I am thinking about buying a DVD/HDD recorder and have in mind either the Sony RDR-HXD910 or RDR-HXD710. Having read numerous reviews (both media and consumer) and finding this forum I have a number of queries/concerns which I hope someone can assist with.

I currently have an analogue set up and receive all 5 terrestrial channels (TC) which I am more that happy with but will obviously have to go digital at some point. I don’t intend to buy a digital package i.e Sky/Cable etc so a Freeview option would suffice. The 710 and 910 come with Freeview inbuilt so either would seem to fit what I am looking for. I do understand that both units only have a single digital tuner so you cannot record a programme on one channel and watch a programme on a different channel unless you buy another digi box. Something I may do but before tacking the plunge I have some questions.

1. Will the 710/910 allow me to watch a programme on Freeview or TC while recording a programme on TC ? And will I be able to record a programme on a Freeview channel while watching a programme on TC ?

2. I’ve read that with recording programmes on digital channels you can only programme to record one channel at a time i.e you can’t set up to record programmes that are on different channels. You have to wait until one recording has finished before setting up to record a programme on a different channel. Is that true or can you set up to record multiple programmes on various channels with the 710/910 ?

3. I’ve read that PDC does not work on digital channels but will it still work for the TC when recording with the 710/910 ? i.e will connecting the Sony unit up to my analogue set up turn the TC into digital channels and PDC no longer works ? Sorry to be a bit dim on this.

4. EPG sounds a great feature but does anyone know if it works with the TC ? Also, if PDC does not work on digital channels ( not the fault of Sony ) does the 710/910 allow you to select a programme using EPG and then adjust the start and end time like you can with most VCRs ? I believe both models have a manual recording option that allows you to set your own start and end date but if that is the only way of allowing some time before and after the programme start and end time that makes the EPG feature rather redundant.

Any replies/advice/suggestions very gratefully received