1. Check your DVD media (at least 4x and should be +R/RW).
I found some information that LiteOn 4x dvd burner was used
for this product. So, you have to use at leat 4x media.
Right?
2. Check the firmware version (the newest version can be found
at the manufacturer's homepage).
The firmware version is just like OS version. The newer
firmware always has less problems.
3. Don't power off during recording or some ~ing
operation. (Stopping, recording, etc)
4. If you use +R media, you should finalize before play on
other DVDs.

PROS:
1.Low price(^^) but not bad image quality.
2.Built in tuner.
3.Firmware upgradable!

CONS:
1.Not so flexible timer functions and not support the codes.
2.I doesnt support subtitle function when you record
TV programs. (When you play DVD, it is fine.)
3.Too short title. It may be less than 7 characters.

Good solid product (Rating: 5.00)
Review : This is an interesting product. It's a cross between a VHS VCR and a fully functioning digital DVD recorder.

The higher priced digital recorders have hard drives built in to give them Tivo features like the ability to record temporarily for many hours, watch a program from the beginning while the unit is still recording the end, instant replay, pause live TV, etc. The fully loaded recorders also have some sort of Tivo-like program guide.

The AR-230 has none of these things, but it costs a lot less as well. It's an interesting mix of high and low end VCR features plus an adequate DVD+R/RW recorder. The high end is reflected by the number of different inputs and outputs: Composite, S-Video, Component, Firewire, Coax and Optical audio. The low end is reflected by the timer: Only 5 programs, no Mon-Fri mode, no VCR+.

As a simple DVD replacement for a VCR, it fulfills it's function very well. The remote is easy to use. The quality of the DVD image is equal to the quality of the video input. It won't allow you to create you're own chapters, but you can set it to automatically create chapters every 1 - 12 minutes.

There are 4 program modes: 1hr, 2hrs, 4hrs & 6hrs. I've tried the 2 and 4 hour modes and both are fine. Choosing from titles on the disc is much easier than scanning a VCR tape for the start of a new program. Also scanning by chapter and fast forward/reverse work very well - a big improvement over tape.

The AR-230 records only on "Plus" media, but reads/plays just about everything. BEWARE: The DVD recordable industry is borderline insane. They're locked in a betamax/vhs type war of competing incompatible formats called "Plus" and "Minus". Not only are there different recorders that record each format, but the blank media are different for each format. A "Minus" disc won't work in a "Plus" recorder.

If you've got a set top DVD player you may want to check which format it supports. If your DVD player only plays "Minus" discs it won't be able to play DVD's you produce from the AR-230.

Returned it, kept my VCR (Rating: 1.00)
Review : Had to return it, my old Samsung VCR was much better (and of course more reliable) than this, I didn't want to go for an expensive one (when decided to upgrade to DVD recording), well to save money, but I wasted my valuable time. I don't know if it is the problem with new (DVD) + format or it is the Gateway. Anyways, I don't recommend it if you look for quality.

Gateway AR230 Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder (Rating: 1.00)
Review : I went through two of these and neither worked. The first would record for about a half hour and then stop, showing "write fail" as a message. The second one did even worse - not only did it start off with "write fail", it quickly got to the point where it could not even locate the disc. This experience cost me about $44 in return postage expenses, only to end up with a partcial credit - I had to spend more time on the phone with Amazon to straighten that out. Bad experience all the way around.

It's simply a better value (Rating: 5.00)
Review : My AR230 was purchased as a replacement for a Panasonic DVD recorder that died on me. I use it mostly for time shifting TV programs. Quality is very good on the 1 and 2 hour settings good on the 4 hour setting and just slightly better than good VCR on the 6 hour setting. It's got a simple menu system that even got my wife recording some of her soaps. I've only recorded camcorder to DVD-R using the firewire port twice but the quality was good and it was easy to do. Be sure to finalize DVD-R's so they will play on other DVD players. I use brand name media and have not had a bad disc yet. This unit doesn't have a hard drive or the bells and whistles of some of the high-end units but at less than $300 it's a way better value than the others I considered. If you need a good replacement for your old VCR this is it.