Does anyone have this problem: Each and every time I change channel the audio mode changes to MONO. I must then push the audio mode button to get stereo again.
For me, it switches to MONO briefly, but then I see it switch back to STEREO before the display disappears.

Want to put a bigger HD in your recorder? Here is how they are doing it in the UK for the very similar pal model RH-7500:

http://www.addison-net.co.uk/dvd/

For me, it switches to MONO briefly, but then I see it switch back to STEREO before the display disappears.

Same happens for me but that is just the tuner taking a moment to detect the presence of a stereo signal, it is not your playback mode.

To check your playback mode you must press the audio button. You will then see the words MONO, SAP, or STEREO appear onscreen. If you have the same problem as me, it will always be switched back to MONO after every channel change. And yes, I can hear the difference.

I wouldn't dare install any of these upgrades because they are for the PAL system.

Nonetheless the European discussion is interesting to read: http://www.recordere.dk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8295&PN=1&TPN=2

Briefly here is the bad news: (quote)

This things will never be solved by software according to factory it is hardware issue

- Rewind / Fast forward when playing XviD/DivX movies.
(NOT to be confused with goto/search by time).

- Fast DUBBING to DVD of edited material.
(e.g. FAST copying to DVD, after commercials have been cut away).

- Using the recorder,
while a timerbased/programmed recording is running.

- Having to switch off the recorder,
for a timerbased/programmed recording to start.

(endquote)

I haven't tried this yet but this sequence:
Press ("Setup", "Lock icon", "7", "8", "8", "9"). should display your firmware build onscreen.

LG's official download site:
http://www.lge.com/support/software_gcsc.jsp

I seem to be having problems with the auto chapter function on this recorder. I am recording TV shows onto the HD, and I have it set to auto chapter every 5 min, but it doesn't seem to work. Thinking it was defective, I brought it back to Future Shop where I had the extended warranty and it's now out for repair. FS gave me a 'loaner' to use in the meantime (same model). And I am having the same problem! LG Canada says it should be able to auto chapter onto the HD.

I have noticed this auto chapter function seems to work when recording onto a dvd-r disc. But not onto the HD.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

If you have the same problem as me, it will always be switched back to MONO after every channel change.

Appears to be the same for me, BTW. Mind you, I mostly change channels with my cable box with the recorder set to AV1, so I rarely have to worry about it.

Dang it, I'm going to take a trip to my local repair center and try to get some info on the firmware upgrade for the ZRH-516 (and by extension the LRH-539). I'll post whatever I find out.

I seem to be having problems with the auto chapter function on this recorder. I am recording TV shows onto the HD, and I have it set to auto chapter every 5 min, but it doesn't seem to work. Thinking it was defective, I brought it back to Future Shop where I had the extended warranty and it's now out for repair. FS gave me a 'loaner' to use in the meantime (same model). And I am having the same problem! LG Canada says it should be able to auto chapter onto the HD.

I have noticed this auto chapter function seems to work when recording onto a dvd-r disc. But not onto the HD.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Recordings to the HD do not have chapters, the LG guy you talked to must have been confused. You can only use the separate "Marker" function for up to six manually entered points per title.

Also, there may be something screwy about how autochapter works. I stopped using auto chapter because the disks would hang up at the chapter points when played back on my computer. Chapters added later do not have the same problem.

Recordings to the HD do not have chapters, the LG guy you talked to must have been confused. You can only use the separate "Marker" function for up to six manually entered points per title.

Also, there may be something screwy about how autochapter works. I stopped using auto chapter because the disks would hang up at the chapter points when played back on my computer. Chapters added later do not have the same problem.


Thanks for your input!

Now another annoyance I'm finding ... when I set my timer to record a tv show every week (ie: every Thursday), the manual says you have to hit 'enter' twice to save the entry. I've done that, and I've hit 'enter' a few more times just to make sure the entry is saved. However, the recorder ends up recording it every DAY instead of every Thurs like I programmed it to.

Has anyone else ever experienced this problem?

[QUOTE=Munchkin]

... the recorder ends up recording it every DAY instead of every Thurs like I programmed it to.

QUOTE]

Everyone has this bug and it is a pain. The work-around is to program your event less than 24 hours before it's first occurance and then it will function properly.

Complain to LG. This is a bug they definitely should be required to fix.

WOW.........I can't think of why they wouldn't put one on the back. I was interested in buying one but without an S-video in the back it is pointless.
I agree, I got one on sale at Future shop but will take it back tomorrow. Without S-Video in the back it's useless no matter how cheap it is.

I agree, I got one on sale at Future shop but will take it back tomorrow. Without S-Video in the back it's useless no matter how cheap it is.

That's what I thought too, but I did several test recordings through both the front S-video and the rear composite inputs, and you know what? I couldn't discern ANY difference in quality, even at High Quality. In fact, I actually prefered the composite, because the S-video was really oversaturated (tons of red-push), and I couldn't compensate for this without washing out the color on my other inputs. (My TV doesn't have input-specific memory.) Anyway, after this test, I decided that the theoretical advantage of S-video wasn't worth nearly as much as I thought. In the end, I'm glad that I was able to suppress my instinctive techno-snobbery.

