Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it should, I have
had it crash a few times where only responding to a cold boot by turning off
and back on again. It also doesn't have two Freeview tuners, so you can't
watch one prgram whilst watching another through the machine. I have since
seem reviews are rather dire.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem like
hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it should, I have
had it crash a few times where only responding to a cold boot by turning off
and back on again. It also doesn't have two Freeview tuners, so you can't
watch one prgram whilst watching another through the machine. I have since
seem reviews are rather dire.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem like
hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Does anyone have some suggestions?


The only one I know of with twin tuners and a DVD drive is the Panasonic
DMR-XW380.

--
Adrian

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

"Adrian" wrote in message
om...
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it should, I
have had it crash a few times where only responding to a cold boot by
turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have two Freeview tuners,
so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching another through the
machine. I have since seem reviews are rather dire.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem like
hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Does anyone have some suggestions?


The only one I know of with twin tuners and a DVD drive is the Panasonic
DMR-XW380.


Many thanks, but at £400 or so, this isn't realistically in anyone's budget.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it should,
I have had it crash a few times where only responding to a cold boot
by turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have two Freeview
tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching another through
the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather dire.

Maybe I 've misunderstood exactly want you want to do, but any set-up
comprising a TV with Freeview capability and a single tuner HD/DVD should
allow you (a) to watch one programme live on the TV while recording another,
or (b) to watch one programme from the HD while recording another to it or
to DVD.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

A twin tuner HD/DVD will make 3 tuners in all, which are only of use if you
want to do something involving 3 different programmes at the same time, or
record two different ones while you're out.

I suspect a single tuner HD/DVD would be more than adequate.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Can something cost a weight?

Bill

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

In article , Adrian wrote:
Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem like
hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Does anyone have some suggestions?


The only one I know of with twin tuners and a DVD drive is the Panasonic
DMR-XW380.

It looks good, but it costs more than two separate single-tuner PVRs, so if
simultaneous recording of two programmes is important, the sensible thing to
do would be to buy two separate single-tuner PVRs.

Rod.
--
Virtual Access V6.3 free usenet/email software from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

In article ,
Bill Wright wrote:

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Can something cost a weight?

"Their weight in gold" is an amount of gold, not a weight as such.

9. its, his, etc. weight in or of gold, silver, etc.: a quantity of
gold, silver, etc. of the same weight. Chiefly in hyperbolical
statements of value.

(OED)

So the question should be "can something cost some quantity of gold",
to which the answer is surely yes.

-- Richard

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Richard Tobin wrote:
In article ,
Bill Wright wrote:

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Can something cost a weight?

"Their weight in gold" is an amount of gold, not a weight as such.

9. its, his, etc. weight in or of gold, silver, etc.: a quantity of
gold, silver, etc. of the same weight. Chiefly in hyperbolical
statements of value.

(OED)

So the question should be "can something cost some quantity of gold",
to which the answer is surely yes.

-- Richard
I agree that you could say 'worth its weight in gold', but unless you
use gold as a currency you really need to say 'worth the value of its
weight in gold at current rates.'

Bill

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Bill Wright wrote:
Richard Tobin wrote:
In article ,
Bill Wright wrote:

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these
seem like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Can something cost a weight?

"Their weight in gold" is an amount of gold, not a weight as such.

9. its, his, etc. weight in or of gold, silver, etc.: a quantity
of gold, silver, etc. of the same weight. Chiefly in hyperbolical
statements of value.

(OED)

So the question should be "can something cost some quantity of
gold", to which the answer is surely yes.

-- Richard
I agree that you could say 'worth its weight in gold', but unless you
use gold as a currency you really need to say 'worth the value of its
weight in gold at current rates.'

Plus VAT at seveh-een an' alf percent for now, goes up in January Guv, let's
see now, that'll be fifty eigh' fausand free undred an foh'y foh pahnd and
firty five pence, call it fifty eigh' fausand free undred an foh'y for cash,
that OK wiv you squire, don' tell the tax man, eh?

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

"Roderick Stewart" wrote in
message .myzen.co.uk...
In article , Adrian
wrote:
Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like
hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Does anyone have some suggestions?


The only one I know of with twin tuners and a DVD drive is the Panasonic
DMR-XW380.

It looks good, but it costs more than two separate single-tuner PVRs, so
if
simultaneous recording of two programmes is important, the sensible thing
to
do would be to buy two separate single-tuner PVRs.

Rod.

That is a logic conclusion, but a combined HD and DVD recorder does mean you
can transfer from one to the other, which isn't possible with separates.

