Analog Compatible? I got this unit today from Amazon, I believed from several review posts that it would be able to work with my analog TV (see Tall Paul 4 star review: "If you still have an analog TV, the tuner on the DR560 will make digital signals viewable on your analog TV" So far, nothing on my analog TV. I have a Panasonic DMREZ48V that does this, but I don't need a VHS player on every DVR I own. Does anybody know if this guy Tall Paul is correct, will it play to my analog TV? Analog Compatible? I got this unit today from Amazon, I believed from several review posts that it would be able to work with my analog TV (see Tall Paul 4 star review: "If you still have an... » Read More Analog Compatible? I got this unit today from Amazon, I believed from several review posts that it would be able to work with my analog TV (see Tall Paul 4 star review: "If you still have an analog TV, the tuner on the DR560 will make digital signals viewable on your analog TV" So far, nothing on my analog TV. I have a Panasonic DMREZ48V that does this, but I don't need a VHS player on every DVR I own. Does anybody know if this guy Tall Paul is correct, will it play to my analog TV? « Show Less
869462
Thanks you two for responding. Well, I bought a DTV, so my problem is solved. I guess I'm an old timer, 51 yrs. I used to think I was handy with all this when I dubbed some VHS tapes or loaded programs into a computer, or had my own FTP space to put pictures on eBay. But OH MY GOD!!! You've got to be kidding!?? I know younger folk will have a better handle on it all, but just looking at these manuals,... who do they think they're talking to? 'Nuff said
869463
Hi, I have a dtv and tried it myself. I switched the tv back to analog and turned on the DR560. The channels came in the same as my dtv or converter box I use on another tv. I would think it has to do with the Input as someone already answered. I am hooked up with the RCA jacks from the dvd to tv. You might want to try the RF Modulator if you don't have the jacks. That's one reason I purchased a new TV. Also, someone wrote about the clock being an issue after Feb. 17th. I checked the manual and it does allow you to manually set the clock, so hopefully this will not be an issue. Hope this helps. Good Luck Hi, I have a dtv and tried it myself. I switched the tv back to analog and turned on the DR560. The channels came in the same as my dtv or converter box I use on another tv. I would think it has to do with the Input as someone already answered. I am hooked up with the RCA jacks from the dvd to tv. You might want to try the RF Modulator if you don't have the jacks. That's one reason I purchased a new TV. Also, someone wrote about the clock being an issue after Feb. 17th. I checked the manual and it does allow you to manually set the clock, so hopefully this will not be an issue.... » Read More Hi, I have a dtv and tried it myself. I switched the tv back to analog and turned on the DR560. The channels came in the same as my dtv or converter box I use on another tv. I would think it has to do with the Input as someone already answered. I am hooked up with the RCA jacks from the dvd to tv. You might want to try the RF Modulator if you don't have the jacks. That's one reason I purchased a new TV. Also, someone wrote about the clock being an issue after Feb. 17th. I checked the manual and it does allow you to manually set the clock, so hopefully this will not be an issue. Hope this helps. Good Luck « Show Less
115145
If your TV has composite video input (use the included cord with the yellow, red and white plugs) then it will work. If your TV has only the cable/antenna input, it may not work. The recorder would have to be able to output an RF-modulated signal on channel 3 or 4, like a VCR, but many devices don't do that anymore.
1008400
One of the posters talks about the picture quality while using non-HDTV. I think he said he has it in a trailer, so no HDTV. Also, this unit doesn't have an S-Video connection, which is what is needed to get the best quality standard def. picture (at least that's my understanding). Which tells me that this unit is really not intended mainly for standard def viewing. Vizio, Sharp, and Philips make some units still with S-video connections. Maybe some others do, too, but so far I've found only those three brands. And if I had to guess, I would guess that eventually they'll all stop putting in S-Video connections, as more and more people start subscribing to HDTV.
