Which DVD recorder should I buy?
Steve59
sure what one to get.
Its a choice between,
Panasonic DMR-eh50 80gb hard drive
or
JVC DR-MH50 250 gb hard drive.
I've read a couple of reviews saying the JVC has no RGB ?
and the Panasonic is very noisy (HD noise)
Thanks for any suggestions
Ste
kaboom
**What will be the primary function of the recorder? If you intend to
archive a lot of stuff from VHS then I suggest the Panasonic. I have
Panasonic e85 and I don't feel that it's very noisy but, yea, it is a
different model.
On the flip side, I don't use the TVGuide that came with it because it
made the machine screw up terribly. It's worked fine ever since I
managed to shut it off completely, so I love it again :)
The avsforums are a good place to research electronics
kaboomie
only human
video.
and the JVC is known to crash a lot.
keep looking
Brian
Take a look at Pioneer DVD Recorders. There are many happy owners.
Regards Brian
Johnnie Scott
"Brian" <bcl...@es.co.nz> wrote in message
news:st52l15k4bjvps5ks...@4ax.com...
kaboom
wrote:
**I burn FIA World Rally races as well as motorcycle races and other
car races and haven't had any problems. I use FR or SP with the
occasional LP. LP can result in a bit of pixelation with a lot of
movement but I didn't find it annoying.
Oh, I should add, the Panny doesn't record well off of a digital box.
I'm still trying to figure out if that's fixable. But I primarily
bought the recorder to convert VHS tapes, in this, it excels.
As the others have said, you should look into a Pioneer, too, they
make a good recorder.
kaboomie
GaryP
problems with the DMR-EH50 where the scheduled recording timer, used either
by selecting a program off of the TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) system or
simply manually programming a date/time/channel, often fails to work and
does not cause the unit to record. If I turn the unit on sometime in the
middle of the time it's suppose to be recording, it records from that point
on. I've seen a handful of posts where others have had this problems, but
not many. I went for several weeks without a problem until one point where
I had to unplug the unit for a short time and it hasn't been working
reliable since. Just wondering if this was the problem you experienced.
Also, how did you shut off TVGOS completely? I'm experimenting with that
option right now, by 1.) entering all zeros in for the TVGOS zip code and
2.) turning off the auto startup option under Setup > Review options under
the TVGOS menus to have it not always nag about needing to be set up. Just
wondering if this is the best and only way to disable it.
I've spend a lot of time and energy trying to get answers from Panasonic
customer support on this. I've been told three times recently that I'd get
a call back the next day from individuals that never followed through, and
was told twice that firmware to fix this would be sent to me in the mail,
which never showed up. One person told me that newer firmware doesn't exist
for this model and that the previous customer service people were mistaken
on which model I had. I now tend to believe this is true ... I called
several authorized repair centers and they weren't aware of any updates for
this model yet. One person was good enough to check with Panasonic on this
(not sure if they use the same customer service people I have access to or
not). I'll probably send it in to one of them, but have little confidence
in getting a unit back that works any better (assuming a firmware bug).
Because there are some but not a lot of people that have posted this timer
issue, it seems like the problem may be under unique circumstances only.
Perhaps it has something to do with the TVGOS feed being received from local
PBS stations that is corrupt some how. I'm in Cedar Rapids Iowa and
presumably receiving it through KIIN/channel 12/Iowa City.
The DMR-EH50 is a pretty good unit overall, with the exception of the
frustrating problem I'm having with the timer. I've bought a lot of
Panasonic gear over the years and am now appalled at how Panasonic's
customer service has handled this issue with me. The people and
conversations have been professional but I've received completely different
responses over the numerous calls I've placed, and am absolutely no closer
to understanding the problem with them than I was many long weeks ago. It's
unbelievable the different things I heard!
"kaboom" <kaboo...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:5e80l1tmv8989r2f8...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:05:24 +0100, Steve59
>
kaboom
>In what way does the TV Guide screw up the machine? I've had numerous
>problems with the DMR-EH50 where the scheduled recording timer, used either
>by selecting a program off of the TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) system or
>simply manually programming a date/time/channel, often fails to work and
>does not cause the unit to record. If I turn the unit on sometime in the
>middle of the time it's suppose to be recording, it records from that point
>on. I've seen a handful of posts where others have had this problems, but
>not many. I went for several weeks without a problem until one point where
>I had to unplug the unit for a short time and it hasn't been working
>reliable since. Just wondering if this was the problem you experienced.