I fee there's a very big gap in the market. An alternative is the Tesco
unit which has a HD and a network port, which might allow you to download
programs onto a PC. It would be possible to edit and burn onto a DVD, but
that's also £200.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it should,
I have had it crash a few times where only responding to a cold boot
by turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have two Freeview
tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching another through
the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather dire.

Maybe I 've misunderstood exactly want you want to do, but any set-up
comprising a TV with Freeview capability and a single tuner HD/DVD should
allow you (a) to watch one programme live on the TV while recording
another, or (b) to watch one programme from the HD while recording another
to it or to DVD.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

A twin tuner HD/DVD will make 3 tuners in all, which are only of use if
you want to do something involving 3 different programmes at the same
time, or record two different ones while you're out.

I suspect a single tuner HD/DVD would be more than adequate.

Does anyone have some suggestions?


Most combined HD and DVD recorders seem to have the one tuner. It would be
desirable to record one program whilst watching another, hence 2 tuners.
The Samsung unit I mentioned above is one where you can either record, or
watch as it has the one tuner.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it
should, I have had it crash a few times where only responding to a
cold boot by turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have
two Freeview tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching
another through the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather
dire.

Maybe I 've misunderstood exactly want you want to do, but any set-up
comprising a TV with Freeview capability and a single tuner HD/DVD
should allow you (a) to watch one programme live on the TV while
recording another, or (b) to watch one programme from the HD while
recording another to it or to DVD.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

A twin tuner HD/DVD will make 3 tuners in all, which are only of use
if you want to do something involving 3 different programmes at the
same time, or record two different ones while you're out.

I suspect a single tuner HD/DVD would be more than adequate.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Most combined HD and DVD recorders seem to have the one tuner. It
would be desirable to record one program whilst watching another,
hence 2 tuners. The Samsung unit I mentioned above is one where you
can either record, or watch as it has the one tuner.

Then you 'watch' on the TV using its own internal Freeview tuner or external
STB, and 'record' using the tuner in the HD/DVD. What's the problem?

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:

That is a logic conclusion, but a combined HD and DVD recorder does mean you
can transfer from one to the other, which isn't possible with separates.

HD to separate DVD recorder is not a problem, though it has to be
done in real time. I'm not quite sure why the reverse would be of
use.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Chris J Dixon wrote:
Fredxx wrote:

That is a logic conclusion, but a combined HD and DVD recorder does
mean you can transfer from one to the other, which isn't possible
with separates.

HD to separate DVD recorder is not a problem, though it has to be
done in real time. I'm not quite sure why the reverse would be of
use.

Generally, editing and chaptering can only be done with a recording on the
HD. So, if you want for example to remove the adverts from something you've
for some reason recorded to DVD, you have to copy it to the HD first.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

On 05/12/2010 15:42, Adrian wrote:
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it should, I
have had it crash a few times where only responding to a cold boot by
turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have two Freeview
tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching another through
the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather dire.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

Does anyone have some suggestions?


The only one I know of with twin tuners and a DVD drive is the Panasonic
DMR-XW380.

Which doesn't record 5.1 audio ......


Clem

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it
should, I have had it crash a few times where only responding to a
cold boot by turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have
two Freeview tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching
another through the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather
dire.

Maybe I 've misunderstood exactly want you want to do, but any set-up
comprising a TV with Freeview capability and a single tuner HD/DVD
should allow you (a) to watch one programme live on the TV while
recording another, or (b) to watch one programme from the HD while
recording another to it or to DVD.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these seem
like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

A twin tuner HD/DVD will make 3 tuners in all, which are only of use
if you want to do something involving 3 different programmes at the
same time, or record two different ones while you're out.

I suspect a single tuner HD/DVD would be more than adequate.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Most combined HD and DVD recorders seem to have the one tuner. It
would be desirable to record one program whilst watching another,
hence 2 tuners. The Samsung unit I mentioned above is one where you
can either record, or watch as it has the one tuner.

Then you 'watch' on the TV using its own internal Freeview tuner or
external STB, and 'record' using the tuner in the HD/DVD. What's the
problem?


Nothing, just in a high end unit I would expect twin tuners. If a £70 Bush
HD recorder from Argos can have twin tuners, I can't see why combined HD and
DVD units can't.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

In article ,
Fredxx wrote:

Nothing, just in a high end unit I would expect twin tuners. If a £70 Bush
HD recorder from Argos can have twin tuners, I can't see why combined HD and
DVD units can't.

A hard-disk recorder can just record the raw DVB data. A DVD recorder
must decode the stream and re-encode it in DVD format. So it may be
the cost of the encoding hardware rather than the tuner itself,
especially as it's likely to be subject to patents.

(Actually I'm not sure just how much conversion has to be done for SD
digital transmissions to make them into DVD streams.)

