Hello,
After reading some of the threads in this section I was hoping to get some advice from all you fine folks.I currently have a 46 inch Samsung 1080p LCD HDTV.I live in New York and as of right now only get two digital channels (5-1 Fox & 5-2 WWOR).I use an old school antenna (rabbit ears) and cable/satellite is not an option for me.All I need is a dvd recorder that can record from digital channels like 5-1 and has great playback of it...thats pretty much it...although I wouldn't mind if it also had an EPG,was affordable ($300 max. including tax/shipping),and is known as a durable,bug/glitch free model.

I was very interested in the SAMSUNG DVD-AR650 because of the review on CNET and since it was basic and affordable (and had a EPG).Then I read all the horrible user experiences on multiple websites,and the fact that it has been discontinued leads me to believe almost all the units may be somewhat defective.If anyone could point to a nice model for my purposes thats in the $150-$250 range that would be great;but as I said before I can go up to $300.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post....

There are thousands of posts related to this issue. Use the search function and begin reading.

What you are asking for at the moment doesn't exist exactly. Digital broadcasting and ATSC recorders are still in their infancy and on the whole disappointing, especially the recorders. You can have all the features you asked for including price range, but you have to make a difficult choice between ultimate overall recorder reliability or ultimate digital tuner quality: you can't have both in the same unit, at least not for the last two years.

The current Panasonic ATSC recorders have probably the finest digital tuner quality and will record the sharpest DVDs because of that. However, they are as glitchy and wonky as the day is long- particularly when it comes to timer recordings. You have to have the patience of a saint and perhaps a backup recorder to tolerate the flakiness of current Panasonics (the old analog-tuner Pannys were much better). Competing units from Sony, Toshiba and others are no better and often worse- if you are going to bother with a Japanese name get the Panasonic. Price range is $170 and up.

The Phillips 3576 and its twin the Magnavox H2160 sell for about $250. These are way, WAY more reliable electronically and mechanically than any other current machines with ATSC tuners. These two also have the enormous advantage of a built-in hard drive, which extends recording options and DVD finishing possibilities dramatically. The only drawback is their ATSC tuners are not fantastic: compared to a Panasonic they are merely adequate. To a degree this is subjective based on your reception area and your display: many here are happy with them. But a significant number of very picky folk find the tuners on the Phillips/Magnavox to be sub-par picturewise.

Whichever you choose, buy at a store or eTailer with a liberal refund policy in case you are disappointed with your first choice. For the Panasonics, a big chain like Best Buy alows returns. For the Phillips/Magnavox, Wal*Mart and CostCo are the primary sellers with easy returns. Good luck!

Hello,
After reading some of the threads in this section I was hoping to get some advice from all you fine folks.I currently have a 46 inch Samsung 1080p LCD HDTV.I live in New York and as of right now only get two digital channels (5-1 Fox & 5-2 WWOR).I use an old school antenna (rabbit ears) and cable/satellite is not an option for me.All I need is a dvd recorder that can record from digital channels like 5-1 and has great playback of it...thats pretty much it...although I wouldn't mind if it also had an EPG,was affordable ($300 max. including tax/shipping),and is known as a durable,bug/glitch free model

Whatever recording device you decide to purchase will likely have similar performance issues unless you address the antenna problem. Antennas are discussed here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25

There are more than 7,200 posts concerning the New York City area that may be found here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=275729

A variety of local reception discussions are found here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45

There are thousands of posts related to this issue. Use the search function and begin reading.

I've read quite a few threads and stickies,and none that I read were answering my main concern,being which is best recorder for a non cable/satellite user.

What you are asking for at the moment doesn't exist exactly. Digital broadcasting and ATSC recorders are still in their infancy and on the whole disappointing, especially the recorders. You can have all the features you asked for including price range, but you have to make a difficult choice between ultimate overall recorder reliability or ultimate digital tuner quality: you can't have both in the same unit, at least not for the last two years.

