Please move this post if needed. I am going to get a used PHILIPS DVDR985. Of course the dedicated remote is missing. There is a PHILIPS brand CONSOLIDATOR 4 next to it. The unit recognized a CD but there was no DVD there to test. The issue is, will the UNIVERSAL remote or ANY universal remote operate the dvdr record function? Philips said NO. Fox INTERNATIONAL has a replacement for $50. Is this the only way to go? Will the RF ANNENTA/CABLE input accept a non-srambled cable signal WITHOUT a TIVO type subcription? Will the RF out connect to an RF type TV as my VCR does? Or should I use/need to use the COMPOSITE a/v jacks and modulator? Opinions please. The most needed functions are on the remote. Does the initial set up screen require certain choices I need to make using the remote only in order to make this unit fully functional? Replacement remotes are NOT mentioned in the manual. I think I will try the unit as is and get the remote later just to see if the unit functions in the basic mode. This uses PLUS discs ONLY. Are they readily available in DVD+r and rw? CD +r/rw? Can audio only be recorded to a DVD disc. Is there an easy way to ERASE and reuse space on a RW disc in the same way a VCR does? Of all the manuals I have printed this one seems to be more like a VCR than others that seem to be more complicated. Is my opinion correct?
@Moderators: I think this should go to the DVD recorders forum. @rtrg I believe that Universal Remote should work for basic functions, like Play/Stop/Rec/Fwd,ChUp/Down etc. But it may not work for its specific functions like editing the video. I’m not sure about CONSOLODATOR 4 though. You may be able to find used remote on the internet. I believe so, just like regular TV/VCR. (Unless the unit is the special version to the specific cable co.) Its RF-Out should be just like VCR's. If your TV/Monitor has a composite input, use composite video out. (Yellow RCA for video Red/White RCA for sound.) You may need the dedicated remote for its full function. What are you accomplish with this unit? Yes, DVD+R and DVD+RW are common. I'm not sure that this unit can record on CD. (I do not think there is such CD+R/RW. Just CD-R/RW, if that you are asking.) I'm not sure about your question. If you select line input without connecting the video cable (just with audio cables), it is possible. May I ask why? Eracing whole section(Where you started to record and till where you stopped) is not difficult. You can not operate like VCR though. Editting is not easy. (I prefer doing it on PC.) I'm not sure which part you are referring as your opinion.
