Help please for DVD player no longer working as analogue

ChBr

Hi there,

My parents went to a local company a few years ago to update their DVD/VHS system and bought a combined DVD/VHS/recorder. They checked before purchasing it would still be usable after the Digital switchover and were assured it would be fine.

After some problems they called out the company and were told that because it is analogue it will not longer be able to record and they effectively need a new system. My parents explained the above and were told that wouldn't have happened!

My understanding is they bought it over 6 years ago so I don't think the Consumer Act applies, but I don't understand how a company can knowingly sell something that won't function after a certain date - surely this can't be right?

The worst thing is my Dad's about to start radiotherapy and this stress is the last thing my parents need on top of that.

Any advice anyone has would be much appreciated. This is my first post so apologies if I haven't included all the right info.

Thanks
Charlie

vfish

In a way, it still works - it records - there's just no analogue feed for it to record. Buy a cheap freeview box, plug it in the scart, change to AV feed instead of the internal tuner and carry on recording, this time from the box? That's what I do with mine.

I don't think you have any come back - 6 years is pretty reasonable for a vhs/dvd used regularly, in my experience. I don't think there is any VHS recorder with a digital tuner - they all need plugged into a freeview box but people still like to buy them and they're still for sale - you just use them slightly differently now.

I hope that's helpful.

societys_child

Yup, agree with vfish, just buy a cheapo freeview box ( or wire an existing box thro' the recorder) no stress - problem solved.

Heinz

societys_child wrote: »

Yup, agree with vfish, just buy a cheapo freeview box ( or wire an existing box thro' the recorder) no stress - problem solved.

But it will require a degree of faffing about to set the STB to switch to the required channel at the required time and then to set the analogue recorder to record the input from the STB.

david39

You can't buy a technical piece of equipment and expect that it will stay up to date for ever.

What about everyone who bought television sets 10 years ago, before the days of digital? Can they go back to the retailer and expect some compensation because programmes are no longer transmitted in analogue?

I would have thought thay after 6 years of use, you would expect to have to upgrade to something more modern.

Notmyrealname

ChBr wrote: »

My understanding is they bought it over 6 years ago so I don't think the Consumer Act applies, but I don't understand how a company can knowingly sell something that won't function after a certain date - surely this can't be right?

Seriously? Freesat had at least one change in the CODECs which meant that some equipment which could not be upgraded ceased to work.

And honestly I can't see why you expect a company to build in something to cater for a situation that isn't going to happen until long after it is end of life nor someone to be fully conversant in a change that isn't going to happen for several years if at all. 6 years ago, a date for analogue switch off hadn't even been discussed.

There are plenty of things that won't function after a certain date and it is ludicrous to expect them to. Things move on, technology changes.

ChBr

"6 years ago, a date for analogue switch off hadn't even been discussed."

Actually it had been discussed at that point and it was one of specifications that was asked for before buying - whether it would be usuable after the changeover and we were assured it would. If it hadn't been announced at that point of course I wouldn't be annoyed - I don't expect a company to be telepathic!

I am not naive and I do appreciate that technology moves on and you can't expect the same piece of equipment to work forever (although I've had my dvd player for over 10 years and it's still working fine). However I do think we are coerced into believing that technology "shouldn't" work after a certain time because newer things have eclipsed it - convenient for the industry perhaps or me just being cynical, I'll leave you to ponder.

Thank you all for your comments anyway - I appreciate you taking the time.

cairndog

Heinz wrote: »

But it will require a degree of faffing about to set the STB to switch to the required channel at the required time and then to set the analogue recorder to record the STB's input.

I've got the same problem and can only play and not record now but don't want to "faff about". Can you suggest an alternative recorder to buy which will record AND playback, preferably from Freeview channels as well (inbuilt in my Samsung TV) that is easy to use and wont cost a bomb? My technical ability is nil and I can't bear the thought of going down to Comet or somewhere similar without some idea about what I want. In my experience they just want to sell you something before you get to the exit and don't know a lot anyway . Help please!