Customer Reviews

LG RC897T Multi-Format DVD Recorder and VCR Combo with Digital Tuner

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

As a satisfied owner of an LG HDTV, I bought this DVD/VCR combo recorder fully expecting to be likewise happy with the quality of the images produced by another LG product. Unfortunately, I had to box it up for return the same day I got it. The problem with the product is one that I hadn't anticipated, but which further very specifically-targeted reading online revealed as a known problem with LG's DVD recorders. That problem is what various message-boarders and bloggers call "image over-processing". Translate that as "too much anti-aliasing" (image-smoothing) or "too much blur". And it was not just on the recorded images. For the minute you switch from the LG TV's internal tuner to the LG recorder's internal tuner, there's an instant layer of "smoothing" that is pronounced enough to be distracting. ...I am talking, depending on your threshold of sensitivity to such things, a potential headache-inducing level of fuzziness.

If you purchase this product hoping to use it to archive your family videos, no way it can do them justice. If you plan to use it as a down and dirty digital era VCR, grabbing episodes of shows you intend to record over once you watch them a single time, it is really not quite servicable for that. All this keeps pulling me back to one head-shaker of a question: What were the people at LG thinking? At nearly three hundred bucks, the quality of the LG RC897T is a major disappointment.

Not long after purchase, I had to return the unit because the DVD drawer kept popping open on its own. Once I received it back, I kept noticing major problems attempting to record on the DVD side -- the unit would either record for two minutes and turn itself off, or record for over an hour (on a 2 hour show) and then turn itself off. When I phoned LG, I was near the end of the warranty period. They claimed that there was nothing wrong with the recorder. The issue was caused by the fact that the tv stations were now transmitting "copy protection signals" that prevented you from recording. This did not explain why the recording time varied, but if they were correct, this was being done by ALL networks -- from HBO to channel 5 and channel 7. It did not explain the fact that my Panasonic DVD recorder never turned off in the middle of a show. LG's tech sent me on a two-week wild goose chase for DVD-RW's with special markings (CPRM). She claimed that if I ever found these, I would have no further problems. I never found these DVD's and my warranty ran out in the meantime. In addition to all the above, the upscaling takes forever when you insert a VHS tape and you are constantly adjusting the tracking to get a clear picture-especially after fast forwarding. This is an unqualified piece of garbage. Don't waste your money. It's a shame because it is very user friendly and Go-Video (the original manufacturer of this product) used to make excellent products. This $280 product is now being used solely as a VCR.

LG RC897T Multi-Format DVD Recorder and VCR Combo with Digital Tuner
I bought Re-Furbished,The recorder funnctions well with modest to good results, depending on what you choose for length. I usualy use 4hrs LP mode on the DVD, and VCR slp. This is reasonably OK and quite watchable.
The machine does what I need,and discs are playable in my other machines and my computer.Digital tuner, is what I bought this for and works great.

CONS: Small unfriendly remote, but you get used to it. Timer recording not user friendly,so I dont use it.If you have to pay the full retail price,not good value.

I bought this unit new at Amazon in Dec. 2008. The unit started shutting itself off for no reason. I worked with it and I thought the problem was took care of. No such luck it started again and this time I decided to contact LG's customer service. The man that I spoke to was very nice and helpful. I asked him would I be charged anything when I sent the unit in for repair since it had not been 5 months since the unit was purchased. I was told no. Well guess what folk's I got a call from the LG people after I had returned the unit back to them and they want $69.00 for the labor to look at the unit. To say the least I am not at all happy with this. I filed a complait with the company and told them it would be the last thing I bought from their company. If a $250.00 unit can not last any longer than this one why waste your money. I am one VERY UNHAPPY customer.

This is a review of the LG RC897T, it was mistakenly first posted as a review of the LG RC797T in error, I actually like that model]

Do Not buy this product till they release a fix for it's problem with "CPRM protection". Many on air broadcasts are sending out a "copy once" protection signal that the unit honors. In order to be able to record these programs you need to get special "CPRM DVD-RW" disks and format them in "VR" mode.

