LG DR787T DVD recorder with digital video output, upconversion, and built-in digital TV tuner
By: LG Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 7
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 On: 2008-06-22
Okay, I got this recorder mostly for the tuner to use on my projector, and to a lesser degree for playing back DVDs. Well the first one I got stopped playing DVDs after about an hour. But understanding these kinds of things happen, I happily exchanged it. Then I found myself having buyers remorse over the second one. For starters, the tuner upscales digital broadcasts. Now this is fine for those low resolution 480 channels, but if you have a 1080 channel, the tuner still outputs in 480 and upscales to 1080 and the results are not nearly as good as if the broadcast was pushed through in native resolution. Also, Im still having issues with the DVD player. After about a couple hours of watching DVDs, the picture will freeze or get choppy and form large digital anomolies. Now to be fair, I think it might be because it was getting warm. When I took it out of the cabinet (nothing on top or under it) and put it on the top of the cabinet, it seemed to work just fine. But I dont want it on top... So, I have picked up the standalone Samsung tuner (full native resolution transmission) and a Sony Blu Ray player. WOW!, now there is true HD!! And I get to put them in the cabinet with the player on top of the tuner and no problems whatsoever. And the tuner is full featured and quick between channels. All in all, I just had reservations that the LG was a durable unit and very disappointed in the tuner.
 On: 2008-05-03
Ive been using the recorder for about eight months now. It works pretty well and Id buy it again and recommend it to friends. The tuner works great in both digital and analog mode. I have one other digital tuner and this one always pulls in signals the other cant find. If you watch a lot of TV you may want to go with a Windows Vista Media Center PC w/ a digital tuner.
Likes:
* Allows you to set favorite channels. Now with each digital channel comes two or three digital subchannels. Setting up favorites allows me to skip these channels easily.
* Small, looks nice
* Easy to use
* Can be set to automatically "shrink" HDTV programs to 4:3 aspect ratios so they can be watched on regular/non-HD TVs.
Dislikes:
* Biggest problem is when the disc the machine is recording on becomes full (or nearly full) the unit works at a snails pace. For instance, if theres no room on the disc it may take 60+ seconds to change a channel (even if youre not recording or doing anything related to the disc - its just sitting in the drive). Once you clean off some programs (or hit the eject button and wait 60 seconds for the drawer to open and take out the disc) the unit goes back to normal speed. Keep a few discs that the unit has initialized around and swap them out if you dont watch your recorded programs regularly. This is the only fix LG Tech Support had.
* The unit does "see" the program guide information that is now broadcasted on digital channels but its displayed almost nowhere. To see the name of the show on right now you have to push the display button on the remote. It would be nice if it just put it up on the screen as you flip through channels. Even nicer would be if it could label your recordings using this name instead of "Title 1", "Title 2", etc. Even better would be to let you see the program guide when choosing which programs to record.
* The remote doesnt work with my TV (a Toshiba). It doesnt look like it works with very many at all.
* You cant eject the disc without using the buttons on the remote.
* If you leave the unit on by accident it doesnt record. No warnings popping up like Tivo, you just miss your show.
 On: 2008-02-15
The LG Recorder has the most simple easy to use menu interface and I enjoy being able to hook it to my regular tube tv made in 2001 and enjoy hd broadcasts through my svideo connection and hd antenna. What a difference over old analog broadcasts picture, looks a hundred times better, and you get to keep your recordings in the best digital content available.
On: 2008-02-14
I originally bought this DVD Recorder/Tuner to replace our cable DVR. We decided to cut costs and just go with over the air channels. My TV doesnt have a digital tuner, so we figured this would be a great choice to go with. Well I have tried this tuner with 2 different, well rated HDTV antennas. I cannot get a single channel to come in very well. I live in an area where there are plenty of available channels. I hooked up a friends TV down the road with just bunny ears and she gets plenty of channels. So I figure it must be the tuner. My other complaint is that the DVD recorder must be turned off in order for it to start recording. This problem was fixed with VCRs years ago, so I dont understand why LG has this problem. Also, you can only watch what you are recording through the recorder unless you have a separate tuner. My last problem is the remote is basically useless with anything other than the recorder. It only gives you 5 brands of TVs and 10 possible codes, so good luck getting your TV to work with the remote. It is very inconvenient to have to use 1 remote to turn on the TV and control volume and then another remote to work the DVD Recorder. Other than that the recorder records just fine and I have no other problems with this model.
