LG RHT497H Digital TV Recorder with 160GB Hard Disc Drive & DVD Recorder
Posted by Notcot on Sep 2, 2010 in Home Cinema & Video |
Product Description
LG digital TV recorder with 160Gb hard disc drive and DVD recorder. Receive over 40 digital channels and record 935 hours worth at the touch of a button; LG makes it simple and easy, with no tapes or disc required.
- 160GB HDD
- Freeview & Analogue Tuner
- USB Direct Recording
- LG Simplink Connectivity
- 49mm x 430mm x 275mm
LG RHT497H Digital TV Recorder with 160GB Hard Disc Drive & DVD Recorder
I bought one of these and it looks good, the pics are great and its easy to set up and use, I mostly use it to record series via the EPG and I really liked it for a few days – BUT!!! it worked perfectly for a few days, then it failed to record an episode of a series, then it missed a couple more episodes, then it started recording channels that had not been selected, then it randomly changed from XP to lowest resolution, after a few weeks there was only a 50% chance it would record as programmed at all, the retailer happily did a swap but this too developed the same problem after a couple of weeks and I’ve now just received my third brand new LG RHT497H – if this one fails I’ll have to get a different model, any advice?
Update – the third one has now also failed – basically all three worked perfectly for 1-2 weeks then start losing programmes and go downhill fast!! Sadly I’ll have to return it and get another make and model – three out of three with the same problems has to be more than coincidence.
Rating: 2 / 5
Bought this product about a month ago. On the plus side the recordings are fine and the overall quality is sound for the price. I bought it to ‘tie in ‘ with an LG tv which is superb and which gives a wonderful picture.
Only problem is that ‘subtitles are seen every time the HD is switched on and, after a while, it drives you crackers.
Also, the instruction booklet is not either easy to understand or to apply to the machine.
I do believe that the machine is value for money, but when I compare it with previous DVD recorders I have had it is nowhere near the same quality in terms of the versatility of other machines.
Rating: 3 / 5
I bought this to match the LG TV that I have, Unit set up was easy. EPG selection OK to access as is list of titles that have been recorded. Very unhappy that if I am watching a prerecorded title and a new title starts to record the prerecorded title stops playing and the new title is displayed and played with SUBTITLES ( I have not been able to stop the unit from recording subtitles) to start watching the prerecorded title means starting from beginning again, this becomes very frustating, also not sure as to the benefits of SIMPLINK operation. I do not think I could recommend this unit
Rating: 2 / 5
Purchased two weeks ago and have put it through it’s paces somewhat.
The unit looks the business with a nice clean front panel. Basic controls are hidden behind a drop down panel.
Just one oddity… the open/close drawer button is at the other end to the drawer itself, while the power button is above it.
Recording to HDD seems to work very well and, unlike my previous Panasonic disc-based recorder, appears to adapt to slight schedule changes – grabbed all of MOTD last night despite it being delayed by Proms coverage.
Series recording is possible and it’s recorded Mock The Week for me twice, once again adapting to a schedule change.
Odd thing… if you watch through the unit as it’s recording, the subtitles appear on-screen though they don’t appear when you watch the recording back unless you turn them on.
Have tried quite a few xvid/divx data discs & normal DVDs and have had no problems; no stuttering, skipping or decoding artefacts. Picture looks very nice to me through my 32″ LG flatscreen, which the remote also operates basic functions of.
The remote has comprehensive controls but is a little fiddly – small buttons and tiny labelling – but nonetheless will become intuitive after a short time.
Overall I am happy with the purchase.
Excellent value for money.
Rating: 4 / 5
While this machine initially looks attractive, unfortunately it is seriously flawed in a number of respects. The two main irritations are (a) recording from the EPG is extremely unreliable; (b) the remote seems to give a very poor signal, and up to half the time the machine simply doesn’t respond to it.
The first problem makes the recorder more or less useless – when you click on a program to record in the EPG, you’re presented with a kind of drop-down menu in Pidgin English:
Simple recording
It can be recorded as a series
Impossible to separately record the program
No program information
Now, you tell me what that means. Here’s a clue – whatever you guess, you’re wrong. If the program is part of a series, it is impossible to record one episode. However, clicking on “Simple recording” has no effect – nothing is recorded.
If you keep trying and trying, switch the machine off and on again a dozen times, it may eventually decide to record your programme… or it may not. I have given up, and am returning the machine. It’s not just mine – the same problems are reported on forums.
One to avoid, I’m afraid.
Rating: 1 / 5