**Hi Gary. I was having freezing problems, the TVGuide page would turn
a fuzzy, pixely green and you were stuck in it. After buying it, it
worked fine with the TVGuide service for 3 months and then there was a
glitch so I unplugged it and I was up and running for another few
months. However, the problems started coming fast and furious and I
worked out that it was actually the TVGuide service itself (glitches?
changes? don't know) but the e85's software couldn't deal with it. It
was making the recorder screw up even when I wasn't using the guide.
It would freeze everytime I started it up. It got to the point where
it wouldn't find a channel lineup for my area at all. Comcast was
doing all these changes because they are trying to shift people to
digital and they were making many channel changes.
All of that said, this may not be your problem :) but I know that the
TVGuide problem caused my recorder to glitch elsewhere.
>Also, how did you shut off TVGOS completely? I'm experimenting with that
>option right now, by 1.) entering all zeros in for the TVGOS zip code and
>2.) turning off the auto startup option under Setup > Review options under
>the TVGOS menus to have it not always nag about needing to be set up. Just
>wondering if this is the best and only way to disable it.
I couldn't get the TVGuide to shut off initially. It refused to
completely purge the schedule so you can't switch it off. I tried
unplugging, factory resets, everything. You want to get it to "set up"
where you can select "auto channel setting." None of those buttons
would work. One day, my area had a 6-hour brown out. I unplugged the
recorder and left it that way for not quite two weeks. When I finally
plugged it in, I was right back at the absolute beginning like it was
fresh out of the box.
So I started the set up, of which, you must complete most of the
TVGuide set up even if you don't intend to use it. When you get to the
screen that says: "Watch TV?" don't click "enter"!! I hit "set up"
twice and it brought me to the set up page. I clicked auto channel
setting and it took a couple of minutes as it scanned channels and
then it set the clock. It's been fine since then but you can only
schedule everything manually which is no big deal for me.
<snipped info on Panasonic's non-help desk>
**Look to the bottom for some info.
>Because there are some but not a lot of people that have posted this timer
>issue, it seems like the problem may be under unique circumstances only.
>Perhaps it has something to do with the TVGOS feed being received from local
>PBS stations that is corrupt some how. I'm in Cedar Rapids Iowa and
>presumably receiving it through KIIN/channel 12/Iowa City.
**This is what I believe. I googled- panasonic eh50 timer problems
-and was barraged with results. Dang! Here's an interesting result:
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/218034
>The DMR-EH50 is a pretty good unit overall, with the exception of the
>frustrating problem I'm having with the timer. I've bought a lot of
>Panasonic gear over the years and am now appalled at how Panasonic's
>customer service has handled this issue with me. The people and
>conversations have been professional but I've received completely different
>responses over the numerous calls I've placed, and am absolutely no closer
>to understanding the problem with them than I was many long weeks ago. It's
>unbelievable the different things I heard!
**You know, go to avsforum.com and manuever to the forums. I bet
you'll find the answers you need.
kaboomie
GaryP
"GaryP" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:4352f10b$1...@news.mcleodusa.net...
> I've been told three times recently that I'd get a call back the next day
> from individuals that never followed through, and was told twice that
> firmware to fix this would be sent to me in the mail, which never showed
> up. One person told me that newer firmware doesn't exist for this model
> and that the previous customer service people were mistaken on which model
> I had. I now tend to believe this is true ... I called several authorized
> repair centers and they weren't aware of any updates for this model yet.
Well, one day after posting this, what should show up in the mail ... a CD
labeled DMR-EH50 FIRMWARE UPGRADE along with a couple sheets describing the
upgrade process and what to expect. There is one file on the CD named
PANA_DVD.FRM, 6,738 KB in size, and dated 8/24/2005 8:25 AM. The update
went as documented. I'm going to reset the machine to completely set up the
TVGOS system from the start and see if this firmware upgrade has corrected
the timer problem. Maybe there is hope.
kaboom
**Keep us informed and good luck :)
kaboomie
GaryP
with this new firmware! In the first 24 hours, it's worked okay, recording
four different times, but it's far too early to assume this firmware fixed
anything. I had the unit work just fine for a few weeks in a row when I
first got it after failing to record the first couple of days, but then
after unplugging it for a short period of time September 12, the problems
with the timer started (and persisted for several week intermittently).
Seems like it was almost worse with the manual timer (as opposed to using
TVGOS), so I'll try that out also in a few days.
I really don't think the DMR-EH50 timer problem is related to the infamous
DMR-EH85 U99 issue others are experiencing with changes TVGOS made.
