Hi, I recently purchaced a sony rdr vxd655 dvd/vcr combo with atsc tuner. My first probem with this unit is that when using the hdmi out, it stretches out anything with the old 4x3 square aspect ratio. Both dvd's and vhs. There is no way to keep it in it's proper ratio. (with black bars on the sides) I have tried "every" setting on the unit and my hd lcd tv (sharp lc-32sb24u). I am assuming that it is the fault of the combo unit. Drag, no upconversion and a waste of another input. When hooked up via component, it is ok. Then there is the next problem with this sony. The tuner only will recive brodcast that are sent in the 4x3 as "window boxed" (black all the way around) I know for sure that the crappy lg combo unit my mother has does not do this. Anything broadcast square will be recorded the same (black bars on "only" the sides) Wide screen broadcasts are letterboxed as usual.
I realy need to find a combo unit that will display the same ratio as the source tape/dvd via hdmi out without stretching it. I also need to find a unit that has a tuner that will not windowbox the picture of a square broadcast.
I am currently looking at toshiba and panasonic. (I will not buy LG or samsung as I have had nothing but trouble with those brands).
More info; the stations that I have trouble with are ones that upconvert "before" broadcasting to 1080i. A pbs that broadcasts 480i had the black bars on the sided only.
Useage; I intend to use the vcr to watch old tapes and to timeshift programs for later instead of wearing out my dvd drive which I want to save for recording mostly. Having to use the tv to zoom a windowbox image is a pain since the rez on a vhs is so low. Also, I am sure not to get a "disk error" on vhs tape. All it takes is a spot of lint on a dvd+rw to miss an important episode of lost, heros, or smallville. TIA, Mark.

Truthfully I can't remember the last time I had a problem recording to DVD on my ES series Pannys(pre '07). The '08 EZ-x8 machines aren't too bad either although I did have 2 glitches that resulted in a unsuccessful burn in the ~3 months I had my EZ-28 before I returned it.
I understand your wanting to record to VHS although it's kind of a sad commentary that VHS would be considered more reliable than our DVDRs but I know what your mean. VHS may not look as good and may not be as convenient, but at least you don't get a failed burn.
The problem with the current Panny combos is you CANNOT record from a digital broadcast(ASTC or QAM) to the VHS section! I think they did this because their is no DRM protection with VHS. After all copy once restrictions would not be supported, although I think JVC combos allow digital to VHS so maybe I'm wrong. JVCs have issues of their own though:confused:

Truthfully other than a older DVDR with a converter box of some sort, I believe your best chance of actually getting something to record might well be a Magnavox H2160 DVDR with a HDD. It doesn't have the VHS part, you could just get a (used) standalone VHS player and tie it to the line input of the Maggy.
If you really wanted to record digital to your VHS then you could just purchase a $40 CECB to feed your VHS unit.
The advantage of the Maggy, or any DVDR with a hdd is recording to hdd is much less problematic than direct realtime DVD burning. My father was pulling his hair out burning directly to DVD, always paranoid his DVDs would crash before he got them finalized. Since getting his Philips 3575 w/hdd he sleeps much easier. He burns everything to the hdd and if he wants a DVD copy he just High speed burns it and it's the same picture quality as what was on the hdd. It's really the way to go, although at ~$300 it's not the cheapest route.
If you want to go HD(high definition) then the DTVPal DVR w/hdd is supposed to be released mid December for $249. It won't have a DVD burner or VHS, it's just for time shifting, but will be HD.

The Mag 2160 is $240 and only available from Walmart online. Click my signature for a link.

Oh I thought it was more than the 3576. At that price I don't see how you could go wrong. And on the original question about stretching 4:3 from the HDMI output, the Pannys can be setup to not do that and I would think?? the Maggy would be the same.
Mark, are you recording from RF or from a STBs line output?
The reason I ask is because many STBs only ouput letter box or postage stamp to their S or composite video outputs and if your STB is only outputting postage stamp, that's all you're going to get from any recorder.

I have a rooftop antenna. (amplified)
Your sugestions of just running a vhs into the front of another machine like a dvd/hdd is a good idea. I hadn't considdered that. My reasons for that is that I don't have very much space in my entertainment center that is inset into the wall. Also my old vcr's are on their last legs. I was hoping to just replace my worst one with a combo unit. Especialy since I often will timeshift the end-of-season cliff hangers and watch them the following fall before the premier. I once had a movie time shifted that took me 2 years to get around to seeing. If I could wish, I would wish for a dvd/digital-vhs combo. Oh well.
I also have hundreds of things on vhs to transfer. Actualy, close to a thousand. I subscribed to the idea of "if it is worth watching it is worth recording, and keeping it if it is remotely good. At least it makes exelent trade fodder. Serves me right for being interested in obsure stuff.
The jvc/LG's has the proper way of recording, but the quality issues are just too large to ignore. Dang..
A while back, I was ready to get the philips dvd/hdd recorder, but was worried about the false cp problem. And like I said I need to spend the next year transfering my old vhs tapes. Which is why I got the sony. (also "LOVE" the 1hr.30min. and 3hr. recording modes.)
I guess I am going to have to take a chance on dvd/hdd or dvr and separate dvd recorder. Don't know where I will find the space. I currently have 2vcr's a webtv unit. A converter box for my best vcr and a switch box. As well as 2 dvd players. (my main old toshiba with "extensive" zoom and special effects and a cyberhome for region 2 pal disks.) It will also be a drag when I go out of town and want to program 4 or 5 things on different stations, many of which seem to be on different channels at the same time for some strange "Murphy" reason.
Mark.
p.s. I don't suppose panny or toshiba has any plans for a dvd/vhs combo in the future that will record digital to vhs? I also wonder about the possibility of something for the "Japanese" market that I could import? They are ntsc too. I heard that blue ray recorders are available over there. ??? Just a thought.

p.s. I don't suppose panny or toshiba has any plans for a dvd/vhs combo in the future that will record digital to vhs? I also wonder about the possibility of something for the "Japanese" market that I could import? They are ntsc too. I heard that blue ray recorders are available over there. ??? Just a thought.
I really hate all the contortions we have to go thru now. Couldn't they have made the analog and digital tuners separate, so you could set a combo unit to record one channel-digital, and allow you to tune to an analog ch at the same time? Panasonic not allowing recording to vhs seems really insane-especially since the bad reputation LGs allow it.

I guess an option you may want to consider is getting one of those converter boxes-one with the timer feature, along with an indoor antenna for your vcr (or even the dvd recorder). I don't own either of those (yet-and I hate the ectra clutter we're being forced into), but it would let you set different timer recordings for a vcr, while leaving the dvd recorder free for cable analog and digital recordings...

The only thing about that box is that it is like dishnet and I guess you click on the program on the guide to set it. But how many days in advance will it go? Dish net will only do that about 2 or 3 days ahead. I would rather set it manualy by time maybe a week in advance like my vcr. It would also be cool to find one that will set the aspect ratio for each station. (Even better if you could set asp r by timer setting.) I know that however you have it set last on the insignia, it will remember. Not so on the apex box (which has the s-video) Anyone have more info on that dvrpal converter box. Mark.

The Pal's timers are not completely dependable, because the PSIP times in the guide from the stations are very inconsistent, and it doesn't have a manual clock setting feature so you can override those.

You can take a chance on it (starting with at least the 105A firmware - you can learn how to tell in the Pal thread if it has that by the serial number on the box), but don't depend on your recordings to take place 100% of the time.

The Zinwell ZAT-970A has manual clock setting, therefore the timers are very dependable on it (it has no guide, though).

You can read more about it in the CECB sub-forum.