Zenith HDR230 HDTV Personal Video Recorder/Receiver (Brushed Metallic)

Finally, a PVR for viewers of high-definition television. Zenith's HDR230 is a combination full-function personal video recorder and terrestrial high-definition broadcast receiver, offering the ability to receive, pause, store, and play back high-definition programming all from one compact set-top box. All you need is your HD-ready television and an antenna compatible with over-the-air HDTV reception.

This all-format ATSC receiver uses Zenith's fourth-generation VSB (vestigial sideband) technology for both improved terrestrial/cable VSB-DTV reception and noise immunity. Its 80 GB hard drive stores up to eight hours of full high-definition programming (in resolutions of 1080i, 720p) or around 27 hours of standard-definition digital programming (that is, signals with fewer than 700 lines of horizontal resolution, including progressive-scan 480p).

With the unit's time-shift mode engaged, you can pause both live TV and recorded playback, view in slow motion, and fast-forward/rewind at 2x, 5x, 20x, and 50x normal speed. The HDR230 offers various display options, with an enhanced scaler and selectable outputs so you can configure the unit for playback on different displays in both 4:3 (standard) and 16:9 (widescreen) formats.

For immersive, full-bodied sound to go with your high-definition picture, the HDR230 passes 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround sound through both coaxial and optical digital-audio outputs, which any Dolby Digital-equipped audio/video receiver can decode for use with a multichannel surround speaker system (AV receiver and speaker system not included).

An electronic program guide based on PSIP (Program and System Information Protocol) alerts you to viewing options and assists with advanced PVR programmed recording. A user-friendly GUI and fast program-screen tuning further simplify setup and operation. Bookmarked playback lets you index your recordings for easy access to your favorite sections, while digital closed captioning provides subtitling on select programs.

What's in the Box
Main unit, one audio/video interconnect (stereo analog-audio with composite-video), one S-video cable, one component-video cable, one remote control, two AA batteries, one RF cable, one attenuator, a user's manual, warranty information.

Note: the HDR230 does not include an NTSC tuner for standard-definition analog broadcast reception.

When considering whether or not I wanted to spring for the extra dollars to get a PVR or just a plain tuner, I hadn't realized the difference HD recording would make. I really don't want to watch TV shows any other way! And for sharing purposes, you can always edit out the commericals of your recorded program and copy it to an analog VCR.

The timeshifting feature is pretty cool. Unfortunately, you can't rewind material you've currently started recording through the timer. You have to start out using the timeshifting. The manual was a little unclear how it works exactly, so I've managed to lose 1/2 hour of a show while trying to figure it out. Suffice it to say that if you want to save timeshifted material (beyond the show's duration), you need to use the clip record function as well. Once you get used to timeshifting, you'll love it. Friends calling in the middle of your favorite show aren't a nuisance any longer.

The only feature I really miss is the ability to seek to a particular time. Instead you have to fast forward at 50x speed (unless you've bookmarked it) to the spot you want. You also can't delete the multi-channels. For example, say you only want channel 4-1, but not 4-2, you can't delete 4-2. There is a surf button that moves the channel changer between channel numbers (and then you can use the ch+/ch- to move between the multi-stations). Also be careful about your how you set the clock. I was using "automatic" and failed to record a few shows. I wonder if the machine received an errant signal and it triggered some of the reservations early. Once the clock was set, I had to switch it to manual set to get consistent results.


It is a good start...   September 3, 2003
 23 out of 29 found this review helpful

Zenith has made a good start here, but it is missing some key features. Notably: sharing between PVRs (e.g. like ReplayTV does out of the box and like TiVo does with an extra option). Also it needs a larger drive - 160GB at minimum, 250 or larger preferably.

Let us hope this is an early version of what will become a full-featured PVR like the TiVo or ReplayTV because it has plenty of promise!