I'm looking for a DVD Recorder/VCR Combo for backing up vhs tapes to dvd.

Main objective is to archive vhs tape and not have to babysit the thing.
I've read many reviews about units that are a pain in the butt when it comes to gaps or static and play speeds.

You need a unit with a HDD. You can set the whole tape, even 6-8 hours, to transfer, using One-Touch-Record, leave the house, or go to bed. Then, you can edit out any blank spaces, or anything else you want to delete, break it into separate segments, be it chapters, and/or titles, then burn it to disc. Far and away the easiest way to do it. NO BABYSITTING... :D

You need a unit with a HDD. You can set the whole tape, even 6-8 hours, to transfer, using One-Touch-Record, leave the house, or go to bed. Then, you can edit out any blank spaces, or anything else you want to delete, break it into separate segments, be it chapters, and/or titles, then burn it to disc. Far and away the easiest way to do it. NO BABYSITTING... :D
I was thinking of upgrading to a DVD recorder with a HDD drive... which one would you recommend [and does it come with a digtial [atsc&QAM] tuner] ?
also
Aren't they hard to find now?

Get a 2160 from Maganovox at Wal-Mart. (Online only, I think.)

Currently the machines are having a problem with not being able to finalize DVDs that have been recorded. Seems they can only finalize if the event timer is empty. If you have even one show set to record, for some reason it can't finalize a DVD.

Aside from that "little" problem, it's a nice machine.

I was thinking of upgrading to a DVD recorder with a HDD drive... which one would you recommend [and does it come with a digtial [atsc&QAM] tuner] ?
also
Aren't they hard to find now?

You have three choices. The aforementioned Magnavox, which has the only digital tuner, a Pioneer from eBay (ships from Canada), or a Panasonic from World Import, which is the most expensive. If you don't need the digital tuner, the Pioneer is generally the recommended one. That Magnavox does have its concerns, though.

Or used, of course, but it would be more of a gamble (is the hard drive functioning? Has it been abused to hell and back? etc.)

Hi Powrslave,

Listen to these folks, they know what they are talking about.:)
I am trying to do the same thing you are only I was willing to "babysit". I wanted to break things down into titles or chapters, which ever is easier, just anything to not have to fast-forward through 3 hours just to pick up where I left off in viewing. I thought I was going to be able to do that with a Toshiba machine -wrong. I have a Panny that will only do that (or used to) on RAM discs. Who uses those? I use DVD-R 99% of the time.
There is always the PC, but I would have to buy a video capture card which cost as much as a DVR! Then you need software and a degree in engineering to use it.
Last night I just ordered a Pioneer DVD recorder with an HDD from Canada as mentioned before. (My first and only time using eBay too).
Anyway, see my thread "Looking for a good quality DVD recorder" for more info than you can process from great folks here with stellar knowledge and advice on this.:)