Replacing Our Sony DVD Recorder

[nortada]

After many years of valiant service our Sony DVD player/recorder is on it's last legs. It has become increasingly temperamental and I think the hard disc drive is dying.

So looking for a replacement, it would appear that DVD player/recorders now require continuous internet access for both setting up and program listings. Problem is in the caravan and when afloat we rely on a mobile hotspot and our iPhones (both with limited data) so do not have continuous internet access.

Anybody aware of a DVD player/recorder that meets just our simple requirement to record Freeview programs to view at a later date?

Can't believe we are the only folk to be hit by the onward march of internet access required for every day living.

 

[PaulRainbow]

After many years of valiant service our Sony DVD player/recorder is on it's last legs. It has become increasingly temperamental and I think the hard disc drive is dying.

So looking for a replacement, it would appear that DVD player/recorders now require continuous internet access for both setting up and program listings. Problem is in the caravan and when afloat we rely on a mobile hotspot and our iPhones (both with limited data) so do not have continuous internet access.

Anybody aware of a DVD player/recorder that meets just our simple requirement to record Freeview programs to view at a later date?

Can't believe we are the only folk to be hit by the onward march of internet access required for every day living.

If it's the hard drive, you should be able to replace it, i once did that with a Panasonic one.

I don't use them now, i use a laptop with a TV dongle. You can download the program listings when you can and it records as normal. High end versions of Windows 7 came with the Windows Media Centre included, this works well. Connect the laptop to the TV and you can record/playback TV, play downloaded TV/movies/music, watch catchup TV via the internet (when available), listen to any internet music (radio player, you tube, etc.), watch DVDs via the DVD player, look at the internet on a big screen, install OpenCPN and some £30 charts and have a large screen chart plotter and anything else you can do on a laptop.