DVD Help needed for useless mum!

babydaisy

Hi would appreciate some techie help/advice if possible. I have just had delivered from Argos the Bush DVRH501 recordable DVD/video combi which looks great & succesfully videoed one of my son's Brum videos onto a Sony +RW DVDs. This was the main reason for buying the combi as I am useless at technical stuff but wanted to record his huge video collection onto DVD so we could then watch it on our portable DVD player in the car etc

The portable in question is a Venturer PVS166W which we also got from Argos a while ago but unfortunately when we tried it out in the kitchen earlier it wouldn't play the disc.

So I was just wondering whether there was any way round this or whether I should take the Bush back to Argos & get my money back?

Cheers for any tips etc BD XXX

babydaisy

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2501&productId=111763

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2501&productId=111024&clickfrom=name

Hope they work

BD xx

LincsLad_3

There are different tyes of DVD media (basically, DVD-R (minus-R) and DVD+R (plus-R).

The links you gave (which did work BTW!) do not specify which type the PS166 will play, but it may be that you need to use the other type of blank DVD to record onto. A VERY quick Google search suggests that you should be using DVD+R media.

Even within the media types, some players will only play certain brands of media. Sometimes the 'bargain basement' DVDs can be troublesome. Again, a Google search turns up this, which is said to work on the Venturer.

babydaisy

Gosh aren't you great?

Thanks ever so much - my only question is where do I buy them & what are they? ie I am not sure which bit of the stuff listed is the name of the discs in question. So if I was going to buy them what would I ask for?

Sorry to sound dense but I thought this digital stuff would be easier but it isn't turning out that way unfortunately!!

Much appreciated BD xxx

babydaisy

Sorry another question - what is all this talk of burning? Do I have to do anything to the discs before I insert them in the DVD recorder?

Cheers BD XX

Woby_Tide

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDname=PS166W&Search=Search&country=&orderby=Name&hits=25

this link also talks about peoples experiences of what they have got to play on the portable DVD so may give some suggestions

LincsLad_3

Thanks for the compliment, but you really should save all that till we have got things working !! ;D

Firstly, burning is just another name for the process of writing to the DVD - you do not need to put the DVDs into the oven before use.

As for where to buy - buying online may be a good bet in this case. Some of the recommended media from the link above may be available from:
http://www.svp.co.uk or http://www.bigpockets.co.uk

babydaisy

Yeah Yeah what makes you think my putting things in the oven equates to burning them then eh? Just cos I'm not so hot at this techie stuff!! :P

Now for the really really dumb question ... hmmm should i be looking to buy:

BestMedia Platinum discs or does this just describe them so should I be looking for DVD+R (RITEK R02) and if so do I want the {DV 3086} Ritek Inkjet Printable (4x) DVD+R in Tubs of 25
ADVDINFO: RITEK R02 that SVP have on offer?

You will regret ever replying to this post you know!!

BD XX ;D

RobP_3

Unfortunatly, disk compatability is usually simply a case or trial and error.  However, saying that, there are some which work more often than others.  Verbatim are usually a safe bet and the rule is branded (ie disks printed with a brand name) are more reliable than non-branded (disks without any printing on at all).  But it must be pointed out that branded are more expensive than non branded.

For example, 25 verbatim disks £10, 25 Bulkpaq disks £5, if the cheaper disks work then great, but if you buy them and they don't work then you are stuck with 24 disks that you have to sell on ebay! Of course, you have to make sure that what ever disks you buy can be read on the portable dvd player.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=3473202076&action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVnb3J5X3BhZ2U=&subcat_uid=105

If you are really stuck and don't want to risk buying anything without knowing that the disks will work, then buy a couple of individual disks and try them.  It may be a more expensive way to do it but at least you won't waste any and you will know what sort to get in the future.

One last peice of advice, all these disks are quoted with a speed rating i.e. 2x, 4x, 8x etc.  Find out what speed your DVD recorder records at (it should say in the manual) and buy a corresponding speed disk.

If that confuses you, don't worry, we're all here to help!

After a quick search, it seems that in order for disks recorded on this recorder to be played on other dvd players, the disk must be 'finalised'. I could go into what this means but it would be far quicker for you to simply follow the instructions in the manual on how to acheive this! While this is not a garenteed solution it does seem to help most people.

LincsLad_3

The DV3086 should be worth trying as it uses the Ritek 02 dye. The sample pack may be another option, though p&p on those pushes the price up markedly.

I would also suggest burning at the LOWEST speed to start, as this tends to give more reliable results. Once you have produced reliable DVDs, start to step up the speed to the maximum that the media can burn at, checking for success along the way.

Backbiter

Do I have to do anything to the discs before I insert them in the DVD recorder?

Cheers BD XX

I'm currently doing exactly the same as you with my video collection, using a Phillips DVD recorder (borrowed from a very kind colleague).
The manual clearly states:
"DVD-RW can only be played back (on a normal DVD player)if the recording was finalised".
You should only do this to the disc if you never want to use it again, as the process makes the recording permanent. DVD-RW discs are re-usable - programmes can be recorded and deleted, whereas cheaper DVD+R discs can only be used once. You can record with them on different occasions until they're full, but the space on them can only be recorded on once. When you've done that you need to 'finalise' them before you can watch them on another DVD player.

Your manual should say how to finalise the discs.

This should explain why you've been having problems - no need to complain to Argos, as the machine is probably not faulty.