Our VCR is at a terminal state, looks like the heads have gone as the pictures from it are unstable and have white horizontal bands scrollling vertically. No amount of cleaning with a wet cleaning tape from Maplins has made any difference and any tape produces the same result.

So this has made me think of what to for the future?

My initial thoughts were a DVD recorder with Freeview and then a cheap new VCR to copy tapes onto disc.

Then I started looking at the reviews here and on other sites and found out about Humax, with the PVR-9200T getting especially good reviews.

So, the question is, would a PVR-9200 and a separate DVD recorder work to get stuff off the PVR disc onto a dvd, and finally would I be able to hook up a VCR via scart to copy tapes onto dvd?

Sorry for the tome, but I wanted to tell the full story.

Peter

Thanks Alan, I must look at the Sagem.

Not familiar with the Humax or the Sagem but one bit of advice i would give you is to definately go for something with a hard drive.

I recently bought a Sony LCD TV and got a free DVD recorder. At the same time i ordered a Sky+ HD box.

The Sky+ was delivered and set up before the DVD recorder was delivered. I was so impressed with the Sky+ box i ended up giving the DVD recorder to my dad. A hard disc based system with an on screen Tv guide just makes recording so easy i bet you'll hardly ever record to DVD.

My mate also has a sky+ box and he regularly copies from the hard disc to his DVD recorder. I'm not saying get Sky, just make sure you get something with a hard disc recorder.

The best method is to have a recorder with:-

1) VHS (since you don't have SVHS)

2) Hard Disk Drive (HDD, Time shift, PVR or DVR) - If you are recording a programme on a VHS tape you have to wait until the recording has finished before you can watch what you are recording.  However with HDD if for example you have missed the first half an hour you can record the programme and watch it from the beginning to the end - impossible with VHS tapes.

3) Record on to DVDs

The above is an excellent storage system.

The disadvantages are 1) If the BBC and ITV create HD Freeview players and recorders in 2008 that they are claiming that they will do then any storage device purchased now will be obsolete, 2) When a dual Blu-ray and HD DVD recorder is created with the necessary features for example Buffalo is creating a cheap dual Blu-ray and HD DVD recorder (about £200, I think it is) for the Japanese market stated on a number of places on the internet - that we shall probably be subsidising for years.  Whilst we are only being able to buy their obsolete products.

The best, all in one, players are probably created by Panasonic and Sony (latter) has been claimed to produce the best picture quality.  I apologize that I cannot remember their model numbers.

When copying the picture quality will be lower than the original usually.

If you connect devices with expensive cables then you are likely to receive worst copies then if everthing were in a single device.

Something else you should consider that if you have twin Freeview (digital tuners) then with some you can record two Freeview chanels whilst watching a third.

Something else to verify that not all Freeview devices would allow you to record from either SKy or a cable box, but only from the internal Freeview boxes.

My SVHS player needs to be replace that leaves me with the following options:

1) Do I buy the Sony recorder with the best picture quality or 2) Wait until 2008 and purchase HD Freeview recorders with perferably a dual recorder Blu-ray and HD DVD.

If the HD Freeview devices are properly made, it is possible to get excellent programmes, and channels with excellent picture and sound quality without having to pay a subscription then it would be excellent!

The licence fee is for the BBC only that means to get Freeview without having to pay a subcription should be possible.