Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 337

Here's the timer program list (all are EP speed to HDD):
1. M-F 5:00AM 6:01AM DTV 42.2
2. M-F 8:29AM 8:59AM DTV 8.2
3. M-F 8:59AM 10:00AM DTV 10.2
4. M-F 10:59AM 12:00PM DTV 8.2
5. FRI 8:59PM 10:00PM DTV 3.1
6. SAT 6:00PM 7:00PM DTV 8.2
7. SAT 7:00PM 8:00PM DTV 3.1
8. SAT 9:00PM 10:00PM DTV 10.2
9. SUN 7:00AM 8:29AM DTV 8.2
10. SUN 4:00PM 5:00PM DTV 10.2
11. SUN 6:00PM 7:00PM DTV 8.2
12. SUN 8:00PM 10:00PM DTV 10.2
13. SUN 11:00PM 12:59AM DTV 7.1
14. MON 8:30PM 9:00PM DTV 3.1

I tried changing the end time of #14 from 9:00PM to 9:01PM, and--go figure--it worked. I also tried changing the start time of #1 (the next-to-record) from 5:00AM to 4:59AM, and that also worked.

The two most recent instances I can remember were changing the channel switch time between #6 and #7 from 6:59PM to 7:00PM, and changing the end time of #12 from 9:00PM to 10:00PM. For the former, I got the overlap message despite changing the #7 start time before changing the #6 end time. For the latter, I got it despite there being no possibility of true overlap for either end time. What seems to happen is that it updates a different timer slot than intended, and then detects the overlap because the original program is still out there.

Thanks,
Pete

On my 3575, back before all the QAM cable channels were scrambled by Comcrap, I was often up into the 4th page on timer programs (including daily and weekly ones) and never had a problem except when I accidentally overlapped, in which case the system always highlighted the conflict and allowed me to make changes and/or delete an offending entry.

This has probably already been mentioned but since this thread has gotten very long and the 513 has become more widely available (Target, Amazon, Walmart) I thought I would mention it.

When the Magnavox 513 was cloned from the Philips 3576 the gene for the optical audio output was lost in the genetic soup. The 513 only offers coax (RCA) digital audio out and analog audio out. The Philips 3576 has those plus optical (Toslink) digital audio output.

RePete222,

Your schedule looks fine. What may be happening is when you make a program change (edit, not new timer), the programming tries to insert the new time/channel into where it should be in the listing and it finds the old time/channel there. So it gives the timer overlap error. It might just take a second or two for the listing to update properly (the more timers, the longer it takes to update???). Upon getting the error, ignore it, exit the timer listing, then go back in. It should be good.

I thought of that possibility, and did as you suggest at least once--no good. When I went back in (think I even powered off & back on), I still had the bogus overlap caused by the duplication/overlay, and had to delete the old entry, and figure out which entry needed to be re-added.

Pete

I can understand your concerns. It would be nice to have both, like my BR Sony. But with three devices with optical and three with coax audio, my vote goes with coax (S/PDIF). It comes in different grades, like TOSLINK, but doesn't carry a warning that you shouldn't bend it too much. It is also not polarized and you can't scratch the lens resulting in dropouts. But there are coax to optical and optical to coax adapters. Considering the price increase and technology changes, it begs to ask why no optical? Who knows.

Joe,

I agree. For performance I prefer S/PDIF. But I also like flexibility. Options come in handy when you have multiple sources to connect and limited inputs on whatever they are being connected to. I wonder how many pennies Funai saved by eliminating the optical.

I'm wanting to get the 2160 from Wal-mart for my wife's birthday per a friend's recommendation. I am with Time Warner Cable with the HD package with no converter box installed. Will the 2160 work with no problems with this setup? My friend is using his for OTA only so he didn't really have an answer. I've heard that some of the cable companies have caused some problems with the units. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the quick response. I always know I can count on you wajo. Is there anything I should be aware of before ordering it? I'm not really tech savy nor is my wife but my friend that recommended it says it is really easy to operate.

So true. After every recording I add the show name with title edit. And the 'micro' letters on the remote don't help. I delete the channel/format for room. But at least we can edit the HDD titles. My Sony can't do that for manual recordings.

Are you in an apartment or condo? I ask because over the years, some apt dwellers I know would get free pay channels unscrambled without the use of a cable box, and I was always so envious that they get HBO and Showtime, and could causally set their vcrs to record from them.
As cable moves to digital, I'm guessing that will all fall by the wayside.

Yes, but it will downscale the HD channels to 480i (standard definition), whether you're recording from it's external tuner or an external, HD one.

here's the link to the *correct* pdf leaflet available through the magnavox support for the
MDR513H/F7
http://funaiport.com/upload/MAGNAVOX...MDR513H_LE.PDF
it does say /F7
no mention of vhs capabilities

the pdf leaflet on the philips site for the
MDR513H
http://download.m4c.magnavox.com/fil...f7_pss_aen.pdf

note no /suffix
is for the european/asian version?


it does say /F7
on the specifications page 2,

they both say
component outputs

...

bc

I have had the same problem twice. I didn't find a workaround other than a soft reboot. I then had to reenter all the program times. Not sure why it does this but it does look like it gets some pointer mixed up and starts overwriting the wrong program. I downloaded the update but I was waiting until I upgraded the hard drive to do the firmware update at the same time. So I don't know if it fixes this issue or not.

