Here is the official Panasonic DMR-EZ28k thread.

Before you get into the thread, you might want to check out the basics in the helpful links below:

Panasonic DMR-EZ28 (http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Video/DVD-Recorders-Players/DVD-Recorders/model.DMR-EZ28K_11002_7000000000000005702)
Panasonic DMR-EZ28 User Manual (http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMREZ28-MUL.pdf)
Comparrison between DMR-EZ27 & DMR-EZ28 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelComparisonResults?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&catGroupId=75012&surfCategory=DVD%20Recorders&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&items=223196|112149|)


I recently upgraded from the Panasonic DMR-EZ27 to the DMR-EZ28. I brought it home and went to town on it. Here is what I found:



SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

I tested this DVD recorder using my Kenwood VRS-N8100 Network AV receiver for audio and my Panasonic PT-AX 200U projector for the display. The image was taken directly from the Panasonic DMR-EZ28’s HDMI port via an HDMI 1.3 cable into the projector (the image was not processed by any other components). The television signal is brought in via my OTA roof-top antennae (not via cable nor satellite). The image was displayed onto a 92 inch projector screen (Cinetension TE92HC2), so image flaws should be expected to be very noticeable. Now on with my findings.

The first thing I noticed was that the price was about $20 less than last year’s model (Panasonic DMR-EZ27). I bought mine at a local BestBuy, so you will likely be able to find yours even cheaper (MSRP = $229.95).



FROM THE FRONT:

Out of the box the Panasonic DMR-EZ28 looks essentially identical to the Panasonic DMR-EZ27. A couple of the buttons are moved around a little, but the most notable difference is the presence of a USB terminal inside the front flip-down panel. Panasonic indicates that this can be used for a camera connection or for USB connected files like JPEGs and music (see "Features" for more info". This panel also posses the SD card slot (which Panasonic says can take video directly to and from a DVD-RAM disc - see "Features" for more info). There is also an DV in port for video camera connection, the standard three composite ports and a S-video port. If you like a clean front face, these Panasonic models accomplish this well as none of the input/output ports are viewable from the front face (as long as the cover is up).



FRONT THE BACK:

Both the DMR-EZ28’s rear input/output ports and the remote are identical to the Panasonic DMR-EZ27’s. Both have the RF in/out, composite in/out, S-video in/out, component out (capable of pass through up to 1080i), optical audio out, and HDMI out (v 1.3 and capable of up-conversion to 1080p per Panny). No changes here.



SET-UP/INTERFACE:

Initial set-up took about 15 min get through the initial menus and for the auto channel finder to do its job. The system stalled when it tried to set the auto time. I had this same problem with the Panasonic DMR-EZ27. After about 20 minutes of waiting for the clock to set itself, it finally succeeded and did so correctly. Set-up took over 35 minutes total!!!

GUI: Panasonic references its graphical User Interface (GUI) as being “designed for ease of use by everyone”. This GUI is the same software program that ran the Panasonic DMR-EZ27 - no signficiant differences in speed, content or interface. I thought it was a pretty intuitive set-up with a quick learning curve, but my wife got frustrated several times (she has minimal experience with AV equipment). More than once, I heard her say “this just doesn’t make sense” and “why did they put that there”. I guess the take home message here is, if you have a rudimentary amount of experience with AV equipment and various GUIs, you will find this one farily easy to work with, but it certainly will not be a breeze for your grandmother who does not know what an MP3 is. My biggest complaint is that when you are copying something (say from an USB drive to a dvd) or when you are finalizing a dvd, there is no way to move out of the GUI to watch television while these time consuming endeavors are being completed. It can take up to 15 minutes for this recorder to finalize a DVD +R and all you can do is sit there and watch the status bar move across the screen while you wait.



IMAGE QUALITY:

Foreword: I need to start with my limitations here first. I am not a professional. I do not do this for a living. I have no extra equipment to help me with advanced evaluation of picture quality, so the majority of this portion will be very subjective.

With that said, I will mention that my Panasonic PT-AX 200U projector has a nice feature that helped me out here. This projector is set up so that inside the menu, users can read the resolution of the input signal being fed to the Panasonic PT-AX 200U projector. This feature at least allowed me to confirm that when the DVD recorder thought it was sending out 480p, 720p, 1080i/p images, it in fact was.

I have owned LG, Philips, Panasonic, and Toshiba DVD recorders/DVRs in the past, so it is with those experiences that I will be comparing – this will be from memory. I also have an Xbox 360 connected to by projector via HDMI. Believe it or not, I have noticed that in the past the Xbox 360’s DVD player and up-conversion software has shown at least a slight advantage in video quality to every other DVD recorder/DVR I have owned (especially the Philips; OMG that was a horrible picture [traumatic shiver]), so it is also with the Xbox 360 that I will be comparing – this will be a direct video comparison. All of my tests on picture quality were done using HDMI out.

DVDs: DVD video is generally acceptable. No better or worse than the majority of other recorders out there. That is to say that it was slightly below what my Xbox 360 does. Definitely better than the Philips DVDR3575, but what isn’t? DVD up-conversion produced a generally well defined and well saturated image which was watchable even on my 92 inch screen. I found the deinterlacing of the Panasonic DMR-EZ28 to be average to above average for what one would expect for this level of image processing. The Panasonic DMR-EZ28’s biggest weakness seemed to be with loss of detail and sharpness in high contrast scenes/areas. Specific examples are when there are a lot of faces on the screen, panning through a bunch of flowers, or fast moving sports scenes with a lot of data. I am not referring to a deinterlacing problem, as this is more of a loss of detail/sharpness in scenes where there is a lot of image data that needs to be processed quickly. This weakness appeared more prominent when watching television (see below), than when watching DVDs, but because I noticed it in both circumstances, I suspect it is at least in part secondary to the DMR-EZ28’s image processing. When I move a DVD from the DMR-EZ28 to my xbox 360, and watch identical scenes, I do not notice this processing flaw (so I think that means that I was able to isolate the problem to the DMR-EZ28’s image processor). Keep in mind that my screen is 92 inches, so these flaws may not even be noticible on more standard sized screens.

Television (digital and analog): We all know that your television picture is no better than your source, so let me tell you what I did here to try to isolate problems with the image between the original source and the recorder's image processor. I think the recorder’s image processor does not process the image until it hits the HDMI out. This means that an unprocessed image would be placed on a recorded dvd, then, when played, it would be processed and upconverted to 1080p, and then output through the HDMI to the display. With this in mind, I first watched both analog and digital television directly with output through the recorder (HDMI), then used the recorder to record some television and played the disc on my Xbox 360 & then on my PC. My assumption here is that if the image is being processed as part of the recorder’s output process, then I can take this recording on a DVD and play it in my Xbox 360 or PC to see how many of the image problems I am seeing from are from my standard/digital television signal versus the recorder’s image processor. Here is what I found:

To start with, it is worth stating that this recorder uses an analog tuner and ATSC/digital tuner to receive television signals. Image quality is about average to above average for this class. There is an obvious improvement when viewing digital versus analog channels, but no more than one would expect. The digital channels are sharper, but they are not OMG sharper. There are some deinterlacing problems with fast motion and some peripheral jaggies that I noticed when watching both analog and digital programming. On my 92 inch display, one of the most distracting problems is with a difficulty the processor seems to have with image contrast and sharpness in areas that use a lot of data (flowers, a crowd of faces, etc). These problems were more apparent when the image was output through the recorder's HDMI than when they were output via a DVD, and then watched on my Xbox 360 or PC. I would suspect that most people with a large display would notice this when watching television programming (perhaps 46 inches and above). It is noteworthy to mention that these flaws are not always noticable and generally will not catch my eye unless the scene is particularly busy or I am really looking for it. Personally, I am willing to suffer through those subtle intermittent image problems as long as I get the other television watching features listed below (chasing, commercial skip, timeslip) - but that is my personal preference. Changing channels takes about a second per channel change (it seems like forever when you are surfing through multiple channels). There is a play x1.3 feature for watching television and there is audio present when using this feature (only available with RAM discs), but no audio is present when you press the fast forward button.

