Magnavox MWR20V6 combo recorder

Welcome to this section of the Afterdawn forums specifically
dedicated to Magnavox MWR20V6 combo recorder owners.
---- If this is what you have then you've come to the right place! ----

 

Acknowledgements and credits. My deepest thanks and appreciation to Tim, Petteri and DDP each of whom were critically instrumental in making this content publicly available and easier to access. Respectfully, Mike Adams

 

Using the Timer feature for recording scheduled programs

Using the TIMER button on the remote control permits you to build a list of up to 8 future video programming events you wish to record. Once having done so however, you must place the unit in the STANDBY MODE by pressing the TIMER SET button on the remote control, which is the FINAL step in the process.

Placing the unit in STANDBY MODE effectively powers it down, just as if you'd turned it OFF as you normally would. The difference being, when the unit's in STANDBY MODE it'll automatically turn itself back ON, tune to the correct channel and begin recording at the start-time specified in the entry you made using the TIMER menu.

If you simply think of the TIMER SET button as being the STANDBY MODE button this feature becomes far more user-friendly and intuitive to use.

Should you want to play a DVD or VHS movie in the meanwhile, just press the TIMER SET button on the remote control again to take the unit out of STANDBY mode. Just make certain you remember to reinsert a blank DVD into the tray and place the unit back into STANDBY mode again once you're done.

 

How to properly activate the unit's Automatic Clock Setting feature

This feature works great and is worth it's weight in gold! My MWR20V6 DVD Recorder's clock is the ONLY one in the house I can count on to always have the correct exact time and date. In fact, it's been so incredibly accurate and reliable, I now synchronize all the other clocks in the house from it!

From the very day I purchased the unit and plugged it in, I've never once had to set the time and date manually, yet it always has the correct time and date. And you won't need to worry about setting it ahead or behind an hour when daylight saving's time goes into and out of effect, assuming you have that feature turned-on. Take the time to set the Automatic Clock Setting feature up correctly. You'll be eternally glad you did and will quickly come to trust and depend upon it's accuracy and reliability.

For reference purposes, the details of using and setting this option are outlined on page 22 of the MWR20V6 Owner's Manual. But for most of us who find (Chinese translated) English difficult to understand and follow, the following guide should prove far easier to deal with.

How the feature works

The unit acquires the current TIME and DATE embedded within the video signal of a (designated) PBS channel available on your cable system. This is accomplished very much in the same way a CALLER-ID unit acquires the current time and date from a digital signal transmitted over the telephone line, just prior to an incoming call.

When you plugged-in your unit for the first time and ran the "Automatic Channel Search" option the unit attempted to identify all possible channels available on your cable system and save them into the tuner's memory. One or more of those should be a PBS station. When I plugged-in my unit for the first time and ran the "Automatic Channel Search" feature, it (correctly) identified channel 10 as one of my PBS stations and assigned it as the Automatic Clock Setting feature's designated channel for me, automatically. Since that choice has always worked perfectly, I didn't need to do anything more.

Activating the Automatic Clock Setting feature

Important! Make sure you don't delete the PBS channels from the tuner's memory, if you want the automatic clock setting feature to work properly! Those who dislike PBS channels will often make this mistake. If necessary, use the Channel option in the SETUP menu to add one or more PBS stations into the tuner's memory, before proceeding further.

Be aware the designated PBS channel appears ONLY when in MANUAL mode in the CLOCK setup menu. Let's check and make SURE it correctly identifies an existing PBS channel, so the Automatic Clock Setting feature works properly, as intended.

Using your remote control, make the following settings:

Setup <---press this button on your remote to enter the setup menu

Required Settings
Playback
Display
Recording
Clock <---move cursor to this option then press OK)
Channel
Disc Edit

Clock Setting
Auto Clock Setting: AUTO <---move cursor to this option then press OK
Daylight Saving Time: ON

OFF
Auto
Manual <---move cursor to this option then press OK

Set Channel No.
CH 10 <---your designated PBS station is displayed

Use the UP or DOWN arrow buttons on your remote to scroll thru the channels programmed in the tuner's memory. When it displays the PBS station channel you want to use, press the OK button on your remote to make it the designated channel. You'll then be taken back to the main CLOCK menu which displays the following.

Clock Setting
Auto Clock Setting: CH 10 <---move cursor to this option and press OK
Daylight Saving Time: ON

OFF
Auto <---move cursor to this option and press OK
Manual

Clock Setting
Auto Clock Setting: AUTO
Daylight Saving Time: ON <---make sure this setting is turned on before exiting

Important! Once you've verified a valid PBS channel has been properly designated, make sure the Auto Clock Setting is changed back to AUTO mode, to activate the feature.

