I’ve the same model. I’ve always used it to file programmes and films I want to keep.
But it has its moments. Sometimes it won’t start. I have to disconnect it and plug it in again several times.
Other times it’ll start, but I can’t change the channel or access recordings. Sometimes it won’t record programmed selections. When it does start, it sounds like a washing machine as it always has done.
I’ve a lot of recordings so I’ve only 18% capacity remaining.
Lately if it starts up, I leave it running for five minutes, before I access recordings I want to play. Then it behaves.
I bought an FVP 5000 a few years ago, that’s a disappointment, as you can’t put different recordings into separate files, everything goes in the same file. It’s also noisy.
Can this 1800 be repaired without losing my recordings? Many of them are film noir which are unlikely to be repeated on TV.