365

[lordsmurf]

A Panasonic in 4-hour mode?