HDTV Forum

This was part of a series. To start from the beginning click on this link...

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PART 3

If you recall the Panasonic DMRE30S was a real winner and the Phillips DVDR985 did not make the cut. Due to record time issues and the amount of money spent the JVC D-VHS was another option with quite a few extra benefits to consider.

JVC HRMD30000, price as tested $799

Basics

This product records and plays VHS, S-VHS, and D-VHS. This product also offers another exclusive feature called D-Theater for the playback of prerecorded HD movies. This review will lightly touch on VHS and S-VHS performance but the real interest here is in the D-VHS capability. The product has the ability to record NTSC signals using the on board tuner to any of the three formats available. The three digital speeds are HS, STD and LS3 yielding 210, 420 or 1260 minutes with a DF420 D-VHS tape. In analog mode for the 2 VHS formats you have your standard VCR functions and capabilities. D-VHS is similar but the search functions are quite a bit slower for moving the tape and seeing what is going on. You can also record DTV bitstreams to D-VHS using the 1394/HDCP port since a DTV tuner is not included. This type of recording is done in the HS mode only which is 210 minutes with a DF420 D-VHS tape and some may find that to be a significant limitation. Currently the Samsung SIRTS165 is the most cost effective option for a set top box, STB. The JVC

This has been replaced by the HRMD40000

The JVC D-VHS has much to offer and if you break down the available features it actually seems inexpensive.

It is a VHS and S-VHS recorder with an NTSC tuner.

It can record NTSC digitally providing near perfect reproduction comparable to DVD recorders.

It can record HD using a STB or integrated tuner with 1394.

The video D/A convertor is reference quality outperforming many STB

I have the JVC 30k and it is great for time shifting OTA signals from a STB that has a 1394 connection such as the Samsung 165. As Richard said you can play back a few prerecorded D-VHS movies.

It will not work with your Cable box, I have Time Warner HD cable with an SA3100 box. No 1394 connection.

Hugh

How many STBs out there have 1394 (firewire)? I know of one, the Samsung T165. Any others?

Joe

Hitachi and Mitsubishi integrated HDTV's that have 1394 should work with the JVC for recording HD. For a STB the Samsung 165 is the only game in town.

From the TIPS List:

The RCA Scenium integrated TVs with 1394 connection
do not, I repeat, do not have the ability to output what their internal ATSC
tuner tunes, meaning you can not record from those TVs. RCA recognized that
limitation, and hopefully they will change it in the future.

Rodolfo

Richard, those with integrated hdtv and firewire I asssume can only record ota hd ? Can it also record from directv if you have the jvc hooked up via firewire in the tv and say a toshiba 3000 hooked into the tv's component video jacks ?

Jesse

The only thing you can record from your integrated HDTV tuner is OTA DTV. To record DirecTV you would have to get an older STB modified by time169 or 169time (can't remeber the name). It is VERY expensive - $4-500.00?

http://www.169time.com/

Richard F. Fisher

I believe that the new Toshiba 57 and 65HX93 which have the 1394 firewire could be used to record into the JVC recorder. Go to this link

http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_19354.htm

According to the write up, the 1394 in and outs on this tv can be used for hd signals, in which case means it would work for recording hd signals to the JVC recorder.

chuckken

HDTV Forum wrote:How many STBs out there have 1394 (firewire)? I know of one, the Samsung T165. Any others?

Joe

Motorola 6208. I spoke to a local cable TV technician who has been successfully using this unit to record HDTV on a JVC D-VHS recorder.

I am thinking of picking up myself.