-- Richard

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

"Richard Tobin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Fredxx wrote:

Nothing, just in a high end unit I would expect twin tuners. If a £70
Bush
HD recorder from Argos can have twin tuners, I can't see why combined HD
and
DVD units can't.

A hard-disk recorder can just record the raw DVB data. A DVD recorder
must decode the stream and re-encode it in DVD format. So it may be
the cost of the encoding hardware rather than the tuner itself,
especially as it's likely to be subject to patents.

(Actually I'm not sure just how much conversion has to be done for SD
digital transmissions to make them into DVD streams.)


That's an interesting comment. To be honest I thought both DVD format and
DVB data were both MPEG2 and so very similar to each other. BICBW

The Samsung unit, I mentioned earlier, is £170 or so and has both DVD and
HD. So it can be done.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:

To be honest I thought both DVD format and
DVB data were both MPEG2 and so very similar to each other.

They are similar, but off-air the MPEG2 will be a transport stream, on a
DVD it'll be a programme stream.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG_transport_stream
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Program_Stream

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it
should, I have had it crash a few times where only responding to a
cold boot by turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have
two Freeview tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching
another through the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather
dire.

Maybe I 've misunderstood exactly want you want to do, but any
set-up comprising a TV with Freeview capability and a single tuner
HD/DVD should allow you (a) to watch one programme live on the TV
while recording another, or (b) to watch one programme from the HD
while recording another to it or to DVD.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these
seem like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

A twin tuner HD/DVD will make 3 tuners in all, which are only of
use if you want to do something involving 3 different programmes
at the same time, or record two different ones while you're out.

I suspect a single tuner HD/DVD would be more than adequate.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Most combined HD and DVD recorders seem to have the one tuner. It
would be desirable to record one program whilst watching another,
hence 2 tuners. The Samsung unit I mentioned above is one where you
can either record, or watch as it has the one tuner.

Then you 'watch' on the TV using its own internal Freeview tuner or
external STB, and 'record' using the tuner in the HD/DVD. What's the
problem?


Nothing, just in a high end unit I would expect twin tuners. If a
£70 Bush HD recorder from Argos can have twin tuners, I can't see why
combined HD and DVD units can't.

They can of course. They just cost more, and don't give much advantage to
the average user, so they're not produced in volume. If you're desperate
for one, all you have to do is pay up. Your choice.

But I suspect all you'd be doing then is complaining that it doesn't have
triple tuners.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...

But I suspect all you'd be doing then is complaining that it doesn't have
triple tuners.


As I've said a number of times, the ideal instrument would have twin tuners.
I've also not seen any HD or DVD recorder combined or otherwise with 3
tuners, not even ones in excess of £400.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...

But I suspect all you'd be doing then is complaining that it doesn't
have triple tuners.


As I've said a number of times, the ideal instrument would have twin
tuners.

Yes, but you haven't actually explained why.

I've also not seen any HD or DVD recorder combined or
otherwise with 3 tuners, not even ones in excess of £400.

Exactly, 3 are considered too many.

Same as 2 actually, which is why you can't find them either.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

In article , Fredxx wrote:
The only one I know of with twin tuners and a DVD drive is the Panasonic
DMR-XW380.

It looks good, but it costs more than two separate single-tuner PVRs, so
if
simultaneous recording of two programmes is important, the sensible thing
to
do would be to buy two separate single-tuner PVRs.

Rod.

That is a logic conclusion, but a combined HD and DVD recorder does mean you
can transfer from one to the other, which isn't possible with separates.

I was thinking of two HDD/DVD PVRs, which is exactly the arrangement I have.
The total cost of both of them would not buy one with two tuners.

I can easily save HDD content from either of them onto a DVD, but these days I
am finding less and less material that is worth the bother.

Rod.
--
Virtual Access V6.3 free usenet/email software from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Fredxx wrote:

"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...

But I suspect all you'd be doing then is complaining that it doesn't have
triple tuners.


As I've said a number of times, the ideal instrument would have twin tuners.
I've also not seen any HD or DVD recorder combined or otherwise with 3
tuners, not even ones in excess of £400.

You could build your own.

MythTV, I think, is the relevant thing to look for.
--
http://www.decohen.com
The Labyrinth of the Heart: Changed Myths for Changing Lives
e-book http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29317
Send e-mail to the Reply-To address, not the From address.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Daniel Cohen wrote:

Fredxx wrote:

the ideal instrument would have twin tuners.
I've also not seen any HD or DVD recorder combined or otherwise with 3
tuners, not even ones in excess of £400.

MythTV, I think, is the relevant thing to look for.