Image Quality Summary: I have not seen any difference in television (analog or digital) image quality between the Panasonic DMR-EZ27 and the Panasonic DMR-EZ28 on my 92 inch screen. Based on what I have seen, I believe these two models use the same image processor. There are some subtle intermittent problems with image proccesssing when the recorder tries to process very busy scenes, but this may not be noticable on average sized displays. My recollection of other DVD recorders indicates that the image quality of this recorder is significantly better than the Phillips (DVR) models, about the same as the Toshiba and last year's panny models, and slightly worse than the LG and my Xbox 360.

Update: I searched through Panasonic's website and the user manual to figure out what image processor the DMR-EZ28 uses and could nit find anything. I emailed Panasonic and asked what processor the DMR-EZ28 uses and whether it is different than the processor the DMR-EZ27 uses. They just emailed me back stating simply "Our unit is designed with a Panasonic Farujha chip." They did not specify type nor did they specify if there is a difference between models (which leads me to beleive that they use the same chip).



FEATURES:

USB: When I hooked my camera (Canon Digital Rebel XL) to the USB, it recognized it and displayed the pictures without any problem, but it took about 30 seconds for the recognition to take place. There was a significant delay of 8-10 seconds for scrolling through all the pics (each pic is 8 megapixles; around 3-4 mb each). This outputs the images at whatever resolution you have the recorder set to (up to 1080/60p). I later attached a USB drive with pics and mp3s on it. The recorder did a good job of displaying this as a slideshow with audio, but you have esentially no control over the slideshow. Everything you put on the USB will be in the slideshow (audio and pics). This DVD recorder allows you to transfer pics and audio from a disc to & from USB. You cannot record from television directly onto the USB, nor can you transfer a recorded program from a DVD onto the USB. You can copy from the SD card to the USB, but you apparently cannot copy from the USB to the SD card.

SD card slot: Good for picture viewing, but cannot play audio. It outputs JPEGs at whatever output resolution you set the DVD recorder up for (up to 1080/60p). The slideshow delay for my pics was about 8 seconds per pic (again my pics are 8 megapixles; about 3-4 mb each). You cannot record television shows directly onto the SD card, nor can you transfer a recorded program from a DVD onto the SD card. You can copy files from the SD card to the USB, but you apparently cannot copy files from the USB to the SD card.

DV in: I have completed a superficial test of this port. I have not had any problems, but I do not personally use this function very much, so I doubt I pushed its limits.

Scheduled Recording: To begin with, the recorder needs to be off in order for a scheduled event to record. The task of setting the recorder up to automatically schedule a pre-determined television event can be accomplished in numerous ways. The options for setting up a scheduled event are pretty standard - one time only, weekly, M-F, M-Sa, Sa & Su. There is no Program guide, so you need to do all the scheduling manually (this can become tedious quickly). I successfully made scheduled recordings using all the media types the Panasonic lists with the exception of dual layer and -RW (I do not have those media types on hand). There is a rarely encountered glitch with the scheduling software that will sometimes lead to the recorder missing the second scheduled event. I was able to elicit this glitch, but I honestly may not have been able to do so if I did not know exactly what to do to get the scheduling to fail. jjeff has several posts in this thread and another (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=970828) that can shed more light on this glitch.

Commercial Skip (one button to skip forward 60 seconds): This function works well on this unit. My only complaint is that there is no way for the user to modify how much time is skipped with each press of this button. I personally prefer a 30 second commercial skip and this recorder's default setting is set at 60 seconds and is not changeable. I would also like to see a replay button (essentially the same thing as a commercial skip button, but in reverse – allows you to skip 30 seconds backward), so I can quickly go back if I went too far forward, but this is not a common feature and I might be getting a bit greedy.

Chasing Playback (start watching a program while it is being recorded): This function works well. Personally, I love this feature and will not buy a DVD recorder without it. I will start recording a 60 minute television program at the top of the hour, then play around on the internet for 15 minutes or so, then come back to the program and start watching it at the beginning while the last 45 minutes are still being recorded. When I get to the recorded commercials, I use the commercial skip button. If I time things right, this system usually allows me to finish watching the recording of the episode at the end of the hour right when the episode is over. Tada – 15 minutes of free internet time, and now I can start it all over if there is another program I want to watch… what can be better than that? These commercial skip and chasing playback features work beautfilly together and are a must have for any DVD recorder/DVR I use.

Timeslip (start watching a previously recorded program while currently recording another on the same disc): This recorder posses this function and it works well. One does not need a button to use this function, all one needs to do is access the DVD menu and start playing the selected title while another one is being recorded, so I was a little confused to find a “TimeSlip” button. The TimeSlip button itself is a bit misleading as it is essentially an uber commercial skip button. The TimeSlip button on the remote allows you to decide how many minutes you want to skip forward or back while viewing a pre-recorded show on a DVD-RAM disc. In short, this DVD recorder does have the TimeSlip feature, but the TimeSlip button does something completely different.

DVD Recording: There are 5 recording qualities to choose from: XP (1 hr), SP (2 hr), LP (4 hr) & EP (6-8hr per disc – based on user setting in main menu). No surprises here. A nice additional feature is the FR setting (FR = Flexible Recording). To use this feature, you simply tell the recorder how many hours of television you anticipate recording and the recorder will look at the available disc space and record using the best possible video quality. There is a convenient FR button on the reomte that allows for this task to be simple and effecient. A quick review of the spec sheet will reveal that it covers all the common DVD types including dual layer and DVD-RAM. When watching a recording, I could not tell a difference between the XP and SP recording settings on my 92 inch screen. There is a noticeable decline in image quality when you go down to LP/EP. You cannot transfer a recorded program from a DVD onto any other device (SD card or USB). It is noteworthy to mention that many of the really cool features of this DVD recorder (and similar ones) are only available when using a DVD-RAM disc. That is not because of a failing in the recorder, but rather it is because a DVD-RAM is essentially a disc version of a hard drive that allows for more hard drive like freedom in recording. This is standard for all DVD recorders.

VIERALink:
My Panasonic PT-AX 200U projector’s display is not VIERALink compatible, so I was not able to test this feature.



