NOTE: This post & linked help files have been updated continuously since inception.
Magnavox 557, 53x, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575
N.A. Models: Mag MDR513H/F7,515,533,535,537,557 - H2160MW9,9A - H2080MW8 - Philips DVDR3575H/37,3576
10 years and 9 generations of std def (SD 480i) HDD/DVD recorders with single analog/digital tuners for antenna or unscrambled cable... 12 gens if you add the latest HD models. The 9th-gen and last SD model, 1TB Mag MDR557, was released in April 2014 and has some important differences as described here. All have HDD, DVD and inputs for recording/copying from external sources like cable/sat STBs, DVRs, VCRs, cameras, etc.
Info/help on first 9 gens: Quick Answers ... Help File Index.
Important Notes:
- To learn all you need to know, it's simple: click "post #1" above right and bookmark it, then click links to go DIRECTLY to help files... from this post to answers in one click! If you have questions, click Comment/Question button, or send me a PM
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In April 2014, Funai, an award-winning Japanese company and Walmart Strategic Vendor, released its 9th-generation, 1TB MDR557H/F7 model. Each generation has been a yearly improvement of the same basic design first introduced in Jan 2007 (Philips 3575) as the first and only HDD recorder designed for the U.S. digital transition.
That gen-1 model won a 2007 CES award for innovation as the ONLY recorder, SD or HD (720p/1080i/p), available (then and now) with HDD, analog & digital tuners for antenna or cable, on-board disc drive for burning/playing DVDs & playing CDs, and line inputs.
They don't have multiple tuners or a "Guide" like cable/sat DVRs or TiVo, but no extra "fee" either, and they do have some DVR features like record to HDD, auto-record buffer (Mags), pause/rewind live TV, skip/replay, chase play, simultaneous play/record, resume-play on all partially viewed HDD titles, and more.
They also have many features DVRs don't have like record/copy to DVD, play DVDs/CDs, customize rec mode/bit rates to maximize HDD and DVD capacity, amplified coax passthru on or off (to watch one channel while recording another), composite/S-Video/DV-firewire inputs for copying stuff from VCRs/DVRs/CDs/cameras, 6-hour buffer on Mags (much larger than HD DVRs), editing on HDD/DVD, multiple options for skip/replay times, 0.8X and 1.3X playback with audio, and lots more.
They're the perfect 1st step into the 21st Century of home recording from antenna or unscrambled cable. No media to handle until you want your home movies on DVDs. Just press REC and you're recording or set timers with show names (pre-titling) and watch later. Go on a month's vacation and find all your shows in a title list, with show name, live index pic, date and day of week, ready to play. The HDD will spoil you rotten!
QUICK ANSWERS to Common Questions/Problems
Due to the AVS SW change in June 2014, most but not all links herein will work if you're not logged in. If you are logged in, links should work if your User CP > Edit Options > Number of Posts to Show per Page is set to 30, the default
- Initial Setup - Coax is passthru only. Menus, channels, playback go thru line connection to TV.
- Auto Clock - OTA antenna can maintain dead-on time, cable not so much. Try 11:57 Procedure to find and confirm a good time signal.
- DVD Tray - Won't open until you set unit up, scan channels, THEN press DVD button.
- Connection - Coax passes antenna/cable signal thru to cable box or TV for separate tuning. You need "line output" to TV to see internal DVDR stuff and watch/record diff. channels by selecting appropriate TV input (ANT or line input).
- HDMI - PITA! Slow startup, must "chat" w/TV! For 1st time use, press "HDMI" button thru all four formats.
- Timers - Set clock first. For weekly/daily show, use DOWN arrow in date box of timer menu.
- Widescreen - Set Video > TV Aspect to "16:9 Wide" even if you don't have 16:9 TV yet... prevents that pissed-off feeling when you do get one and you play back your recorded 16:9 shows.
- Editing - Making Front- and End-Cuts (Scene Deletes) is not documented in the manual.
- Dubbing - Two methods for DVD>HDD. Finalized DVD requires Direct Dubbing 1 title at a time.
- Finalizing - NOT automatic. Use Disc Edit > Finalize. Must have at least 60-min. to next timer program. DO NOT use Auto Finalize since you lose control of when that happens.
- AV Outputs - Composite Yellow and S-Video OUT on Mags won't work if Progressive scan is ON.
- AV Inputs - Won't work if Video > Video Input is not set to type of cable used. Clue: Audio w/no video if wrong setting.
