Returning new Panasonic EZ28 - does all the insane things I have read about - doesn't record, freezes..yuk.
Can not identify any other DVD recorder w/internal digital tuner/hdmi other than this horror. We have over the air antenna, no cable, no satellite. Great TV reception. Is there any other choice for a DVD recorder?
Thanks so much!!!

Click #1 in my sig. for an alternative.

Surprised to hear you had such bad issues with the EZ-28: its one of the better Panasonics, and the only recommendable alternative besides the Magnavox H2160 mentioned above by wajo. Try the Magnavox, for off-air use its the only really good option. Understand, however, since the official switchover to completely digital broadcasting in June many recorders that were considered "safe" choices have exhibited surprise refusal-to-record symptoms. Strong false "record restriction" signals are running rampant in current off-air and cable clear-QAM transmissions, so even recorders with very accurate detection circuits like the Panasonic EZ-28 and Magnavox H2160 can be fooled.

The advantage of the Magnavox in this climate is its built-in HDD: if you record everything to the HDD, it will almost never fail, because those protection signals don't interfere with HDD recording. You may find later on when you try to copy some recordings to DVD the Magnavox may refuse, but at least you won't miss any timeshift viewing. Also, if you know what to look for, you can often edit out the falsely protected bits of a HDD recording and enable transfer to DVD (you'd be amazed how often the protection signal is found in the commercials, but not the TV show).

Unfortunately you may be disappointed by the Magnavox HDMI performance: it is only average compared to the Panasonic. Most recorders have dismal HDMI compared to even the cheapest players, so far only Panasonic has managed to incorporate really decent HDMI in a recorder. If you do find the Magnavox HDMI disappointing, my advice is just live with it: play the DVDs it makes on a separate dedicated player (which you should be doing anyway to extend the durability of the recorder). Other than the Panasonic EZ-28 and Magnavox H2160, there are no recorders worth serious consideration for off-air use.

Returning new Panasonic EZ28 - does all the insane things I have read about - doesn't record, freezes..yuk.
Can not identify any other DVD recorder w/internal digital tuner/hdmi other than this horror. We have over the air antenna, no cable, no satellite. Great TV reception. Is there any other choice for a DVD recorder?
Thanks so much!!!

I'd second that 2160 recommendation, but if you decide an HDD recorder is more than you need for over the air recordings, you might have some luck with a dvd recorder WITHOUT a built in tuner. You could use a CECB (converter box) as the input source and get /record all the same over the air signals you're seeing on the tv now. The recorders with ATSC tuners can be buggy - but the tunerless model might do the trick. I have a Panasonic EA 38 that's been pretty good, and it has an IR blaster that probably will let you control the CECB to turn on/off for recordings. It's still being sold new on Amazon, etc. even though it's an older model. Not my favorite recorder by a long run, but it was useable (and has VHS playback too) and the Panasonic upconversion is nice. I'm pretty sure there's a non-combo version of the same vintage out there, too. (EA 18 maybe?) Several people here recommended the EA38 to me. It freezes now and then but it has been 90 per cent reliable and when playing DVDs it looks great.

(EDIT -- careful, just checked amazon and some idiots are charging 700 dollars for it! Shouldnt be more than 220 or so. What are they .... crazy? Other places (including Panasonic) are still selling it at reasonable rates (used/refurbed about 180, new approx 230)

I'm pretty sure there's a non-combo version of that vintage as well, and several people here recommended it to me.That would be the EA18 - and Vann's still has it.

If you only use free off-air TV, the Magnavox is a must-try. It doesn't sell for much more than the Panasonic EA-18 or EA-38, and the hard drive feature just blows those machines into the weeds. Its built-in ATSC tuner-timer is the most bug-free available in a recorder, and the convenience of built-in coupled tuner for multi-event timeshifting on different channels is FAR more workable than using an external tuner box with the Panasonic blaster. The Panasonic blaster can only control a couple of brands of CECB, which can be a problem if you don't like those for some reason. The Magnavox runs $229 from Wal*Mart online and can always be returned for full refund if you don't like it.

The HDD feature in the Magnavox cannot be overestimated: whether you only watch-and-erase or like to make DVDs for your library, an HDD simplifies life with a recorder dramatically. Four years ago when DVD-only recorders were $250 and DVD/HDD machines were $600, you could argue based on price. At $229 the current Magnavox is the slam-dunk choice. Getting an EA-18 from Vanns for $180 only makes sense if you're going to attach it to a cable or satellite PVR (for which its an ideal companion). For off-air use, you'd have to add the Channel Master CM-7000 tuner box for $20-60 more and deal with the IR blaster. I just don't see the point, unless you come across a ridiculous cheap price on an open-box or refurbished Panasonic. Even then, if you plan to do a fair amount of recording you ought to think twice: if you check the EA-18 commentaries here on AVS, you'll see its not the simplest thing to make work with an ATSC tuner box (its optimized for cable/satellite boxes).

If you only use free off-air TV, the Magnavox is a must-try. It doesn't sell for much more than the Panasonic EA-18 or EA-38, and the hard drive feature just blows those machines into the weeds.

Agree, it will change your life. :D Only way I'd go 'back' is if there were a backlog of DVDs or vhs recorded tapes to deal with, and then, only as a second machine to handle the workhorse duties and save the built in DVD recorder for high speed dubbing. I'm beginning to see what all the fuss is about (cough: Tivo addicts) This is sort of like that , but no fee. Go for it - you won't regret it.