We impulsively bought a combo recorder last weekend without doing our homework. We got the Sony RDRVX555. We didn't realize that the lack of a tuner would mean that we can't record one program while watching another (duh!). We also didn't realize the Sony wouldn't let us record HBO or any other channels that have copy protection.

We are planning to return the Sony to Best Buy and hopefully exchange it for a model that does what we want. Can anyone recommend a combo recorder that has a tuner (we have Comcast digital cable, FWIW) and doesn't have the copy protection thing?

I am not knowledgeable at all about the technology (obviously!), so please let me know if there are other features/options that are important to consider. I do like that the Sony can use dual-layer DVDs and has several recording speeds, but maybe all of the new recorders do.

Best Buy has the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK -- would that be a good model to consider? (We had opted for the Sony combo unit only because we've had good experience with Sony VHS recorders.)

Thanks.

Best Buy has the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK -- would that be a good model to consider?
Absolutely. And having the DVD-RAM option is good.

You might want to look online for an ATX 500, Sima CT-200 or Sima CT-2 for that other issue.

Absolutely. And having the DVD-RAM option is good.

You might want to look online for an ATX 500, Sima CT-200 or Sima CT-2 for that other issue.

I don't know exactly what DVD-RAM is, but I guess it can't hurt to have that capability!

A CT-2 is on its way (we ordered it before we realized we needed to swap the recorder for one with a tuner). So would I need it even with the Panasonic?

I don't know exactly what DVD-RAM is, but I guess it can't hurt to have that capability!

A CT-2 is on its way (we ordered it before we realized we needed to swap the recorder for one with a tuner). So would I need it even with the Panasonic?Most likely, yes. If the provider's inserting CP, any recent model recorder will probably pick it up at least some, if not all of the time. Some models just seem to be even more sensitive than others, and Sony's have always been about the worst. It's us lucky guys with earlier models that don't ever seem to have a problem (my 2 older Panny's and Sony RDR-HX900 have never had any problems with it. I know that the Pio's were pretty good about it, too. Panny's and Pio's were always traditionally the best, and Sony's and Toshiba's were always the worst in more recent years, but they all seem to be prone to it to one degree or another now).

DVD-RAM will let you edit like with an HDD, let you do "Chase Play" like a DVR, and will let you record 16:9 programs in their original (not letterboxed) aspect. Few non-Panasonic players can play them but it's good to have that option, anyways. They don't have to be finalized and can be re-written on up to 100,000 times. The discs are getting harder and harder to find in the stores, but you can order them from places like Circuit City online.

Most likely, yes. If the provider's inserting CP, any recent model recorder will probably pick it up at least some, if not all of the time. Some models just seem to be even more sensitive than others, and Sony's have always been about the worst. It's us lucky guys with earlier models that don't ever seem to have a problem (my 2 older Panny's and Sony RDR-HX900 have never had any problems with it. I know that the Pio's were pretty good about it, too. Panny's and Pio's were always traditionally the best, and Sony's and Toshiba's were always the worst in more recent years, but they all seem to be prone to it to one degree or another now).

I wonder if it's worth trying to find an older model (maybe a refurb or something)? Do you know if there's a list anywhere of which older models didn't have CP?

Thanks for the info on DVD-RAM.

Just about any older Pio or Panny should be good. You might search some of the older model's threads out here - maybe in the archives.

From what a lot of people here have said, though, the Sima should do the trick.

I am not knowledgeable at all about the technology (obviously!), so please let me know if there are other features/options that are important to consider. I do like that the Sony can use dual-layer DVDs and has several recording speeds, but maybe all of the new recorders do.

Best Buy has the Panasonic DMR-EZ47VK -- would that be a good model to consider? (We had opted for the Sony combo unit only because we've had good experience with Sony VHS recorders.)

Thanks.

The Panny 47vk rated very high on my list... however I opted against it for a few reasons...None I remember off the top of my head... but in the end it was between two: one with/without an IR Blaster or input (and vice versa)... I choose the lesser of two evils...

There are a lot people who are a river of knowledge (like Ram and many others) but everyone lives in diffent parts of the country where one thing works fine dosen't necessarily work very well somewhere else /or/ personal need/want... The bottom line is you need to do your homework and if you don't know too much maybe you should... unless you don't have a problem throwing money away... just being honest... this was my first combo too... but my research was pretty solid...

Yeah, it seems that a lot of the new models with digital tuners don't have an IR blaster. In fact, that only ones I've noticed so far come with the tunerless models.

'Course, they often neglect to even list it on websites (and boxes), so I really don't know for sure which ones have it and which ones don't.

If you really like the Sony, I would just keep that and try it with the Sima first. If the Sima's gonna work, it should be equally effective with any unit, I would think.

Like I said, no recent unit's going to ignore the CP if it's there. It's just that Sony's and Toshiba's in the past often seemed to have an issue with false positives. But more and more, providers are enabling CP, and all of the recent models will sense it if it's there.

The bottom line is you need to do your homework and if you don't know too much maybe you should... unless you don't have a problem throwing money away... just being honest... this was my first combo too... but my research was pretty solid...

Normally I'm really obsessive about doing research before buying a piece of electronic equipment, but I've been working about 12 hours a day and have been spec'ing out a new computer (64 bit or not? SCSI or e-SATA? How much video RAM? etc.), so all of my spare time has been spent on the computer issues. I tried to get my husband to research the DVD recorders, but he was too busy watching the golf channel.

Anyway, we went back to Best Buy and swapped the Sony for the Panasonic. I definitely didn't want to keep the Sony because it didn't have a tuner. We have not yet thoroughly tested the Panasonic, but the first thing we tried was recording something on HBO -- and it worked! So I believe this one is a keeper.

No IR blaster, it's true. The Sony had something that I guess was an IR blaster (husband called it a cable mouse), and it did work on all the channels, so we could set the timer to record on the three-digit channels.

I think on the Panasonic, we can only record on the two-digit channels unless we change the input select (or whatever it's called) to record whatever the cable box is tuned to (including the three-digital channels). I'm not clear on why the Panasonic digital tuner can't "see" the three-digit channels. But I can live with it.

If you really like the Sony, I would just keep that and try it with the Sima first. If the Sima's gonna work, it should be equally effective with any unit, I would think.

Like I said, no recent unit's going to ignore the CP if it's there. It's just that Sony's and Toshiba's in the past often seemed to have an issue with false positives. But more and more, providers are enabling CP, and all of the recent models will sense it if it's there.

The Sony wasn't a keeper, because it didn't have a tuner. And the new Panasonic DOES record HBO, so you could be right about the false positive on the Sonys.

Good to hear it's working out for you so far.

One of the common beliefs about the Sony's is that they're that way because of Sony being such a huge content provider themselves.