Apologies for any phrases that are incorrect.

Where do I start to even look to buy something like the following:

1. Looking for a dvd recorder that records onto hard drive at least 160GB and onto a dvd, so the kids can watch it later on their dvd player.
2. Something with freeview too. Just got rid off sky!
3. Multi format though I tend to use DVD -R.
4. Well most of all some good advice what to buy please.

Wife mentioned the 160 GB Digital DVD/HDD Recorder on sale this Sunday at Aldi for £149.99. Having searched the forum I am lead to assume this is bad news? Please any help would be great as its a minefield out there...much needed for christmas though. Cheers Andy

[Adrian_F]

The Panasonic EX77 will fulfill your needs and is an excellent machine. It can be bought for around the £199 mark online at the moment, Digitaldirect is one such site

http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/produ...VD%20Recorders

Another possibility is the Sony870, again highly recommended by users of this forum.

[Gavtech]

I second all Adrian's comments.

Those machines are basically your choice... although Pioneer machines are also worthy of consideration.

[john renard]

Originally Posted by Adrian_F

The Panasonic EX77 will fulfill your needs and is an excellent machine.

I completely endorse this recommendation. I was in your position a few weeks ago and I am so pleased that I took the advice and went for this machine. It is simple to use yet produces excellent results.

Its full title is Panasonic DMR-EX77EB. There is a K model, which simply means it is coloured black, and an S, which is silver.

Do some research on this and other forums, read the reviews on the net, and you will see how delighted people are with it.

It supports all formats, including -R and RAM.

It has a 160GB hard disk. If you anticipate the family doing a very great deal of recordings, consider its big brother the EX87, which is the same machine with a bigger HDD.

Thanks for the advice, looks like I am buying the DMR EX77EB. I have started a new thread seeking advice if my present Panasonic surround system SC-HT870 is compatable with the Panasonic DMR EX77EB. I did think about buying the DMR EX87EB what do you think?

[JohnG]

I would imagine that the purchase has already been made about a year and a half ago

[filmnet]

Just wondering, I'm also looking for a DVD recorder with HDD.

I only have three main requirements:

1) Either 2 AV inputs (for my Freeview box & satellite receiver); or 1 AV input (if it already has Freeview tuner).

2) NOT made in China - I accept it's often difficult to find this information without looking at back of actual unit or packaging.

3) Generally good reviews, as it's intended to be used for many years primarily by my father - so something reliable.

I have found that Panasonic units seem to fit the bill, however I also had a look at Philips, but the new Freeview ones have bad reviews and the old analogue ones only seem to have 1 AV input?

many thanks in advance,

-filmnet

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by filmnet

Just wondering, I'm also looking for a DVD recorder with HDD.

I only have three main requirements:

1) Either 2 AV inputs (for my Freeview box & satellite receiver); or 1 AV input (if it already has Freeview tuner).

2) NOT made in China - I accept it's often difficult to find this information without looking at back of actual unit or packaging.

3) Generally good reviews, as it's intended to be used for many years primarily by my father - so something reliable.

I have found that Panasonic units seem to fit the bill, however I also had a look at Philips, but the new Freeview ones have bad reviews and the old analogue ones only seem to have 1 AV input?

many thanks in advance,

-filmnet

Welcome to the forum.


Consider the Panasonic models as follows.

EX 769, EX79, EX89 - All possibly difficult to get now...

or the newer replacement models EX773 or EX83.


More information is available on the models here.
{All these models have Freeview tuners}

[filmnet]

Originally Posted by Gavtech

EX 769, EX79, EX89 - All possibly difficult to get now...

or the newer replacement models EX773 or EX83.

I should thank you for your advice. Last month I ended up buying a Panasonic DMR-EH58, or to be specific, DMR-EH58EBL from "Deviltronics" on Ebay.

It doesn't have a Freeview tuner, but has 2 SCART inputs, so I connected both boxes and we get all the main channels duplicated on both Freeview and satellite.

