Does anyone know of a reasonably priced DVD recorder, with VCR and IR Blaster that can control a cable company set top box?

I am helping a school that currently has cable in their classrooms get setup so they can record with the soon to be installed digital converter boxes. They are going to need 12 DVD recorders, so the cheaper the better!

Thanks for your help.

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced DVD recorder, with VCR and IR Blaster that can control a cable company set top box?

I am helping a school that currently has cable in their classrooms get setup so they can record with the soon to be installed digital converter boxes. They are going to need 12 DVD recorders, so the cheaper the better!

Thanks for your help.

Buying a "cheap" unit to be used in a school setting where (I assume) the unit(s) will be getting used frequently and bounced around would not be a great idea!

The type of units that use IR blasters tend to be "higher-end" type models that cost more.
My best recommendation would be the Panasonic DMR-EH75V. It is a better than average quality unit that is built in Japan, which is very rare by today's standards. It has a dvd recorder, VCR, hard drive and an SD memory card slot. It also has a DV input and an IR blaster with the TV guide on-screen programming guide. It basically does everything and it is relatively easy to operate.
However, it is not "cheap". It is becoming extinct and there is no replacement for it this year (2008 is questionable as well). The lower end Panasonic's don't have the IR blasters or hard drives. If you can do without these features, you might want to consider the DMR-ES35 or -ES45. These models don't have hard drives and are considerably cheaper, but are also difficult to find. Panasonic just recently released new (non hard drive type) models for 2007-2008. You will not benefit from these newer models and they will cost more (since they just came out)......besides, as a general rule, the previous year's model are built better. Every year the build quality seems to get worse!
Your best shot is with Circuit City if you want to purchase the -EH75V at a store (or you could have them ship it). The price fluctuates between $400-500.00. The other models (if available anywhere) should cost in the $200-300.00 range.
When I last checked, the EH-75V was also available at Amazon.com, for approx. $430.00.
Don't hesitate with this, since availability is very limited!

GOOD LUCK! :)

You just have to hope that the EH75, being last year's model, will have the code for the IR blaster to operate the particular cable box. If it's a brand new model cable box (like some of these "tiny" boxes they've come out with more recently), it may have a newer, non-included code.

I'd suggest getting one EH75 first and trying it with the new box - you can always return it if it doesn't work.

If you can't find it at one of CC's stores, It's still available from their website, currently for $434.00. For $4.00 more, I'd just get it from them, since you can just easily return it to a store, should you have to. If that one works OK, you can always get the rest of them cheaper elsewhere if you prefer.

(Also, if these units are expected to be treated roughly and "bounced around" in a school setting, I'm not sure if a model with a hard drive would be the best thing - although an HDD unit will give you more room to record and make editing a lot easier. And the TVGOS, if it works with your cable company, will make scheduling recordings from the cable service MUCH easier than setting timers manually.)

Thanks for the help.

I was looking around and found two other models that seem like they might also work. What do y'all think about them?


Samsung DVD_VR357XAA
***I can't tell if ^ allows scheduled cable box channel changes.


LG RC797T