View Full Version : More insanity! Funai built Magnavox MDR513H/F7


dieseljeep
09-05-2019, 11:27 AM
I picked up a DVD/DVR/HDD. It can record off the air, as it has a built-in DTV converter. It also can record on a internal hard drive.
Naturally it didn't come with the remote, like all the Funai products, it's totally dead in the water without it. I can't get it to work, but as I read, those things are rather trouble-prone so I not sure if it's worth investing in the proper remote. :sigh:
More later!

Electronic M
09-05-2019, 11:57 AM
Maybe you can get somewhere with a newer universal remote...

mr_rye89
09-07-2019, 10:52 PM
Something like a Logitech Harmony might be what you're looking for. I am able to access every function on my Panasonic DVD recorder with it, another product made without buttons :nono:

WISCOJIM
09-08-2019, 12:12 AM
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Remote-Control-NB820UD-Magnavox/dp/B07CZPMFQ2

Electronic M
09-08-2019, 12:49 AM
Something like a Logitech Harmony might be what you're looking for. I am able to access every function on my Panasonic DVD recorder with it, another product made without buttons :nono:

One I've been interested in trying is using a Smartphone as a remote...I hear some phones have IR on them and you can get a universal remote app and program it to control nearly anything...Aside from all the conventional uses it'd probably be pretty fun in public spaces with out-of-reach TVs...Imagine all the fun you could have messing with the channels in sports bars and the like. :D

Sandy G
09-08-2019, 08:35 AM
You're an Eeville Man, Tom....I LOVE it !

dishdude
09-08-2019, 11:21 AM
These are great little machines that have quite a following. Well worth an investment in a remote. Here's an endless amount of info.

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/106-dvd-recorders-standard-def/940657-magnavox-557-537-535-533-515-513-2160a-2160-2080-philips-3576-3575-a.html

dieseljeep
09-08-2019, 01:32 PM
These are great little machines that have quite a following. Well worth an investment in a remote. Here's an endless amount of info.

https://www.avsforum.com/forum/106-dvd-recorders-standard-def/940657-magnavox-557-537-535-533-515-513-2160a-2160-2080-philips-3576-3575-a.html
I'm going to order a remote. The remote is going to cost 3 times more than I paid for the unit. :D

zeno
09-08-2019, 03:26 PM
Funai = dumpster.
nuf sed.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

WISCOJIM
09-08-2019, 05:54 PM
Funai = dumpster.

Ummm...Thanks for your valuable opinion?

As dishdude said, those machines have quite a loyal following. They did things no competitor offered at the time which made them very valuable in their niche market.

They still retain their value well after being around for more than 10 years. I don't think any manufacturer since has made a machine that can do the same.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=MDR513H%2FF7&_sacat=0&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1&_sop=16


.

mr_rye89
09-08-2019, 08:33 PM
One I've been interested in trying is using a Smartphone as a remote...I hear some phones have IR on them and you can get a universal remote app and program it to control nearly anything...Aside from all the conventional uses it'd probably be pretty fun in public spaces with out-of-reach TVs...Imagine all the fun you could have messing with the channels in sports bars and the like. :D

I always forget my Huawei Mate 9 has an IR blaster, the apps to run them aren't great though. Still adequate for some fun.

dishdude
09-08-2019, 09:32 PM
Funai = dumpster.
nuf sed.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

Normally I'd agree with you, but Funai did a nice job on these. They aren't the highest quality, but they offer a very unique set of features you can't get anywhere else. They still go for big money on eBay.

dieseljeep
09-09-2019, 09:10 AM
Normally I'd agree with you, but Funai did a nice job on these. They aren't the highest quality, but they offer a very unique set of features you can't get anywhere else. They still go for big money on eBay.
I have a remote on order. A good friend has an amazon membership, didn't know you needed one. Sort of like Sam's Club or Costco. A member doesn't have to pay shipping.
I have a few Funai items that work very well. Their TV only sets are very reliable, the TV-VCR combos, not so.
The Brits don't like Funai much either. :sigh:

Electronic M
09-09-2019, 10:00 AM
I have a remote on order. A good friend has an amazon membership, didn't know you needed one. Sort of like Sam's Club or Costco. A member doesn't have to pay shipping.
I have a few Funai items that work very well. Their TV only sets are very reliable, the TV-VCR combos, not so.
The Brits don't like Funai much either. :sigh:

The free shipping is through the Amazon prime membership.

