talkietime

Primosprimos, The EZ series Panasonics have had a high rate of customer returns as few buyers tolerate the design flaws and bugs. The EZ series was introduced in 2007. Once one has used some of the outstanding ES series Panasonics one has to lower their minimum performance expectations when using EZ series Panasonics. The EZ series Panasonics are able to produce DVD recordings of great picture quality--when the machine actually functions. With my five EZ series Panasonics I use various workarounds to maintain functionality. The EZ series bugs and design flaws have generated much discussion on the AVS Forum. I'm planning to retire two of my EZ series machines in the near future, to be replaced by one well-tested Magnavox HDD/DVD recorder of about the same vintage. The best Panasonics were produced in 2005 and 2006. The DMR-ES45V and DMR-ES46V are, like your DMR-ES35V, 2006 models. The DMR-ES30V is a 2005 model. Since most owners find these to be reliable "workhorses" most of these models have had heavy use. The VCR you access on channel 4 has that channel selected as its "output channel." There will probably be a Channel 3/4 output channel switch on the rear panel. Some devices with HD or SD digital tuners will output only SD digital or analog signals. DVD recorders with VHS sections will not actually record digital signals to the VHS section. The DVD section will record analog and digital signals. The VHS section on current products is a cheap throw-away device, convenient for playing videotapes, not particularly suitable for making good quality recordings. The suggestions I've provided are for optimized picture quality. Except for the initial connection to cable/satellite converters/tuners, the threaded coax RF connection does not provide the best picture quality. Other outputs, HDMI, component, S-Video and composite (in that order) provide better picture quality. If your TV has these inputs (and you use them) you will see picture quality improvements over that provided by the threaded coax RF connection. These are the basics. On the AVS Forum I leave connectivity descriptions and details to others. I've often posted AVS Forum links at TCM (and a couple of other message boards) for the convenience of those interested in fuller, more detailed discussions. When AVS Forum DVD Recorder sub-forum posters mention their favorite "channels," TCM is mentioned frequently. On the AVS Forum I am known as "DigaDo." "Diga" is the name used by Panasonic for their entire line of DVD recorders. I participate in Panasonic, Philips and Magnavox threads and a few topical threads; and occasionally the CECB, HDTV, and local Comcast and OTA sub-forums.

I'm attempting to determine a year of production for each of the Star Of The Month promos that have a signed closing scene. Anyone have a link to this information?

Primosprimos, I hope you kept your DMR-ES35V. That and three other Panasonic ES series machines (DMR-ES45V, DMR-ES46V and DMR-ES30V) are the ones to use in a dubbing/copying project. I own five Panasonic EZ series DVD recorders but I did not purchase EZ series combo recorders as these were stripped of the FUNCTIONS menu-initiated dubbing/copying features I regard as essential for copying videotaped recordings to DVD. Are you attempting to copy a videotape from the built-in VHS mechanism on your EZ48/485? In that case you are limited to the front panel control where you will lose control of the process and you will not have seamless results. If you must use an EZ48/485 to copy videotapes attach a VCR to an input (IN 1 or IN 2) and copy videotapes from that input. That method will allow you more control of the process, including use of the Flexible Recording feature. The slow response to the EZ48/485 remote--I assume you refer to channel changing--comes from the integration of digital and analog channels in the same tuning sequence. First, you select the channel, then the digital tuner has to acquire the digital signal and after that the digital signal needs to be displayed. That's just part of the problem with integration of analog and digital tuning in the same sequence. Other brands (Philips/Magnavox) have two tuning sequences, one digital and the other analog selected by the DTV/TV button. Tuning is faster when the tuning sequences are separate. My December 10/11 post (responding to TrissyCat) includes a lengthy description of connectivity, some of which is relevant to your situation. If your TV is set to channel 3 for its primary signal reception, then does it receive its primary signal source directly through a cable/satellite box or the EZ48/485 RF output? Since the EZ48/485 has a modulated RF output if that output provides the TV with its primary signal the TV would then be enslaved to the EZ48/485, not the best option. If you have a satellite/cable box it is better to have that connected to the primary TV input and a secondary satellite/cable box output feed an EZ48/485 input with an EZ48/485 output feeding another TV input (if those options are available). In that situation the TV remote would be used to select among the TV inputs. Most analog-tuner TVs, at a minimum, have RF and composite (yellow, white/red) inputs. Most recent digital-tuner TVs have multiple composite (yellow) inputs, a component input (red/blue/green) and S-Video input (round with four pins) all of which require use of the white/red audio connections. Recent HDTVs also have HDMI input(s) that carry video and audio signals. See the December post for more detail. The AVS Forum thread dedicated to the DMR-EZ48/485 is found here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1014536 Wajo has provided some useful diagrams in this post from his Philips/Magnavox sticky thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298409&postcount=10 Wajo often suggests placing a Philips/Magnavox HDD/DVD recorder on the coax ahead of the satellite/cable box. That is fine for "pass through" recorders that DO NOT MODULATE THE RF OUTPUT. This connectivity arrangement is not practicable with a combo recorder, like the EZ48/485, that MODULATES the RF output. Modulated/Unmodulated RF outputs are described in more detail in my December 2 post in this "Gremlin" thread. The generality of AVS Forum DVD recorder discussions may be found here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=106 This message was revised for clarity by TalkieTime

