What's available for us? I've just ordered, and received, the Philips 3576 and in my opinion, it's a POS. I've only had it for 5 days so I can send it back for a full refund. But I have to find a DVD recorder with hard drive and digital tuner. Besides Philips, what else is available? I've spent a lot of time searching and found nothing. Do any of you have any suggestions? I need a quick reply.

Nothing else other than a clone, the Magnavox 2160. If you didn't like the Philips you probably won't like the Maggy. You could try and find a older unit and use a converter box like many of us have done, the Panasonic EH-55 works great with a CM-7000 CECB but the CMs OTA only.

What's available for us? I've just ordered, and received, the Philips 3576 and in my opinion, it's a POS. I've only had it for 5 days so I can send it back for a full refund. But I have to find a DVD recorder with hard drive and digital tuner. Besides Philips, what else is available? I've spent a lot of time searching and found nothing. Do any of you have any suggestions? I need a quick reply.

Is the following info in the other thread still accurate on your use of the 3576?

Good morning from Texas. This is my first post and I apologize if I'm on the wrong forum.

Is there a conversion/upscaler box that will take an analog RF coax signal and upconvert to an HDMI ouput? To explain:

My home is wired with RG6 and all connected to a central panel in a utility room. All a/v equipment is connected to my HD Sony Receiver for primary use in the den. However, it outputs an RF coax signal to the central panel which feeds two analog TV's in 2 other rooms using channel 3. The signal coming into the rooms is a typical RF connection on a wall plate. I'm getting a 26" Sony HDTV for one of the rooms and would like to use the HDMI input. I'm actually thinking of using a DVD recorder with digital tuner, attach the coax to the RF input, set it to channel 3, and then HDMI to the hdtv. But I don't know if either of these ideas will work.

Any thoughts/ideas/recommendations would be appreciated.

You'll have an RF modulated analog 480i signal from your home distribution system arriving at your DVD recorder as channel 3. The recorder will dutifully tune it in, and perhaps de-interlace it and upscale it to match the pixel count of the screen before converting it to HDMI. The nearby TV will upconvert the incoming HDMI to match its screen pixel count if it was not already upconverted, although here the picture quality will still be that of composite video SDTV.

I don't think there are any consumer grade consumer priced ATSC RF modulators that create a single RF channel 3 HDTV signal from a Blue Ray player feed or cable HDTV feed.

Thank you, Allan, for the reply. If you have time, please clear up a point of confusion for me:

If the rcdr de-interlaces the signal and converts it to HDMI, and the HiDef TV receives and upconverts that signal thru the HDMI cable connection, why is the picture quality still on the composite level of 480i? Wouldn't it, at least, be on the component level of 720p?

Thanks again for any assistance.

Hi wajo; no, that post is an entirely different situation. Although, the 3576 is to be installed 'within' the system. I've written off the idea of a 760p reception in the remote locations but now, I'm concentrating on the 'main' Home Theater system before it feeds to the AV panel.

I'm new here, but I've searched and read a lot about dvd recorders. I'm surprised that no one has posted anything about the poor quality of the remote! I'm 61 and wear glasses. The remote is black and the buttons are dark and not lit. I cannot see them without turning on a bright light and then look for the correct button. Also, the remote 'does not' control any other component; not even the volume on the tv. Also, the unit allows 'output' on only one video component. I can set it up to transmit via HDMI to my main TV, but then it will not transmit via s-video/composite to my a/v panel. I can set it up to transmit to the a/v panel via s-video/composite and then I lose the digital quality to the hdtv. I'm really frustrated with the options that we have available following the REQUIRED changeover to digital.

Maybe a Panasonic EH67 and a Zinwell ZAT-970A CECB combo, if all you're interested is OTA digital.

If you want a true HD signal going to your display, and not upscaled 480i from a DVD recorder, there's the DTVPal DVR.

For cable, the Philips and Maggy are really your only choices. Or you could look for a used Sony DHG-HDD500 or 250 HD DVR, or an LG 3410A HD DVR (I'd choose the LG in your situation, because you'll always have the manual timers and manual clock setting to fall back on).

Here's a help file that may or may not help on connections for "typical" systems. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298409&postcount=10) Might be something in there?

I've not heard before of one output cutting off other outputs except in the nearly identical Mag 2160... with the Mag, if you turn Progressive scan on, it won't output over Composite or S-Video. If you use ONLY HDMI and Composite/S-Video, turning Progressive scan off is the way to go... Progresive scan is only for Component. You don't need Progressive scan on for HDMI (it sets its own formats) and Comp./S-Vid will ignore it anyway.

Maybe the Philips 3576 has that same restriction? See if your Progressive Scan is ON?

Are you OTA, cable or sat?

And what do you mean by "set it up" as in: "I can set it up to transmit via HDMI to my main TV, but then it will not transmit via s-video/composite to my a/v panel. I can set it up to transmit to the a/v panel via s-video/composite and then I lose the digital quality to the hdtv."