2227000
Sure, the VHS tape can handle the recording. The problem, as the reviews show, is finding a reliable VHS recorder with a digital tuner. You may do better with a converter box (they're pretty questionable too, unfortunately) to catch the digital signal OTA. Only the DTVPal (=TR-40 CRA) or the Z inwell ZAT-970 A will let you program timed recordings on 2 or more different channels. Good luck! In case anyone hasn't noticed, we could use a government that works for normal folks rather than obeying its corporate owners...this mandatory shift from analog to digital is just one more confirmation that we need a new national political party. Instant Runoff Voting, anyone? Sure, the VHS tape can handle the recording. The problem, as the reviews show, is finding a reliable VHS recorder with a digital tuner. You may do better with a converter box (they're pretty questionable too, unfortunately) to catch the digital signal OTA. Only the DTVPal (=TR-40 CRA) or the Z inwell ZAT-970 A will let you program timed recordings on 2 or more different channels. Good luck! In case anyone hasn't noticed, we could use a government that works for normal folks rather than obeying its corporate owners...this mandatory shift from analog to digital is just one more confirmation... » Read More Sure, the VHS tape can handle the recording. The problem, as the reviews show, is finding a reliable VHS recorder with a digital tuner. You may do better with a converter box (they're pretty questionable too, unfortunately) to catch the digital signal OTA. Only the DTVPal (=TR-40 CRA) or the Z inwell ZAT-970 A will let you program timed recordings on 2 or more different channels. Good luck! In case anyone hasn't noticed, we could use a government that works for normal folks rather than obeying its corporate owners...this mandatory shift from analog to digital is just one more confirmation that we need a new national political party. Instant Runoff Voting, anyone? « Show Less
1098625
Yes it has an ntsc analog tuner and as I recall an atsc digital tuner but it's been a long time since I used it with the tuner and as I recall it didn't work too well with HD broadcasts. These days, I use it occasionally to transfer something from my cable systems' dvr. You can find a a lot of great info about this device on the avs forum.
2110661
Matt, thanks for posting this. I had the same question and couldn't find an answer. Is it possible that the latency the reviewer perceived is due to upconverting the signal to 1080i, and you are simply converting the analogue to digital signal without changing the resolution? I'm not clear on whether converting implies *up*converting, couldn't really find an answer... but based on your feedback I think I'll give this a shot.
566073
The changeover in February only affects off-air broadcasts (those picked up using an antenna). If you have cable (CATV) of any kind you don't have to be concerned about it. In fact, the tuner in this unit will tune digital off-air signals so it could be used in any case, eliminating the need for a converter for an analog TV. Simply connect the cable from the wall to the recorder and than use the highest quality input available on your TV to connect the recorder to the set. Your set will probably need at least a composite (Yellow/Red/White RCA) input. The description lists a coax (antenna) output but it is probably a pass through and will not modulate onto channel 3 or 4 the way old VCR's would. Unless you have very old set this wont be an issue.
573801
Have you made a recording from a Verizon FIOS box recently? My DR410 has worked perfectly for years but in the past month it won't record anything coming from the DVR. It pops up a message about the signal not being one that can be recorded (like you tried to burn from a commercial DVD or VCR) and I haven't been able to burn anything else. Very frustrating!! Anyone else see this problem recently? And does anyone know a solution? Thanks.
1023132
I was curious about this too. With old VCR units in the past, you could set the VCR to a public station like channel 3 and have it record from the TV tuner itself.Perhaps one could use a cable box output via coax to this unit and set the unit tuner to channel 3 or similar. This would however remove any automatic facets unless you set your EyeTV software to record channel 3, and make sure the cable box was set to the correct channel ahead of time.Anyone know if this would hold true?
787503
I've used it with a couple of old analog devices (RCA yellow cord) running them into a 1080p TV and it worked fine. I was even surprised how well it upgraded the quality of the video. I see no reason why it shouldn't work as well on a 720p TV given that your 720p TV has HDMI input. But I have not tried it because I don't have a 720p TV.