The Big Broadcast (1932) was shown by AMC on 12/16/1990. This was in the good old days of AMC.

TikiSoo, I believe the title is First A Girl (1935), shown 11/6/2008. I first saw Evergreen on The Nostalgia Channel, 12/6/1987.

Two Barks Brothers is the only Dogville short I don't have. I began recording from TCM to DVD in September 2005. Catching and recording shorts at that time was hit-or-miss. MGMWBRKO started listing shorts on 6/27/06. That's when it became easier to plan to record shorts. All the other Dogville shorts have been shown since that time. Some have been shown several times.

In recent posts I've mentioned the Hard Drive/DVD recorders from Philips and Magnavox. There has also been discussion of Panasonic DVD recorders. The Philips Hard Drive/DVD recorder may still be stocked at some Sam's Club and Walmart stores. A few of the Philips models may be found on the secondary market, often with inflated prices. The Magnavox H2160 Hard Drive/DVD model is in such great demand at walmart.com that whenever it is found "in stock" it goes "out of stock" within minutes. A poster on the AVS Forum inquired of Panasonic concerning new models. That poster reported that Panasonic advised him that the Panasonic DVD recorder line has been discontinued. If one is interested in new Philips or Magnavox Hard Drive/DVD recorders or new Panasonic DVD recorders the time to purchase these products is now while these may still be found. Message was edited by: talkietime

In the Information, Please! "Gremlin" thread a November post cautioned "When recording from digital sources 'Copy Protection' of copyrighted material will be an ever-present concern. Choose the (DVD recorder) brands/models that are the least sensitive to copy protection." That post continued: Recent discussions at the AVS Forum indicate that "Copy Protection" (CP) is now being embeded in some (network) commercials due to copyrighted musical selections found in those commercials. When the "CP flag" is detected by a tuner the device may prevent the recording of the commercial as well as the program where the commercial has been inserted. There are other AVS Forum discussions of original programming that contain the "CP flag" or certain networks that are implementing "CP" in a more widespread manner. In the last dozen years the laws have changed in ways that allow restrictions to, or prevention of the recording of copyrighted material. With the implementation of digital transmission and reception technology the recording of copyrighted content will become more restrictive as time goes by. Yes, there is computer software, and (there are) "video stabilizers" that bypass some copyright restrictions when used with recording or copying devices. These are also discussed at the AVS Forum. Most DVD recorder User Manuals have CP disclaimers prominently displayed. Some DVD recorders, especially Sony and JVC products, are so sensitive to a real or perceived "CP flag" that many users are returning the DVD recorders as "defective" since they are unable to record much of anything. This is contributing to the demise of DVD recorders. Cable and satellite providers have DVRs that will record HD or SD programming but these devices may not allow copying of these recordings to removable media (DVDs). DVRs are also contributing to the demise of DVD recorders. Some manufacturers are abandoning the DVD recorder market. Their reasoning: Why build a DVD recorder that doesn't record? Why build a DVD recorder that may work but the DVD recorder manufacturer may become a party to a copyright infringement lawsuit if their product works too well?

