I don't know about the Hitachi, but it is certainly easy to play video
to the external TV set when I use my Panasonic VDR-M30 DVD-RAM
camcorder.

I attach a cable from the camcorder to the TV set.

I then press the DISC NAVIGATION button on the camcorder and - VOILA!
- the thumbnail menu appears for displaying individual scenes on the
TV.

I then select the thumbnail I wish to view and press the play button
and it is transmitted to the TV set.

There must be a similar method using the Hitachi.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net