Any opinions on the Sharp DV-HR300?

Thanks Manny

I have now set M-F on a weekly basis for the shows that I want so Im taping 2 shows a day There are now 10 weekly settings in the timer setting. So Ill see what happens each day.
Monday taped ok so far......I called sharp in Sydney they were pretty rude and tried to rush me off the phone with the usual take it in for service number.

Anybody know of a software upgrade that I can download online ?

Cheers Guys

 

I'm sure this has been discussed in previous posts, but since the post started a year ago, there's a lot of information to wade through.

I was wondering if someone had an idea of an inexpensive method to record a movie onto the player, then over to disc from a VHS or another DVD player. I keep getting a message that I can't do this due to copywritten material. I have years worth of movies on VHS that I would like to transfer to DVD, plus the occasional rental that I would like to keep for personal use. This was one of the main reasons I bought the machine in the first place, but can't seem to get it working right. I saw mention earlier of something called TBC-1000, but that seems to expensive for my purpose. Any ideas?

 

ejh9495,
Are these hollywood movies? If so without the copy guard decoder it will be next to impossible to make the transfer. With DVD's you can easily break the copyright protection with readily available programs that are free...ONLINE. I've made my backups and movie transfers using this method but you need a PC and dvd burner for that. You end up with pristine copies and don't have the CopyGuard problems. With VHS you need the extra device to break that guard. And with VHS being the dinosaur that it is, to find a copyguard unscrambler that will work with all of the movies will be tricky at best. Just my thoughts on the issue.
Kind regards, Manny

 

ejh9495, Home made VHS movies are so easy to transfer either directly to DVD-R/RW using the RCA phono connectors or S-VHS socket at the front of the Sharp (or via the HDD ). I guess you must be having problems transferring VHS movies that you purchased and not movies you have recorded at home from TV to VHS using a VCR? The copy protection on store bought vhs movies is doing what it says I.E. preventing you making a copy and the Sharp warns of this problem in the manual.
It all depends on how much you want to pay to transfer those old vhs movies to DVD. Have a look at this website.
http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/copyenhancer.htm
Assuming you are in the USA, for $99 it would appear to be the answer. There are other websites offering similar gadgets at similar prices that will do the necessary for folk in the Uk
Hope this helps Cheers Silver

 

ejh9495,
As everyone else is saying, you are being defeated by Macrovision copy protection. They record a a pulse on to the tape in the 'blank' part of the video signal, which you can't see. However, the electronics after the recording input does see it, and on older video machines it intentionally sends the agc (automatic gain control) beserk, wrecking the recording. Newer digital machines such as the DVR don't (I think) have this problem, but know it's there and refuse to record.
So, there are basically two ways to defeat it: 1. Buy a box or make it yourself as per web instructions, which strip the macrovision pulse out of the signal. I think that some people have had success by passing the signal through two VCR's, the first playing the original tape, and the other just as a video relay. Nice if you have a few VCR's lying around!
2. Turn the copy protection off in the Sharp, which I am sure is possible, we just don't know how yet. I would bet there is a button combination which would do it, or a patch.

I just gave up on copying old VHS I had paid good legit money for, figuring that I could most likely pick them up on cheap DVD's sooner or later, if I wanted to.

 

Good information folks. I saw the link to the Sima product. I may look into that. I had some success with another of their products when I used to vhs-to-vhs recording. I should have known they would have something for the DVD world. You should have seen me trying to figure this stuff out with all the connections between my Sharp, TV, VCR, and additional DVD player. Wires, wires, wires...

Thanks

 

I've just made up a SCART lead using a product called MiniMaster+ (http://www.macromaster.co.uk/macromaster/products.html). They also sell a boxed up version, the MacroMaster+. I haven't tried it out yet though!

I also found a ready-made SCART cable for doing this: http://www.multi-region.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=674 or http://www.sonel.com/. I've not used either of these, so again don;t know if they work OK.