Problems with the EH50 timer have been noted far before the U99 started in
September.
"kaboom" <kaboo...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:05e8l15nio0gsv609...@4ax.com...
kaboom
>I really don't think the DMR-EH50 timer problem is related to the infamous
>DMR-EH85 U99 issue others are experiencing with changes TVGOS made.
>Problems with the EH50 timer have been noted far before the U99 started in
>September.
**Yea, the more I read up on it, I figured it was two different bugs.
I really didn't have the U99 problem though, it did happen once. I did
a lot of manual programming before I left on vacation. I came back and
looked at the recorder quickly and thought: Hmmm U99 is a funny time.
I had spent the whole day driving so forgive me :) My problem was just
weird glitches and mucho freezing.
What's interesting is the new round of Pioneer's now have the same
TVGuide feature and in avsforum, there was a rash of complaints about
it (screw-ups and whatnot).
For something completely different: Would your recorder, by any
chance, be directly hooked up to a digital box? If so, how does the
recorded material look? My e85 records a horrible picture off of it
and I can't figure out why.
kaboomie
GaryP
signal, and excellent recorded picture (indistinguishable from watching live
when using the best XP high quality mode). Do you have other options for
connecting your digital box to the recorder (RF, RCA A/V, S-VIDEO)?
"kaboom" <kaboo...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:n7odl118uhu5fb10b...@4ax.com...
kaboom
>"kaboom" <kaboo...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:n7odl118uhu5fb10b...@4ax.com...
>> For something completely different: Would your recorder, by any
>> chance, be directly hooked up to a digital box? If so, how does the
>> recorded material look? My e85 records a horrible picture off of it
>> and I can't figure out why.
>
>No, I'm using analog cable only, with no cable converter box. Very good
>signal, and excellent recorded picture (indistinguishable from watching live
>when using the best XP high quality mode). Do you have other options for
>connecting your digital box to the recorder (RF, RCA A/V, S-VIDEO)?
**Off analog cable, the Panny is fantastic. When I record off of the
d-box, it's pixely/smeary within vast expanses of color. Like
close-ups of faces or a field of green, you get this really weird
effect, like a smeary pixelization but it wouldn't smear outside of
the face, for instance. Perhaps it's an encoding problem with digital.
The digital box only has the options of a co-ax hookup or an RCA
hookup. The co-ax, for some reason, manages to look a tad better than
the RCA. If it's an encoding problem, an upgraded connection might not
help but I haven't heard of others having this problem. I admit that I
haven't really researched it either. Maybe I oughta get on it :) I'm
bummed, I thought it would look fantastic off of the digital box.
kaboomie
Camper
> **Off analog cable, the Panny is fantastic. When I record off of the
> d-box, it's pixely/smeary within vast expanses of color. Like
> close-ups of faces or a field of green, you get this really weird
> effect, like a smeary pixelization but it wouldn't smear outside of
> the face, for instance. Perhaps it's an encoding problem with digital.
>
> The digital box only has the options of a co-ax hookup or an RCA
> hookup. The co-ax, for some reason, manages to look a tad better than
> the RCA. If it's an encoding problem, an upgraded connection might not
> help but I haven't heard of others having this problem. I admit that I
> haven't really researched it either. Maybe I oughta get on it :) I'm
> bummed, I thought it would look fantastic off of the digital box.
>
> kaboomie
I have a Panny E50 hooked up to a digital set top box and the result as
good as going directly through the TV. I have it going from the digital to
AV4 on the panny.
GMAN
kaboom
wrote:
**Hi Camper. I tried composite (red yellow white) into the front (IN2)
of the Panny and then I tried a regular co-ax into the back. What
hookup do you use? Component, co-ax, composite, or others?
kaboomie
Camper
"kaboom" <kaboo...@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
Composite - Red yellow and white and the picture is great. I also have a
component connection from the digital set top box to my TV and can't tell
the difference in picture quality most time.
GaryP
news to report. I've had no incidents where the timer failed to record when
it should - both by selecting a show off of TVGOS and using the manual
timer. I power cycled the system once after TVGOS was fully populated and
also did a factory reset (channel up and down simultaneously) and the timer
continued to work. Previously I saw problems the first couple days I had
the unit, and after having to unplug it briefly after it was working a few
weeks without a problem, which is why I did these tests.
