bagman Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Hi there I have narrowed down my choice to 2 models: Pioneer DVR645H Panasonic DMR-EX85 I have read all the posts on this and other forums concerning both and am still left undecided. The Panasonic was looking pretty good until I downloaded the Operating Instructions and noticed on the front a statement "This DVD recorder is for viewing and recording free to view channels only, not payTV or encrypted channels". Is this correct ?? Are you able to record payTV to the HDD with the Pioneer ?? I already have both a HD STB and a Foxtel STB so I guess I can live without the intergrated STB with the Panasonic. It is my intention to connect my VCR to convert old family VHS tapes to DVD then get rid of the VCR. Then I will essentially use the DVR as its replacement. I'm hoping some of you guys can give me a recommendation. I appreciate it's a big ask, but some pro's and con's arguments on both would be greatly appreciated cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galan Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Hi thereI have narrowed down my choice to 2 models: Pioneer DVR645H Panasonic DMR-EX85 I have read all the posts on this and other forums concerning both and am still left undecided. The Panasonic was looking pretty good until I downloaded the Operating Instructions and noticed on the front a statement "This DVD recorder is for viewing and recording free to view channels only, not payTV or encrypted channels". Is this correct ?? Are you able to record payTV to the HDD with the Pioneer ?? I already have both a HD STB and a Foxtel STB so I guess I can live without the intergrated STB with the Panasonic. It is my intention to connect my VCR to convert old family VHS tapes to DVD then get rid of the VCR. Then I will essentially use the DVR as its replacement. I'm hoping some of you guys can give me a recommendation. I appreciate it's a big ask, but some pro's and con's arguments on both would be greatly appreciated cheers You can record Foxtel on the EX75 (or EX85) using its AV2 input. To me, the Panasonic's digital tuner is a much better option than the Pioneer which I understand is analog only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmax Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 You can record Foxtel on the EX75 (or EX85) using its AV2 input.To me, the Panasonic's digital tuner is a much better option than the Pioneer which I understand is analog only. Yeah, what he said.......in either case, Foxtel must be connected to one of the inputs, so there's no difference there. I already have both a HD STB and a Foxtel STB so I guess I can live without the intergrated STB with the Panasonic. Wrong, you will still need your HD STB for watching something else while the DVD-R is recording. The quality of recording FTA shows with the Pana is so much better than the Pio it's just not funny. No contest here, the Pana all the way! Your only decision should be which hard drive size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagman Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 Wrong, you will still need your HD STB for watching something else while the DVD-R is recording. Hi there Thank you so much for replying. I'm still a tad confused about this so please bear with me. I have a TEAC HD STB hooked up to my CRT Sony widescreen via it's own input. therefore own channel. Are you saying that if I record a Foxtel channel I will not be able to watch FTA HD channels via the TEAC STB ? In addition, can the Panasonic play NTSC DVD's ??? Appreciate your patience. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmax Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Are you saying that if I record a Foxtel channel I will not be able to watch FTA HD channels via the TEAC STB ? Quite the opposite - I'm saying that's exactly why you will need the Teac. This is completely independant to the DVD-R, which is why you need a DVD-R with built-in digital tuner such as the Panasonic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagman Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 Quite the opposite - I'm saying that's exactly why you will need the Teac. This is completely independant to the DVD-R, which is why you need a DVD-R with built-in digital tuner such as the Panasonic. Got it !!! Understand now. Many thanks cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galan Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Hi thereThank you so much for replying. I'm still a tad confused about this so please bear with me. I have a TEAC HD STB hooked up to my CRT Sony widescreen via it's own input. therefore own channel. Are you saying that if I record a Foxtel channel I will not be able to watch FTA HD channels via the TEAC STB ? In addition, can the Panasonic play NTSC DVD's ??? Appreciate your patience. cheers Setup: - HD STB to TV - Foxtel (SCART to SCART) to Pana to TV - Foxtel also directly to TV. You can then: - Watch FTA via STB while recording either FTA or Foxtel - Watch Foxtel via direct connection to TV while recording FTA. Pana can play NTSC DVD's, except while recording or timer set to record as the Pana then locks onto the PAL system to record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagman Posted February 28, 2007 Author Share Posted February 28, 2007 Setup:- HD STB to TV - Foxtel (SCART to SCART) to Pana to TV - Foxtel also directly to TV. You can then: - Watch FTA via STB while recording either FTA or Foxtel - Watch Foxtel via direct connection to TV while recording FTA. Pana can play NTSC DVD's, except while recording or timer set to record as the Pana then locks onto the PAL system to record. Thanks very much for your advice. Call me stupid but...... for the sake of argument if I followed yur hook-up advice but left out the "Foxtel also directly to TV " leg, couldn't I still watch FTA via the HD STB whilst recording from the Foxtel box ?? Isn't the DVR just like a VCR ?? e.g. I can currently record to my VCR from the Foxtel box whilst watching FTA via the HD STB. Hope I have explained myself fully cheers update: Forget that.....I just realised I am stupid. After re-reading your advice that is exactly the situation that I was suggesting anyway. Apologies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galan Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 Thanks very much for your advice.Call me stupid but...... for the sake of argument if I followed yur hook-up advice but left out the "Foxtel also directly to TV " leg, couldn't I still watch FTA via the HD STB whilst recording from the Foxtel box ?? Isn't the DVR just like a VCR ?? e.g. I can currently record to my VCR from the Foxtel box whilst watching FTA via the HD STB. Hope I have explained myself fully cheers The Foxtel direct to TV connection is for watching Foxtel while recording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmax Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 for the sake of argument if I followed yur hook-up advice but left out the "Foxtel also directly to TV " leg, couldn't I still watch FTA via the HD STB whilst recording from the Foxtel box ??Isn't the DVR just like a VCR ?? e.g. I can currently record to my VCR from the Foxtel box whilst watching FTA via the HD STB. Sure, but you wouldn't be able to do the opposite i.e. watch Foxtel while recording FTA, unless you have this connection. [edit] beaten by Galan...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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