Good luck!

 

In's and out's on software updates.

I'm a service technician and i see a lot of peolple talking about software updates
i will try to explain to you what your actually doing
this is all for the "S" version

In the old versions are a few software bug's , these bug's are in
2 parts of the recorder
First is the Mpeg/decoder/harddisk part (like freezing up your HD)
Second is the timer/tuner part.(clock not running on time, scipping timer programs. )

Remember this is only for old versions normally sold version should
be bug free.

The update disk that you can find on several sharp sites updates the following:

the mpeg/etc will be updated to version 120
the tuner/timer will be updated to version 1.94 OR 2.60
-why 2 versions ? , there are 2 different type of tuner/timer
processors used but there is no functional difference between those 2

You can check the versions of your recorder in the service menu (press ch-up+rec-stop for 3 seconds)

If you use the update disk the tuner/timer will not be updated right away. The software will be loaded in the decoder rom and has to be transferred to the tuner/timer
To do this you have to go to the service menu (press ch-up/rec-stop)
and then press "9" on the remote control , after that the recorder will reset.

-Hardware modification and the red dot.
some old recorders need a hardware modification too, 2 pins of an IC has to be connected.
if this is done on an old model a red dot is in front of the serial number. Non modified types are very rare.
This modification is for timer and clock problems

-the region free version
The region free update is not an official release and is based on an old software version. there are some bug's in this version , like freezing up your HD when it's almost full.
So if you don't really need it, don't use it.

-An other harddisk in your recorder.
There is no official information about this. it seems to work fine
up to 160GB
Officially you also have to "register" the new HD to the system
to do this go to the service menu and press the 0/10 key on the remote control. however ... the 0/10 key is only available on a japanese remote control.....
An other option will be the "aging" mode
go to the service menu , press "4" on the remote to go to the
drive screen. press play to start "aging" on the display a counter will run from "0" till ... ?58 and then changes to "777" when aging is complete , after that the harddisk will be registered automatically.
this all can take up to 2.5 hour or maybe even longer for a big HD

-drive firmware update
there is a drive firmware update available for version 1.45
it seems to fix some problems with some media ..... not other
information available.....

-When your disk won't eject.
on the bottem of the recorder is a little hole , with a small screwdrive or pencil you can release your disk. (move the slide)


I hope this is some usefull information for you

Dil.

 

Hey Dil,
Thanks for the detailed info. Any info for us U.S. owners who have the "U" model? Specifically, is there a firmware update I can download (or you can point us at) that will fix the bug that causes timer program for channels 55-60 to instead record from L1, L2, etc??? I never saw a post on this forum where an owner got back their unit with that bug fixed.

 

Does anyone know if the built-in clock time is set/adjusted by the teletext time signal?
My father in laws clock was about 20 mins slow earlier this evening.

 

Sorry dnessl , i know nothing about the US channel system and the "U" model.

rcflyers problem should be solved with a software update.
the clock will be adjusted with PDC ( a bit like teletext)

Dill.

 

I need help please!!! I am from czech republic and i have buy Sharp DV HR-350S and when i want recording from the RF siglal (tuner) i have no sound?! sound play only on TV programs in B/K norm but in czech are few programs in D/K norm and here play the sound not. Can anyone help me please?????

 

The latest on my broken 300H....

I've been phoning Empire Direct (the shop) for the last two weeks trying to get my broken 300H returne fixed. They sent it on to Sharp. Sharp reckoned they were "waiting for a part", but that was for at least 3 weeks so I'm not surre I believe them. Last week Empire Direct told me Sharp had received the part and were fitting it. This week they tell me that Sharp are ordering another part because it didn't work!

Under UK (or maybe EU?) law, we are entitled to a replacement after a reasonable time. Last week Empire Direct were being awkward about this, but today they offered me one. Guess what!...the 300H is discontinued so I'm going to have to have the newer 400H model. http://www.sharp.co.uk/products/product.asp?id=967 and http://sharp-world.com/products/dvd-hdd_recorder/dvhr480h/index.html. This has got a few extras (48x DVD write) but is £20 more expensive. I'll report on what its like when I get it.