- Remote - Has thin plastic film over face that loosens and makes text harder to see. Remove it.
- Bad Picture - Could be HDMI button not pressed or DVDR unplugged or no power (not in Standby).
- Dead Unit - Check batt., try power button on unit, do Soft Reset, check for tuning interference.
- Tuning Problems - Duplicate channels can cause tuning, timer & even power-on problems
- Uverse/Satellite/All-Scrambled Cable - All encrypted. Tuner useless unless you add antenna. Simul. record/copy only.
- Top 12 Things Wrong, Misleading or Omitted in the Manual - Pre-557 manuals are wrong? Ubetcha!
DOUBLE-INDEXED HELP FILES... Double-indexed links for easy "drill-down": 67 major subjects in 11 categories here, leading to 349 detailed discussions.
Disclaimer: Information here is published on a "best-efforts" basis. It can be incomplete or wrong on occasion. Please use due diligence to verify for yourself that names, places, products, parts, etc. are correct for you and your use. IOW, use at your own risk.
Dates: Ignore the original post date on these help file pages. The June 2014 SW change from Huddler HTML to VB SW deleted the "Last edited" dates at bottom of pages, but they were all current as of 6/14/14.
Due to the AVS SW change in June 2014, most but not all links herein will work if you're not logged in. If you are logged in, links should work if your User CP > Edit Options > Number of Posts to Show per Page is set to 30, the default
1. IMPORTANT STUFF
- HD DVRs New & Old
- Magnavox MDR877 and TB560HP/560HS High-Def (HD) DVRs... "2nd draft" of next-generation recorder we requested from Funai in 2011 (see "Dear Funai: Wish List #2" below)... Shown in Jan 2016 at CES, due out ???.
- Magnavox MDR86x Series High-Def (HD) DVRs (2015)... Released in Sep 2015. First HD DVRs for N.A. with DVD burners, line inputs, editing, HD/SD rec modes, and USB 3.0. "1st draft" of next-generation recorder we requested from Funai in 2011 (see "Dear Funai: Wish List #2" below).
- Philips HDR5710 & 5750 High-Def (HD) DVRs (2013)... Released in Nov 2013. Single-tuner HD recorders for antenna & unscrambled cable, wired & built-in wireless streaming, internal 500/1000GB HDD, external USB-HDDs or flash/thumb drives 32GB-4TB for up to 33TB storage. Copy/move titles back and forth at will.
- 9th-Gen 557 Std-Def (SD) DVDR... Last in the std def (SD) HDD/DVD recorder series, released in Apr 2014, follow-on to 53x Series with IMPORTANT changes!
- 8th-Gen 53x Series (533/535/537) Std-Def (SD) DVDRs... "Prime-1" Wish granted in Sep 2012 with this new Series.
- Dear Walmart: Thank You, and Please Do It Again... Starring role in 53x Series, will they star in sequel? Maybe.
- Dear Funai: Wish List #1... Our Enduring Dream!... Some wishes granted with 515. "Prime-1" Wish granted with new 53x Series.
- Dear Funai: Wish List #2... The Next Generation... Multi-Tuner HDD/DVD Recorder. New HD models here: MDR865/867/868.
- FW Updates... Ver02C Freeze Fix, SuperFW 727V, 2160A Temp/Perm E19 fix
2. GENERAL NEED-TO-KNOW STUFF
- HDTV DVR Comparison - What They Won't Tell You!
- Comparisons: Mag vs Mag, Mag vs CM7000PAL & Other HD DVRs
- Funai History... A Japanese company, founded in 1961, HQ in Osaka, Japan, Walmart Strategic Vendor.
- Record While You're In Jail? You Betcha!
- HDTV Passthru... Aspect Ratio... Preserve WS & Strip CP
- Picture Quality (PQ)... Master-Baiters... The Craptastic "Full D1" Fallacy
- Controlling Multiple Units of Same Brand / Manufacturer
- User-Recommended Universal Remotes... My Learning Remote + Others - - (now $6.90 online)
- Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) - Do You Need One?
- Mohu Antennas for OTA... Cutting the Cord!
3. SETUP... "Setup" is "Menu" button on 515/53x/557 remote.
- Connections... Cables... Digital Cliff
- Initial Settings... HDMI Control (fun-Link/CEC)... Hard-of-Hearing?... 11:57 Procedure for Auto Clock
- Scanning for Channels (Auto/Manual)... Frozen Scan... Rotating Antenna... SDV.
