Sony RDRVX420 Dvd Recorder Vcr

I''ve owned and operated this combined DVD/Video recorder for over 3 months now. It replaced separate video and DVD machines. It was my intention to transfer videos to disc and to use the DVD for recording all tv programmes. The quick dubbing facility from DVD to video and vice versa is great. It''s a one touch operation and couldn''t be easier. The remainder of the operation is far from straightforward. It comes with a 120 page instruction book, all of it in English, and believe you me you''ll need most of it! After 3 months of re-reading and re-trying the television pre-record function on DVDs has a 50%-60% success rate. Entering the programme details via TV Plus appears fine (as long as you''ve remembered to check the settings for the record time on the disc), and the machine clicks on but it just doesn''t always record to disc - I get the message ""No data on disc"". The same disc will record fine by pressing ''record''. I''m at the stage now where the only way to gaurantee recording the programme I want is to also record by video, which defeats the object. This could be a great machine but I am certain that there is a gremlin of some kind.