 

Right, I've got the DVHR400 now as the replacement for my old '300 which broke. The differences I've spotted so far are:

1. No pretty blue lights on the HDD and DVD buttons. In fact no buttons on the front panel!

2. No pretty orange backlight when dubbing - it just stays white.

3. No Firewire DV inputon the front. That's a regressive step. Apparently only the '480 has that. Considering the '400 is more expensive than the '300 it's a bit off.

4. Up to 48x dubbing. Since I tend to use rate conversion dubbing anyway that's no great shakes for me, but I guess it would be useful if I could remember to record to HD at the correct rate to start with!

5. The response to key presses is much better, although still not instant. Retyping the title name on the '300 was a real pain. On the '400 it's a lot easier.

6. The menus have all been redesigned and are a little more logical and better looking, and more responsive.

7. The manual is still just as bad as the '300!

8. It powers itself down after about 3 hours (this can be disabled). I don't remember the '300 doing that???

9. It comes with a lead with an IR receiver and 3.5mm jack on it. I think this is so external equipment can control it, but haven't looked into it yet.

10. When fast forwarding on speed 1, the audio still comes out. It isn't an octave higher though, just twice as fast!

11. It plays music CDs in WMA format as well as MP3 now. Did the '300 play MP3s? I can't remember. This is useful for me because my car stereo is WMA enabled and I have all my music in WMA format - the files are typically only half the size of MP3 for the same quality.


I haven't tested the perennial bugs of the '300 yet, i.e. the timer problem (I don't use the timer anyway - I've got Sky+) and losing the thumbnail picture when dubbed from HDD to DVD, but I'll try and get round to it.

 

In (1), when I say there are no buttons, I mean no HDD and DVD buttons. There are separate buttons for play, rec etc for each disc type.

 

Hi All,
I have a question, and it might be dumb!

Does the Sharp DV-HR300 record in Dolby?

If yes, does it record when connected with a scart cable?

I'm trying to record from a pay TV channel that transmits in Dolby surround, and it's connected from scart (Pay TV) to scart (DV-HR300).

When I view this channel through the DV-HR300, it doesn't pick up the dolby signal, but when I connect it directly to the amp (via Optical Audio cable), it picks up the Dolby signal.

Any help appreciated.
Thanks!

P

 

Hi Plasma-T

Dolby surround has nothing to do with dolby digital
Dolby surround in an analog system where it calculates the rear
and center channel out of the specialy modulated front channels
the audio output from the DV-HR300 will be normal stereo , there is
no dolby decoder inside it.

 

Thanks Dillenger,
I meant "Dolby Digital".

So I can't record in Dolby Digital?

I can hear my DVD's in Dolby Digital, and the channel I want to record from is in Dolby Digital.

Thanks,
Plasma_T

 

Hi All,

Just picked up this excellent dvd recorder for a very nice price.
I'm not sure if any is still watching this thread but I'll ask my questions anyway.

To hook this unit up, at first I connected a scart connector to tv 1 with component out to my plasma tv. I then connected from my digital cable box a scart to scart cable on tv2. When connected like this I cant see the start menu for the recorder. I see the cable tv picture ok however when i hit the tv/dvd button the start menu shows for a second then i get no signal.

If I connect component out of the sharp and component in to the plasma, then scart to scart from cable box to sharp, i then see the start menu correctly overlayed over the cable picture. Any ideas as to why it doesn't work the first way?

thanks for any replies

cheers

Philby

 

Coming to the well again! Can't quit get the hang of making chapter points - have a program that I'll be dubbing to DVD from a tape source that my customer wants about 40 chapter points (each "chapter only about 3-4 minutes long). Any advice appreciated!! DR