Just be aware that the channels may not be numbered on the 2160 exactly as they are on your TV. I've missed a couple of scheduled recordings by entering the "TV" number when programming the 2160.

Praise for the 3575/2160 platform. Hitherto [there's a nice old archaic word], I've been using my 3575 for OTA recording and my Panasonic DMR-E85 for my VHS dubbing project since its analog tuner is now useless. But I really hate having to go through and manually throw chapter breaks into the E85's files. The only way to get auto chaptering is to do a certain kind of dub from HDD to DVD-R in real time. No way!

Anyway, I do like the 3575/2160's auto chaptering feature, so I decided to just use it for one of my tape dubs. I have to say the resulting PQ is awfully close to the E85's. I think the Panny still makes a slightly cleaner VHS dub, but on material where PQ isn't a top priority, it's no big deal.

The 2.5 and 3 hour record rates are so handy, I'm really not missing the E85's FR mode all that much. I do a lot of dubs of old TV shows where I can edit out commercials and squeeze 3 one-hour shows into 2.5 hours, so the SPP mode is way handy.

The 3575's title naming feature works entirely differently from the Panny's, and seemed slow and cumbersome at first, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Being able to burn DVD+Rs is kind of a bonus, more because it gives one the sense of having options than for real practical benefit. I'm happy to feed the thing my 8x TY and Verb media.

So I continue to be impressed with the quality of the Funai platform for its price point. It's really prolonged the life of standalone HDD DVDRs for our small band of faithful aficionados.

That didn't work but it might have a problem with the tuner because now when I turn it on it jumps between 2 channels and a blank screen for a minute or two before settling down. The picture quality also degraded suddenly (made no changes and other sources look fine). It missed a scheduled recording as well and another time didn't respond to channel changing (no recordings about to happen and I was able to shut it down normally that time). All this and the two 'freezes' happened in the space of a week. It seems my unit came back from the repair shop in even worse shape.
I called Funai back and they're sending out a new one along with shipping labels. Just had to give a cc number to cover the cost should I not return the defective unit in time.

I just wasn't sure he clear on that, especially since he said he "had an HD package", but not any kind of cable box (which didn't sound like it made too much too much sense - I mean, that he would be paying extra for that, and they weren't giving him some kind of box - or even that they were offering the box, but he didn't want to pay for it. Even if the locals were scrambled, he still would've needed their cable box for that. I thought maybe he was thinking that he could use the Maggie as an "HD tuner replacement").

so, what you get is crap (compared to HD), right?
will burning to dvd disc and using an upconverting dvd player, will this give any significant, positive improvement?

thanks
bc

P.S. to some further comments about the OP's question...i'd also like to know how he gets HD package channels w/o a cable box.

hey wabjxo...just to show i'm reading this thread from the beginning

what does this mean? slightly amplified? what's that? pass through means just that, untouched, doesn't it? and certainly the dvdr isn't going to improve in any way on the original hd signal, is it?

inquiring mind wants to know...

thanks
bc

These two are completely same model.

Just MAGNAVOX site lost the suffix.

/F7 means North America (NAFTA) model.

A word of advice, 234.

Include a quote from the post you're replying to. That way people know what you're talking about and who the reply is meant for.

It's just the way things are done.

Putting an "orphan" reply into the middle of a thread is "messy".

I think he was replying to post #10097. I started that side-discussion about the wrong specs listed for the Magnavox MDR315H/F7 in the leaflet found on the Phillips and Magnavox websites.

No, not crap - just not any better than a standard definition DVD, and not true HD.

"Upconverting" still won't quite make it look like HD, either, although the downscaled HD channels should still look reasonably good.

The recorder may be OK for watching recordings (no difference between the hard drive or a DVD), but if you have an HD tuner either in the TV or from the cable company, and you want to watch real HD, then you'll need to watch those channels from that.

Wajo just said you can try and see what else you might pick up, but if they encrypt everything else (except the locals), you'll need their box running into a line input on the recorder to record those other channels.

If your TV has a built-in, "clear-QAM" tuner (and almost all nowadays do), and it has HD resolution, you can pass the cable signal through the recorder and watch whatever channels you can pick up through that live (and the HD channels will be true HD - not downscaled, like from the recorder's tuner).

If you're watching on an SDTV (with a digital, clear-QAM/NTSC tuner), it's all moot, as the resolution from the recorder is all SD anyway (won't really make much difference what tuner you watch from live, then - although the digital channels should look better than any analog ones you might still pick up).

Probably said too much and confused you even more, but oh, well. Just ask any questions you have here and they will get answered.