Cable and satellite providers are in a bragging war to provide more HD networks than their competition. There is only so much bandwidth available to a system. Bandwidth allocated to some networks is reduced as more HD networks are added. With every bandwidth reduction picture quality deteriorates. The sports networks command full bandwidth because these are the money makers. Sports networks require more bandwidth for their fast action programming. Other networks get whatever bandwidth is left over. With ever-narrowing bandwidth a day is fast approaching where HD picture quality will become so bad that it will be hard to call it HD. If you've noticed a deterioration in TCM picture quality in recent years the HD mania is to blame.

Primosprimos, "Meanwhile, I was about to embark (it is due to be a snowy day) on transferring some of my VHS tapes to my new (and supposedly easier to use) Panasonic DMR-EZ485V/EZ48V." After experiencing the start/stop routine with repetition of dubbed material from the end of one "title" to the beginning of the next "title" using the front panel control for transferring videotaped recordings to DVD with an EZ series combo recorder, compare the results with those of your DMR-ES35 transfers through FUNCTIONS, COPY, then setting up Time Limited Copying, with or without the Flexible Recording (FR) feature. These and other features make your DMR-ES35 the machine of choice for dubbing/copying. The EZ/EA series is fine for straight recording to DVD and/or VHS. The EZ485V/48V Panasonics have digital and analog tuners, HDMI and upconverting, features not found on the DMR-ES35. The front panel videotape copying method of EZ/EA series combo recorders thwarts user control of the transfer process as well as any basic editing attempts. Long before I experienced the ease of editing with the Philips and Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders, I found the Panasonic front panel dubbing/copying process maddening. Those observations are found in a number of my 2007 and newer posts in this thread.

My 1/7/09 post concerns stand alone Hard Drive/DVD recorders. The hard drives are used for temporary storage until the recordings may be edited and/or dubbed to DVD. The DVDs produced by these products may be played on other DVD players or recorders. HDD/DVD recorders began disappearing from the US marketplace following the 2006 model year. The last remaining US models are those with the Philips and Magnavox brand names. These models have analog and digital tuners. In Canada one may still find a few Pioneer and Panasonic HDD/DVD recorders. Canadian models have analog-only tuners so they may not be sold in the US. The Canadian models are quickly disappearing from that marketplace. If one wants a HDD/DVD recorder it is time to act now before these products are gone. ****** Tuning or capturing video on a computer's hard drive is a very different process involving a cumbersome file format conversion. I will quote from my 5/11/07 post in this Gremlin thread: "Media Center computers are ordinary computers with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 or Windows Vista Home Premium operating systems and certain enhancements to make them more "media friendly." Common among the enhancements are TV tuners and video capture cards. These enhancements are sometimes included with these computers and are sometimes optional at extra cost. TV tuners may be used with an antenna . . . Capture cards may be connected to a VCR or DVD player. With these enhancements the video may be saved onto the computer hard drive and *watched on the computer monitor*. To burn such video onto a DVD for use in DVD players, the files on the hard drive must be "converted" by computer software into a format that DVD players may utilize, a time-consuming process, and then burned to DVD. My . . . post, regarding using a computer to burn a copy of a DVD, describes the simpler process of making an exact copy of a finalized DVD already fit for playing on a variety of DVD players. Almost any computer with a DVD burner can perform this task." Now, more a year and a half since that post, capturing, editing and converting video with a computer is still a cumbersome and time-consuming process. ****** The earlier linked AVS Forum threads provide access to a wealth of information concerning the last of the Philips and Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders. While these products are sophisticated, they are user friendly and provide great results with little effort. I would especially commend the earlier linked "sticky thread" for the Philips 3575/3576 and Magnavox H2160. That's the place to begin. After months of using my own awkward procedure for editing the beginning and end of a recording, I mentioned my frustration. I was promptly directed to the simple and effective procedures for clean "front and end cuts." These procedures are found linked to the first post in the "sticky thread." (These simple editing procedures are nowhere to be found in owners manuals supplied with these Philips and Magnavox recorders.) My suggestions are based upon my personal experience. I own one Philips 3575 (a 2007 model), one Magnavox H2160 (a 2009 model) and one Magnavox H2080 (a 2008 model). I also own sixteen functional Panasonic DVD recorders or DVD/VHS combo recorders of the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 model years. ****** With regard to the USB based ION turntable and VCR2PC, be sure to read owner/user reviews before investing in these products. One site has perhaps a dozen customer reviews for the VCR2PC, all but two or so reporting unsatisfactory results and suggesting the product is a waste of money. There are also a couple of rave reviews that bring the product up to an "average" rating. Might those be shill reviews? Message was edited by: talkietime

