The Best of Both Phone, and Tablet
Entered CNET Catalog: 02/28/2007
SKU: 0034909620601
Manufacturer: RCA
Manufacturer description
Model DRC8335 features both analog and digital TV tuners for over-the-air reception, providing a crystal clear picture and more channels than DVD recorders that only record analog TV programming or don't have the ability to tune any channels. The DRC8335 is a full-function VCR and DVD recorder. It can record standard analog cable TV, analog broadcast TV, and digital broadcast TV with its built-in twin-tuner NTSC/ATSC design. The combo unit also works easily with set-top boxes that bring digital cable and satellite signals into a home, allowing for easy time shifting and enjoyment of favorite programs after they are broadcast. The RCA DRC8335 is truly a full recording solution.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23out of 23 user reviews
It's OK When it Works
Pros: It makes good copies from VHS to DVD when the unit works properly. The unit overheats quickly; you can probably cook a few eggs and bacon on top of it while it's in use.
Cons: Every once in a while the player just freezes and it keeps displaying "HELLO" across the display (which only gets you angrier and angrier after a while!). Even when you unplug the unit (which should reset the system), it automatically turns itself back on
out of 23 user reviews
Just collecting dust
Pros: The power cord is, um, pretty? heh!
Cons: Won't read a disk. Won't open the DVR. Won't eject VHS. Won't anything.
out of 23 user reviews
Too late, I already bought one.
Pros: Has the features I like.
Cons: Broke-A** piece of camel dung.
out of 23 user reviews
Product is a WORTHLESS PIECE OF JUNK - DO NOT BUY!!!!!
Pros: NOTHING !!
Cons: Player did not work correctly from the time we bought it. It freezes up, tapes auto eject and wont play, dvd player can't "read" dvd's and record feature is difficult and doesn't work. So basically nothing on this product works at all!
We contacted Thompson Inc/RCA and were told the only option was to return unit (we had to pay the shipping chgs to send it to them) and they would check it out and either fix it or send a refurbished unit. So we sent it to Thompson, Inc as instructed and it took a while to get a replacement unit back. Within a month we had the SAME problem with the new unit. We wanted a refund and were told "they don't give refunds". So we told them we wanted a brand new unit not a refurbished/repaired unit and once again we were told "they don't do that" - they can only exchange for "repaired" unit. So once again we sent it back as instructed and made them pay the shipping charges this time. Again it took a while to get the unit back. We received it back and set it up - and you guessed it - within a couple weeks (we only used it a couple times) the unit had the same issues and it would not play DVD's or tapes. We called again and were told the same things - We told them we wanted a refund this time and received the same canned emotionless speech about "we dont give refunds". No supervisor was available to speak to. It is my opinion that Thompson/RCA needs to recall this product as it continues to have the same issues over and over again. Because of our experience with this DVD/VCR player, we will never buy another RCA/Thompson Inc. product ever again!!!!!!!!!!
out of 23 user reviews
Use a DVD-RW and it locks up after a little time copy.
Pros: If it worked good it would be good.
Cons: To hard to edit.
Can look at Version. I wish they had a ISO could download to update it!
-Raymond Day
out of 23 user reviews
Piece of junk!
Pros: Can watch dvds only.
Cons: VHS doesn't work at all. dvd timer doesn't work at all. have to be home to record anything. freezes up all the time.
out of 23 user reviews
Piece of junk-lemon RCA warranty not paper
Pros: warrantry is 1 year.Worked perfertly for 11 mos until warranty ran out
Cons: Button on remote are real heavy. Decided to go south on me 1 month before warranty ran out. RCA delayed action on my complaint until my warranty ran out-then said "sorry out of warranty. Programming it means 1 minute is AWOL.
out of 23 user reviews
I hope you read this
Pros: It worked for 4 months (not bad)
Cons: The menus are annoying. The digital channel switching is slow
No HDMI.
After 4 months it turned into a huge black box that accomplishes nothing except saying "hello" without responding to anything.
out of 23 user reviews
Belongs in a Hefty bag - one useless piece of trash!
Pros: Looks Good and works well as a boat anchor!
Cons: Unstable - crashes constantly - you'll need to reboot the system every two days. rarely reads a store bought dvd. They only give me 250 characters here and thats not enough.
out of 23 user reviews
I wish i could give it no stars instead!
Pros: You can watch digital tv through it
Love having TV Guardian
Cons: VHS does not play well
DVD gets stuck and you'll have to unplug (happens 1 out 5 times)
out of 23 user reviews
Buy somethign else
Pros: Has VHS and DVD Can also record!
Cons: VHS has never once worked. Recording function doesnt work, total piece of junk
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT WORTH THE PACKAGING
out of 23 user reviews
JUNK! JUNK! JUNK! And RCA won't stand behind it!
Pros: Will help keep the land-fills full.
Cons: The first unit failed after 7 months. Replacment unit failed after 8 months. RCA said: "Too bad, warranty is over, thank you for calling India, have a good day."
out of 23 user reviews
One-line summary JUNK!!