 On: 2007-11-27
I bought the LG DR787T about six months ago. Best Buy had it sale priced at about $170. They subsequently discontinued it and now it is available again. At the the time I purchased there were a number of open box units on the shelf. I bought a fresh one.
This machine is very finicky about the disks you use. The manual recommended Sony DVD+RW disks. They worked for a while, but then no fresh Sony + RW disc would load. Some much for the manuals recommendations. When this unit freezes you do have to unplug it to get it going again.
Here is what works:
A. Fuji brand 16x DVD-R .These are great. Never had a coaster on this unit or in my computer.
B. Office Depot brand 4x DVD-RW . Just bought a ten pack from my local Depot and they are working fine.
Pros: Large feature set for a unit priced under $200. Machine works as advertised, when you use "the right" discs. I transferred a number of VHS tapes without problem.
Of course these were over the air recordings. It wont let you copy studio releases.
Cons: Forget about using +R or +RW disks. I also tried one Maxell Ram disk. I got zilch.
I really hate this trial and error approach. No wonder there were lots of returns.
BTW: The AMC -American Movie Channel is running copy protected films on basic cable that are flagged as not recordable by this unit. :(
Samsung makes a similar unit (DVD-AR650) that is rated for -R and -RW disks only. Makes one wonder if same doesnt apply here in spite of being labeled capable of all disc formats.
Sony just came out with a machine (RDR-GXD455) with the same feature set , but they have it listed for $250.
Ideally, I would like to get a recorder with a built in hard drive ( new $300 Philips DVDR3575H) , but they arent making them at the price point I am willing to pay, plus all this second generation gear is just not ready for prime time anyway.
Bottom line: Good but finicky. Kinda like some (insert sexist remark here) Ive dated.
On: 2007-08-26
First experience with a DVD recorder. Im happy with the performance of the ATSC tuner for over-the-air broadcasts (I know, Im a caveman). DVD recording and playback is acceptable. There actually are more front panel controls than first glance reveals. Basic play, stop, eject are touch-sensitive controls to the right of the led display that do not light up until you touch the control area. Its kind of neat once youre used to it.
Problems Ive experienced are ABYSMAL cd playback. A lot of people put a good deal of money into sound for their entertainment systems. If thats you, DO NOT count on using this as your primary audio CD player. Lots of skips. Does not appear to be a problem in DVD playback. Also, jpeg rendering from the USB port is not as good as some of the other players (Sony, from what Ive read).
On: 2007-05-20
I bought this unit when my old DVD/CD player died. Im still on an old technology tube TV but anticipate replacing that. So I wanted to be sure that my new DVD / CD unit would meet my needs when I move on to the next generation.
The combination DVD recorder / CD player (plus MP3, WMA) and DTV tuner made this an easy choice. The DVD recorder works with pretty much any kind of DVD media you can find. I immediately started transferring those old family VHS movies to DVD+RW. The process is as simple as it could possibly be.
HDMI output with upconvert to HD 1080i bridges me to my next TV. Meanwhile, by choosing 4x3 letterbox aspect ratio, I can view broadcast HD material on my old tech screen (though obviously in reduced resolution).
After adding a tabletop antenna and auto-scanning for channels, the DTV is working great. Im currently picking up about 25 digital stations in this urban area, including some that are not available here on cable.
So far the only downside Ive found is that this unit has almost no front panel controls. I had better not lose that remote! Thats the only reason Ive given a rating of 4 instead of 5. This unit really does give everything I need in one box, at a great price.
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