Hitachi HDR160

I know absolutely nothing about technology but decided to update my 10yr old digibox to this recording one. The playback speed is often far too fast rendering the programme unwatchable. It takes an age to turn on, choose a recording and is basically incredibly slow at doing absolutely everything.

I speant £100 pounds on this box thinking it would be a wonderful treat to not miss any programmes I like watching, its actually made watching TV incredibly difficult. When it does record, it also sometimes stops recording halfway through a show or doesnt start recording at the beginnning.

I've had it up to and over my head with this Freeview recorder.

Deleting recordings takes over 30 seconds,even if the recording is only 5 mins long - an eon in modern day terms!

Selecting a programme to record, the Hitachi160HDR selects all programmes of the same name to record as well, clogging up drive space.

I'm now unable to cancel recording once its started- this when only less than 12 months old. It also won't let me cancel a recording in the 'timers' section and if too many programmes are selected, it chooses which programmes to record itself.

On start-up, even from standby, the HDR takes forever to load (maybe 3mins or so), far too long in this day and age. I have time to make a cup of tea in the time it takes- sometimes missing the start of programmes.

I had an older Freeview recorder but only with 80GB drive so spent £110 on this one in Argos and cannot afford a new one.

It seems as if Hitachi has put this together with technology from 10 years ago at the total cost of 20p.

I used to trust Hitachi as a named brand but this is no longer true.

Worst purchase for years!

Having nothing to compare with,only my old VHS recorders ,I found this so simple to use I expected great difficulty at my age 76 and not liking change . But it's a real doddle .. I wont hesitate to get another if need be with my other flat screen TV . This Hitatchi is freeview included so will be perfect for when the changeover occurs .I did look on line for reviews and it was well reccomended.. The box itself is slim and neat.and its good to be able to see all the channels programmes at a glance ,select your recorded programmes , and deleting , all so very simple .definately no complaints from me

easy to set up and use,upscales great on all channels-looks good too.handset also easy to use and things one uses most are in the right place.epg and record set up is one of the best ive used in a long while,repeat record or link is far better than all the others ive used.value for money

The Hitachi HDR160 is a very good box, it is used extensively and has never let us down (touching wood!). On two occasions it has restarted itself without any operator input but has never lost any of the information stored.

It is sooooo easy to use its unreal; being really picky if it had a series link type feature it would win 5 * from me.

Overall buy it!!!

After much research and downloading of manuals for other machines, I found that the Hitachi HDR160 appeared to be equiped with all the required features and ease of use to make viewing a pleasure.

So I ordered a unit and was not dissapointed!! Unlike other rated machines, the remote control is very convieniently sized with buttons for easy accoess to the impotant features, ie there is a library button, this is hidden in the menu page on may other units. Thios feature gives you direct access to your recordings with one press of the button.

All in all the HDR161-163's are extremely easy to use with good quality picture and nothing to hate.

We got a 162 (not a 160). Recorder is attractive and easy to use - great menus, good 8-day guide that you can search through, good series recording - generally fully-featured. Only 1 real problem: the recording we had (about 50% of them) skipped forward in time. That is, they recorded the right length but skipped forwards on playback: basically unwatchable. We swapped for another, but it exhibited the same problem. Good recorder, with a fatal flaw that didn't make it fit for purpose. Maybe we were just unlucky (twice).

The Hitachi HDR160 looks good, and does what it says on the box! It's easy to set up and understand although potential dust problems in open vents?

Pretty much idiot proof, you can delete naff channels if you like

Generally a very good product spoiled by Hitachi not fully implementing the features that are actually detailed in the manual.