The current Panasonic ATSC recorders have probably the finest digital tuner quality and will record the sharpest DVDs because of that. However, they are as glitchy and wonky as the day is long- particularly when it comes to timer recordings. You have to have the patience of a saint and perhaps a backup recorder to tolerate the flakiness of current Panasonics (the old analog-tuner Pannys were much better). Competing units from Sony, Toshiba and others are no better and often worse- if you are going to bother with a Japanese name get the Panasonic. Price range is $170 and up.

The Phillips 3576 and its twin the Magnavox H2160 sell for about $250. These are way, WAY more reliable electronically and mechanically than any other current machines with ATSC tuners. These two also have the enormous advantage of a built-in hard drive, which extends recording options and DVD finishing possibilities dramatically. The only drawback is their ATSC tuners are not fantastic: compared to a Panasonic they are merely adequate. To a degree this is subjective based on your reception area and your display: many here are happy with them. But a significant number of very picky folk find the tuners on the Phillips/Magnavox to be sub-par picturewise.

Whichever you choose, buy at a store or eTailer with a liberal refund policy in case you are disappointed with your first choice. For the Panasonics, a big chain like Best Buy alows returns. For the Phillips/Magnavox, Wal*Mart and CostCo are the primary sellers with easy returns. Good luck!

Thanks for taking the time to post all this info,I appreciate it.I had read the sticky on those models but wasn't sure what the pros/cons of those were compared to other recorders;until you just explained it.Being that I'm used to crappy reception on my tv from antenna anyway,I'm much more interested in a reliable model than a model with a better ASTC tuner...

Two last questions I promise...

1) Of the Philips and Magnavox models,does either one have an "edge" that would it make a better purchase?

2) If I was recording something on a non digital channel (regular broadcast channel) and the picture reception on that channel isn't very good will the recording come out the same?

Hey Digado,
Thanks for those links,you answered one of my two questions I have left.I will definitely address that issue,I'm just so use to it since I've used those types of antennas most of my life.With a high end t.v though it doesn't make sense not to address it.

Two last questions I promise...
1) Of the Philips and Magnavox models,does either one have an "edge" that would it make a better purchase?
The Philips has been in service longer and some things the Magnavox has different are the HDD (which is always recording up to 6-hours to a temp. buffer, called "Autostart Recording)), records digital CC, better remote (according to reports), and more buttons on front of case. I'm sure I'm forgetting things, so here's a page that lists the differences (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14564338&postcount=1570).

2) If I was recording something on a non digital channel (regular broadcast channel) and the picture reception on that channel isn't very good will the recording come out the same?
Here's a post on PQ in my system (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298382&postcount=8), which might answer it for you as well? Basically, tho the old principle of GIGO applies, esp. to recording at the longer (lower-quality) rec modes... programs recorded from analog channels "fall apart" much faster than those from digital channels!

The Philips has been in service longer and some things the Magnavox has different are the HDD (which is always recording up to 6-hours to a temp. buffer, called "Autostart Recording)), records digital CC, better remote (according to reports), and more buttons on front of case. I'm sure I'm forgetting things, so here's a page that lists the differences (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14564338&postcount=1570).

I was leaning toward the Mag. anyway but after seeing the differences I definitely think its the one I want.


Here's a post on PQ in my system (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298382&postcount=8), which might answer it for you as well? Basically, tho the old principle of GIGO applies, esp. to recording at the longer (lower-quality) rec modes... programs recorded from analog channels "fall apart" much faster than those from digital channels!

While very informative that thread wasn't helpful for me simply because we have different sources;Your using cable so all your analog channels are static free whereas I'm using rabbit ears and most of the time all my analog channels have some form of static/ghosting or another.Either way I hope to address this issue with a nice set of rabbit ears as cable/satellite isn't an option.

Thanks for the info

Glad you're finding our contributions helpful, xxtheycallmedxx!