Unfortunately, I did have the TVGOS portion of the system freeze up entirely
overnight once where I was unable to access any of the listing, schedule, or
other screens. Pressing any of the buttons to access these screens from the
remote yielded nothing, and the scheduled recordings failed to start the
next day as well. The Panasonic non-TVGOS menus continued to work (pressing
Functions), but I finally had to power cycle the system and set up TVGOS
again to get it all working. I've never had this problem before the
firmware upgrade and it only happened once last week, so it was either a
fluke or it's possible that this new firmware introduced a new bug. Prior
to this one lock up, it took about three days for TVGOS to present me with
the screen to select the channel line up in my area (we have two cable
systems), where normally I get this prompt within a day. I don't know if
this had anything to do with this, but given the things I've read where
Gemstar is trying to fix the issues the E85H owners are going through with
the U99 errors, there are enough changes going on right now to where it's
going to be difficult to conclude anything without more time.
After reading issues with the E85H, I conclude that Panasonic has a poor
design depending so much on TVGOS and Gemstar. They seem too vulnerable to
mistakes and problems in the data feed from Gemstar. One of the reasons I
choose to go with a standalone unit over either a Tivo or Replay unit was
the thought that the functionality of the unit couldn't be changed - no one
could add or remove functionality - without me choosing whether or not to
upgrade the unit, unlike some incidents that have occurred with Tivo
recently. Because of this tight integration with Gemstar, it seems
Panasonic and possibly other vendors have put them in a position to create
lots of havoc for all of us owners.
I'll try and report back anything else significant with the EH50 firmware
upgrade I received, but other than the one incident, it seems to be working
better.
kaboom
>After two and a half weeks with the new DMR-EH50 firmware I have mostly good
>news to report. I've had no incidents where the timer failed to record when
>it should - both by selecting a show off of TVGOS and using the manual
>timer. I power cycled the system once after TVGOS was fully populated and
>also did a factory reset (channel up and down simultaneously) and the timer
>continued to work. Previously I saw problems the first couple days I had
>the unit, and after having to unplug it briefly after it was working a few
>weeks without a problem, which is why I did these tests.
**Excellent.
<snipped>
>After reading issues with the E85H, I conclude that Panasonic has a poor
>design depending so much on TVGOS and Gemstar. They seem too vulnerable to
>mistakes and problems in the data feed from Gemstar.
**Exactly!! I can't believe the software in the Panny is so weak as to
send the unit into a frenzy when TVGuide changes something or has a
glitch.
> One of the reasons I
>choose to go with a standalone unit over either a Tivo or Replay unit was
>the thought that the functionality of the unit couldn't be changed - no one
>could add or remove functionality - without me choosing whether or not to
>upgrade the unit, unlike some incidents that have occurred with Tivo
>recently.
**Is this about forcing you to watch commercials?
>Because of this tight integration with Gemstar, it seems
>Panasonic and possibly other vendors have put them in a position to create
>lots of havoc for all of us owners.
**The bad part is the unintentional havoc. Why would they make the
Panny so reliant upon Gemstar? I can't believe that Panasonic wouldn't
engineer software that would take any kind of Gemstar problems into
account.
>I'll try and report back anything else significant with the EH50 firmware
>upgrade I received, but other than the one incident, it seems to be working
>better.
**Thanks for the update. It's good reference material for future and
present Panasonic owners.
kaboomie
garth
I am delighted with two Pioneer DVD Recorders I've had for 5 months now.
--
Garth
Bob
>
>I am delighted with two Pioneer DVD Recorders I've had for 5 months now.
My understanding is that Pioneer is the absolute best DVDR made - with
a price tag to match.
--
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!"
--Ben Franklin
garth
<sp...@uce.gov> writes
>My understanding is that Pioneer is the absolute best DVDR made - with
>a price tag to match.
>
>
I see the 80Gb Pioneer DVR-433H is available here in UK for
235 pounds plus about 10 pounds delivery.
--
Garth
Bob
>I see the 80Gb Pioneer DVR-433H is available here in UK for
>235 pounds plus about 10 pounds delivery.
433 must be the Region 2 version.
WalMart in the US has the 533 for $368 - it too is an 80GB model.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4213124
Garth
<sp...@uce.gov> writes
>
>433 must be the Region 2 version.
>
>WalMart in the US has the 533 for $368 - it too is an 80GB model.
-------------------------
You are correct!
I understand the Pioneer '433' (80GB) Recorder is region 2 and 533 is
region 1.
A multi-region version is on sale in UK for just a few pounds more but
few seem to want this for domestic use.
Importing from USA to Europe is not cost-effective. Therefore, if we pay
$390 (equivalent) in UK for a Pioneer 80GB we think we have a good deal.
-----
Garth