After reading some of the threads in this forum I'm beginning to think I've been accomplishing the impossible. I have a Toshiba D-R2 that I've been using for several years now to archive my old VHS collection to DVD as well as record some programs captured off CATV. My selection of the D-R2 was based on it's ability to select specific bit rates for recording, allowing for maximum picture quality, and it's use of DVD-R media which seems to be the most universally acceptable DVD recording media after finalization.
About a year ago it was time to get a new TV so I purchased a nice 42" LCD TV and upgraded my cable service to HD, which included a Magnavox DVR STB (initially COX, now Suddenlink). I wondered what would happen with the DVD's onto which I had recorded letterbox CATV presentations (they played as letterbox on my old fullscreen TV) and how well the D-R2 would do at recording widescreen programming. No Problems. None at all. Even the letterbox recordings off TCM look great and show up as widescreen on my 42" TV. And recordings off HD channels play as widescreen, though not totally HD quality. Occasionally, to get the ideal picture, I have to select a different picture format via the TV's menu box (several widescreen options available), but even without that the recordings are fine and they play like a dream on my Oppo DVD player.
Well, my D-R2 is starting to act up.........big time. It sees all my Taiyo Uden discs as dirty or damaged, it won't accept any of my DVD-RAM disc's, even the ones that were previously formatted. I've tried some other types of DVD-R disc's I have on hand and none of them work either. I've tried cleaning it, blowing it out, etc. No use. It plays disc's just fine but it won't record anything. So, now I'm looking for a new DVD recorder.
I thought I had found exactly what I wanted, the Panasonic ES15. Yes I know it's not the newest unit available but it gets well above average user reviews, has the Flex Record feature, uses DVD-R as well as DVD-RAM , both of which I have in abundance, and the ES15 can be found for less than $100 with varying warranties available. Then I really screw up, I start reading the user's manual (on line). Can only record widescreen to -RAM disc's? What kind of nonsense is that? So I came to this forum to find out what's happening. Voila! I found threads on this exact topic (ES15, widescreen) and started reading. Unfortunately, the ES15 threads went off topic and got into other discussions without ever clearly stating why there's a problem. I just don't understand. So much info about widescreen formats, widescreen flags, s-video vs component video vs composite video. And all I was doing was putting a blank DVD-R disc in the D-R2 and pressing the Record Button. It was kind of a "Larry the Cable Guy" thing, just Git'R Dun.
All I want is a recorder that will allow me to record DVD-R the way my D-R2 has. My D-R2 has been hooked up with composite video (yellow RCA plug) from the STB to the D-R2 for recording. Nothing special here, well not all that special. Actually, my current setup is an STB, a VCR, and a DVD player through a source switch (composite or s-video supported) then through a "video rectifier" to the D-R2 (all currently via composite video). Why wouldn't an ES-15 do the same thing if hooked up the same way? I thought a DVD recorder took the signal it was getting and recorded that signal onto a DVD. I had no idea it would change a widescreen signal into a full screen signal. Sounds like a lot of extra work to me.
I've looked at some other units currently on the market. Most get terrible user reviews. The newer Toshiba's don't offer any kind of flexible recording times. (Man, Toshiba took a big step backwards there). Nothing seems to meet my requirements and my budget. What with Christmas coming up, etc, I just don't want to spend a whole lot of money on a DVD recorder (ask me about my grandkids) and I really don't want to wait too long as my DVR is filling up fast.
I've never really believed that "ignorance is bliss" but in this case I can't help but wonder what would have happened had I not read the section in the ES15 manual about the widescreen recording. Could I have continued doing the impossible?

It doesn't change the wide screen signal into full screen. It will record the anamorphic signal correctly. The problem is it doesn't set the flag that tells DVD players that it is an anamorphic wide screen recording. The recording will play fine on a wide screen TV in a 16:9 aspect ratio. On a 4:3 TV the recording will appear strectched vertically. The Panny's only support setting the widescreen flag with DVD-RAM. So the manual is misleading. A recorder will record exactly what you feed it.

you'll have no problem recording and viewing 16:9 properly, but the dvds will looked "squished" on a 4:3, only a problem if you share them with people that only have 4:3 tvs.

You might want to search the threads here for info on swapping your DVD burner out for a new one. Sounds like that's all that is wrong with your R2. Might not be a hard fix. Since you plan on replacing it anyway, what have you got to lose? I expect it's only a few screws and a couple of plugs (cables). The hard part will be finding out what compatible replacement units are available and will work, but odds are that someone has already done the digging. Anyway, just a thought.

Good luck!

Bron

I second moxie1617's post.
I have recorded 16X9 on my es-25 and es-10 (es15 should be the same) using only DVD -R's and -RW's. I never use RAMS due to incompatability in some of my DVD players. As noted those discs will look "stretched" vertically on a non WS tv though. Cool though if your Tosh was setting the bit for you. Panny's have never done this as far as I know.

Well, I kind of figured that the ES15 would capture widescreen on a -R disc, but you never know. Sometimes mfg's like to throw in a few curves. I would never have guessed that Toshiba would have removed the ability to customize bit rates for recordings, but they did. And in reviews I read on various sites, a few users noted the widescreen problem with the ES15. But it just didn't make any sense to me.

Base on the info I've gotten from this forum I think I'll go ahead and get the ES15. I thought about repairing the D-R2 but to do so would cost considerably more than a new unit. And I've gotten about 4 years and hundreds of DVD's out the D-R2. I think I got my money's worth, and then some. No complaints here. If the ES15 is any where close to as good as the D-R2, I'll be a happy buckaroo.

Again, thank you all for the input. It is greatly appreciated.