Press the RETURN button on your remote TWICE to exit the SETUP mode.

At this point, the automated time and date feature should be working properly! Just check the current time as displayed on the front panel, to verify the unit automatically acquired and set the correct time, using the designated PBS channel. If it did, you can safely assume it set the correct current date also. If the time displayed on the front panel is AHEAD or BEHIND by exactly one hour, alter the Daylight Saving Time setting accordingly (from ON to OFF or vice-versa) so it's correctly adjusted and displayed.

Special Considerations

If you still don't have the feature working properly, consider these possible issues:

1. Most cable systems carry more than one PBS station. If for some reason the one you've designated doesn't seem to work properly, try a different PBS station.

2. Keep in mind, many cable systems carry PBS stations which (can easily) originate outside your own timezone. Be sure to choose a PBS station on your cable system which originates from within your SAME TIMEZONE! Most often, this will be the case. However, those living in states which are split between timezones (ID,OR,KS,NE,ND,SD,TX,FL,IN,MI,KY,TN,AK) need to be particularly aware of this point.

3. Did you delete the designated PBS station from the unit's tuner channel memory at some point? Make sure the channel number you want to assign as the designated PBS station (in the Automatic Clock Setting procedure above) exists in the tuner's channel memory, beforehand!

4. Last resort. If by some wild turn of the cards your cable system doesn't carry any PBS stations, you may very likely find another (non PBS) station which also has the current time and date embedded in it's signal. But you'll have to hunt one down by trial and error, making it the designated channel to see if it works.

How to avoid loosing part of the program's beginning

Always set the scheduled TIMED RECORDING(S) in your TIMER list to start one minute before the actual program starting time and one minute after it's ending time. Thanks to the amazing reliability of the unit's Automatic Clock Setting feature, your scheduled recordings are guaranteed to always start and end precisely on time.

 

What universal remote programming code works best with the MWR20V6?

Although the MWR20V6 carries the Magnavox brand name on units sold in the US, it's actually manufactured in China by Funai Corporation. Look carefully on the left side of the box, down at the bottom just right of center. You'll see "Distributed by Funai Corporation" in small print.

Always consider the MWR20V6 a FUNAI product rather than Magnavox, especially where remote codes are concerned. Follow this same advice, should you need to download any online documentation such as Owner's manual, Parts list, Schematic diagrams, Repair manuals, etc.

Funai remote codes give best functionality and compatibility

Always use Funai remote codes when available. They work best for the Magnavox MWR20V6 and give universal remotes the most functionality. Although Magnavox codes will provide some basic functionality, you'll find the majority of the buttons on the universal remote will do absolutely nothing when pressed!

Don't use combo remote codes

Where the MWR20V6 is concerned you'll find the remote codes listed under "DVDR/VCR Combo units" won't work properly, if at all. Always program your host remote using the individual DVD and VCR codes listed, as if the MWR20V6 were two separate units rather than a combo. Although this seems strange, you'll find it works best and gives your host remote the most compatible functionality.

Ditch the original remote and get a Universal "learning" remote

The only thing I dislike about the MWR20V6 is its cheaply made remote control. In particular, the buttons are ridiculously small (pinhead, rather than finger-tip size) making it awkward to use. I highly recommend purchasing a Universal "learning-capable" remote, such as any listed below. Doing so will make your unit far more enjoyable to control and use. What's more, one single Universal remote will control every piece of equipment you own! No more fumbling-around and playing hide-and-seek with multiple remotes.

Nearly always, the first thing to fail is the original remote control that came with a product, due to the fact it gets the most wear-and-tear. You've probably already learned this lesson the hard way, from past experience with other equipment you've owned. Abuse (such as constantly pressing the keys too hard, spilling drinks on the buttons, accidentally stepping or sitting on it) can render your remote nearly useless, or even destroy it.

Once this happens, you'll have no way to control most of MWR20V6's functions, since there are so few buttons on the unit's front panel. Without a perfectly operational remote the unit will become nearly unusable, for all intent and purposes.

Eventually replacement original remotes become hard to find or even no longer available. Order another original now as backup, or better yet purchase a Universal "learning-capable" remote and put your original away in a zip-top plastic bag, for safe-keeping. Always use a good quality Universal remote for day-to-day use. Doing so will assure access to the unit's full-functionality, effectively extending it's lifetime, quite considerably.