Made in Slovakia. Well the remote is made in China, but beggars can't be choosers! - it was the best new one I could afford - just under £100+VAT delivered.

My father is very impressed with it, and I don't think he can imagine going back to watching things with adverts!

thanks again,

-filmnet

[filmnet]

As you can see I've had this unit for over 3 months now with no complaints.

Just one thing: I haven't been able to get it to recognise my USB memory card reader. The light in the reader comes on, but nothing else happens.

Are there some restrictions with what can connect to the USB port? I couldn't find much help in the manual.

thanks in advance,

-filmnet

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by filmnet

As you can see I've had this unit for over 3 months now with no complaints.

Just one thing: I haven't been able to get it to recognise my USB memory card reader. The light in the reader comes on, but nothing else happens.

Are there some restrictions with what can connect to the USB port? I couldn't find much help in the manual.

thanks in advance,

-filmnet

As a matter of interest, which part of the world are you in? ... as the DMREH58 is not a UK Model.



The most common reason for this failure is that the file format of the USB memory is incorrect. Only Fat 16 and FAT 32 partitions are supported.

But check all the requirements to see that your USB device meets them:

USB memories which are defined as USB mass storage class, and digital cameras that use PTP protocol:


USB memories of up to 128 GB can be used.

USB memories that support bulk only transfer.

Digital Cameras which require additional programme installation when connected to a PC are not supported.

MTP (Media Transport Protocol) device is not supported.

A multi-port USB card reader is not supported.

FAT16 and FAT32 file systems are supported.

UDF/NTFS/exFAT file system is not supported.

Depending on the sector size, some files may not work.

Only the first partition on USB memories with multi-partition is supported.

[filmnet]

Originally Posted by Gavtech

The most common reason for this failure is that the file format of the USB memory is incorrect. Only Fat 16 and FAT 32 partitions are supported.

Well I am using a 4GB SDHC card in the reader, and I believe that these cards are FAT32.

I am coming to the conclusion that the Panasonic can't communicate with the reader for some reason, and that I should get a self contained USB flash drive instead. Any recommendations?

By the way, I'm in the UK. It seems to be destined for the UK and Ireland according to the support numbers in the manual, the PAL-I tuner and plug.

-filmnet

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by filmnet

Well I am using a 4GB SDHC card in the reader, and I believe that these cards are FAT32.

I am coming to the conclusion that the Panasonic can't communicate with the reader for some reason, and that I should get a self contained USB flash drive instead. Any recommendations?

I don't have any particular recommendations. It is rarely possible to do so as the memory market is so fluid, it is usually just a question of getting what happens to be available at any one time.

One point - Are you sure the reader supports SDHC cards? There are a great many SD readers around that do not, which may be the problem in this case.

[filmnet]

Yes, the card came with the reader, and it works on my computer.

I think I will experiment with some other cards, failing that I will get a flash drive and hope it works!

-filmnet

[Gavtech]

Originally Posted by filmnet

I think I will experiment with some other cards, failing that I will get a flash drive and hope it works!

-filmnet

A flash drive is much more likely to be problem free.

[ramjet]

Originally Posted by filmnet

Yes, the card came with the reader, and it works on my computer.

I think I will experiment with some other cards, failing that I will get a flash drive and hope it works!

-filmnet

the fact that it works on a pc is no indication of it working on another device or not

it is likely that gavtech is correct when he was asking about sdhc , and you may find it takes sd only and not sdhc ( a very common mistake that people make ) and even if you tried SD cards it may be that its the reader not being seen either

so you need to be sure that it takes sd cards first , then try sdhc cards , and this is assuming that the usb reader is compatible with the panny

[filmnet]

It's certainly been a learning curve for me.

I tried an SD card, and still nothing happened!

Then I found an old MMC, it worked - or more accurate, it worked when I put files no larger than about 250MB on the card, when I put a 500MB video, the Panasonic acted as before... as if the card wasn't recognised.

I am guessing that the USB card reader is not totally compatible with it, so I might ask to borrow a friend's flash drive and hope for better success.

-filmnet