 "Needed regular rebooting" | 2008-10-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1KBXGIJ9C7YJ2 |
This was our 3rd attempt to find a dvd recorder/VCR that also has a digital tuner. We returned an LG and a Panasonic (which was the worst piece of equipment my husband and I have ever seen). I almost never return anything, but apparently nobody has worked the bugs out of this technology.
The JVC lasted 3 weeks before we took it back, since we got a fairly clear picture and it recorded well onto VHS tapes and DVD. The problem was that it kept locking up and I would have to unplug it so it could reboot. Anytime you tried to change channels too quickly or tried to watch a DVD it didn't like, it would lock up. It wouldn't let me turn it off with the remote or at the unit, so I'd have to unplug it. I'm not sure if it was just that particular unit, or a software problem in all JVC units, but it was frustrating enough that we went back to our old DVD player that doesn't have a digital tuner.
The pros on this unit were that it found all of our digital and analog channels, including a few channels I didn't even know were available (we don't have cable or satellite...we use the good old fashioned rabbit ears). It allows you to add and edit channels. The menus are fairly easy to use. These (and the fact that the Panasonic was so bad) are the reasons I'm rating it a 2 instead of 1 star.
The cons are of course the software problem that causes it to lock up. It has a bit of a lag time when you change channels. Another big negative for me is that the remote only works with a JVC television. At least the Panasonic had dozens of codes that allowed you to program the remote to power pretty much any TV. |
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 "A big lemon" | 2008-09-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: AEZXSSFS8K61Q |
| I ordered this product based on the good reviews it received from this site. The first unit made a terrible grinding sound when playing a VHS. It was sent back. The second unit 'ate' the first VHS tape that was put into it. The tape was new and in good condition. The second unit was sent back for a refund. I don't recommend this product at all. |
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 "DVD recording and titling problems" | 2008-09-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A15ZFOKO5SI9W |
| We purchased the JVC DR-MV100B two weeks ago and are having problems with the timer recording stopping in the middle of the DVD recording of TV shows. We are using DVD-R discs. One program stopped 40 minutes into a digital channel program. Another program stopped 20 minutes into an analog channel program. We were not watching the TV at the times that these programs stopped so we do not know if any message was displayed. Neither program should have been copyright protected. We are running the DVD recorder and TV off of an antenna connection since we don't have cable or a dish. We have also noticed that when titling the discs or the TV programs you are allowed up to 32 characters, but the entire title does not show up on the thumbnail. There is also no commercial skip button as far as we can tell. |
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| "annoying random problems" | 2008-09-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: AST87LG0IZGWS |
I've had this unit for just over a month. The first problem I had is that it would occasionally catch the DVD when ejecting. I solved this problem by lifting up the back about 1/4 inch. It then decided to stop recording right in the middle of a show saying 'copy protected- cannot proceed'. Its done this twice. Both times during a commercial somewhere during the program. JVC tells me to use DVD-RWs instead of DVD+RWs but I read another reviewer who said they had the same problem when using -RWs.
I can also say that the digital tuner will produce a picture that constantly pulsates between clear and fuzzy. The most annoying problem is that the machine will stop recording audio if there is a glitch in the digital signal. JVC tells me to try the analog tuner. The whole reason I bought this unit was because of the digital tuner. use caution when buying this unit. Yours may work fine. read the discussion threads.
