$220.00 at Wal-Mart.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5693289

Brought the unit home and tried it with three sets. One of them was the cheap RCA 27" SDTV- suprise, the remote worked both units. Power on the TV, the recorder turns off, and vice versa. That combo didn't last long.

ATSC tuner performance was at least equal to the Magnavox ZV450MW8, and slightly superior on analog/NTSC. DVD record/playback worked adequately, as did VCR record/playback.

The main drawback to this unit is the menuing. Unlike traditional DVD/VCR menuing, you need to go back to the Setup menu to select DVD or VCR sourcing(?!) Other menu functions, and a slightly eccentric rocker switch on the remote made navigating a pain, at least for me. The remote is of adequate size and readbility, but the interface with the onscreen menus drove me batty. There is a nice program guide associated with the info button when tuned to an DTV program.

The recorder nominally supports 16:9 480P/"EDTV". Material recorded to disc was of good quality, but not noticeably superior to material recorded on the Magnavox. HD purists will not find this mode attractive; a proper DVR with full 1080 is not what this unit will deliver. If SD recorded video for time-shifting is all that is required (like myself), the extra forty bucks over the Magnavox is wasted.

I am looking for a DVR that has a HDTV tuner built-in & Analog tuner & will record to DVD or VHS tape at the same time.

Can you record from a Digital OTA signal to DVD & record another program on VHS at the same time either from the analog tuner or from DTV output?


Does the TV Guide give a weeks easy program settings for recording?

There is a nice program guide associated with the info button when tuned to an DTV program.Are you saying it has an electronic program guide? How long does it take to change DTV channels?

I am looking for a DVR that has a HDTV tuner built-in & Analog tuner & will record to DVD or VHS tape at the same time.

Can you record from a Digital OTA signal to DVD & record another program on VHS at the same time either from the analog tuner or from DTV output?


Does the TV Guide give a weeks easy program settings for recording?

Sorry, it's one record task at a time, it seems. There are composite video and S-Video ins on the unit.

There is no EPG (as such). This is not a high-end DVR. You program it for recording the old-fashioned way- day and time.

I'd go back and do more testing for you, but I've already returned the turkey.

Are you saying it has an electronic program guide? How long does it take to change DTV channels?

OK, lets try again.

There is a nice guide, when tuned to the digital channel, that describes the current program, and that's it. It is not the usual low-end one line program title found in most cheap units. It is *not* an EPG.

This is no Tivo/DVR. It's a classic recorder, with an ATSC tuner. It will only record in SD.

Time change between channels in digital was about two seconds, IIRC. Analog was immediate. The channels are listed in a consolidated menu list, analog mixed with digital, ordered by assigned channel number (eg KTVI, CH 2 analog is listed before KTVI 2.1, which is actually on RF CH 43).

PinkS, are you saying the built-in TV Guide can not be used to program a recording more than a couple of hours head?

I was hoping for a week.

PinkS, are you saying the built-in TV Guide can not be used to program a recording more than a couple of hours head?

I was hoping for a week.

Sorry.

OK, lets try again.

There is a nice guide, when tuned to the digital channel, that describes the current program, and that's it. It is not the usual low-end one line program title found in most cheap units. It is *not* an EPG.

This is no Tivo/DVR. It's a classic recorder, with an ATSC tuner. It will only record in SD.

Time change between channels in digital was about two seconds, IIRC. Analog was immediate. The channels are listed in a consolidated menu list, analog mixed with digital, ordered by assigned channel number (eg KTVI, CH 2 analog is listed before KTVI 2.1, which is actually on RF CH 43).

When you recorded a digital channel, did it record hd programs in 16:9 format? (I understand it downrez'd the picture, but does it preserve the format?)

When you recorded a digital channel, did it record hd programs in 16:9 format? (I understand it downrez'd the picture, but does it preserve the format?)

My test recordings were with KSDK's news (1080i) and Fox's House MD (720p). Both of them are native 16:9 formats, but my recordings showed in 4:3. Possibly, I screwed up when setting recording formats. The menuing system on this turkey and I did not have a very happy relationship. More likely, they really, really mean it when they say "records only in SD".

I believe this is the "special buy $99" Curtis DRC8335 "DVD/VCR recorder with built-in digital tuner" being offered in today's Kmart newspaper ad.

The User's Manual for the RCA version may be found here:

http://www.retrevo.com/search/v2/jsp/mytrevo/myTrevo.jsp?page=man

The Curtis DRC8335 Owners Manual in English and French may also be downloaded from the Curtis website:

http://curtisint.com/support/manuals.asp?category=&subCat=&catName=&p=3

The first of the two links is active.

All of the digital tuner'd dvd recorders only do SD for now and probably always will till somebody in the US finally releases a BD equipped recorder if the industry here ever lets that happen.

I believe this is the "special buy $99" Curtis DRC8335 "DVD/VCR recorder with built-in digital tuner" being offered in today's Kmart newspaper ad.

The User's Manual for the RCA version may be found here:

http://www.retrevo.com/search/v2/jsp/mytrevo/myTrevo.jsp?page=man

No manual comes up at that link. :confused:

I picked up this unit several weeks ago with the Curtis name brand on it.
It was going for $70.

Not a bad unit. It basically acts like a digital to analog down converter box. This allows you to record all those OTA digital channels on either a VHS or DVD. And it also acts as a substitute to those considering buying a digital to analog box for their old TV. It allows you to select a Letterbox, Pan & Scan or Anamorphic 16:9 recording for viewing depending on what type of TV you have. Basically a very good idea of a machine to help out in the DTV transition.

Now the bad. The loading mechanism on the VHS side seems like something that will give out rather quickly if you're not careful. But, as long as you can record on the DVD side, who cares if it breaks. The whole point is to be able to record all those OTA DTV channels.

The other problem I'm finding is with the clock. About once a week, the internal clock jumps ahead a day. This of course effects the Record Timer. I have adjusted the clock at least three times since buying it.

Is there a firmware update for the internal software to correct this problem?
The version in my machine is...

DRC8335:2205
System 428
FP MCU ver. 2.06
Main ver: 12.1-240086
Release on Dec 21, 2007
DTV version 72503
Loader ver: D2JF

No manual comes up at that link. :confused:

Try this link for the manual:

http://www.curtisint.com/web/browser.asp?productID=DRC8335&catName=DVD%20PLAYERS

I found that one has to force the PDF download by paging through the manual.

The other problem I'm finding is with the clock. About once a week, the internal clock jumps ahead a day. This of course effects the Record Timer. I have adjusted the clock at least three times since buying it.

Is there a firmware update for the internal software to correct this problem?


With some other brands the Auto Clock "ON" setting creates problems when rogue time signals are found. (With Auto Clock "ON" Funai-built recorders have a daily search for a time signal just before noon and midnight.) Perhaps the Craig/RCA might have a weekly search for a time signal. If you live near the boundary of an adjacent Time Zone that might contribute to the behavoir you've reported. Check for an Auto Clock setting. Turn Auto Clock "OFF" and set the clock manually.

A few questions:

1. Is it really only $70?
2. Does it tune clear QAM?
3. Will it record digital channels directly to VHS?
4. Where can I buy one (preferably a brick and mortar store, not online)?
5. If the answer to 2 or 3 is no, why am I so unlucky with things being so close yet so far from what I really want?