Testing with LG DVD Recorder & VCR combo
27 11 2004
I?ve been playing with LG DVD Recorder & VCR combo during the day. (Model - LGXBR446) Overall, I am pleased with this unit ? trying out all different kind of features. It also supports memory slots which is a plus however it is one way street which means you cannot transfer pictures from memory card to DVD but you can transfer from DVD to memory slots.
I was able to dub from old wedding VHS tape to DVD in XL mode (Highest quality limited to one hour) and pleased with the results. I forgot to add title & chapter names in it after I ?finalized? it ? I have to do this way to prevent from rewrite since it is DVD+RW disc. I am very exciting ? it is perfect tool where you can transfer all old VHS tape into DVD in easy way. No computer required.
Next, I’ve been testing several shows by record it into DVD+RW in SP mode (2 hours mode) and it works great. Unfortunately, I noticed that closed captioning was garbled. I cannot tell if it is unit or from cable itself at this point. I checked all TV channels and noticed some of them are garbling badly. I told Brenden if he’s experienced same problem as I did and he said yes.
Another things, I was working more on old VHS tapes - I knew that my parent in law usually record many different events during my children’s childhood on same tape which means it could be as many as 30 of them on same tape. I decide to dub on each event and dub again every time this way it will create new chapter automatically. Later on, I added title and chapter names by using on-screen keyboard. It can be painful if you are doing it on many chapters but its worth. I did about 15 chapters then took a break.
I didn’t investigate on this unit with cable TV channels because I had to go work. Brenden does a lot of checking on every channel. He will post more about it on his blog shortly. I also send email to LG Company and request for help regarding closed captioning being garbled on some of the TV shows. Keep in mind; it was fine on TV directly without LG unit. Hopefully I will hear something from them this week.
Of course, Brenden and I aren’t 100% settle with this unit even we enjoy it very much. It is just that closed captioning issues are bothering us especially it is one of those top of the line unit for this kind. We were even thinking about exchange again and try out Sony DVD Recorder & VCR combo. We will decide next couple of days.
As far as I know, we don’t know if this Sony (Model - RDR-VX500) unit will work well with closed captioning yet but we realized that this unit also has one more thing that LG unit do not have - It’s called VCR Plus+ which can be useful when you want to look for TV show to record or change it.
End of the Day.
Grant W Laird, Jr.
http://blog.grantlairdjr.com
I purchased the LGXBR446 from Best Buy. I was able to record High Definition channels without any problems via Cable HD Box to LGXBR446.
When I tried to record ANY HBO channels with the LGXBR446 there was a big problem LGXBR446 displayed a Copy Protection violation msg and would not allow any recording.
I called LG support and they said that it picks up a flag send from HBO and or Cable Company.
I called cable company and was told it was legal to record any show that I have subscribed to. I explained my problem and was told that it was a VCR/DVD issue, I asked for a supervisor. The supervisor never heard of this but upgraded the problem to engineers. He also called LG. The problem is still being worked out. Cable said LG may need to send firmware update.
Waiting to see if I can record shows like I could before I upgraded my equipment.
How did you come out with the testing of the LG LGXBR446 DVD Recorder? I am considering it and the Sony VX500. Thanks.
I purchased this DVD recorder and it has crapped out on me 2 times, first time it cost $80.00 to fix, the last time I chucked it. The first time It stopped working (July 2005) I only had the unit for 5 months, and I hardly used it. I took it to a shop that LG suggested to me and what they said was the laser head assembly was bad. The second time it went bad (April 2006) it was the same problem only this time it wasn’t under warranty and would cost $180.00 to fix. So, I threw it out. And I’m looking into a new unit from a different company.
By the way, LG and Zenith are the same company, and they both put out the same unit.
Try Sony unit - its been good to me since then