Magnavox 537, 535, 533, 515, 513, 2160A, 2160, 2080 & Philips 3576, 3575 - Page 717

Quote:

Originally Posted by YellowSpoon 

I'm confused. I get my hi-definition TV over-the-air (OTA). I do not have cable or satellite. If I buy one of these and only use the DVR functions, can I playback and/or watch delayed TV in high definition? Numerous posts indicate no. If so, what is the "HQ" recording option? Is HQ better than standard definition, but not quite 1080? The user manual specifically states the use of standard definition for DVD recording, yet the manual doesn't explicitly say that the DVR only plays back at 480i.

Bits are bits. Why not record the bits directly from my antenna and play them back to my TV when I hit "PLAY"?

I have two Sony DGH-HDD250 which are showing their age. I also have a new Channel Master CM7400, which records great, but has a lot of software issues (like hanging occasionally). I'm looking for a replacement DVR as I just gotta skip over the commercials.

You've got the perfect TV source and use for these Mags: (1) OTA antenna with only digital/digital HD signals, (2) record-watch-delete, (3) primarily DVR functions (DVD secondary).

If you record everything with 1-hr-HQ rec mode, you might also think you're recording HD, but it will be 480i SD recorded at max. bit rate of ~10Mbps... approaching HD territory. Depending on many system factors, you can upconvert everything and they might well look better yet. I get an analog cable feed and my digital channels look great but upconversion doesn't make them look better here, altho comm. DVDs DO look better. "Everything" depends on the source! :-)

Even if you decide to make a DVD out of a program longer than 1-hour, your HD source will produce an HQ recording that holds up extremely well even thru real-time mode conversion dubs to virtually all the other rec modes, as described here (3 subjects).

Edit: I forgot to mention, these DVD recorders MUST record in 480i SD cuz the DVD Std was built on the old VHS std, so anything with a DVD burner is relegated to that SD std.

Also, the coax on these is a passthru of the raw signal, so anything going thru the Mag's coax will be HD on your TV screen... the Mag has an amplified internal splitter that splits the HD signal  and downconverts the signal to the reqd 480i for the internal video system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gastrof 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sldvd 

My 2160A suddenly doesn't seem to be outputting any video for some reason. The TV says "no signal", but I can still hear the audio fine. Not sure what happened, it was all working just a few days ago. I don't think it's a problem with the TV, because I tried plugging the yellow/red/white cables from the 2160A into the other set of inputs on my TV, and there was still no video.

I also tried unplugging the 2160A from the electrical outlet and leaving it unplugged for a half-hour before plugging it back in. But there was still no video.

How are you feeding the output to the TV? The older units have the same three options the current ones do, right? Which are you using?

Sounds like you have Video > Progressive Scan on.

The Mags will not output any video from Composite yellow or S-Video connectors with PS on. You'll hear audio, but see no video.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Recordelicious 

Recieved my New MDR535H today. Walmart said between the 14th and 17th, and it came the 11th.

I paid for standard shipping of 3 bucks something and it came fedex. I'll take it.

I'll hook it up later. Looking forward to faster operation, much faster, than my present 3576 with PATA.

Tasty.

It'll be interesting to see if your 535 is "faster" than your 3576. Since it's not a noted or advertised feature, I doubt they changed anything there. Only things I noticed with my 515 was faster startup and shutdown and 1/2 the dub times than my 3575's (8X burner vs 4X).

FYI:  Use care if going to the Magnavox.com download page. It has some long-standing and serious errors which they've so far been "unable" to correct:

1. The Download link to the Operating Manual for the new MDR533H/F7 downloads the manual for the 513 instead of the correct 53x Series manual.

http://www.magnavox.com/support/download_list.php?model=MDR533H

The correct 533/535/537 manual can be accessed here.

2. There is nothing available if entering mdr in the Search box, then selecting MDR535H/F7 or MDR537H/F7 in the drop-down list. Both should have the same Operating Manual as stated in #1 above,.

3. Typing h in the Search box brings up the 2080 and 2160, but selecting the 2160 brings up FW not designed for it... that FW is for the E19 error in the 2160A. The original 2160 does NOT have that error and needs NO FW update (it's virtually bulletproof).

4. Typing h in the Search box again, selecting the 2160, then adding a space and an A (H2160MW9 A) brings up the FW for the 513 (for correcting a Freeze issue the 2160A does NOT have). The H2160MW9 A should have the FW update for the E19 error (currently on the orig. 2160 page in error).

The H2160MW9 A should be added to the drop-down list so people who don't know how to get that unit in the Search box can do so. I got there only because I KNOW you can type an h to bring up all units that start with that letter, just as you can do with "mdr" to bring up all those units.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stapler1234 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wajo 


FYI:  Use care if going to the Magnavox.com download page. It has some long-standing and serious errors which they've so far been "unable" to correct:

Looks like it's time you took another fast trip to Osaka.

