Help with a DVD player/VCR player/recorder combo..

[C.Ann]

I'm looking for something in the $100 to $140 range or less - as I'll only be using it the 7 months or so when I'm up to the lake..

My Dson-in-law bought me a nice one (JVC) for Christmas about 5 years ago, but the VCR portion died the other night.. I tape almost everything I watch on VCR tapes and then watch them when it's convenient for me..

I don't want a DVD player AND recorder - just the DVD player - and the VCR player AND recorder.. Dson-in-law saw one at Target for $180 or so (which was also a DVD recorder) and that's just way more than I want to spend..

The reason I want the VCR portion too is that I have hundreds of video tapes that I watch over and over (favorite shows from long ago) and I still have at least 100 (if not more) blank videos that I can use to record other shows..

Last year I looked online and every time I thought I found one that would work for me, when I read the reviews they were horrible (all models - not just JVC).. The biggest issue seemed to be getting them hooked up - now that you pretty much have to have at least basic cable to watch television.. (All of these people have cable - as do I - but there were still some major issues..)

Any help would be greatly appreciated - especially if you have recently purchased something, it was easy to set up, and you're happy with it..

Thanks!

 

[JB2K]

I don't want a DVD player AND recorder - just the DVD player - and the VCR player AND recorder.. Dson-in-law saw one at Target for $180 or so (which was also a DVD recorder) and that's just way more than I want to spend..

And you shouldn't have to spend that much -- I purchased a Sony DVD/VCR combo from Walmart in 2005 and paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $120, then...

 

[C.Ann]

And you shouldn't have to spend that much -- I purchased a Sony DVD/VCR combo from Walmart in 2005 and paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $120, then...

I guess "finding" one isn't the biggest problem.. It's the reviews - and people complaining about having to purchase this and that (additional items not included) and then having so much difficulty trying to get everything hooked up.. I don't know what changed - or even what all these extras are that they're talking about (not electronically inclined here - LOL)..

All I know is that the hook up for my old one was very, very simple.. Basically just a cable from the DVD/VCR to the tv and then incoming cable connection to the television..

 

[dawson5]

We have a Sony that does that, bought it about 8 yrs ago at ABC Warehouse. I want to say he paid about $120 also. Works great, never had a problem. Only drawback that I've found is that if we lose the remote (we do have three boys, happens quite often), I cannot purchase a generic remote to program it to use. I don't know if they have changed this or not. It's nice to have the all in one unit, but we've been just as lucky with the separate units. I appreciate the space saving but I hate that if one component goes bad, the whole thing has to be replaced.

When reading the reviews, make sure they are valid complaints. Look at several places for reviews also. I've seen reviews vary for things based on the site and the purchasers knowledge of a product.

I'm not sure I'm following a problem hooking up a unit though. Cable in, video cables out and does it need to be on a certain channel or "video" on the menu? I can see having a problem if you have a huge system with surround, tivo and cable box but from what you are saying, it doesn't sound like that.

 

[JB2K]

I guess "finding" one isn't the biggest problem.. It's the reviews - and people complaining about having to purchase this and that (additional items not included) and then having so much difficulty trying to get everything hooked up.

These machines are not anything special as cables, etc. go -- just a simple set of A/V cables (which are normally included with most consumer electronics devices) will get you there!

 

[3boymthr]

If you already have one of these then you may not have to buy cables as you may already have the necessary cables with the one you already own. Our set-up is beyond complicated (HDTV, DVD, Wii, VCR, Cable Box and Surround Sound with cables which run thru walls and the attic). I was pulling my hair out when I upgraded the DVD to Blu-ray thinking I was going to have to shift all those cables around, but I found that the cables I already had plugged in for the DVD fit right into the back of the Blu-ray player.

 

[C.Ann]

When reading the reviews, make sure they are valid complaints. Look at several places for reviews also. I've seen reviews vary for things based on the site and the purchasers knowledge of a product.

I'm not sure I'm following a problem hooking up a unit though. Cable in, video cables out and does it need to be on a certain channel or "video" on the menu? I can see having a problem if you have a huge system with surround, tivo and cable box but from what you are saying, it doesn't sound like that.

Thanks for the suggestion in regards to reading reviews in several places.. Maybe the ones I'm reading on Amazon are just a bunch of "cranky pants" - LOL..

No complicated system here - just my 13-inch color tv and whatever DVD/VCR combo I can get to go with it..