CONCLUSION:

This is essentially an updated version of the Panasonic DMR-EZ27 with primarly superficial changes. The most noticable of which is a USB port. Honestly, I am not really sure why they added the USB port to this model because it’s features are redundant with the SD card and the DVD recording capacilities. There is a small percentage of people out there who have a portable USB device, but have neither a DVD burner nor a SD card for their PC/MAC. It is a nice extra feature to have, but I would have much preferred improved image processing/quality or an integrated programming guide over a redundant data port. I believe that image quality is the single feature that will allow one of these competitive DVD recorders to stand out above the rest, and I am surprised that this year’s Panny model has not sought more market share via that route. Based on my experience with the DMR-EZ27 and now the DMR-EZ28, I believe they use the same image processor. There are some subtle intermittent problems with image proccesssing when the recorder tries to process very busy scenes, but this may not be noticable on average sized displays. It would also have boosted their market share if they had added a Program Guide, but it is not a standard feature in DVD recorders, so I am probably just nitpicking. There is of course no recording in high definition, but that is hardly worth mentioning as noone has this feature (yet). In any event, this recorder has a MSRP of $20 less than last year’s model and it does have more features (however superficial they may be). The price alone is reason enough to choose the Panasonic DMR-EZ28 over the Panasonic DMR-EZ27, but we will have to wait for Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, LG and the others to come out with their '08 models before a final comparative recommendation can be made.



If you have a feature or flaw you would like me to include here, message me or add it to the thread to let me know.



UPDATE:
My DMR-EZ28K recently died!! I have owned it for about 11 weeks and was not using it very frequently for anything besides the tuner and occasionally watching movies or recirding a show. During the 11 week period, I used the tuner for several hours daily, used the DVD player about once every other day and used the DVD recorder about once a week.

On week 11, while I was changing channels, the recirder froze. I was unable to get it to turn off or on and after trying myltuple means of resetting the device, I ended up unplugging it in order to get it to turn off. I spent at least an hour trying to get it to turn back on, but it simply would not. Resetting (with the reset button and with the on//off button) for extended durations of time, unplugging, waiting and even yelling did not work. I managed to get the "HELLO" message to appear on the LCD display after resetting it with the on/off button at just the right time, but was unable to get further than that. It never displayed any image and I was unablet o eject the DVD tray to extract my disc.

The Panasonic support rep was no help as he simply had me repeat the steps I had done on my own to no avail, then said "you're right, it won't turn on". He offered to send me a box with instructions to ship it back to them so they can service it, but I refused as I had purchased the Besy Buy service plan when I originally purchased the device and this plan allowed me to take it directly to them, get my DVD out and have them service it without having to wait for the mailing system to transport my DVD recorder back and forth to Panasonic.

As of this update, I have retrieved my DVD and Best Buy is working on the recorder - I'll keep you updated.

1. Does the unit need to be turned OFF to start a scheduled event?
2. Is channel surfing faster than the pitifully slow EZ-x7 series?
3. Does the unit have sound on 2x forward speed search?
4. This one I'll probably have to verify, but does it consistently miss weekly and daily scheduled events? I wrote a whole thread titled "Panasonic DVD recorder fails to record a scheduled event". I found at least one test that consistently failed with the EZ-x7 series.
5. This one will take time, but does the unit consistently die(as in never work again) during scheduled events after ~1 month with U99 error when using -RW (discs for sure).

I'm sure I'll think of more questions, but I think I'll swing BB on my way home from work. Nice title for the thread! I didn't get the title post, but #2 ain't bad:D

Edit: Nice opening post! and from a newbie:cool:

Stopped by CC and they had none. Sales guy "thought" they'd be in, in about a month:confused:
Stopped by BB and same as dhjellen, they had a EZ-27 on display, and boxes of EZ-28's on the top shelf.
Call me a sadist, but I got one. It has a build date of Feb '08 and was $229. Looks quite similar to the EZ-27. This one has a Fan, can't remember if the EZ-27 did.
Front inputs include: S-video, composite, SD card(only for Jpegs) USB port(for Jpegs, MP3 and DivX only).
The remote looks identical to the EZ-x7 series DVDR's
Otherwise "on the outside" it looks very similar to the EZ-27, let's hope the insides are different:D
I'm going to hook up tonight and will report back on findings. WISH ME LUCK:eek:

Side note for anyone interested in a player. BB was also clearancing out boxes and boxes of Panasonic S53 upconverting players for $31.99!!! I really didn't need another player, but for that price picked one up:D Like all Panny's it plays RAM discs, so it's a nice companion player to this recorder.

Here's a link to the EZ28 manual....
http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMREZ28-MUL.pdf

1. The unit has to be OFF! to start a scheduled event. Argh!
2. No faster channel surfing. Still irritatingly slow. Don't know why DVDR tuners are so slow! My 2 year old Panasonic TV, and actually any digital tuner TV I own(2 others) surf just fine. No 5 second lag when changing channels like on the EZ tuner.
3. No sound on +1 search. Note I guess the EZ's don't really have 2x speed like the ES series of the past. Their first search speed is faster, more like 5?x. I really liked the 2x w/sound. You could see every frame, unlike 5x? which skips lots of frames.
4. I will advise tomorrow if this unit has the "timer bug". I setup the scheduled events that always failed on the EZ-x7 machines.
5. Time will tell on this one.

Other observations: This unit has Zoom feature. I don't believe the EZ-27 or EZ-17 had this. It is only one zoom level though, and you cannot pan and scan the zoomed image.
Like all the EZ series DVDR's this unit does not have a "phrase storage" area. On the ES Panny's of the past you could store 20? phrases in it's memory. You could recall those phrases when naming a thumbnail or disc title. I used this feature ALL the time. I had common shows I record frequently stored, then instead of having to type them in manually each time, I could just recall the phrase. I really miss this on the EZ's.
No weekly or daily event skip feature. I guess only the ES-15/25 series DVDR's had this nice feature that you could suspend a weekly or daily event. I also really used this feature since I rely heavily on weekly events, and like to suspend a event if I know a repeat is scheduled. Otherwise I have to delete the event, then add it back for next week.

Oh one other thing, this unit like all EZ's takes forever to turn on(45? seconds). First it has to warm up? for 15 seconds, then it spins the disc for 30 seconds and finally settles down. Vaccume tubes were faster:D
Oh yes, enabling quick start shaves the first 15 seconds off the warm up. It's basically like leaving the machine ON all the time(but still needs to read the disc each time). If there's no disc in the machine it only takes 15 seconds or 1 second with Q.S. on. (or 1 second with Q.S. on, and a RAM disc in the tray).
That's it for now. I'll post more as I become aware.

Edit:sorry I didn't quote my first post with questions and numbers. Didn't realize it would get so far from this post:o

How's the PQ?

Initial observations are good. I haven't noticed the "snapping" or occasional fuzzy frame like I noticed on the EZ-x7 series machines. I'll pay closer attention during a very clear HD program, that's when it showed up most on the x7's.
I also "seemed" to be better PQ when just watching HD channels live than the x7's. Still nothing like a "real" HD tuner, like the Samsung 260, but not bad. Unless you are watching a true HD channel it would probably work for someone with a HDTV. Although since my TV has a true HD tuner I'll basically never watch live TV through the DVDR.
I wouldn't say the recording is better or worse than any recent Panny DVDR recording from the same source, but if you're used to anolog tuner recordings, recording from a Wide Screen HD channel will blow you away. W.S. and quite clear. Like a commercial DVD.

Does this recorder have any problems with the likes of HBO or Showtime via satellite services? No protection issues?

Well they didn't change the timer operation. I setup a event to record last night from 8-9:01 PM XP. It finished at 9:01:30 pm. The machine turned off. At 9:05 pm it turned itself back on, displayed incrementing 000000's, then the numbers went totally away, no time, no nothing except a flashing red clock icon. It did this for 30 seconds, followed by incrementing 000000. Finally it turned off and displayed the time, with no red clock icon.
At 9:10pm I turned the machine back on, looked at the recording(all was fine). Reformatted the -RW disc and turned it back off. Note this event was a weekly event(crucial for failure of second event) and the second event was for today at 1pm-2pm XP.