Yes, the Philips 3576 has that restriction. I called Customer Service for assistance and they confirmed either HDMI/progressive, S-video, or composite. Either/or, no combination.

I ordered two DVD recorders from JandR; Philips 3576 and Toshiba 560. The Philips was to replace my 80 gbt analog Panasonic and the Toshiba was to replace the VCR. I wanted different makes so the remotes would not interfer with one another, but after I received them, I discovered that they're mfg by the same company and one remote works both units. And I have the same installation problems with both. I've already returned the Toshiba and purchased a Panasonic EZ28 from BestBuy. I believe that will work out really well for me, but I'm still apprehensive about the Philips.

Yes, the Philips 3576 has that restriction. I called Customer Service for assistance and they confirmed either HDMI/progressive, S-video, or composite. Either/or, no combination.

I ordered two DVD recorders from JandR; Philips 3576 and Toshiba 560. The Philips was to replace my 80 gbt analog Panasonic and the Toshiba was to replace the VCR. I wanted different makes so the remotes would not interfer with one another, but after I received them, I discovered that they're mfg by the same company and one remote works both units. And I have the same installation problems with both. I've already returned the Toshiba and purchased a Panasonic EZ28 from BestBuy. I believe that will work out really well for me, but I'm still apprehensive about the Philips.
I'd return the Philips while you still can... I don't think you'll be happy with it. It's a great unit for "Joe the Plumber" and me, tho. :)

Thanks wajo. I've considered returning the Philips, and that's the premise behind my original question. I 'must' have a hdd dvd rcdr. At this point, I believe the Philips is the only one available and I'm stuck with it.

Question: I've read all the posts on this site about the 3576, plus the sticky, and no one (to my knowledge) has mentioned the p!$$ poor remote. Why not?

Maybe cuz you get used to the remote... I did and can operate it in the dark, no problem! :)

Only other thing you could "try" is a Mag 2160, which operates almost identically to the 3576 but has a *much* better remote.

Here's some info on that unit, if you haven't been there already. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1054933)

Well, I've used the Pan EZ28 for a few days and it's great. The functions and the remote are easily navigated. Recording and timer recording are a snap. I'm getting used to the Philips 3576 and timer recordings are going well; I've programmed it to pick up the CSI shows and so far, the timer and playback has been flawless. But Christ!!, the remote is a piece of crap. I cannot understand why a top of the line recorder has such a POS for a remote. Not only is it difficult to understand, it's difficult to see without good lighting. Anyway, I suppose I'll adjust.

Thanks to all the input and advice from members of this forum.

Just thinking about Philips remote compared to Mag or others and wondering why it ws so easy (for me) to learn how to use it in the dark... it's the different sizes of buttons and their placement in related groups.

With the Philips remote, I just feel for groups, then rocker buttons vs. large vs. small vs circle, etc.

With the Mag remote and its mostly all same size buttons, would have to count... 3rd row from top 2nd button right, etc.

Actually, people have been bitching about tiny Phillips remotes for years, thats nothing new: I'm surprised you haven't seen mention of it here! As wajo said, the remote for the near-identical Magnavox is much nicer, and it seems they don't charge a fortune for spares: maybe you could order the Magnavox remote from the Phillips spare parts office and use that instead? I think wajo has contact info in his sticky notes. You won't be able to exchange the Phillips at J&R for the Magnavox, unfortunately Wal*Mart seems to have a lock on that version. J&R is not too keen on returns, but if they agree to refund you on the Phillips perhaps you'd be happier picking up the Maggie elsewhere. Or, buy a large-ish universal learning remote that you like, and program its buttons to run the Phillips and your TV.

Remotes with lots of tiny black buttons are a pain, for sure. I've been using the ergonomic, easy-to-read, silver-and-gray remote from my 2005 Pioneer recorder to operate my new 2008 Pioneer which came with a nasty black-on-black POS remote.

> maybe you could order the Magnavox remote from the
> Phillips spare parts office and use that instead?

The two are incompatible (Magnavox can be used as a companion to the Philips in the same location).

Philips uses the RC-6 codeset and Magnavox uses NEC1.

My first reaction to the Philips was negative (color, tiny buttons) but after using it to install and program the first recording it felt'natural'. The groupings made sense and the variable sized buttons provided tactile feedback on location. OTOH, it has no redeeming virtues for general purpose usage.

There are two main classes of universal remote, Harmony and JP1 (there are others but they tend to cost more). JP1 lets you program 'anything' from your PC. A good JP1-capable remote and an interface cable cost less than a Harmony.

The info to program the codes for the Philips and Magnavox are at the JP1 Forum's Files section, and codesets for almost any home entertainment product can be found in Files also. Radio Shack and One For All are the primary JP1 brands.

Choose a remote with keys and layout that suits you, and program it to suit your preferences.