For those interested in the last Hard Drive/DVD recorders offered for sale in the US, I am posting links to the respective AVS Forum threads. The Philips 3575/3576 and Magnavox H2160 (sticky thread): http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940657 The Philips 3575/3576: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=830253 The Magnavox H2160: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1054933 The Magnavox H2080: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=920073 There are many threads discussing Panasonic and other brand HDD/DVD recorders, DVD recorders, and combo recorders. Here is the front page for the AVS DVD recorder forum: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=106

In the meantime we'll have to settle for the John Ford promo that I call "John Ford in Utah," usually shown when promoting John Wayne/John Ford westerns.

TrissyCat, I don't know how your system has been interconnected so I would not be able to give more specific advice than that provided in my post just below yours. Sometimes "out of sync" audio occurs with a variety of tuning devices. Sometimes turning those devices off and back on a minute or so later corrects the problem. Sometimes it does not. If powering off and on does not correct the problem I would suggest that the connection method did not take notice of the words "corresponding and adjacent" found several places in that post. An example is: "If that is the case you will also need to connect an audio set of white and red cable box outputs to the corresponding and adjacent white and red inputs . . ." If the video connections are not those adjacent to the audio connection(s) the audio and video signals may not be processed/coordinated through the same device, resulting in an "out of sync" situation. That is the importance of "corresponding and adjacent" inputs and "corresponding and adjacent" outputs. You do need local help from someone that may discern the functional characteristics of your equipment.

In our family we have two subscriptions to *Now Playing*, one for first floor viewing and one for second floor viewing. From *Now Playing* I do the initial scheduling (usually two weeks ahead) for time-shifting DVD/HDD recorders dedicated to TCM. Several days ahead (of showing dates) I check the online TCM schedule for shorts and late changes and incorporate that information into final time-shifting DVD/HDD scheduling. At just a little more than one dollar per month I would not regard *Now Playing* as a "rip-off," rather this lover of early talkies through the film noir era regards *Now Playing* as a *BARGAIN!*

There will be a Van Johnson Tribute on December 23: http://www.tcm.com/movienews/index/?cid=218966

There will be a Van Johnson Tribute on December 23: http://www.tcm.com/movienews/index/?cid=218966