I did NOT turn the machine on today prior to the second event(crucial for the second event to fail). At 1pm today NOTHING. Machine did not start second event. At 1:05pm I turned the machine on, looked at the schedule list and saw the event that should have been recording 1-2pm, it looked OK. I turned the machine OFF, and immediately the second event started to record.
This is the exact timer bug that is present in the EZ-x7 series recorders. They did nothing to fix it, or probably any of the other timer bugs(just guessing). I suppose I should not be surprised since no one at Panasonic cared to listen to my account of the bug. NO one at Panasonic I spoke with in the last 7 months seemed to have a clue.
Apparently Panasonic doesn't have a clue of forums either. I'm dumbfounded.

I think I'll play with the unit for the next 29 days, seeing if it dies the ugly u99 death that my last 5 EZ-x7's did. If it doesn't I will still return it. I really have no confidence it will last 3 months with my light use. I don't want to have go through what I did with my 5 bad EZ-x7's. Too much heartburn.
I'll report any further anomalies with this unit in the time I have it.:confused:

Wow I didn't remember that second to the last paragraph, but I'm into my second month and no major issues. Actually at 29 days I just got a new receipt(original unit) which will buy me 30 more days to be able to return(not exchange) the unit. I figure after 3 months I'll be safe. Or at least that's what I'm hoping.

In my other post I touched on the occasional fuzziness of a few frames on the EZ-17/27 series DVDR's watching live TV. I said I didn't see this on my quick test of the EZ-28, well I looked harder last night and found this:
The EZ-28 does have a very very slight problem of fuzzy frames. They seem to be most obvious watching a true 1080i HD channel. I believe CBS tends to have the best PQ and watching "Ghost whisper" on CBS HD last night I did see, if I got 2 feet from my 720p LCD TV a slight problem with fuzzy frames. Occasionally the PQ would get fuzzy(most noticeable on things like a tweed suit coat that has sharp closely spaced lines). I'm being quite picky here since I was aware of the problem with the EZ-x7 series DVDR's. I don't even know if I would have seen this if I wasn't looking for it.
Note this does not seem to be a problem with 720p channels, like FOX. I was watching House and it seemed like the PQ was actually better watching through the DVDR than on my TV's HD tuner. I know, doesn't make sense, but I flipped back and forth many times, always preferring the PQ through the DVDR. This was not always the case with every 720p channel, but does point to the good overall quality of the EZ-28 tuner on 720p channels.
On XP the recorded picture closely resembled watching TV live through the unit's tuner(very good).

DHJELLEN-Do you get the code Hdr71 on the display when turning the machine on? I get it during various operations, it only displays for a few seconds, then clears. I don't think it's a problem, more like displaying maybe firmware?? or some other thing internal to the machine. Only displays on the front display of the machine, not the TV screen.

RDGRIMES-I don't have cable or sat to try and record HBO or some other CP'd channel, but I'm sure the EZ-28 would obied by all current CP schemes.
That's what a CT-2 or DP-5000 "filter" are for:D

RDGRIMES-I don't have cable or sat to try and record HBO or some other CP'd channel, but I'm sure the EZ-28 would obied by all current CP schemes.
That's what a CT-2 or DP-5000 "filter" are for:D

Reason enough, if accurate, to stick with my trusted ES-10. But the sats are not known for strict CP, is why I was asking. There a lot of variation in recorders as to how they behave with the D* and E* services.

I don't believe Panasonic is nearly as prone to "false" CP warnings like maybe Sony would be. Recording OTA and from Non CP'd DVD's/VHS's I have never got a false CP warning from any of my Panny's, including the now returned EZ-17. I would expect similar from the EZ-28, but will refrain from commenting about Sat/Cable, since I'm only OTA. Hopefully others with Sat/cable will post their findings in that regard.

Does this recorder have any problems with the likes of HBO or Showtime via satellite services? No protection issues?

I do not have satellite or cable for my television feed. Unfortunately, I am in the same boat as jjeff and cannot comment directly on current restrictions in this area.



DHJELLEN-Do you get the code Hdr71 on the display when turning the machine on? I get it during various operations, it only displays for a few seconds, then clears. I don't think it's a problem, more like displaying maybe firmware?? or some other thing internal to the machine. Only displays on the front display of the machine, not the TV screen.


I did not recall ever seeing "Hdr71" on the front display when turining the recorder on (or at any other time for that matter). After seeing your post I tried turning it on and off several times and still did not see it. I have mine set to the quick start mode (which works great btw), so perhaps that is making a difference. Do you have the quick start on or off?

I always have QS off, but I did try it on, and I also got it, but for only 1/2 second. It happens after turning the machine on(when there is a disc in for sure) it displays for maybe 1-2 seconds right after it finishes reading the disc.
Just checked, it also happens without a disc in the tray. In that case it displays right after it tries to read the disc, it displays Hdr71, followed by No Disc. Kinda odd.
Note, nice opening post. I have read from newbies using the forum that said they would like the first post to a "official" thread updated, like you're doing. That way once the post gets to be 50! pages long, a newbie only needs to go the the first post to get the low down. Seems like you were reading their mind:D
Here's a link to that post. Good job!:cool:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=996039

Thanks for letting me know. I was debating on adding WaldorfSalad's link to the PDF of the user manual in the top post, but did not want to do it if it was frowned upon.

jjeff,
Is the DVD drive as noisy as in the EZ17 series? I do not use chase play with the EZ17 nearly as much I do with the ES20 because the drive is making such a racket going back & forth. I hear it all the way across the room. I was wondering if your EZ28 is quieter in this respect than the other Panny's that you returned.

I believe the drive is the same as in the EZ-17. I know what you're talking about but I only use mine for recording(no playing, I use a Sony player for that) so just recording it is quiet. Finalizing, changing thumbnails etc. is another story, that's when I hear the thrashing you're talking about. Note my ES-15 and ES-25 also sound like this. My last "quiet" Panny was my ES-30(I believe 2 years before ES-15). It also weighed 3 times what the ES-15 or EZ-28 does. I attribute the noise to the thinner material used for the chassis of the newer models. The old ones(like your ES20 and my ES30) were built like a tank, but hey they cost "hundreds" of dollars more than the new ones. Just like VCR's the newer ones were cheaper, but they were also "cheaper" if you get my drift. To a degree were getting what were paying for.:( but once you've seen the PQ recording off of a WS HD digital channel, it's hard to go back to analog. I would really suggest a CECB(converter box) for your ES-20. You'll probably get just as good PQ as using the EZ-28. I know I do using a Samsung 260 hooked up to my old ES series Panny's. Makes the recordings look better than new.

jjeff,

If I recall, the ES20 & EZ17 list prices were the same, or very close. However I purchased both on sale & paid $10 more for the EZ17. No big difference, but the EZ17 does have the digital tuner & as you said it makes a very good WS recording from a HD channel. As a Panny engineer said to me, they have to keep cutting costs in order to keep prices competitive. So the EZ17 probably has cheaper parts. But the difference in drive noise is unbelievable.

I went to Best Buy & looked at the new EZ28 & did see the fan on the back. I guess they figured they'd better do something, based on overheating problems mentioned on the forum. Supposedly the ES20 has a heat sink & the EZ17 does not. Perhaps they feel a fan is better than a heat sink, unless the EZ28 has both.