The biggest problem with this is that the disks are Very Hard to find and Very Expensive. In addition to this the "copy once" protection signal is being sent out randomly by various stations Without Warning!. You have no idea what programs will contain it or not. I was told they might even have it during commercials! When the signal is encountered the recording just STOPS !

I have just got off the phone with LG. The support person, who was very up to date and nice, knew just what I was talking about! There have been many complaints about this. He said that there was basically nothing that could be done. I suggested that at the very least LG should buy a bunch of these special "CPRM DVD-RW" DISKS and make them available at cost. He said he would pass that on, and I really believe he will, but I am not holding my breath that they will do it.

Just so you know, the earlier model, the LG RC797T does not have this "feature" and is a better machine because of it. I would have brought it but it is no longer available.

This is my first review, but I was so pissed I had to say something, this product should not be sold if it can not be trusted to record a simple off air TV program, Period.

Respectfully submitted

My RC 897 T just died after only 8 months. The tuners LG use are shoddy and last just enough to make the warranty mostly useless.
They use Korean labor to exploit the extreme poverty and it shows.
As for Customer Service. Despite having a warranty and determining that my DVD recorder was a lemon (poorly made swindle) she told me to call a local repair shop whose phone number she supplied. Of course I'd have to pay for the repair.
When I called the repair shop it turns out they only repair TVs.
Google "LG sucks" and browse through the over 1 1/2 million hits you'll get.
Avoid LG like the plague.

bought this LG dvd/vcr combo unit at a pricey $300. within 4 months experienced multifold dvd playing and recording problems. sent in to LG to have it repaired (they paid this time), they sent it back without my orginal box, and in poor cosmetic shape (was in perfect appearance when sent).

6 months or so later, same significant problems w/ added "cookooee" problems not going to waste time listing here as unit's breaking down issues have been summarily established in prolific reviews.

called LG again, this time, they would not repair it, despite talking w/ a supervisor and explaining its 2x time severe break down within months after purchase of a $300 product. no willingness to work w/ consumer's legitimate grievance. they know this product should be recalled for defective dvd part(s)...but, who's going to enforce that?

with a $300 loss of a dusty broken machine sitting on my tv stand, the only thing i can do is never buy an lg product again myself, and save any of you with this "throw more wood on the fire" review.

This product worked for 9 days before the VCR side failed. The Warranty Service can be contacted online. I did so and was promised a contact to resolve the problem. Never happened. A phone call to LG provided a very tedious proccess requiring repackaging and returning to their repair center in Alabama(no local service)after waiting 5 days for a prepaid Fedex label. after another several days, I received the repaired unit. Didn't work. I'm now awaiting reciept of my next Fedex label. This unit has performed properly for less than 10 days in almost two months.

I've had this unit for a while now and just started utilizing it again because I just bought an HDMI switcher that allows me to have it connected full time as opposed to unplugging an HDMI cable from the back of my TV and then plugging the DVD recorder in only when I needed to record something.

But, the upscaling capabilities on this thing are awesome. Didn't know this was possible but I actually see a difference between this LG Upscaler and my Blu-ray player when it comes to regular DVD's.

Definitely need to read up on the manual before attempting certain things. But dubbing your old VHS tapes to DVD is as easy as inserting a blank DVD and pushing "Dubbing".

This was one of the few units that had what I wanted... DVR/VCR, tuner and most importantly a USB connection in front capable of watching DIVX movies from a flash drive. I was in love with this machine until about a year into owning it, the DVD door would open and close (as someone here mentioned) as if the machine was possessed. Then I couldn't shut the machine off. It would freeze up and I would need to pull the plug out numerous times. Lo and behold, this is mentioned under trouble shooting. Well if this is a defect that they know about then why are they releasing it into the market??? GRRRR Now I need to go shopping again for a new DVR