You don't have to have prime to buy from them... just have to make a user account (create a user name, password and give them an email), select some stuff to buy, select shipping option, give them a shipping address and credit card or Amazon gift card info and it will be on its way to you...No different from ordering a bunch of new caps from Mouser or digikey. I occasionally buy from all three.

dieseljeep
09-09-2019, 11:59 AM
Funai = dumpster.
nuf sed.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

You were repairing TV's a lot later than I was!
I have two Funai built sets, where the tuner is out
Did you find the tuner being bad or the tuner control chip? I have two 9" Philips, one where the tuner doesn't work at all. It works well using the input jacks. The one that works properly has a picture that rivals my 9" Sonys.
I bought these sets about 4 years ago and they were very pricey. A buck each! :thmbsp:

Boobtubeman
09-09-2019, 11:51 PM
One I've been interested in trying is using a Smartphone as a remote...I hear some phones have IR on them and you can get a universal remote app and program it to control nearly anything...Aside from all the conventional uses it'd probably be pretty fun in public spaces with out-of-reach TVs...Imagine all the fun you could have messing with the channels in sports bars and the like. :D


Hehehe ive DONE THAT.. Before cellphones. A universal remote, an apartment complex, a few open curtains, a few beers..... GREAT FUN WAS HAD!! :D

SR

zeno
09-10-2019, 09:38 AM
One thing I remember was later ones had a combination jungle / micro
SMD that went but I dont remember the symptoms. We never changed one due to cost, they were abt $60 net. Post the voltages on the tuner & we can narrow it down usually.

As far as the other bomb I tossed goes nobody liked them. They were the
bottom til the red Chinese stuff showed up abt 1990. Combos as a rule were
disliked due to service headaches. IMHO the better ones were the early ones
that used a separate deck. Panasonic / Quasar also sold servicable ones.
We sold Zenith & Sony & if someone wanted a combo we had them but I always tried to have them switch to separates. Now if Funai made something
special nobody else did thats a different story as far as keeping it goes.
I have always said everybody made some good stuff & everybody made
some pure junk...

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !
You were repairing TV's a lot later than I was!
I have two Funai built sets, where the tuner is out
Did you find the tuner being bad or the tuner control chip? I have two 9" Philips, one where the tuner doesn't work at all. It works well using the input jacks. The one that works properly has a picture that rivals my 9" Sonys.
I bought these sets about 4 years ago and they were very pricey. A buck each! :thmbsp:

dieseljeep
09-13-2019, 09:43 AM
Normally I'd agree with you, but Funai did a nice job on these. They aren't the highest quality, but they offer a very unique set of features you can't get anywhere else. They still go for big money on eBay.

I received the remote on Wednesday and I started to work on getting acquainted with it. The remote was money well spent. I was pleased to see how well it works. The last recording was made in 2015. The original owner never rescanned after the digital takeover. :thmbsp:

WISCOJIM
09-13-2019, 09:47 AM
I received the remote on Wednesday and I started to work on getting acquainted with it. The remote was money well spent. I was pleased to see how well it works. The last recording was made in 2015. The original owner never rescanned after the digital takeover. :thmbsp:
Then how did he record a program in 2015? That would have been 6 years after the changeover. He would have had to rescan to make that channel available to record from, wouldn't he?

.

dieseljeep
09-13-2019, 12:17 PM
Then how did he record a program in 2015? That would have been 6 years after the changeover. He would have had to rescan to make that channel available to record from, wouldn't he?

.

The thing does have other inputs, Maybe the original owner used them. :scratch2:

dieseljeep
09-24-2019, 10:52 AM
The thing does have other inputs, Maybe the original owner used them. :scratch2:
After testing it, I find the only output that works properly is the HDMI and the audio output.
The analogue, S-Video, component video and RF does not. Those issues must be related, but I'm not going to worry about it now!
The thing does make remarkable recordings off the internal DTV tuner but like the Magnavox DTV converters, it's not as hot as the Zenith, Insignia or Digital Stream units. :scratch2:

Electronic M
09-24-2019, 11:46 AM
Some devices turn off analog output if the resolution is set above 480i or if the HDMI output is turned on.

dieseljeep
09-27-2019, 10:27 AM
Some devices turn off analog output if the resolution is set above 480i or if the HDMI output is turned on.
I have to look into that a little deeper.
I picked a little gadget that converts HDMI to Component video. I'm using that on a CRT set that doesn't have an HDMI input. :thmbsp: