Any opinions on the Sharp DV-HR300?

Was contacted by Sharp with an answer about the Timer-input problem with the 300. They told me the only thing I could do would be to send it in to have the software updated. They know about this problem. They can't tell me what units do not have the problem. They also told me they are no longer making the DV-HR300. When I asked them what they are replacing with, they told me they are not replacing it. Interesting!!

 

FYI: (the price is steep if this is accurate) Anyone else see this?

DVD recorder with 120GB HD
August 2004

Sharp has upped the ante in the hot DVD recorder market, releasing a new model with a 120GB recorder.

The DVHR350X (RRP$1769) featuring DVD recording, playback and storage while also providing a hard disk recording facility, DVD dubbing and MP3 decoder for playing CDs recorded in MP3 mode.

The 59mm-high unit has a sleek titanium hue which matches Sharp’s new G-Series LCDs and the new Z-Series Viewcams.

High speed dubbing, optional wide 16:9 viewing aspect, simultaneous recording and playback features as well as editing functions, are a few of the amazing features on the DVHR350X. Utilise the special disc navigator function for instant thumbnail viewing of your favourite recorded programs on hard disc. Sharp has also ensured quality through its LSI jitter-free recording and four different recording modes; fine, LP, SP and EP.

The DVHR350X’s audio capabilities include Dolby Digital output, MPEG audio, Spatializer sound, DTS and linear PCM audio.

The DVHR350X also has the ILink function, which not only allows you to connect your DV Camcorder, but the picture quality is second-to-none and the hard disc makes editing your precious memories much easier.

 

Woe.. to much money, sure glad I was able to get the 300.
Even with it's time shifting flaw. Thanks Don for the info.

 

Anyone who wants to know about the new DVHR350 can go here and get info.

http://www.sharp.net.au/about_sca/pdfs/DVDRecorderextendedhd.pdf

 

check this out also

http://www.sharp.net.au/catalogue/catalogue.asp

 

I purchased a DV-HR300U back in May 2004. I immediately ran into four main problems with the unit: (1) the inability to timer record cable channels 55 thru 61, (2) the VCR+ program screen was not able to translate a +code into a channel number, (3) two timer recordings that immediately followed each other in time played back as one continuous recording, and (4) the DV-HR300 remote when used to control my TV caused the DV-HR300U disk to spin up and down even when the DV-HR300U was off! I sent the unit into Sharp for repair, but after sitting on the unit for a month it became clear that Sharp could not fix it. I eventually got my money back. This product was premature, the software was buggy. Too bad, because the basic design etc. was quite good. If the model has indeed been discontinued after so short a time on the market, it must be because Sharp could not fix the software problems in a timely manner.

 

Got my Sharp DV-HR300H from Comet UK online 4 days ago. At £299 this machine was a real bargain! Have tried several makes of blank DVD-R and RW discs and not a problem. I am currently using Datawrite Red DVD-R that cost less than 20p each and not a coaster. Setup to my ntl cable box, Sony TV and Videologic digitheatre 5.1/DTS sound system was a doddle!
Those prices mentioned in the forum (don2blues) for the new Sharp 350 (with 120Gbyte Hard Drive )were in Australian Dollars not U.S.! Everything else apart from the colour of the casing and the larger Hard Drive seems to be the same as the Sharp 300.

 

Then how much is the 350 in American dollars Silver64? Thanks for the info.

 

Hi Mannycam
At todays rate of exchange that's US$1100 approx. Still expensive but as you know online and specialist electronic store prices tend to be much cheaper. Quite frankly for another 40 Gigs storage I can't see a big advantage. Can you? Incidentally today I was trying to record a TV program onto an old DVD-R disk which I had already initialized. All appeared to be OK. However the disc turned out to be faulty! ( scratched). Expecting to have lost the program, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the 300H automatically switched to record on to the HDD! What a clever machine!
I agree with all other posts to this forum that unlike a VCR the 300H is more like a computer ie it does take it's own time to "boot" and to change modes etc. Just be patient, It's a cracker!

 

Yes Silver64, I love my 300, but it really depends on what youre doing with it...I dont record alot of television, an occasional show here and there. Its usually after hours so I simply tune the station into the channel I want to record from and the 300 does the rest. I bought mine to archive vhs, digital, and hi8 tapes period. So things like firewires and consistent flawless high quality disc burning was a must. I have all of my decks and cameras connected and ready to go, I simply switch inputs on my 300 and as you aussies say it "its all a walkabout after that.." The more succesful discs you burn the more you are going to appreciate this lil honey. But I do agree let the machine do its thing, you can't rush a computer and you can't rush the 300. More malfunctions are caused by impatience than anything else.