TrissyCat, Earlier in this thread (9/3/08) you inquired concerning connections for your tunerless DVD recorder. In my response I addressed the various connections for your DVD recorder, TV and cable box. I am reposting that information as it is found in my response to your earlier inquiry: Your description indicates that your VHS/DVD Recorder does not have a tuner and so it has no threaded connections (termed "RF" inputs and outputs). These are the missing connections you mentioned in your post. The only recording your Recorder may manage is through "line in" connections. There will be "composite video," yellow RCA jacks for input and output; white and red audio RCA jacks for input and output; S-Video four pin circular jacks for input and output; "component video" red, green and blue RCA jacks for output only, and perhaps a HDMI flat plug for output only. Your TV may or may not have inputs corresponding to those. Your TV will certainly have a threaded RF input connection. Your cable box has outputs corresponding to those already described. You did not say if you have High Definition service through your cable box. In any event you will want to use the highest quality connection between your cable box and the TV. The HDMI connection (the flat cable) is the highest quality followed by component video (Red, Green and Blue) followed by S-Video (the round four pin cable). These two last named connections also require the audio white and red connections. Somewhat lesser quality will be the composite video yellow, again that connection requires the white and red audio; and below that in quality comes the threaded (RF) coax cable. Any of those connections may be used between the cable box and the TV. Be sure to note what cable box output directly feeds the TV input, say TV Input 1, 2, 3, Y/Pb/Pr, Composite, AV1, AV2 , AV3 , HDMI, etc. You must realize that your VHS/DVD Recorder is unable to record in High Definition no matter what hype is given in the literature or by a salesperson. All recorders must, by law, reduce the recording quality below that of High Definition. Without a tuner, the Recorder will need to be enslaved to an output from the cable box. This will depend upon what cable box outputs are not being used to connect the cable box to your TV. I will guess that the cable box is connected to your TV with the "component" Red, Green and Blue plugs plus a pair of audio white and red plugs. That leaves other cable box output jacks open for use. If you have a S-Video cable you may connect the cable box S-Video output to a S-Video input on the Recorder. If that is the case you will also need to connect an audio set of white and red cable box outputs to the corresponding and adjacent white and red inputs on the Recorder. If you do not have a S-Video cable you may use the "composite" yellow cable box output to the yellow video input on your Recorder. Again, connect the white and red audio outputs from the cable box to the corresponding and adjacent white and red inputs on the Recorder. Be sure to note which Recorder input you use for this connection, say Recorder Input 1, 2, 3, etc. The Recorder has various outputs. One of those outputs will be connected to a corresponding input on your TV. Your Recorder output choices are largely the same as the Recorder inputs, plus a set of "component video" red, green and blue outputs. Your choice will depend upon what unused cables you have and what unused inputs are found on your TV. Let's say that you have a "composite" cable set, yellow, white and red. Connect that yellow, white and red set of Recorder outputs to a corresponding and adjacent yellow, white and red inputs on your TV. Be sure to note which TV input you use for this connection, say TV Input 1, 2, 3, Y/Pb/Pr, AV1, AV2, AV3, HDMI, etc. These are the primary operational connections. In order to view cable box output on your TV (without recording the program) you will select on your TV remote the input connection that is fed directly to the TV by the cable box as noted before. In order to record from the cable box you will select on your Recorder remote the input connection that is fed directly to the Recorder by the cable box as noted before. On the TV remote you will select the input connection that is fed directly from the Recorder to the TV as noted before. For audio feed to your stereo system you will need to connect white and red audio connections to an input on your stereo receiver. Your cable box may not have an open set of audio white and red output jacks. If not, use an open audio set of white and red jacks on the Recorder. If not, use an open set of audio white and red outputs on your TV. If none of these white and red audio connections are open you may need to purchase two RCA "Y" cable adapters, found at Radio Shack, Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. These inexpensive "Y" cables turn any single RCA jack into two jacks. The Radio Shack item number is PH62103, catalog #55020958 priced around $4 each. Wherever you insert these "Y" cable adapters that device will have to be powered on and it must be set to receive the signal from its input source in order to provide an active output to the stereo system. Since your Recorder does not have a tuner you will not be able to record one channel while watching another unless you have a second tuning device connected to your Recorder. That might be a second cable box or a coupon eligible converter box for antenna reception of digital broadcast stations ($10 to $30 with coupon) or another tuner such as the Samsung H260F (around $180).

Fred, Back in the 1800s, before the widespread use of electricity, the folks had to watch TV by candlelight.

There was a 55 second promo for the Anita Page Memorial Tribute. The promo, "*Anita Page on Early Talkies*," shows her speaking in later life, and a few short film clips. The promo was shown several times. I recorded it twice, first on 11/28 following the documentary *Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star* and again on 11/30 following the WB short *Happy Times and Jolly Moments*.

The Now Playing listings of have a slashed maple leaf indicating that those movies are "Not Airing In Canada," see the notice at the bottom of page 7. This is usually because other organizations hold the Canadian rights for broadcast or cable/satellite transmission.

During my dubbing project I came across promos where the number of movies in the "Turner Library" was mentioned. It seems to me that the number mentioned was somewhere between 3,800 and 5,000 movies. I don't recall if this was a pre-TCM promo shown on TNT or a TCM promo circa 1997. In the early 1990s TNT was the prototype for TCM programming. There were commercial interruptions during TNT programming and perhaps a wider mix of old/new movies and programs. When TCM came into being in April 1994 the "classic movies" moved over to TCM. There continued to be cross promotion between TNT and TCM from time to time. I'm thinking (particularly) of Robert Osborne hosting a 1/5/97 showing of Casablanca on TNT to drum up interest in TCMs Bogart Week, the second week of January, 1997. Perhaps Robert Osborne's Casablanca Introduction was made before the decision was reached to show the colorized version of Casablanca on TNT. TCM showed the black and white version of Casablanca on 1/10/97 and 1/12/97. The "World Color Premier" of the colorized version of Casablanca took place 11/9/88 on WTBS.