I wish I had not bought this unit. the positive side is that it plays DVDs. My old DVD recorder refused to play my X-Files DVDs anymore. at least I can watch them on this machine but I'm sure any new DVD player would allow that. |
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| "Needs a better ATSC tuner" | 2008-09-22 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1KNSZGAFSMMNN |
| I bought this JVC unit since it is receiving great reviews on Amazon. Yet, be forewarned that the built-in tuner produces a picture that is significantly inferior to the picture output of my Samsung DTB-H260f ATSC HDTV receiver, regardless of setting (720p, 1080i, etc.). The picture off the Samsung tuner is noticeably sharper and much more stable. The JVC's picture seems to jitter - hard to explain, but it is constantly focusing and de-focusing, which is plain annoying. br /br /However, the JVC performed quite well (on-par with the Samsung) in the channel surfing department. There was no significant lag when changing channels, definitely better than the extremely slow Panasonic DVD VHS recorder with built-in HDTV tuner that I bought last year, and ended returning for that reason.br /br /I really wanted to keep the JVC as my one-in-all solution, yet returned it only because I couldn't live with the inferior off-the-air HD picture quality displayed on my Pioneer plasma. I think I'll just wait to see if Samsung comes out with a DVD/VHS recorder with ATSC tuner and try again then. |
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 "JCC DRMV100B" | 2008-09-20 |
| - Reviewed By mwebb1234a2 |
| Ths system works as advertised. This unit if is for my 86 year old father. He had the unit functioning in 15 minutes. However, he could not preset and record a show. After a call to the customer service line, the support person explained how to set up the unit. Following the instructions he had no problem operating the unit. He is extremely pleased with the system performance and ease of use. |
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| "Great DVD" | 2008-09-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3KM44PM8PBMF2 |
| I am a DVD, TV time shift nut. This is the 8th recorder I have purchased in the last year. Most of them are junk. But not this one - it actually works as it says it will. I don't even have to take the cover off to cool it as I do with all of the others. Actually the "Lite-on" is not bad either and the "Insignia" brand is identical to the JVC. This is the only Home DVD recorder I could recommend now. Although I feel we never should have left the old fashioned VCR and tape. DVD's of today are generally quirky - but this JVC is solid. Buy it - you'll like it. |
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 "JVC VCR combo offers a tuner" | 2008-09-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3K8ZFJ7WLVCD4 |
| The unit works as stated. I was in need of a tuner because we like to record several programs during the week. I was surprised when I tried to purchase a recorder with a tuner and had little choice. Down fall the cable output to the TV is a pass through and not an output from the recorder, you need a TV with separate inputs for video and audio so the unit won't work with all sets. The menu takes some getting use to, I wish they would find a standard. Would I purchase this unit again? Yes I can't envision taping a TV show without a tuner. |
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| "User Frienldy JVC /DVD/VCR" | 2008-08-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A14CTCEN52VS1J |
| Machine comes ready to go. But you have to buy all cables for Hi Def and computer hook ups. |
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| "Just what I needed" | 2008-08-14 |
| - Reviewed By shoebear2 |
I replaced a DVD player and a VCR with the JVC DRVM100B. I still have an old non-HD CRT TV, and an old Sony AV receiver which will only handle composite video. I have an outdoor antenna on my chimney -- no cable or satellite. (Yes, I know I'm seriously in the dark ages, but we really don't watch much broadcast TV. But the Olympics are on.)
With my old setup, I had to plug the S-Video cable from my DVD player into my TV when I wanted to get best-quality video from a DVD player. Then to watch a videotape or use a game system, I had to unplug the S-Video cable. My kids are not very patient with this and I've had to straighten the S-Video cable pins several times from where they have jammed it in the wrong way.
I was looking for several benefits:
- Acquire Digital TV tuner (ATSC)
- Replace worn-out, failing DVD player
- Acquire ability to record TV to DVD
- Reduce cabling complexity overall
- Leave S-Video cable plugged in all the time
- Provide bridge to a possible future new AV receiver and HDTV
The JVC nailed every one of my expectations. Because it will convert from composite to S-Video, I can leave the S-Video cable plugged in all the time, even when using a composite video source like a game system. The digital TV works great -- crisp, bright picture with no ghosting or other problems.
Unfortunately, a combo box like this is necessarily complex. However, the JVC was pretty intuitive. The only real problem I had setting it up was figuring out how to get into the setup menus (the HOME button on the remote). It took me an hour or two to install it, program it for local channels (the auto-scan picked them all up, but then I eliminated analog NTSC channels which had digital duplicates, and I designated strong English channels as favorites), and set other preferences. However, I thought this was pretty reasonable.
I was also impressed that JVC has a toll-free help line number which is prominently displayed on the manual, quick-start guide, and FAQ sheet. Although I didn't need to use it, I was happy to have it available. And I liked the fact that the entire manual is in English, and that I can easily download PDF versions of the literature from JVC's web site.
Bottom line: Although I'm not pushing the cutting edge of any technology, I found this combo box to be just what I needed. I'm very impressed with its abilities and have no complaints at all.
Note to others who complained that DVD's recorded on this unit won't play on other players -- did you finalize the disk? The manual says this is necessary before you can play it on other players. |
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Expedited Available
