Sony DHG-HDD250 (250 GB) 200-Hours Video Recorder

If you can't get a TVGOS signal, there is no option for manual clock setting. Very high quality recordings, but with no clock from TVGOS, you can't set a manual recording. Big time risk, but if you get the signal, it's a great unit. No Sony support either. Gamble if you wish.

Good box, deletes schedules sometimes, could be a software issue. There was an update released by Sony for the unit. The TV Guide On Screen does function even with the digital only environment. I am on Antenna only. I have used a Logitech remote and a $25 Sony Learning Universal remote to run the box. Seems to be a good alternative to those wanting a DVR without extra monthly fees (especially if using an antenna.) My TV Guide is a full week plus a day or two in length. There is a forum for this DVR with alot of helpful information: http://www.spiffspace.com/forum/index.php

MY NEW/USED Sony DHG-HDD250 WORKS GREAT. THE PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY OF RECORDED TV PROGRAMS ARE PERFECT. NO MONTHLY FEE. I HAVE A BIG ROOF TOP ANTENNA. I GET ABOUT 10 DIGITAL CHANELS AND ABOUT 1/2 THE PROGRAMS ARE IN HIGH DEFF. I HAVE A SONY HIGH DEF TV. THE LIVE AND/OR RECORDED HIGH DEF. PROGRAMS HAVE PERFECT PICTURE QUALITY.
THE 100 PAGE BOOK TAKES ABOUT 50 HOURS OF READING AND PRACTICING WITH THE REMOTE CONTORL TO GET GOOD AT IT. THAT IS ABOUT AVERAGE FOR ALL THIS NEWER DIGITAL STUFF [ TVS, VCRS, DVDS, DVRS ETC.]
ONE BAD THING - WITH THE POWER OFF IT DRAWS 25. WATTS. THAT'S A LOT. MY NEW SONY 32" LCD - HD TV ONLY DRAWS 2.0 WATTS. I DON'T KNOW IF 25 WATTS IS NORMAL OR MINE IS DEFECTIVE? ? THERE IS NO PUBLISHED INFOMATION ON POWER CONSUMPTION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE HARD DRIVE IS STILL SPINNING WHEN IT IS SHUT OFF. I HAVE 2 OF THEM AND THEY BOTH DO THE SAME THING. I BOUGHT THEM BOTH USED ON E-BAY.
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH UPGRADING THE FIRMWARE SO THAT IT WILL GET THE ON SCREEN TV GUIDE AFTER JUNE 12-TH WHEN THERE IS NO MORE ANALOG SIGNALS TO MY ANTENNA. I DOWN LOADED THE UP-GRADE FROM SONY - [ON MY COMPUTER ] TO MY FLASH DRIVE AND PLUGED IT INTO THE BACK OF MY FIRST SONY DVR. THE UP-GRADE WORKED. ON MY 2.ND UNIT IT WOULD NOT WORK. I CALLED SONY. THEY MAILED ME A FLASH DRIVE WITH THE PROGRAM ON IT FOR FREE. THAT WORK PERFECTLY AND NOW BOTH OF MY UNITS ARE UPGRADED TO RELEASE NO 1.2.21. THIS WILL ALLOW ME TO GET THE ON SCREEN TV GUIDE ON A DIGITAL CHANEL WHEN THE ANALOG BRODCAST STOP ON JUNE 12.TH 2009. THE TV GUIDE IS GOOD BECAUSE YOU CAN JUST HIGHLIGHT A PROGRAM AND PUSH AND HOLD THE RECORD BUTTON FOR ONE SECOND AND YOU ARE SET TO RECORD THAT PROGRAM.
UNLIKE A VCR YOU DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF RECORDING A TV PROGRAM IN HIGH QUALITY [2. HRS.] OR MEDIUM QUALITY [ 4 HOURS ] OR LOW QUALITH [ 8. HRS]. THIS DVR WILL ONLY RECORD A DIGITAL PROGRAM IN THE FORMAT THAT IT IS BROADCAST IN. SO ALL HD PROGRAMS GET RECORDED IN HD. THAT IS GOOD FOR ME BUT REMEMBER YOU ONLY HAVE DISK SPACE FOR 30 HOURS OF HD RECORDING. IN STANDARD DEFF YOU CAN RECORD 200. HOURS. SO I MIGHT RUN OUT OF DISC SPACE SOME TIME DOWN THE ROAD. IT TAKES 6 TIMES MORE DISC SPACE TO RECORD IN HIGH DEFF COMPARED TO STANDARD DEFF. THAT IS WHY I COULD NOT FIND A HIGH DEFF DVD ON THE MARKET.