Primosprimos, There is a possibility that CP coding on your videotaped recordings may be the problem. There are other conditions that may also affect playback quality. The physical condition of videotape has much to do with the quality of playback. From time to time this topic has been discussed at the AVS Forum. My ?dubbing project? post and others in that thread touch upon that subject: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13955310#post13955310 More recent and detailed videotape discussions (found before and after my post) may be accessed here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14972104#post14972104 A TCM post (dated March 3, 2008 and found in this "Gremlin" thread) responds to questions from Movieman1957. One question concerned ?Removing Interference.? I quote the relevant portion of my response: (Perhaps) ?your DMR-ES35V is not set with a compatible setting for your TV. To check this go to FUNCTIONS, OTHER FUNCTIONS, SETUP, TV SCREEN. For detailed information see the Operating Instructions, page 18 (Selecting television type), page 21 (Removing Interference), page 37 (Video menu-Change picture quality, and page 68 (Progressive/Interlace).? If you no longer have the DMR-ES35V Operating Instructions that manual may be downloaded here: http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Operating-Instructions The DMR-ES35V has a modulated output. That may have something to do with the problem you?ve encountered. Two of my posts (dated June 29, 2008 and found in this "Gremlin" thread) respond to questions from MissGoddess. One of those posts deals with "modulated" and "unmodulated" outputs. I quote the most relevant portion from one of those posts: ?Most, if not all DVD combo recorders have a modulated RF output. This means that whatever signal is fed to the combo recorder's RF input is passed through to the RF output unless the machine is playing a DVD or copying a videotaped recording to DVD, in which case that signal overrides the RF input signal from your cable box. In this case you will not be able to watch cable while copying a videotaped recording to DVD. The program being played or recorded will be the one present on the combo recorder outputs. The workaround is to insert a RF A/B switch (around $6) between the cable box and DVD combo recorder. One feed should go to the DVD combo recorder and the other feed should go to your TV's RF input. The A/B switch selects between these feeds and will allow the cable signal to be passed through to the TV. The TV remote will select between the input signal sources allowing you to watch cable while the machine is recording a DVD.? Perhaps the condition you have observed may be corrected through use of the VCR/TV button. On a DMR-ES35V that button is located to the lower right just above the F Rec button. That button may not correct the problem. TalkieTime

Copy Protection has been discussed in this thread from time to time. My post of December 4, 2007 describes the problem. I will quote one of my posts from March 22 2008: "Time-shifting devices such as your DVD recorder should continue to function in the same way as they do now. The situation might change if TCM or cable or satellite services implement copyright protection that may restrict or prevent home-recording. This is a very real concern. Due to future uncertainties my suggestion is to record now all that you may want to have in your personal archive." Since that time more frequent and widespread CP situations have been reported on the AVS Forum. I've just set up my new Magnavox H2160 HDD/DVD recorder, purchased online from WalMart. With this purchase I continue to hope that CP doesn't overtake TCM. The "Maggie's" first recordings will be the eight "Pre-Codes" in the Anita Page Memorial Tribute. The first two movies are bulk scheduled as a single three hour LP recording (for later high speed dubbing to one DVD); the remaining six movies (totaling around 10.5 hours) are scheduled individually at SP (recording lengths between 1:30 and 2:00 per movie for later edits and high speed dubbing to six DVDs). I backed up the starting time of Our Blushing Brides enough to include the tightly scheduled "From The Vaults" Ronald Colman/Gov. C.C. Young feature concerning "The New Talkie Season." The Dogway Melody fits the time slot paired with The Broadway Melody. TalkieTime

TrissyCat, Most sellers have a customer satisfaction period where a product may be exchanged for another if it does not please the customer or it does not work as it should. If you are within that period you may want to consider exchanging your DVD recorder for another product. Before exchanging the DVD recorder find out what other DVD recorders are sold by that store. Then read "Customer Reviews" for those products on such websites as Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. The most informative discussions may be found between other owners posting on the AVS Forum. Use that information to make an informed decision and exchange your DVD recorder for one that is more likely to give you good service. Some stores (WalMart) may refund your money if you are not satisfied. The AVS Forum DVD recorder discussions may be found here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=106 If you search the AVS Forum for a particular model but have no result you may have to set the search criteria to go back several months. I believe the default search criteria is something like thirty days. There are something like 670,000 AVS Forum members and many millions of posts so most anything may be found with the right search criteria.