I'll have to check out converter boxes. Does your Samsung 260 have ATSC & QAM tuners? Can it be programmed to change channels?

Does your Samsung 260 have ATSC & QAM tuners? Can it be programmed to change channels?
Yes it has ATSC and QAM, no analog channels though, just digital ones.
As far as programming channel changes, yes it does but it's really bad.
First the box needs to be left on in order for it to change channels. Second their is no manual way to program the channel changes. The only way to program the different channels/times is to use it's built in PCIP scheduler.
Not sure if you're familiar with PCIP schedule, but it kinda sucks. It only goes out from about 6 hrs up to a couple days. It's very erratic and varies by market.
To me 6hrs is not far enough time to go out for scheduling a program.
Actually I'm probably going to return the 260 before my 30 days are up. Another quirk with the 260 is none of the OSD's are outputted to anything but HDMI or Composite. We all know no DVDR's have HDMI or Composite inputs anymore, so unless you have a TV with those inputs(I do) you will not be able to setup your box.
I'm anxiously awaiting the Echostar TR-40 CECB, which will be $40, free after coupon, and contain a better scheduler(or that's what I've heard). The date keeps getting further and further into the future. List I heard was July, I think. Note this box does NOT do QAM, only ATSC.
Mike99, the ES-20 is like a 4? year old model isn't it? Are you saying they were the same price when you purchased the ES-20 years ago? Sams club didn't carry the ES-20 that I was aware of. I bought my ES-30 w/VHS from them for I think ~$350. I'm not positive but maybe the ES-20 and ES-30 are the same, less the VHS on the ES-20.

jjeff~ How do you have your Samsung 260 connected to your DVDR? I've got a 260 and love the PQ and good reception, but when I try to connect it to my Panny DMR-E85 via composite, the aspect ratio is wrong, and I can't adjust it.

I have the component outs from the 260 going to a 4:3 SDTV, with the aspect ratio set to 4:3 Letterbox, and everything looks fine (with the black bars across the top and bottom of 16:9 broadcasts). The image through composite connections is squished horizontally and unnaturally tall.

Another quirk with the 260 is none of the OSD's are outputted to anything but HDMI or Composite. We all know no DVDR's have HDMI or Composite inputs anymore, so unless you have a TV with those inputs(I do) you will not be able to setup your box.

Actually, Jeff, you can connect the "green" cable component output from the 260 to the "yellow" cable video composite input of a TV to set up the box. The green output carries the luma signal, which is the achromatic (or black and white) image, and so you will see the OSD in B&W. I've done it and it works. Of course this does not lessen the other limitations of this tuner.

Actually, Jeff, you can connect the "green" cable component output from the 260 to the "yellow" cable video composite input of a TV to set up the box. The green output carries the luma signal, which is the achromatic (or black and white) image, and so you will see the OSD in B&W. I've done it and it works. Of course this does not lessen the other limitations of this tuner.
Good to know.
At least that way someone that had a TV without component or HDMI inputs could set the box up. I sure wish it had a display though. That way you'd know what channel you were tuned to.

jjeff~ How do you have your Samsung 260 connected to your DVDR? I've got a 260 and love the PQ and good reception, but when I try to connect it to my Panny DMR-E85 via composite, the aspect ratio is wrong, and I can't adjust it.

I have the component outs from the 260 going to a 4:3 SDTV, with the aspect ratio set to 4:3 Letterbox, and everything looks fine (with the black bars across the top and bottom of 16:9 broadcasts). The image through composite connections is squished horizontally and unnaturally tall.
I have the same setup, but my TV is 16x9. The DVD's are recorded in that squished 4x3 format. When I play them back I have my DVDR set to "stretch 4x3 to fill 16x9 screen", and they look perfect.
Note all my TV's are 16x9 now, but if I borrow one of my DVD's to a friend with a 4x3 TV, they complain about the tall skinny people.:D
It's not the best situation, but no current DVDR's correctly set the WS bit correctly. A few old Toshiba's did, and if you use RAM discs I've been told the Panasonics will correctly set the bit, but not using anything but RAM discs. In your case the discs you record will look odd for you, but if you ever get a 16x9 TV you will get the whole 16x9 image, which is very nice.
You are correct though, the 260 box is not a good fit for someone with a 4x3 TV, even worse if it doesn't have component inputs.
I bet your TV's a Sony Wega. I used to have one A 24" SD tube TV with component inputs. It was the last SD set I had. It had a nice picture, but I replaced it with a 16x9 LCD.

Mike99, the ES-20 is like a 4? year old model isn't it? Are you saying they were the same price when you purchased the ES-20 years ago? Sams club didn't carry the ES-20 that I was aware of. I bought my ES-30 w/VHS from them for I think ~$350. I'm not positive but maybe the ES-20 and ES-30 are the same, less the VHS on the ES-20.


I purchased the ES20 (no VHS) from Best Buy in December 2005 for $189.99 and it was on sale for $10 off. However BB had a $50 rebate, so it cost me $139.99 plus tax. I purchased the EZ17 from Fry's in October 2007 on sale for $149 plus tax.

I was thinking about getting an EZx8 model, but if there are no real improvements I guess I'll save my money.

I was thinking about getting an EZx8 model, but if there are no real improvements I guess I'll save my money.

I would agree with that. It looks like the processing chip, picture quality, GUI and almost everything else are all the same. There are a few exceptions. It is obviously not a revolutionary change, but I would not even consider it an evolutionary change - more like it grew from being an infant to a toddler (essentially the same creature, but with a couple more capabilities).

Agreed, but I must say I did a test recording last night of "Dancing with the stars". I recorded one DVD-RW on the EZ-28 and the other on a ES-30 which got it's WS/HD signal from a Samsung 260 tuner, via S-video.
I played back both DVD's side by side to my Panasonic 32" 720p LCD. Both were very good PQ(I used FR1.5, and noticed very little(if any) macroblocking with either).
The PQ recorded on the EZ-28 was a little sharper than the ES-30. Also there seemed to be little bit better color definition on the EZ-28.
At first I thought it was just the player. I played the ES-30 DVD on a Sony progressive scan DVD player via component outputs to LCD. I played the EZ-28 on the EZ-28 hooked up to the LCD via HDMI.
The EZ-28 was superior, so then I switched discs and this time the Sony picture looked better. This tells me the Component/HDMI connection really doesn't make a difference, but the EZ-28 recording was defiantly better. Like I said, better color definition better contrast and better resolution. Especially on hair and peoples faces.

I had previously done a similar test when I had my EZ-17, but didn't have the 260 at the time. In this test I took the S-out of the EZ-17 and fed it to my ES-25. I recorded both at the same time. With this test neither disc was obviously better than another.
Not sure if this means that the EZ-28 has better PQ than the EZ-17 or maybe the 260 does not output quite the signal that the EZ-17 did, or it even could be the ES-30 does not record as good as the ES-25. Lots of variables.

But I can say, the PQ from the EZ-28 was very good. No occasional fuzzy frame like on the EZ-17(note "Dancing..." was a 720p program, I think I've noticed a slight blur when recording CBS HD 1080i with the EZ-28).
Overall I give very good marks to the EZ-28 PQ. Very much "HD lite" like.
If the EZ-28 makes it several months I think I've got a keeper. I'll just live with the timer bug. I know surefire work arounds.

jjeff,

It looks like the EZ28 uses a Farujha chip. Do you know what the ES30 and/or the EZ17 use?