1895962
Thanks. Seems like each of these makes has its quirks. I just gave away on old (4 years) Toshiba DVD recorder that did OK for its time, but the menus were very unintuitive, and the manual was in broken english. I guess I could always pick up a D-R410 at Fry's and if I don't like it, return for the Panny when it's in stock. Fry's also has a Sony RDR-GX360 for the same price as the Panasonic, and it seems to have the same ins/outs and upconversion, but I can only find one user review out there and it was bad. I hear that Sonys are picky about the DVD brand you use, plus they're the "source" for the industry restrictions on recording HD, so I don't want to support them. Thanks. Seems like each of these makes has its quirks. I just gave away on old (4 years) Toshiba DVD recorder that did OK for its time, but the menus were very unintuitive, and the manual was in broken english. I guess I could always pick up a D-R410 at Fry's and if I don't like it, return for the Panny when it's in stock. Fry's also has a Sony RDR-GX360 for the same price as the Panasonic, and it seems to have the same ins/outs and upconversion, but I can only find one user review out there and it was bad. I hear that Sonys are picky about the DVD brand you use, plus they're the... » Read More Thanks. Seems like each of these makes has its quirks. I just gave away on old (4 years) Toshiba DVD recorder that did OK for its time, but the menus were very unintuitive, and the manual was in broken english. I guess I could always pick up a D-R410 at Fry's and if I don't like it, return for the Panny when it's in stock. Fry's also has a Sony RDR-GX360 for the same price as the Panasonic, and it seems to have the same ins/outs and upconversion, but I can only find one user review out there and it was bad. I hear that Sonys are picky about the DVD brand you use, plus they're the "source" for the industry restrictions on recording HD, so I don't want to support them. « Show Less
372378
i will try to help, but it is going to be hard for me to explain it all. first off mine works fine , but i have it hooked up to one vhs/dvd combo.an one vhs/ dvd recorder. this is hooked up to about 11 or 12 rca cables an it plays thru the tv, but you have to have this unit pluged in between two vcrs .. i know it is confushing, but you have to figure out the instructions, this might take a while. it took two us to figure this out, but it works fine , great picture an everything. i sure hope this helps. phil
2220090
i think, but not so sure, but this digital system has a binary # 0 & 1 only, therefore, whether u record it in a pal or ntsc, it might work in a playback. pls research further... we're now in digital & does not use analog such vhs, betamax. pls consider my answer as inconclusive...
693858
I'm so sorry but I don't know (Analog guy in digital world/I pay a friend to hook me up). I'd look in the manual for you but they don't have one for this model (it's all online now). Sorry.
226184
I hooked it up to my Panasonic TV's digital optical out and then used the RCA cables to connect my old stereo system. Powered up the converter. Works great. I didn't know there was different KHz digital optical feeds. Thought they were all standardized. You might want to stop in at a BestBuy and check with a technician.
78330
How were you able to determine that it was a faulty tuner and not user error? I am going through the same situation, although it is over the air and not cable. I was told that I could plug in a standard antenna and receive digital as well as HD channels due to the HD tuner. Please educate me in this matter as I am not versed in this matter.
1114561
Based on the product description in Amazon, it should be able to record both analog and digital inputs. It says that each tuner has hardware MPEG2 encoding, and that is what is needed to record analog input for your VHF/Super-8 video. I only use it to record digital input from TV-antenna. Therefore, I am not saying this based on personal experience. Having said this, I used to use a different and older Hauppauge TV tuner card that had no problem recording from analog input. I don't see why this newer product cannot do this.
2282948
Cannot answer the question without a lot more information. Is your "cable" coming from a cable company that you are paying for? Then I suggest asking them. If your "cable" is coming from your own antenna and you are just getting free over-the-air TV then you need a vcr/dvd with a "digital" tuner. Assuming that your dead vcr/dvd player just died recently and you were able to watch TV and record on the VCR with no problems then the best thing to do is to replace it with one that works the same way. DVD/VCR combos generally come 3 ways: 1- with an "analog" tuner; 2- with a "digital tuner"; 3- with no tuner. Find out what kind of tuner your old VCR/DVD had and replace it with one that has the same kind of tuner and it should work with the same connections. If you don't know what kind of tuner it had search the Internet with the model number and it will likely show up. If it is more than 4-5 years old it probably had an "analog" tuner. Be aware that no one is currently manufacturing VCR/DVD combos with tuners. Whatever is out there new will have no tuner which will not work for you if you only have a cable and no cable box or separate tuner. If you find a vcr/dvd with a tuner it will be used, refurbished or NOS (new old stock). They are hard to find and usually expensive when you do plus many of the used or refurbished ones usually don't work right if they work at all. I went through half a dozen before I found a good one.