 I think you're right but I'll have to bring more than whupass this time!

Edit: I think my previous whupass-trip to Osaka didn't take cuz HQ can't seem to do anything with their people in California.

So... my new plan is to hire one of those firefighting planes, load up the contents of my 1000-gal septic tank (that "slimy slurry" I mentioned before), and carpet bomb the California office as people are just getting to work (I doubt that they have showers in their office)!

Quote:

Originally Posted by profhat 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wajo 

4. Typing h in the Search box again, selecting the 2160, then adding a space and an A (H2160MW9 A) brings up the FW for the 513 (for correcting a Freeze issue the 2160A does NOT have).

What kind of Freeze issue? I really like to know.

Some 513 and 515's would go "dead" and not turn on, apparently due to analog interference (tuning interference). A Soft Reset recovers, but a FW update for the digital tuner (Ver02C, or DTV-S 0x2C) fixes it, as described here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Recordelicious 

I put my new 535 under the 3576 and exchanged wires one by one. Same Same. Turned on unit, then TV,
and dialog for Language came up. Ran Auto Channel, then set time and it started working like my 3576.
I have Verizon Fios SD.

There is no Pause Live TV. It is called Chasing Playback During Recording on Pg. 75 of manual.
Record button then use function buttons as usual. Pause Live TV did not leave a recording on HDD,
Chasing does. I don't like that.

Dialog boxes are more colorful. When deleting title, I don't have to "Yes" twice.

DVD loads quicker. Don't know about "faster" for other functions.

I couldn't find a way to register the product online and there is no paper registration. First time I've
seen that for a product of this type.

My 3576 is still working after 4 years and hope the 535 works the same. Yeah, I know about all the
"problems" people have had with these many versions of DVR. I've read many of the "reviews" on
A_ma_z_on. And I've read a few things here.

Tasty

Here's the help file on Pause Live TV.

You have to Save the buffer if and when desired, as described there.

Click the 1st link in my sig. for an index of all the help files.

Edit: I just discovered that the manual does NOT use the words "Pause Live TV" anywhere!

Closest it gets is on pg 46 where it says, in part, "you can pause or go back the TV program you are currently watching...."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick237 

This is a great discussion, just what I needed because I am looking to buy a DVR and was suprised to learn that there is not much available. I have been recording TV programs off-the-air for many years in order to time shift. My first VCR (I forget the brand) lasted for about nine years which made me pleased. My next VCR was a panasonic which also lasted about nine years before it bit the dust. My current machine is a panasonic DMR-EZ48V which I bought about five years ago, before the switch to digital TV. It has a few bugs and I almost tossed it into the trash a few times. But, it has worked pretty well until recently when I started getting a few error messages. I used a disk cleaner and that seems to have fixed it. (I am thinking about taking off the cover and blowing all the dust out.) In any case, I definately want a DVR with a hard disk and was glad to read about magnavox in this discussion because I recently went to a local Walmart and was told that they no longer sell any DVR's with a tuner.

A big bug on my DMR-EZ48V is that it freezes when the signal drops out for more than one or two seconds which happened quite often at the beginning of the switch but rarely happens now because the signals are more stable. Another bug which is almost a deal-breaker is that the remote does not have a "previous channel" button! Unbelievable. Another bug is that it is slow to obey a command. When I hit the record button, I have to wait, wait, wait, and wait for it to begin.

If my experience holds true for you, the Mag should keep recording thru signal variations, and the response to HDD ops is very good... in fact, REC to HDD is virtually instantaneous. It does not, however, have a previous channel button on its remote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeKustra 

Did it always say (Standard Def) or is the forum still messing with things?

I asked for that to be added... might have saved lots of chatter about "this recorder doesn't record HD" which caused the Sticky... might save some confusion in the future?

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1528golf 

I've had a 3576 for a few years now and it has worked flawlessy. Now it will not keep the right time-I'm talkin off by 7 hours or more-and when I go in to fix the time it thinks its Jan. 1st 2044, I change it to the right time and date and a few hours later its screwed up again. Anyone had this problem, I haven't tried a reset yet. Also the first time it did it all the channels were deleted and I had to auto progrem again.

Your Clock > Auto Clock setting must be ON (it's the default), which means it will most likely find a PBS channel time signal, and PBS SUCKS!

My PBS sets my clock 3+ hrs off and the year 2036.

Here's a help file with some info and a "11:57 Procedure" for finding a good time signal (if any in your area and TV source). If none, just set Auto Clock OFF.