Sorry I don't. Diagdo, or someone else might. Digado's pretty familiar with the inner workings of his DVDR's, and has a ES-30 among others. Mine are all hooked up now, or I'd pop a cover.
Did you open your EZ-28 and what does the chip look like, is it the biggest one? I would imagine it would be on the main board?
Tomorrow I could pop a cover on a ES-15, it's probably the easiest to get at.

No, I didn't pop it open. I emailed Panasonic and they actually replied!!!

I guess I could pop it open to look, but it is so entangled into my HT system that it would be a HA.

jjeff,

It looks like the EZ28 uses a Farujha chip. Do you know what the ES30 and/or the EZ17 use?What? Do you mean a Faroudja DCDi chip? That would be very unusual to find a Faroudja deinterlacer chip in a low-end DVD recorder. You generally only find those in higher end players (i.e. Oppo). Where did you read this. It is not on the Panasonic web site for the EZ28 and inclusion of a Faroudja chip is something a manufacturer will crow about.

Jeff,

My DMR-ES30V models are set aside for standby service, stored in a closet in their original boxes. If the DMR-ES30V chips are mounted the same way as on the DMR-ES35V it is necessary to remove the chassis motherboard from the case to see the chips as they are found on the underside of the motherboard.

I am examining the chips on a disassembled DMR-ES35V. The legible markings, as best I can read them, are shown below.

MOST OF THE MAJOR CHIPS ARE FOUND ON THE LEFT CHASSIS MOTHERBOARD:

Panasonic, MN67788, 601C6728, 1990 GDC

no mfg identification, M377GAVCWA 1, 1F3 602AZ0

no mfg identification, AN5832SA, 602

no mfg identification, 5L54HP N, A118425BF

PANASONIC, AN3656NFBP

no mfg identification, 5M4S180, AM8527F, JAPAN

SHARP, 0509H, 7X TD

M, 601, 595A

SHARP, 501NA 1, 7X TD

no mfg identification, BD6904FP, 601 H74

(Some of the above chips are very small. All of the following chips are very small.)

RIGHT CHASSIS MOTHERBOARD:

no mfg identification, S24CSO, 8AVEZ

no mfg identification, m 544, 6830

no mfg identification, L2904

There are four standup chips in the power supply section on the front side of the right chassis motherboard.

Maybe Kelson would know more, but I would think the chip were talking about would be a big more square chip, like a CPU chip, but then again I really don't have a clue. I doubt it's one of the smaller ones....:confused:

Jeff,

I forgot to list the chips on the DVD drive controller circuit board (VEP79132) for the DMR-ES35V:

There is one large chip (about 35mm square) under an aluminum heatsink. The heatsink has some bonding material and anchoring bands. I don't wish to disturb the bonding material. I assume that this is the primary cpu for the machine. In the DMR-ES35V this circuit board is on a subassembly suspended between the right chassis motherboard and the DVD drive in the path of air circulation from the right side ventilation holes in the case and the fan at the right on the rear panel.

The other chips are:

Panasonic, AN22116A, 618P4003, A

Panasonic, AN133504, JAPAN

Spansion, 529JL064H70TF100, 0607FFC A, 03 Spansion

There are two matched Micron RAM chips: 0628 4-2, 46V16M16, P -6T F

no mfg identification, AN41211A, 629C3597

no mfg identification, 64EV2FTC, TSB41AB2

There are eight smaller chips with markings.

I'm curious about the heat sink, or lack of it. I thought I read that the ES20 has a clip-on heat sink & the EZ17 has none. Which could be the cause of some EZ17 problems. Of course I also read about capacitors that are leaking. I don't know if that is a heat issue or just an over-burdened component. An easy upgrade to the EZ17 would be to get a clip-on heat sink from Panasonic, if this is indeed available. Adding a fan would be a bit more challenging. At least the EZx8 has a fan. Perhaps Panasonic learned a lesson from the EZx7 series. I dunno. I'll have to pull the covers off my units when I get a chance.

Mike,

The DMR-EZ17 does have a fan. Both of my EZ17 models are now set up for current use so I am unable to examine them. My #2 EZ17 was opened, out of curiosity, when I first got it. About all I examined was the DVD drive--noting that it had a power cable attached to the left side of the drive--unlike the 2006 DVD drives that had nothing but ribbon cables--and I noted the circuit board carrying the LSI chip--which I assume is the digital tuning section in addition to the "tin box" analog tuner.

The DMR-ES20 is a 2005 model. I have serviced the DVD drives on my DMR-ES30V (also 2005 models) and I opened the cover on the power supply platform to examine the capacitors, but I do not remember examining much else on these models.

All my 2006 models (all are DMR-ES15 or DMR-ES35V models) use the very same DVD drive controller circuit board (VEP79132). On the DMR-ES15 the DVD controller board is beside the DVD drive and on the DMR-ES35V is on the subassembly under the DVD drive. There is no rear panel fan on the DMR-ES15. There is space allocated in the DMR-ES15 for a fan and a space reserved on the chassis motherboard for the fan power connector but no actual connector.

The fan on the DMR-ES35V is around 1/4 larger than that on the DMR-ES30V. It seems to me that the fan speed is thermally controlled on these models. The DMR-ES35V is quieter than the DMR-ES30V perhaps due to the fan situation, perhaps due to the very different DVD drive design, or both. The DMR-ES30V drive is a large black plastic assembly largely open at the bottom and the DMR-ES35V is more like a computer DVD drive--a self-contained mostly sealed-up metal unit. The DMR-ES35V case has twice as many ventilation holes on the right side of case than a DMR-ES30V.

DigaDo,

Thanks for the information. I don't know how I never noticed a fan on the EZ17. I'm just guessing the holes in the rear panel did not look like they had a fan. It's obviously quiet, especially when compared to the DVD drive! Do you recall if there was also a heat sink on this model?

I wanted to take off the covers on both of mine in order to compare & also to clean the spindles. I'm grasping at straws here, but I am hoping cleaning the EZ17 may quiet it down a bit. Perhaps the disc is slipping at times. Have you ever lubricated any sliding parts on any drive? Perhaps parts rubbing is the cause of most drive noise.

Both of my units are in a cabinet which I have to move in order to get at the connections. While not difficult, it's just time consuming. Hopefully I'll get a chance to work on them in a few weeks.

Mike,

I don't recall examining the DMR-EZ17 model very closely. I would suggest providing good ventilation for any DVD recorder.

Just below the DVD tray there are two rods where the lens assembly is mounted. The lens assembly slides back and forth on these rods. There is lubrication on the rods. I have not disturbed the existing lubrication on any of my Panasonics. I am not familiar with specifications for this lubrication nor criteria for the proper amount. Perhaps you may be right about lubrication and noise, but debris on the rubber spindle hub and slippage will certainly contribute to noise.

On 2005 drives there is a greased bumper built into the DVD drive lid at the back just behind and above the disc.

In an earlier post I described the squealing when my first DMR-ES30V was burning two DVD+RW discs, mistakenly used before I realized that this format was not supported by the DMR-ES30V. DVD-R discs were usually quiet on this machine until the DVD drive started to fail about ten months later. The Panasonic Service Center in Elgin IL replaced this drive under warranty.

The heat sink on the 2006 models is flat with raised edges on opposite edges. There are no fins. The anchoring band is fastened to the center of the heat sink and with nylon fittings, similar to computer motherboard standoffs, at the ends.