It seems you've gotten all your questions answered except the one regarding digital vs analog reception. Living in the NYC area myself, I would agree that OTA reception has been problematic at best since the loss of the centralized broadcast towers of the World Trade Center. We have been stuck with jury-rigged "temporary" broadcast towers scattered around the area for the last seven years with no relief in sight. It remains to be seen what kind of OTA service NYC will have after the analog shutdown.

Meantime, none of the currently available recorders has fantastic reception in analog mode, you will see improvements on some digital channels and downgrades in others depending on your location. All of the dual-band analog/ATSC recorders exhibit tuner problems as they switch from analog stations to digital stations, although this is more annoying when connected to cable than OTA. The days of lazy casual channel surfing are gone in the age of ATSC: these tuners take forever to lock onto a signal and if you flip too quickly they trip over themselves. Get into a habit of knowing whats on at what times, and key in stations directly whenever possible. Within six months there will be no more analog stations to worry about and tuner performance should be more responsive to surfing. If you go back to wajo's Phillips thread, much of what he says about tuner operation applies to any source, not just cable, and of course he shares a wealth of information and other tips. If you end up liking the Phillips or Magnavox, wajo has advice or workarounds for every imaginable question.:)

Thanks Citibear I decided to order the Magnavox.Also,after auto programming my tv I now have all digital channels (2,4,5,7,9,11,etc...) so everyone I record should be static free..I'm very excited I won't have to miss the Giants now (I work on Sundays) !!!

To be clear, are you definitely looking for recording to removable media?

If you want to record to a hard drive (or even then transfer to a computer), you can look at a Tivo. You can pay for a lifetime subscription (which is tied to the box), so measuring the total price can alleviate any "but I have to pay every month" concerns.

You can record OTA digital & analog, and digital & analog from cable (I know you said you don't want cable, it's just info for future use).

Also, I believe there are HD recorders here that are more VCR-like, without the DVD recording.. I think they do have true ATSC recording.

Thanks Citibear I decided to order the Magnavox.Also,after auto programming my tv I now have all digital channels (2,4,5,7,9,11,etc...) so everyone I record should be static free..I'm very excited I won't have to miss the Giants now (I work on Sundays) !!!
In case you didn't know, Walmart offers a 2-yr ext. warranty on the Magnavox (under "Accessories" on their web page (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10104532)).

I think someone used that warranty on a 3575/3576 already... lightning struck.

To be clear, are you definitely looking for recording to removable media?

If you want to record to a hard drive (or even then transfer to a computer), you can look at a Tivo. You can pay for a lifetime subscription (which is tied to the box), so measuring the total price can alleviate any "but I have to pay every month" concerns.

You can record OTA digital & analog, and digital & analog from cable (I know you said you don't want cable, it's just info for future use).

Also, I believe there are HD recorders here that are more VCR-like, without the DVD recording.. I think they do have true ATSC recording.

I'm just looking to record,watch and then delete...cable isn't an option not because of price but because it requested by the owner of the home before I moved in (to prevent damage to the walls I guess) and I agreed to it.

In case you didn't know, Walmart offers a 2-yr ext. warranty on the Magnavox (under "Accessories" on their web page (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10104532)).

I think someone used that warranty on a 3575/3576 already... lightning struck.

Whats the warranty that comes standard? A year ? I ordered before checking back here so I didn't even see the extended warranty...

Whats the warranty that comes standard? A year ? I ordered before checking back here so I didn't even see the extended warranty...
STd warranty on the Magnavox is 1 year parts, 90 days labor. (Philips are 1/1.)

The Magnavox ext. warranty is 2-years and costs $19.88. It's under "Accessories" as an "Add to order" item.

They might let you ADD the warranty... not sure about online, but when we bought our first Philips from a Walmart store, we went back a week later to the Service Desk and they let us purchase the ext. warranty by just showing them our receipt... and excuse, of course.

I just went ahead and got a 3yr warranty from square trade for $13.50 (after 50% off coupon) but thanks for the info.