Time to replace my VCR! But where to start?

[Phil_P]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum guys, but I'm really unsure where I should be posting this.

My VCR looks like it's about to bite the dust so needs replacing.

I'm a technoluddite when it comes to things like this... we don't even have widescreen TV yet

I really have no idea what the current options are or where I should start looking. I've seen Hard disk based recorders, DVD based recorders, recorders with both HD and DVD etc. We don't record a lot of stuff, but I guess the ability to write off to DVD is nice, so I assume that sort of rules out a HD only solution, but the Combo HD/DVD recorders look quite pricey. I haven't really given much thought to budget as I don't really know what's available, but I guess anywhere in the £50-300 range for a cheap and cheerful solution through to a state of the art solution is a possibility if I think it represents good value.

BTW, we don't have Sky/Cable, just regular Freeview and reception ain't great on that either. I see some devices even have Freeview reception built in, so I guess that's useful for me too as we'll ultimately need a freeview box in every room that has a TV.

Can anyone point me in the right general direction or outline some of the options. Perhaps there's a good guide somewhere here at Hexus that I've missed.

Thanks in advance... I need the help!!!

[teggs11]

what's VCR? lol

[Phil_P]

Originally Posted by teggs11

what's VCR? lol

Thanks for the bump

[Oldjim]

Have a look here http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=113

[Clunk]

Get a Toppy, its the best gadget in the world, ever.

[dancingmatt]

Forget DVD recorders - it's the same problem as VCR, namely physical storage and non-contiguous space that you have to keep track of.

Get a PVR - a Hard Disk recorder, for example mine - Humax PVR9200T. Fantastic. Looks great, has 160GB hard drive (more than most), built in Freeview receiver, does picture in or by picture for more than one channel, and has an EPG which you can use to set recordings. It's so easy.

The only benefit offered by a DVD recorder is the ability, as you noted, to archive stuff permanently. You can also connect this PVR to a PC if you want to do this as it has inbuilt USB, although it has a very slow connection (probably USB 1). The sort of thing you set running and go to bed over.

But 160GB will keep you happy for a very long time. And anyway, I read you can even swap out the hard drive for a standard 3.5" model! So I guess you could put a bigger one in, or take it out, put it temporarily in a PC and copy files off!

It's the best stand-alone as-it-says-on-the-tin piece of equipment I've ever bought and it's great. Get a PVR and make it this one. £199 in John Lewis and probably cheaper elsewhere.

Hell, I think you can even get a no-name bargain DVD recorder for about £50 in some supermarket or Superdrug or some high street like that. Get the PVR9200T and a DVD recorder if you're worried!

Hope this helps

DM

[Phil_P]

Thanks guys - really appreciate the input

I took a look on amazon and read a few reviews. Initially I was put off by the PVRs as many had bad reviews - noisy fans (Sony), buggy firmware (we had a buggy el cheapo freeview box that was unusable), but the Humax and Topfield (is this what you meant by a Toppy, Clunk?) did seem to get consistently good reviews. After your comments, I'm now reconsidering.

Thanks for the link Oldjim - not had a chance to check it out yet, but I will do later tonight.

[Funkstar]

yes, topfield = toppy

You can get software addons from various toppy fan sites which add quite a bit of usability to the device.

160GB is about 80 hours of Freeview recording on average.

If they can handle any size of standard 3.5" disk then you could get a 1,000GB disk for about 500hours of recording

[Phil_P]

Originally Posted by dancingmatt

You can also connect this PVR to a PC if you want to do this as it has inbuilt USB, although it has a very slow connection (probably USB 1). The sort of thing you set running and go to bed over.

Just checked the specs, and both the Humax and Topfield say USB 2.0

[DarthTedious]

Just got a Panasonic DMR-EX77 after reading some good reviews, and so far hasn't disappointed.

160GB hard disk, and DVD recorder that writes to every available format (including DVD RAM and dual layer). You can edit recordings to cut out bits (i.e,. leading/trailing sections or adverts). Also has SD/MMC memory card reader for viewing photos + DV input for a camcorder though I haven't yet tried the latter. Also has HDMI and upscales DVD and Freeview to 1080p (so I am told - don't have a HD TV yet!) and has built in freeview tuner. So pretty much all the functions you might want!

got mine for £270

[Funkstar]

Does that Panasonic box do time shifting?

[abeacock]

I'll add another bump to the Humax PVR9200T - great piece of kit and you can pull the programs off onto the PC as well if you need to archive them off.

[Clunk]

The Topfield is infinitely customisable, there is what are known as TAPS, which are FREE, small add on bits of software, to do various different things, pretty much anything really, mp3, divx, mystuff (which is excellent).

Put it this way, I'm not easily impressed by electronics, and the Toppy, once you get a few basic TAPS on there, as I said, is THE best gadget ever.

With just a couple of presses of keys, you can set it to record entire series', timeslip, record 2 channels while watching another 2 in PIP, timers for pretty much everything, and excellent EPG, bulletproof remote...

Have a look on www.toppy.org.uk they have a forum for support, just for the toppy

[Phil_P]

Originally Posted by DarthTedious

Just got a Panasonic DMR-EX77 after reading some good reviews, and so far hasn't disappointed.

That sounds interesting and the price looks good (it's £255 on amazon).

Does it have twin tuners so you can record/watch two things at once?

[DarthTedious]

Originally Posted by Phil_P

That sounds interesting and the price looks good (it's £255 on amazon).

Does it have twin tuners so you can record/watch two things at once?

No unfortunately - the only major drawback I suppose. That said, I already owned a separate freeview box which I can use if I want to record and watch something different at the same time, so for me it's not a problem.

[this_is_gav]

The alternative is to build or buy an HTPC. They'll do anything a PVR can, plus you get a PC out of it. DVD, DivX, HD (if/when you can/want), MP3, whatever).

Grab something like an Elonex Artisan, and either keep the motherboard and grab a single-core Pentium 4, or do what I did, stick a standard MicroATX motherboard in and grab a duallie. I even went for a laptop motherboard and CPU for that extra coolness (OK, less warm, put it that way). All you need is a half-height TV-tuner (Black Gold do them), some RAM (dirt-cheap at the moment) a hard drive of your choosing (3.5" are fine), a DVD or HD drive and you're away.

It'll work out more expensive at the moment, unless you have some bits lying around, but you have a shell you could upgrade over time, use as a 2nd PC and in my case, a silent box I can leave on over night in my room, downloading and recording.