The last Panny DVD players to include the Faroudja chip were the S77 and S97 which originally listed in the $250-300 range. Although a great picture, the commonly complained about downside of the Faroudja chip was macroblock enhance on some HDTVs.

What? Do you mean a Faroudja DCDi chip? That would be very unusual to find a Faroudja deinterlacer chip in a low-end DVD recorder. You generally only find those in higher end players (i.e. Oppo). Where did you read this. It is not on the Panasonic web site for the EZ28 and inclusion of a Faroudja chip is something a manufacturer will crow about.Not to mention that there would be a "DCDI" logo on the unit if it did have it.

I recently purchased a DMR-EZ17 and a DMR-EZ37V. I was about to buy more when I found they had been discontinued. I am trying to decide whether I should get the DMR-EZ28 and DMR-EZ48V or try to track down remaining inventories of the discontinued models. I'm mainly concerned with reliability and support. The x7 models lock up a lot. Are the x8 models any better?

I also have a playback problem with the x7 models that is preventing me from using DVD+RW discs. On all other media I've tried (-RW, RAM, DVD-V), the search function works properly in all 5 speeds. However, with DVD+RW the x30 search speed whizzes through the disc at over 600X. I would say this is a design flaw since it happens on both the 17 and 37. Can you tell me if this problem still exists with the x8's?

As far as reliability they only came out 1? week ago so it's a little too soon to say. I've been putting mine through the paces and so far, other than the still present timer bug, it's been working without a hitch. Ask again in 30 days. I figure if it goes 90 days I'll be on the home stretch.
All Panny's that record to + media search them in what can only be described as "weird". You gave a good description. They either have 4x or the next step is 5 seconds for 2 hrs! not very practical at all. It's why I never use + media. Note from what I have found +R discs will search fine, once they've been finalized. +RW's cannot be finalized, therefor they never search correctly.
I suppose you could say it's a design flaw, I'd just attribute it more to Panasonic's minimal support for the + media. They can advertise it records to all media, but - or RAM's are really the way to go with Panny's.
I'm currently running a test recording to a +RW for you on my EZ-28, I'll post the results once the disc has enough on it to search. I'll just update this post. Jeff

Update:Yes +RW's still search "weird". They go from 10x to 30x, except 30x takes you through 1/2hr SP material in 4 seconds. 30x is the same as 70x and 200x.

HDr71-for anyone wondering what the HDr71 I am getting is about I found out. It's Panasonic's VieraLink feature. Since my TV is also a Panny, and I use HDMI to connect the 2, somehow the 2 are communicating, when they are it displays HDr71. When I turn the TV on or OFF the display on the EZ-28 says HDr71. Note I have disabled this feature on both TV and DVDR, but still get the status messages. My guess is DHJELLEN does not have a Panny TV, hense no HDr71 message. At least one anomaly figured out!

Update:Yes +RW's still search "weird".

Thanks. That's disappointing. I guess what I really need to know is if the x8's are any *worse* than the x7's. I'm more inclined to get the new models than risk any problems that would be involved in acquiring discontinued equipment, but I'm bummed over the idea that I'm going to have to pay more for these machines just because they have additional features that I don't care about.

I agree. The EZ-17 was a better fit for me, and at the $179 that they many times sold at, it was $50 cheaper than the EZ-28:(
So far I can't say there is anything worst about the EZ-28 than the EZ-27, in fact I'd sat the PQ might even be a bit better. As noted I don't get the "occasional fuzzy frame" on the EZ28 viewing 720p channels that I did on the EZ-17/27. I can detect it slightly watching very clear 1080i channels if I look real hard, but not nearly as bad as the x7 series.
Time will tell on the reliability part.

HDr71-for anyone wondering what the HDr71 I am getting is about I found out. It's Panasonic's VieraLink feature. Since my TV is also a Panny, and I use HDMI to connect the 2, somehow the 2 are communicating, when they are it displays HDr71. When I turn the TV on or OFF the display on the EZ-28 says HDr71. Note I have disabled this feature on both TV and DVDR, but still get the status messages. My guess is DHJELLEN does not have a Panny TV, hense no HDr71 message. Why don't you have some fun and leave the VieraLink on to test it out. As I read it, Viera (short for Visual Era) is the name Panasonic is giving to their new flat panel lines. VieraLink is now what they used to call EZSynch. The components talk to each other over HDMI and enable control through single remotes. It's suposed to work that if you turn on the EZ28, it in turn is supposed to turn on your linked LCD and change the input to HDMI. I think there is also functionality (but it may only be with the newer plasmas) that the DVDR will link to the display and synch it's channel to the displays channel so you can immediately record what you are watching with a button push on the remote.

In the old EZx7 series, everyone got a digital tuner but only half got HDMI connections. In the EZx8 serie, everyone gets an HDMI connection and I think that has as much to do with providing VieraLink across the line as upconversion. Why don't you enable it and check it out. It could be a lot of fun.

I thought about that, but really don't want my devices talking behind my back:D
But seriously I'm kind of a control freak in that respect. I like each device to have it's own remote, and only turn on or change channels when I push the button.
I know people love their Harmony remotes, but I personally think they'd drive nuts. There are times I might want to turn on my DVDR(say to swap a disc) but maybe not turn the TV on. It would bug me that the TV would turn on "assuming" I wanted to watch TV, when I really just wanted to swap the disc. That type of thing.
I remember towards the end of VCR's they enabled many automatic features like auto play. That feature drove me nuts. Most of the time when I was inserting a tape I would probably not want it to play for quite some time, but it would start right away. Not to mention auto shut off. Some VCR's had a feature to eject the tape and turn the machine OFF after rewinding the tape. Maybe I just wanted to rewind the tape and play it again.:(
I always look for devices that have as many manual overrides as possible.;)

But I suppose for some people the VieraLink would be nice, but not for this "manual" kind of guy:D
Don't forget I'm the one guy that asked the question "does the tr-50 have a manual VCR type programming override" in response to the Ad that said "and it's automatic built in guide programmer eliminates "pesky VCR type programming"":D:D
But then again I suppose a "test" wouldn't hurt:) Maybe I'll give it a whirl tonight.

But then again I suppose a "test" wouldn't hurt:) Maybe I'll give it a whirl tonight.I understand your position, but look at it this way. You appear to be the only one on-board with a pair of VieraLink components to even be able to explore the connectivity. Even if you don't want to use it on a premanent basis I, for one, would love to read what you find they can do. The Panasonic website currently has little information -- it's too new.

Go ahead, give it a whirl.

Well Ramm once said that if I got used to a schedule list programmer, I would never go back to VCR type programming. I'm not sure about that yet, but the Viera Link thing seems kinda cool.
My TV is a 2+ year old Panny LCD. It does have the Viera logo in the upper corner(which I never really paid attention to). Now I know what it does.

I like it's operation. I am able to turn on the DVDR(for example to change discs) without it turning the TV on. If I push play on the DVDR it will turn on the TV. That makes sense, I guess I would never want to PLAY the DVD without having the TV on.
Also if the DVDR is on, but the TV is off and I push say schedule list on the DVDR, it will also turn the TV on. Again makes sense if I wanted to look at the program schedule the TV would need to be on. Oh and when it turns the TV on, it also switches to HDMI input, even if I had previously been watching something else. That makes sense.

