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| Posted by | Seán Byrne |
| Posted on | 23/06/05 21:05 |
Scheduling Timers and using Video Plus+:
While the Easy Guider offers a handy way of setting up a recording timer, some users would prefer to have more control over the timer or to quickly set up a timer without running through screen after screen. For example, it is not possible to modify or delete a timer through the Easy Guider.
Setting up a manual
timer
Like most VCRs, this Recorder has a Timer button on its remote. When pressed, the following screen shows:
It is nice to see that up to 16 timers can be setup. This makes it possible to set up several timers to record daily episodes of programmes. With a VCR however, this could not be easily done unless the user ensured a blank / rewound tape was present each day and watched all the programmes before the next day, especially with multiple timers.
A timer can be set up by highlighting it and pressing 'Enter':
Each field accepts the following values or options:
| Source | TV, Front AV, SCART or DV |
| Channel | If Source is 'TV': Any preset channel number |
| HDD/DVD | HDD or DVD |
| Mode | If 'HDD/DVD' is DVD: HQ, SP, LP, EP, SLP and Just Fit If 'HDD/DVD' is HDD: HQ, SP, LP, EP, SLP, Just Fit, VCD, SVCD and Audio CD |
| Repeat | Once, Weekly and Daily |
| Repeat option | If Repeat is 'Daily': This field is hidden. If Repeat is 'Once': This field is a date entry. If Repeat is 'Weekly': This field is a multi choice field of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. |
| Start | Recording start time |
| End | Recording end time |
| Sound | If Source is 'TV': Stereo, Main, SAP and Mono |
| PDC | If Source is 'TV', 'Front AV' or 'SCART': On or Off |
When a filed is filled, the Recorder automatically moves to the next field in the series as shown in the above menu. Once the recording quality mode is set up, the remaining free space is shown for both the HDD and loaded disc in the top right section. The following screenshot shows a filled in example:
While most VCRs have an option to schedule a repetitive recording, these will keep on recording the scheduled time until the user removes the timer later on. However, this Recorder gives the option to place a start and stop, such as if one wants to perform a daily recording for a particular period of time. This option is within the 'Advanced' section:
If the above restriction is applied to the recording set up on the previous screen, it would limit the recording to from the 13th of June to the 24th of June.
The following Video clip shows an example of setting up the above timer (apart from the restriction):
Windows Media
(0.7MB)
Nero Digital AVC
(0.7MB)
Setting up a timer using Video
Plus+
Setting up a timer using Video Plus+ is a fairly quick process since the channel, start & end time and date do not need to be entered. The Video Plus+ entry screen can be brought up by pressing 'ShowView' or 'Video Plus+' depending on the Lite-On remote:
Even though Video Plus+ only covers the channel, time period and duration, the Recorder actually eliminates the options for the Weekly repeat option as well as the advanced options. Then again, the hidden options can be brought up by selecting 'Date/Time Setting'.
The following screen shows a filled in example using a Video Plus+ code from a TV guide:
Checking and activating the
timers
Once one or more timers are set up, it is possible to view these by pressing the 'Timer' button. The following screen shows an example of a few timers:
The following screen shot shows the remaining details after pressing the right arrow button:
If any timers have a problem such as if the wrong type of disc is loaded or if the timer has expired, the Recorder will show an exclamation beside the timer with a little info about the problem.
Finally to activate the timers, the Recorder must be put into standby mode. Otherwise the following message will appear:
The Easy Guider
Same for the OEM-Version, Philips 520H
To me, the audio sounds fine directly from the Lite-On itself and I didn't notice any unusual background hiss, unlike what most PC onboard soundcards pick up. I tried recording from various sources including CDs, over SCART, TV, etc. However, as the audio output (over Phono and SCART) is fairly high, it can cause distortion on audio equipment that has very sensitive inputs. For example on my PC's sound card, I had to set the Line-in level fairly close to the bottom to avoid the input meter from peaking.
I did also check for other issues that people mentioned in user reviews back in January such as audio-video sync problems after an hour of recording, remote keys acting if pressed twice, etc. However I haven't encountered any issue with the remote and after a 2.5 hour recording, the audio & video was still in perfect sync that I could see, i.e. 'B' & 'P' sounds matched the person's lips.
And it´s the best magazine for video-equipment and can not be compared with magazine´s like Audio-Video-Bild usw.
And I read in many forum´s that almost nobody can say that Liteon DVD-Recorders have a good picture-quality
I have seen Microsoft often use image and audio analysis to show that their codecs beats other audio and visual codecs and for a good while I often seen people boasting about how good Windows Media sounds & looks until later when visual & listening tests have changed this around.
Contacted Liteon & ended up taking 5 days off work, each time I was waiting in for the unit to be collected. Eventually, Liteon agreed to send an upgraded unit - 5045B and uplift the old one at the same time.
4 months later, this new machine suffered the same fate. I had originally put a couple of films onto DVD so I knew this feature worked.
Contacted Liteon, this time I lost 2 day's pay waiting for collection & then delivery of the repaired item.
2 months later, I have the self same problem - the machine simply doesn't recognise any DVD-r/rw, +r/rw, or even blank CDs.
When it works, this machine is the business, when it breaks down, it's a real PITA getting it fixed.
Rather than waste any more money taking time off work, I'm going to spend a day's wages & buy a standalone DVD recorder & link to this machine. It will pay for itself straight away because I won't need to take a second day off work.
And BTW, I tried to upgrade the firmware but the machine won't recognise any disk that is or was blank, so I have a CD full of firmware upgrades now destined for the bin.
Serial Number 002535611284
LVW 5045 HARD DRIVE FAILURE **PLEASE HELP**
I bought mine in sept 2005 and except for menu bounce its worked satifactorly untill the other day when I tried to play a disc it read 'Invalid'. I have it set at 'Region Free' and the disc's I want ed to play were 'Region 4'. Oddly it played Regions 1 & 2 without difficulty. Even after resetting to Region 4 it still didnt want to work.
On VideoHelp site, some members reported replacing the DVD drive which in some cases worked.
The label on the case says Lite-On IT' a DDW-813S but the mother board is by Sony with no discernable other details.
As far as I am aware the HDD is still working ok.
No one tried the swap option??
This message was edited at: 25-06-2008 15:01
The bad news is that there is NO after warranty expires service available for any Lite-On product.
I was advised that during warranty the item is replaced not repaired due to cost but do they replace the whole item or cannabalise another so you get your original unit back?
So depending on its price, you would have to seriously consider paying for an extended warranty or be prepared to replace the unit if it fails one day after the warranty runs out.
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