 

Benefits of using a Universal Learning-capable remote

Universal remotes are programmed to work with your equipment in the usual way. By entering a 3 or 4-digit library code. Selecting the best code available gives you the most compatibility and functionality. But no library code gives you 100% compatibility. What's more, you might not like the buttons it assigned, for particular functions.

Learning-capable remotes permit you to "teach" them the actual code sent-out by your original remote's infrared beam, for any button pressed! What's more, you can assign that particular button's function to nearly any button on the Universal remote, of your own choice!

They also allow you to define buttons using "extended" and "secret" codes your original remote doesn't even have buttons for, but which the equipment understands and will perform! Last but not least, they allow the user to define "macro" buttons, where the press of a single button will perform the equivalent of what would otherwise require a sequence of several other button presses to accomplish!

Extended codes enable the user to...

• define buttons which allow direct-access to functions you want the unit to perform, without having to go thru menus to access them (activate SUBTITLE display, activate DTS or 5.1 Dolby sound, directly play TITLE by number, ZOOM in/out, etc)
• define buttons your original remote doesn't even have, but which the equipment understands and will perform!

Secret codes enable the user to...

• deactivate the built-in Macrovision copy protection (on certain units) enabling you to directly copy store-bought DVD's and VHS tapes that would otherwise (by default) be disallowed by the unit's internal firmware programming
• access "secret" menus, normally hidden and inaccessible (by default) to the user
• allow recordings of digital-stream program content (Pay-Per-View, HBO, TMC, Cinemax, Showtime, etc) protected by signals embedded in their video stream, which normally disallow them from being recorded, by default

Equipment they can control

• anything you can imagine
• of course, the Magnavox MWR20V6
• CATV, VHS, DVD, DVR, DVDR, CD, DBS, SAT, TIVO, ReplayTV
• home infrared-remote controlled devices, (including
audio, video, lighting, door locks, alarm systems, etc)

Best three lowest-cost Universal Learning remotes on the market

Philips PM-DVR8 ($12.17)
Zenith ZN-620 ($9.85)
OneForAll URC-8910 ($26.88)

The OneForAll has an internal 5-pin JP1 connector under the battery cover, which allows programming via your PC, using an optional JP1-to-USB cable which costs about $15. While this feature has definite advantages, it's best used by those who are computer-savvy.

For these prices, why suffer another day without one! All are excellent choices. The Philips is superior to the Zenith, considering it has more overall features and buttons which can be programmed by the user. The OFA has just a few more buttons than the others. But they're somewhat odd-shaped making it a bit more awkward to use.

My overall personal favorite is the Philips. Of course, there are many more than just these three. If price is no object, some have color touch-screen displays instead of physical buttons and other equally dazzling but unnecessary expensive features.

 

Analog tuner in the MWR20V6 becomes obsolete in Feb 2009

Magnavox model ZV450MW8 an updated-version of the MWR20V6, has been on display and available for purchase at Walmart since early 2008. The main difference between the two being, the newer model has an ATSC digital tuner whereas the original has an NTSC analog tuner. The ramifications being, once the new FCC regulations go into effect February 2009, any televisions or other video equipment having the older NTSC analog tuner, will no longer be able to directly access the new digital channel frequencies.

But don't panic! Another even more recent FCC regulation was appended to the original legislation, which mandates CATV carriers must continue carrying their programming on both the older analog and newer digital frequencies, for compatibility purposes. For those carriers who don't want this duplicity of dual signals consuming 50% of their cable bandwidth, they've been given an alternate option. This second option, being they must supply a converter box which will translate the digital channel frequencies back to analog, at no additional cost to their subscribers.

The new FCC regulations have appropriated funds to help pay for these standalone digital-to-analog converter boxes. Beginning February 2009, anyone who wishes may request they be sent a $40 DTV voucher by mail to help pay for the converters. They'll be issued on a "first-come, first serve" basis and when the total number of available vouchers has become exhausted, no more will be available unless Congress appropriates additional funding for the digital-to-analog converter box voucher program.

So there's no need worry your MWR20V6 or any other video equipment you own might become unusable once these new FCC regulations go into effect February 2009. By simply adding a digital-to-analog converter boxes, your video equipment will continue working just as it always has.

Don't be deceived into believing you need to run-out and purchase a newer model of the MWR20V6 or any other video equipment, merely because it doesn't have an ATSC digital tuner built into it! The FCC regulations drafted were carefully designed to ensure the transition from analog-to-digital channel frequencies will be as transparent to consumers as possible.