- Tuning Channels... "Hybrid" Tuner... Cable Channels
- LIE Gene Discovered in Cableco DNA
- 7/31/10 - My Significant Change in Cable Channel Tuning
4. RECORDING & COPYING... See Section 6, Dubbing, for copying w/internal drives HDD>DVD>HDD.
- Rec Stds... Rec Modes... Time Remaining... HDD/DVD Capacities
- Record to HDD... TIMER REC & PRE-TITLING... STB/DVR Rec... STB Tips... Copy from Ext. Device... Copy HDD>HDD
- Record to DVD... Multi-Session... Multi-Machine... DVD Menu/Status... Region/NTSC/PAL
- Record Sports
- Record Closed Captions (CC)
- Record Music/Audio from Various Sources & Make Audio DVD/CD
- Using This DVDR as a Tuner for Other Devices (e.g., Analog DVDRs)
- CP Filters/Widescreen Convertors & the "Analog Sunset"
5. EDITING... With undocumented instructions for Front- and End Cuts.
- Edit with This DVDR... Name Title, Delete Title, Delete Scene, Divide Title, Protect Title, Add/Delete Chapter, Index Pic, & Combine Title (557 only on HDD and DVD-VR discs).
- Edit with PC/MAC
6. DUBBING... Using internal drives for making copies.
- Dub HDD>DVD>HDD... Finalize... Delete Empty Title... Dateless DVDs
- Essential Info on RTD, HSD, RTR... Multi-Generational & Mode-Conversion Dubbing/Copying
- DVD Info - Buying & Using
7. PLAYBACK & PAUSE LIVE TV (PLTV)
- Standard Playback with Remote
- Play & Search with Info/Display Menu
- Upconvert, Simultaneous Play/Record, Chase Play
- Pause Live TV (PLTV) & Autostart Recording (PLAY/SAVE/DUMP Buffer)
- Region Code & NTSC/PAL TV Standards
- Using This DVDR as a DVD Player
8. HARDWARE (HW), FIRMWARE (FW), UTILITIES, TROUBLESHOOTING
- HW Replacement/Upgrade... Skip 079 for HDD/DVD Check, Initialize & Power-on Stat... Dock-and-Play... Ordering OEM Parts... Solid State Drives (SSD) - UPDATE: 2 Freaking Petabytes, 4 pages.
PM links on Pioneer names don't work, most other links OK. - FW Versions/Updates, Laser Use & Other Utilities
- Checking Quality of Blank DVD Media
- Cleaning the DVD Spindle
- Error Codes
- Reset Options... Soft Reset for "Dead" or "Troubled" Unit
- Known Problems & Operating Idiosyncracies
- Tuning & Power Problems - Missing Channels, Timer Records Black/Wrong Channel, Machine Freezes/"Dead"
- Audio Level Problems
- HDD Operating & Maintenance Tips
- How the DVD Burner Operates... Using as a Player
- DVDR HDD-to-PC, DVDR HDD-to-HDD, Title Recovery
- Heat/EMI/RF/MW
9. REMOTE OPS
- Remote Ops (Outside the Home) - Slingbox... Includes instructions for Philips and Magnavox (all Mags the same).
- Slingbox Manual
- Slingbox Info
- Google List of Slingbox Sellers
- Room-to-Room Ops - Wireless IR Range Extender... Make one unit respond to only this remote from anywhere in house, even if hidden.
- Room-to-Room Ops - Wireless Video Sender... Send live TV or DVDR audio/video signal to remote TVs.
10. HIGH-TECH STUFF & THE FUTURE
- HDD File System Investigation... Delving into file structure to expand access.
- Tinkering for Techies... Some Mods for Fearless Techies.
- Options for Recording When DVDRs Are Gone... Planning for the inevitable future.
11. SELLERS & SUPPORT... (models in order of newest to oldest generation)
Gen9 - 557 (Apr 2014) - Magnavox MDR557H, 1TB SATA HDD. Video/VR-mode recording, Playlists, Combine Titles, no Empty Titles on DVDs, lots more as described here.
- $338 up Amazon, Used-Refurb
- 557 Manual
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- OEM Remote, NC003UH. Works on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers or call Level 2 Support.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.
Gen8 - 53x Series (Sep 2012) - Magnavox MDR533/535/537H, 320/500/1000GB SATA HDDs, +VR-std recording. Only difference is HDD size. Same FW Versions. Same Op. Manual.