Pros: none, product never worked even after 2 replacements within a months time
Cons: Complete junk and after 2 returns and under warrany RCA wanted 134.00 for a replacement. So RCA can go to you know where.
out of 23 user reviews
Works slow when it works!
Pros: DTV tuner DV input
RCA DRC8335 sometimes it may work.
Cons: Undependable
Works slow when it works.
Powers up and locks up.
out of 23 user reviews
"A total piece of Junk" is an understatment
Pros: None that I can find
Cons: Everything about it.
out of 23 user reviews
NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IN A BAD WAY!
Pros: It worked maybe 6 times at best
Cons: It is a piece if JUNK! It was VERY expensive and it only worked MAYBE 6 times, and that was to just WATCH a DVD!
out of 23 user reviews
One big letdown.
Pros: It turns on. Plays DVD's, has a tuner. The price.
Cons: Rocording's a pain.
But that's when all the fun stopped.
When I tried to record off the VCR to DVD, it kept cutting off every think the tape was copy protected but it wasn't. Each time it stopped it said "TV input has been changed" but the manual said nothing about this warning. Not to mention it kept on screwing up tapes that would play normally on our other VCR's. The recording pain got to the point where it froze and I had too reset the thing.
Then I noticed off my first DVD I recorded and finalized off the TV, none of the chapters marks where at the places I made sliding 5-10 seconds on my other DVD p[layers. DVD recorders shouldn't have a compensation buffer for chapters.
The next day, I tried dubbing from VCR to DVD again. While it recorded fine, the thing kept on cutting off every 10-15 minutes. With the same "input was changed message". I checked everything I could but it kept on doing it, a big change from when it recorded off TV for nearly two hours straight.
Wondering what was wrong, I came here, Amazon and several other websites looking for answers. I did not know I had bought a lemon.
out of 23 user reviews
Returned twice, This time cannot get a response even with proof of delivery.
Pros: Fits on shelf.
Cons: Multiple problems persisted in replacement unit.
out of 23 user reviews
Doesn't play old tapes in SLP mode
Pros: ATSC tuner, works with new tapes
Cons: Does not play our existing tapes in SLP mode.
out of 23 user reviews
Don't buy this junk
Pros: ATSC tuner
Cons: Too complicated and seriously flawed
This unit has locked up requiring disconnecting the power cord to turn off and get control of unit. This of course, even with the short off period, forces reconfiguration and reprogramming.
Power up is a long and annoying process that leaves the user with a menu screen to choose from viewing input or selecting some configuration operation. Dumb!
For some reason (likely a user operation error) recording often fails to start. What good is a recorder that is so complicated that simple programming errors cause these types of failure?
This is a fine example of what happens when marketing firms like Thomson Inc acquire a renowned name such as RCA. Quality is not the primary product goal.
Don’t buy this or any other RCA product; stick with the big names from Japan.
out of 23 user reviews
NOT WORTH THE PRICE
Pros: TIME SEARCH WORKS GREAT
Cons: PIECE OF JUNK
After receiving the DRC8335, I connected to my HDTV and the outside antenna. The first copy I made was CBS 2-1 (NTSC) on a Memorex DVD+RW disc at EP (4 hours). The quality of the pictures was not very good the picture was breaking up. I then deleted the contents of the disc and attempted to record CBS 2 (ATSC). I then received a message that there was no disc in the recorder however I had never removed the disc op opened the tray of DVR. I opened the tray and closed it after that I was able to record on the same disc. The video on analog channel was better then the digital channel.
I then tried to copy VHS to DVR the disc began to copy, however on the replay the disc froze up after 2 minutes and I had to unplug the DVR. When I plug the DVR back in I received a message that the disc was no good. This is the same disc I used for the previous recordings.
I have also tried too record on Imation DVD+R , TDK DVD+R, HP DVD+R and Nexxtech DVD-R, all of these disc are 16x 4.7 GB, with the same results. The NTSC recording quality is not as good the ATSC recording.
Also the response between the remote and the DVR is very slow. There is no Advance/Commercial skip button on the remote. When you use the fast forward at 2x too skip trough the commercial from the time you press play the disc advances another 3 seconds.
In my opinion the machine for price is not worth it. I have other DVR that cost less and deliver a much better quality picture and a faster response from the remote.
out of 23 user reviews
There is a design flaw in the unit.
Pros: can be a nice unit if flaw can be fixed
Cons: will not record or play slp mode
out of 23 user reviews
I think this is a product that needs an overhaul.
Pros: Has al the features that I want at a reasonable price.
Cons: Have had 4 units with different problems making unit unusable.
#1 returned after one day did not play vhs.
#2 returned after 2 months could not get disc to release and shut down on copy.
#3 returned after 20 days running erratically
#4 returned after 10 days because it would not recognize blank or some purch discs.
Cannot believe the only thing I can do is unplug the unit.
Time to change brands!