I don't have any DVB-T2 or DVB-S tuners yet, so no HD recordings, but I
have 2 x DVB-T tuners and can record 4 concurrent programmes from one
mux with each.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

On Mon, 6 Dec 2010 22:22:04 -0000, "Norman Wells"
wrote:

Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
Fredxx wrote:
A friend of mine has bought a Samsung DVD-SH893M/XEU which is most
disappointing. Apart from not recording when it all seems it
should, I have had it crash a few times where only responding to a
cold boot by turning off and back on again. It also doesn't have
two Freeview tuners, so you can't watch one prgram whilst watching
another through the machine. I have since seem reviews are rather
dire.

Maybe I 've misunderstood exactly want you want to do, but any
set-up comprising a TV with Freeview capability and a single tuner
HD/DVD should allow you (a) to watch one programme live on the TV
while recording another, or (b) to watch one programme from the HD
while recording another to it or to DVD.

Naturally this machine is going back.

Ideally she needs a twin tuner, DVD and HD recorder, but these
seem like hen's teeth, or cost their weight in gold.

A twin tuner HD/DVD will make 3 tuners in all, which are only of
use if you want to do something involving 3 different programmes
at the same time, or record two different ones while you're out.

I suspect a single tuner HD/DVD would be more than adequate.

Does anyone have some suggestions?

Most combined HD and DVD recorders seem to have the one tuner. It
would be desirable to record one program whilst watching another,
hence 2 tuners. The Samsung unit I mentioned above is one where you
can either record, or watch as it has the one tuner.

Then you 'watch' on the TV using its own internal Freeview tuner or
external STB, and 'record' using the tuner in the HD/DVD. What's the
problem?


Nothing, just in a high end unit I would expect twin tuners. If a
£70 Bush HD recorder from Argos can have twin tuners, I can't see why
combined HD and DVD units can't.

They can of course. They just cost more, and don't give much advantage to
the average user, so they're not produced in volume. If you're desperate
for one, all you have to do is pay up. Your choice.

But I suspect all you'd be doing then is complaining that it doesn't have
triple tuners.

as a complete distraction, the virginmedia V+ HD PVR comes with 3
tuners.

Since it runs off the VM excrypted cable, the set will not have a
useful useful built in tuner.

being able to handle TV output with real time freeze, record 1
programme with a few minutes overrun and also kick off another that
overlaps is the way the 3 tuners get used here.

I can see see why having 3 tuners is going to be just as useful with a
Freeview PVR - DVD or not.
--
Regards

- replace xyz with ntl

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

In article , Daniel Cohen wrote:
As I've said a number of times, the ideal instrument would have twin tuners.
I've also not seen any HD or DVD recorder combined or otherwise with 3
tuners, not even ones in excess of £400.

You could build your own.

MythTV, I think, is the relevant thing to look for.

MythTV is a piece of software. You'd still need two tuners.

Rod.
--
Virtual Access V6.3 free usenet/email software from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

Roderick Stewart wrote:

In article , Daniel Cohen
wrote:

You could build your own.

MythTV, I think, is the relevant thing to look for.

MythTV is a piece of software. You'd still need two tuners.

Rod.

Yes, certainly. But using the software, plenty of people have built a
system with two or more tuners. And mentioning MythTV felt the simplest
way (since I haven't done any such building myself) to give a pointer to
where to look further.

--
http://www.decohen.com
The Labyrinth of the Heart: Changed Myths for Changing Lives
e-book http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/29317
Send e-mail to the Reply-To address, not the From address.

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

In article , Daniel Cohen
wrote:
You could build your own.

MythTV, I think, is the relevant thing to look for.

MythTV is a piece of software. You'd still need two tuners.

Rod.

Yes, certainly. But using the software, plenty of people have built a
system with two or more tuners. And mentioning MythTV felt the simplest
way (since I haven't done any such building myself) to give a pointer to
where to look further.

I've found my own way to "build" my own "twin tuner PVR", though some
might call it two single tuner PVRs, combined, not by means of software,
but by means of a wooden shelf unit and a load of SCART cables and a
switch box. My carpentry skills aren't great, but my software skills are
even worse, so it seemed prudent to stick with what I know. The result is
simple, it works very well, and it cost less than it would have done to
buy Panasonic's ready made all-in-one-box effort.

My arrangement also has a certain amount of inherent redundancy, so that
in the event of catastrophic failure of one unit, I'd still have a
completely functional system albeit with reduced capacity in the form of
the other one, in that in the event of programme clashes I'd have to make
a decision about which programmes to miss, with the result that I'd watch
less television, which would probably be no bad thing.

Rod.

Rod.
--
Virtual Access V6.3 free usenet/email software from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/

Combined Freeview HD and DVD recorder
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0YS8Mf6Eiw