- Amazon, Refurb/Used, Funai 1-yr parts/90-day labor warranty on New units, typ. Funai 90-day P/L on refurbs (but check w/refurb seller). 30-day Return Policy on "Sold by Amazon" products. Ship to Canada.
533 (320GB)
535 (500GB)
537 (1TB) - Operating Manual.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- OEM Remote, NC003UD except 557, which is NC003UH. They work on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.
Gen7 - 515 (Nov 2010) - Magnavox MDR515H, 500GB SATA HDD, +VR-std recording.
- Operating Manual. 4.4MB pdf.
- FW Update.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- OEM Remote, NC003UD except 557, which is NC003UH. They work on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.
Gen6 - 513 (Apr 2010) - Magnavox MDR513H, 320GB SATA HDD, +VR-std recording. Can be made to operate like 515 with SuperFW 727V, as described here.
- Amazon Used-Refurb, ship to Canada.
- $209.99 Refurb, Amazon (when available)
- Operating Manual. 4.8MB pdf.
- FW Update.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- Original OEM Remote, NB820UD. $14-20 Amazon. Google for other online sellers or call Level 2 Support.
- OEM Remote, NC003UD except 557, which is NC003UH. They work on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device..
Gen5 - 2160A (Mar 2009) - Magnavox H2160MW9A, 160GB SATA HDD, +VR-std recording. Can be made to operate like 515 with SuperFW 727V, as described here.
- Operating Manual. 32.9MB pdf.
- FW Update.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- Original OEM Remote, NB820UD. $14-20 Amazon. Google for other online sellers.
- OEM Remote, NC003UD except 557, which is NC003UH. They work on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers or call Level 2 Support.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.
Gen4 - 2160 (May 2008) - Magnavox H2160MW9, 160GB PATA HDD, +VR-std recording, my "bullet-proof" model.
- Amazon Used-Refurb. ?
- Operating Manual. 16.7MB pdf.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- Original OEM Remote, NB820UD. $14-20 Amazon. Google for other online sellers or call Level 2 Support.
- OEM Remote, NC003UD except 557, which is NC003UH. They work on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.
Gen3 - 3576 (Apr 2008) - Philips DVDR3576H, 160GB PATA HDD, +VR-std recording.
- Amazon Used-Refurb. ?
- Operating Manual. 13.7MB pdf.
- Online Support. No FW updates for this unit. DO NOT use the 3575 FW listed below.
- Out-of-Warranty Support, Tel. 1-888-744-5477.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- $23 Remote PN 996510003026 (NB526UD) from Philips, $9 S&H ($32).
- $25 Remote from New Remotes, Inc., $8 S&H ($33).
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device..
Gen2 - 2080 (Jul 2007) - Magnavox H2080MW8, 80GB PATA HDD, +VR-std recording. MainAVSForum thread here.
- Amazon Used-Refurb. ?
- Operating Manual. 25.8MB pdf.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- Level 1 Support, Connection/Ops/Troubleshooting, 1-800-605-8610, 7 days/wk, 9:00am-11:00pm EST. Not a knowledgeable source for help... often results in advice to "return it" even tho answer is in one of the help file links above!
- Level 2 Support, Accessories/Remotes/Repair/Warranty, 1-888-290-0871, M-F, 8:30am-5:30pm EST.
- OEM Remote, NC003UD except 557, which is NC003UH. They work on all Mag HDD models. Google for online sellers or call Level 2 Support.
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.
Gen1 - 3575 (Jan 2007) - Philips DVDR3575H, 160GB PATA HDD, +VR-std recording. My workhorse testbed model.
- Amazon Used-Refurb. ?
- Operating Manual. 13.5MB pdf.
- FW Update. Does NOTHING constructive that users have found, and it's NOT FOR THE 3576!
- Online Support.
- Out-of-Warranty Support, Tel. 1-888-744-5477.
- Ordering and Replacing Internal Parts & Getting Service Manual (SM).
- $23 Remote PN 996510003026 (NB526UD) from Philips, $9 S&H ($32).
- $25 Remote from New Remotes, Inc., $8 S&H ($33).
- $18 Universal Learning Remote - - (now $7.47 online), Philips SRP Series. Works well with Mag & Philips HDD DVDRs plus 5 other component types (TVs, DVRs, AVRs, players, VCRs, etc.), and it controls TV volume when using any device.