Nice to have your voice in the forum mate

 

Hi again Mannycam
Just to keep the record straight. I'm in Scotland -not Australia. I am also interested in trying to transfer my old VHS Tapes to DVD and DV from my Sony TRV 33 to DVD using the Sharp 300's firewire connection. Previously I have used my PC for transfer of DV tapes from video camera (using Firewire) to PC then using Pinnacle 8 program for editing and final burning to DVD. I haven't had a problem using the PC for DV movie work so the Sharp is really a back-up. I think the Sharp's editing facility may be a bit too crude for proper home video editing as it doesn't have any scene transitions or control over sound but for basic editing may be OK and certainly for VHS conversion to DVD should be excellent. I found this forum excellent in making up my mind to buy the 300H (UK version of the 300U). Mine won't play US region 1 DVD's but then as I always back-up using DVDShrink on my PC this makes my copy DVD's ALL region and thus WILL playback on the Sharp! So far the 300H has exceeded all my requirements and I have consigned my old Sony VCR and Pioneer DVD Player to storage.

 

Love my DV-HR300U! I am using it to record Satellite Classes from Bob Jones University. I am recording over 80 hours a week in EP with High Speed Dubbing Set (feeds come on blocks, 5 classes each). Then chaptering them and putting most of it of it to DVD. Also recording some Cable broadcasts and it makes the transition of input modes seemlessly.

However, it has been starting to produce some random disk errors and occasionally does not start a timer recording. Also, I have been having random trouble producing a DVD. I keep the hard drive under 80% full so I figure that's not the problem. Could the disk be getting fragmented from all the recording and deleting? Do I need to start reformatting on a regular basis? Will I lose my programming if I reformat?

Thanks!
wiersbr

 

Silver where do you buy your Datawrite Red Dvd R to get them so cheap?

 

Hi Nicky
SVP Blankdiscshop http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/ have these for £4.49 for 25 ( £17.96 per 100) Postage is extra of course.
I have also used Budget brand DVD-R which I bought from them. Haven't had any bother with these either!

 

Sorry Nicky seems like SVP have sold out the Budget brand DVD-R's. However Big Pockets http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/ have 50 Budget white tops @ £8.79 per 50. The discs I used were Yellow tops so I can't comment on the performance of Budget white tops. Cheers

 

I back up my dvd's ( region 1,2,3,4,etc using DVDshrink 3.2 and Nero on my PC. These play without any problems on my Sharp 300H. However has anyone had any luck dubbing a back-up copy they've done( as above) to the HDD of the Sharp? When I tried this I get a message
" Can't Dub this disc"

 

Hi Silver to your question concerning dubbing discs. The only way you can dub from a disc in the dvd tray is if the dvd in question hasn't been finalized. Even discs made on the 300 once finalized you cannot dub it back to the HHD. The only way is to connect a second dvd player using of course analog cables, svhs or rca. Naturally you would lose quality in making the copy this way.

 

"However, it has been starting to produce some random disk errors and occasionally does not start a timer recording. Also, I have been having random trouble producing a DVD. I keep the hard drive under 80% full so I figure that's not the problem. Could the disk be getting fragmented from all the recording and deleting? Do I need to start reformatting on a regular basis? Will I lose my programming if I reformat?"

wiersbr, I havent heard of any other users having so many errors in their recordings, could it be the brand of discs youre buying? Try using different brands. Ive found Verbatim pretty consistent. Or is your unit in a very hot location? Proper ventilation is essential. Just like a PC...
As far as reformatting, you shouldnt need to. I too have recorded a great many hours and havent needed to reformat at all.
And yes you will lose all of the HHD contents once formatting is iniciated. One more thing dont rush this machine, its more like a pc and less like a vcr. The timer issue, in most cases I havent found any problems with mine...every blue moon if the timer is set to bridge from one day to the other that is 11PM to 12AM it might fail to iniciate. Ive noticed this twice, but again not always...Hope this helps. MannyCAM

 

Thanks Mannycam, It's not a big problem as I have my PC to copy back-up's but I guess a lot of guys (me included) may have thought the 300 might have dubbed "all region" or DVD's that are not encrypted.

 

I wish it did Silver64 but alas it doesnt.