You'll certainly have different gear so your results will vary, but I recommend doing a few tests yourself before you decide to take it back. (If it's not already too late.)

I am thinking of buying this product because it has a firewire connection that will conect with my Samsung ST 165 off air receiver.

I live in a Toronto high-rise building with only Look TV with no HD and no plans for any.

But I am happy with off air HD I get from Toronto and Buffalo

Does the LRH 539 firewire transfer from the OTA receiver into the recorder without any other connections? Does it record Hi Def programming.

I used to do this with a JVC Digital D VHS but it stopped working after two years of very little any use and they want $880 to fix it.

Also does the LRH 539 give you a choice of channels for recording? For example will it distinguish between 43-1, 43-2 and 43-3?

The Samsung OTA has a firewire recording set up where you can choose time and channels to record. Will this work with the LRH 539?.

Does it upgrade output to 1080I?
Although if it is feeding through my OTA, the Samsung does output 1080>

No one at Future shop can answer these questions. They want me to take it home and try it and bring it back if it doesn't work.

I have no luck getting through to anyone at LG
I would appreciate any answers.

Does the LRH 539 firewire transfer from the OTA receiver into the recorder without any other connections? Does it record Hi Def programming.

.

The answer is no, it doesn't do hi def. I think you are getting HD and HDD mixed up. In the computer world HD means hard drive, in the video world it means hi def. So PVR makers now refer to hard drives as HDD to reduce the confusion.

I read in another forum where someone replaced the Western Digital HD to fix the audio sync problem. My hard drive was about about 80% full so I started to delete and dub things I recorded to DVD. After I deleted some stuff everything started to work fine again, no more 4:11 recordings and audio sync problems.

I've had the sync problem for some time now. I've noticed the following:

Initially, upon getting the LRH-539, I didn't have any sync problems. As I used it more, I started to get sync problems at 4 minutes 10 seconds and also around 40 minutes 41 seconds.

As I would continue to record more things, these sync issues turned into record failures such that at 4:10, it would stop recording (although the timer would not release control of the machine until the timer event ended). Alternatively, I might just get the sync problem at 4:10, but the record failure at 40:41.

I saw earlier posts on this forum about people replacing the HDD or deleting recordings, so I deleted a few recordings and everything was fine again. At least, until I recorded a few more times, then the sync problem would start again.

I should mention that the sync problem I get is that the video falls behind the audio. The audio seems to stay on track, but I can see the sync issue happen at 4:10 (or 40:41) and it's like the video pauses (with a little stutter) and then continues.

I spoke to an LG support person last week and they sent me a firmware upgrade. I installed the upgrade but this didn't help. I have no idea what the firmware upgrade is supposed to fix or improve.

Except for this issue (and it's a really bad issue), I like this machine. I probably have the same wish list as everyone else (fast dub edited recordings, shouldn't have to turn off for timer events, etc.), but I'd be pleased with it if only I wasn't getting bit by the sync problem.

Does anyone have any ideas what's special about 4:10 or 40:41? They seem to be common numbers around this issue.

I spoke to an LG support person last week and they sent me a firmware upgrade. I installed the upgrade but this didn't help. I have no idea what the firmware upgrade is supposed to fix or improve.

Well, I don't know anything about your sync issue, but your mentioning of receiving a firmware upgrade has proven very helpful to me.

It would seem there is a major disconnect at LG: if you email LG support and request a firmware upgrade they tell you that must go to a service center to get it installed (a long and inconvenient process), but if you phone LG support they are more than happy to drop a CD in the mail for you.

Anyway, I just spoke to an LG Canada support rep on the phone and they are mailing me the firmware upgrade for my ZRH-516 ASAP! Huzzah!

I Have install unsuccessfully european firmware in my Zenith DVD recorder. Anibody send me U.S. 50328A NT firmware or equivalent for my Zenith DVD Recorder model ZRH-516 Thanks a Lot !!! marvey@aei.ca

Do you have the firmware for ZRH-516 ?

Do you have the firmware for ZRH-516 ?

Not yet. I'm still waiting to receive it. I'll try and post it somewhere when I do, but I suggest you contact LG Canada yourself and they'll send you out a copy.

here the answer which I received from LG Canada :

-----------Reply to Customer Enquiry------------
You will need to take your unit into one of our authorized service centres for any firmware updates. Please visit our website to find the closest service centre in your area. click on support click on lg service click on global cyber service centre click on service centres Thanks for your inquiry LG Electronics Canada Inc.
------------------------------------------------

It is too hard to place the firmware on their Web site !!! :(

here the answer which I received from LG Canada :

-----------Reply to Customer Enquiry------------
You will need to take your unit into one of our authorized service centres for any firmware updates. Please visit our website to find the closest service centre in your area. click on support click on lg service click on global cyber service centre click on service centres Thanks for your inquiry LG Electronics Canada Inc.
------------------------------------------------

It is too hard to place the firmware on their Web site !!! :(

Stupid, isn't it?

As I said in my earlier post, do NOT e-mail LG support. It would appear that you MUST phone them if you want them to mail you a copy.