Cheap DVD recorder with quality input / output

[Andy Grange]

Hi I'm looking for a cheap dvd recorder for my girlfriend, as she's got lots of stuff on her Sky+ box that she wants to burn to dvd. She's going to get Sky HD in the New Year, so I'd preferably like something I can link up to the Sky HD box with a decent connection. I'm not bothered about freeview tuners or a hard drive in the recorder, but wouldn't mind divx compatibility and would like upscaling too. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks

 

[Andy Clough]

Hi Andy

Samsung do a very reasonable DVD recorder, the DVD-R150, which is DiVX compatible and available on special offer for £79 from www.dixons.co.uk

 

[Andy Grange]

Thanks Andy, but I've had a look at the spec on the Samsung website and there doesn't appear to be a quality connection (VGA, compoent, HDMI) for me to link a Sky HD box to the recorder itself. Although this would be fine for Sky+ at the moment, I don't really want to be linking up the Sky box to the recorder via scart.

Am I going to have to pay alot more for a recorder that can do this, or am I being a complete dullard and missing something really obvious : )

Thanks again

 

[Andy Grange]

I've just had a look around the webternet, and it appears that hardly any dvd recorders have HDMI inputs. Do you think should I be looking at getting an AV amp receiver to resolve this problem?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Not too sure how an AV amp or receiver would help. The reason why DVD recorders don't have HDMI inputs is precisely to stop this kind of copying I'm afraid. And given that the recorder will only record in standard definition, an RGB Scart connection should be more than good enough for this purpose.

 

[Andy Grange]

OK, brilliant thanks. I guess with regards to the amp/receiver I was thinking of passing the Sky HD in via HDMI, and then back out to the TV and the recorder via the same means.

Essentially I'm not too bothered about any HD recording, I just presumed there would be a better way to link up a Sky HD to a recorder other than RGB scart. If you reckon an RGB scart that will give me good quality reocrdings, that's good enough for me!

Thanks again