Ellion DVD-900A

RUBBISH! CHUCK IT IN THE BIN, RECYCLE IT FOR A BAKED BEAN TIN, MUCH MORE USEFUL!!

DON'T THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY, BUY A PANASONIC DVD WITH HARD DRIVE OR A PVR.

The Ellion DVD-900A will not keep it's time my recordings never work for long even the date can change if it feels like it IT IS A MYSTERY:-(

Hunted down the outfit that imported these: avsaleseurope.com

AV Sales Europe Ltd

Unit 19

Ashford Business Complex

Feltham Road

Ashford

Middlesex

TW15 - 1YQ

Tel: +44 (0) 870 888 0168

Fax: +44 (0) 1784 229 414

e-mail: info@avsaleseurope.com

Call this lot and complain like a madman as they have a Korean Rep onsite!

Although this machine has numerous features and is competitively priced, I would not recommend it as it apears to have defective firmware. The machine has problems detecting, storing and organising digital channels as well as hanging on a regular basis. The Ellion web site does not list the DTR-850D let alone provide any firmware updates. Request for support from the Ellion support e-mail address resulted in a lengthy wait with no useful information provided.

The first Ellion DVD-900A DVD recorder I received hung when you loaded a +RW disc, and the second machine hangs when I try to finalise an +R disc. This is just a few of the problems, but I think you will agree it makes it a totally useless purchase.

I notice from the reviews where they have got the recorders to work, that they are old reviews.

I tried adding firmware to the first machine, but this made no difference, the second machine looks the same on the outside, but the menus are different, and the instructions on how to check the firmware do not work. There is no support from Ellion whatsoever.

I tried the Ellion DVD-900A and found it worse than alpha code. I will now try to download the new firmware (other reviewers indicate this) but without it the recorder is useless.

Here are the faults seen after first use:

Recorded DVDs do not play in my standard recorder;

DVD is spoilt if recording is not stopped before space runs out (shows "nodisk");

Manual does not match machine (finalize instead of make compatible, edit title does not work);

Stopped/froze twice with software error;

When DVD from PC inserted the recorder does not recognise it and starts formatting and then hangs;

Recorder hangs for many reasons (finally showing "open" on display) and can only be restarted by unplugging (On/off does not work in that case);

Editing title does not work and spoils DVD;

After finalizing the disk can be again finalized

RF out does not work;

After recording the only way to see if it worked is to eject DVD and reload - sometimes the result is erratic and step needs repeating;

Even when finalized the DVD can be spoilt, e.g. by pressing the edit button;

After finalizing the DVD the unused part is still visible - if one tries to get rid of it ;(finalizing it) the DVD gets spoiled ("No Disk" appears as message while the disk contents is being displayed);

When DVD looks good, can be played and is finalized; it will no longer be recognised when re-inserted (Message "no Disc");

If repeatedly tried to get the disk recognised after all it sometimes happens that the DVD is recognsed but cannot be played or that the recorder starts formatting the (finalized) disk and then reports "No Disc" after 3 minutes of formatting.

Pressing Stop twice while running gets into undocumented file manager mode without exit possibility

The worst kit I've ever used.

The Ellion DVD Recorder can be bought at a bargain price, but is it any good? I have used it now for 3 months and after a firmware upgrade can definitely say "yes". It records on +R and +RW discs and the quality is much better than VHS tape. The discs can now be bought online for as low as 38p and with the Ellion you can get 2 hours of high quality recording. Longer if you are not too fussy about quality. It also plays DVDs; CDs and I can show my digital photographs which I have burned to a disc on my computer.

The handbook is easy to follow and set up is quick and simple.

It's a good looking machine but can be a bit slow as there is no "one touch" button to record. The other disadvantage is that it uses the US date system (month before day) and you need to get use to this when setting the machine to record when you are away.

The only similar priced machine available is by Philips and if you believe the reviews on the Internet that has a terrible reputation for reliability. What on earth has happened to quality control at Philips?

You can now buy the Ellion recorder for as low as £145 +vat. (see amazon and especially goodiesenterprise.com).

The advantage of Goodies is that they are the service contractor in the UK. So if you order from them make sure you ask them to upgrade the firmware. This eliminates all the minor technical niggles from this new Korean machine.

You need to make the recorder multi- region yourself. It's easy. After the machine is set up and working - test with a standard Region 2 DVD,then do the following.

Switch on the machine. Remove any disc from the tray. Close the tray. Point the remote at the machine. Input the code 770 on the remote then press Select. The TV screen will tell you it is now multi region.

Having agonised about buying a DVD recorder ,when I saw this Ellion DVD-900A machine at the price it seemed too good to miss. I have been delighted with it and have not found the problems that the previous reviewer did. It worked straight out of the box and plays back discs previously recorded on computer in both +R and -R.

Updating firmare is very easy from the Ellion website via downloaded software burned onto a CD, full instructions are given. The unit is easily set to region free by typing in 7 7 0 from the handset.(7 7 2 is region 2).The only niggle I have found is that I cannot play back recorded discs using PowerDVD on my computer, they just cause the computer to hang. They play back OK on my other DVD players though. So long as you dont have a stack of discs burned on Sony or Phillips machines then I would recommend this.

Ellion DVD-900A - I already have a number of DVD disks which I have recorded on a Sony and a Philips DVD recorder. Some of the Sony formatted disks can be played on the Ellion and some cannot, (none of the Phillips format ones play) even though the disks are OK and also playback on a Bush 7" LCD DVD player and on a Windows XP equipped PC. I also find that Ellion will not playback DVD-R or DVD-RW disks which is also disappointing as it quite clearly states on the packaging that it does so. Since the Ellion does not record DVD-R or -RW disks I would expect it to playback those recorded on other machines e.g. Sony or those recorded using a PC & it does neither.

When I received the Ellion recorder it would not playback a Sony or Philips recorded disk. In fact, you need to unplug the recorder & after many minutes of fiddling you can eject the disk. So once you have downloaded the firmware update, burnt it onto a CDROM and installed it onto the Ellion as per their instructions on their website...anyone still reading? OK the Ellion does work!!! BUT its DVD+RW disks cannot be re-formatted on a Sony machine - you'll need a

PC to wipe them first!

Picture is OK & sound, so as long as you only ever want to play them on an Ellion machine I would recommend it - BUT remember VHS tapes are a standard that has lasted for 20 years and your recordings from 1984 are still watchable - so will you want to see anything that you archive now on DVD? If so, you'd be better with Philips, Sony or another +RW or -RW well known brand (and I'll be with the +RW's in case you are wondering.

Sorry Ellion, a good try, but compatability IS important.