Now if I turn the TV off, the DVDR also goes off. THAT'S NICE, because with the EZ series Panny DVDR's it will NOT start a scheduled recording if the DVDR is on. Kinda makes it safer that way, one less chance for a missed scheduled recording.
One thing that I didn't like at first, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If the DVDR is playing, and I turn the TV off, the DVDR turns off. At first I didn't like this because at times I am copying say a DVD, and don't want the TV to be on. The more I thought about this though I never use the DVDR for the player. I use my Sony DVD player for that and use my Panny DVDR for the recorder. Now if the EZ-28 is RECORDING and I turn the TV off, the DVDR will keep recording, as it should! This would be nice for the kids(actually I never let my kids play with the DVDR's), but if they did, I can't tell you how many times I've come into the room to find the kids gone, TV off, and DVD player playing away! That would not happen if they were playing on the EZ-28, as soon as the TV was turned off, the DVDR would also turn off, and when they would push PLAY on the turned off DVDR, the TV would come on and the DVD would resume where they left off.:cool:

So far I can't find a downside to all this automation so I think I'll leave it on for a while. Maybe it's something I could get used to:D
Now the Harmony, that would be a different story:D

Just looked at the box for the S53 Panasonic DVD player I purchased at the same time as the EZ-28, for the ridiculous price of $32! It also says EZ-Synch HDAVI control. I wonder how it works. I was planning on maybe replacing the Sony player but again as I noted above, I wouldn't want it turning off when I turned off the TV, at least in the case if it was playing to the DVDR for copying a DVD. Otherwise I suppose it normally would make sense to turn the TV off. It's still sealed in the box, haven't had time to play with it yet!

So far I can't find a downside to all this automation so I think I'll leave it on for a while. Maybe it's something I could get used to:DHaha, gottcha.

Seriously, thanks for the info. Any hint about the channel sych thing. Are there options to select for configuration or is it just VieraLink on or off.

And I wanted to ask, is the picture out the HDMI crisp and vivid or is it dark like some have reported with the Philips 3575.

No not dark at all. From my experience with my ES-25 I didn't notice any better PQ using HDMI vs. composite, both were great. There is also a HDMI adjustment for dark/light. I have left it default and it looks fine. Honestly the only reason I was using HDMI was because of the ONE cable for both audio and video, now the Viera is another advantage.
I did see something about Veria link HDAVI control 3?? when setting up the Viera on the DVDR, but my TV only has one HDMI input, so I kinda blew by it, and it works fine.
What do you understand the "channel synch" thing is about, is it when you have more than one HDMI device hooked to a TV that has more than one HDMI input?
And yes on my TV and also DVDR there is various options like turning things on/off using Viera and other options. For now I turned every thing on, fully automatic. It seems to be working good so far, I'll keep you posted, but yes, if say a person didn't like things turning on/off by themselves it looks like it's just a option, while still retaining some of the other features of the Viera Link.

What? Do you mean a Faroudja DCDi chip? That would be very unusual to find a Faroudja deinterlacer chip in a low-end DVD recorder. You generally only find those in higher end players (i.e. Oppo). Where did you read this. It is not on the Panasonic web site for the EZ28 and inclusion of a Faroudja chip is something a manufacturer will crow about.

Those were my thoughts exactly. I emailed Panasonic to ask them what the DMR-EZ28 uses for image processing. I also asked them if this is the same chip from the DMR-EZ27. They replied via email and told stated:

Panasonic Consumer Support:
Thank you for your inquiry. Our unit is designed with a Panasonic Farujha chip. Thank you for your interest in Panasonic products.

Thank You,

Panasonic Consumer Support

I recently edited my main post in this thread to include this information, so you might have missed it if you had read through it earlier. It is noteworthy to mention that hey did not reply to my question about differences between this model and the previous one. Nor did they state which specific Farujha chip they use. One thought I had is that perhaps a Panasonic Farujha chip is not a real Farujha chip, but I have no real basis for that statement. This is even more puzzling because, as Rammitinski points out, there is no DCDi logo on the device.

Since that initial email, I replied back. I have asked again about differences between models and asked for more specifics on the chip. No response yet.

Can anyone rattle off any model numbers for Panasonic devices (of any kind) that are known to carry a Farujha chip?

I recently purchased a DMR-EZ17 and a DMR-EZ37V. I was about to buy more when I found they had been discontinued. I am trying to decide whether I should get the DMR-EZ28 and DMR-EZ48V or try to track down remaining inventories of the discontinued models. I'm mainly concerned with reliability and support. The x7 models lock up a lot. Are the x8 models any better?

I also have a playback problem with the x7 models that is preventing me from using DVD+RW discs. On all other media I've tried (-RW, RAM, DVD-V), the search function works properly in all 5 speeds. However, with DVD+RW the x30 search speed whizzes through the disc at over 600X. I would say this is a design flaw since it happens on both the 17 and 37. Can you tell me if this problem still exists with the x8's?

After reading your post. I tried it maxium FF with my ez38 and I had similiar problems to what jjeff described. I have not tried it on the +R media, but there are no problems on my RAM discs.

Can anyone rattle off any model numbers for Panasonic devices (of any kind) that are known to carry a Farujha chip?It's spelled Faroudja (as in Yves Faroudja) so assuming the Panasonic rep really means Faroudja and just can't spell, I would guess that a Panasonic "Farujha" chip is a Panasonic made ASIC with licensed Faroudja technology. Faroudja is best known in the consumer space for their DCDi deinterlacer chip/technology, but in the broadcast space they make the upconverters that broadcasters use to upconvert NTSC to HD while they update (or preserve) their SD equipment. You've all probably been watching quite a bit of it without knowing.

As Rammitinski noted if it contained a Faroudja DCDi chip it would have the DCDi logo on the case. Otherwise, look for any chip labeled Genesis Microchip inside. Faroudja is a division of Genesis and Genesis makes video processor chips.

jjeff -

Your VieraLink does sound like a nice feature. But I do want to comment about the Harmony remote. I have one & it it does come in handy for turning on & configuring my system. It sets the TV, DVD player (or whatever) & receiver all to the correct inputs. My wife likes that (no more cheat sheets). If I want to swap discs, then I use the remote for the second DVD machine in order to turn it on without turning off the first one. So there are times when using the dedicated remote is useful, but not necessary. What comes in handy is controlling the DVD player and the receiver with one remote. I can skip commercials & adjust the volume with the same remote.

I saw the S53 Panasonic DVD player for $53 closeout at one BB and $62 at another. Fry's had them stacked in the aisle for $99, but the shelf label was $59. I thought about getting one but was wondering if they displayed remaining disc time like a typical DVD player. I miss this info when using the Panny recorders. Let us know how you like yours after you take it out of the box.

mike99-Yes that will be a big factor in whether I keep the S53. When I was researching DVD players a couple years ago VERY few I tried actually had my favorite feature, remaining time. I don't think I tried a Panny player though. At $32 I just couldn't pass it up, but after making a list of all the features I loved about my Sony player I'm betting that the Panasonic will be lucky to have half of them. Just a guess. Honestly I can't complain about one thing on my Sony player, well I suppose a universal remote would have been nice. It does have controls for Sony TV's, but only Sony not my Panny.
I think I'll try and set it up this weekend. Problem is I have no inputs left on my TV:D I would have never thought 5 AV inputs would not be enough, although only one is HDMI and one is component. The rest are S- or composite.

Kelson-You seem to be interested in the Viera link thing, do you know when Panasonic started it, and do other brands like Sony have something similar?
My LCD is 2+ years and does display the Viera logo, as does the EZ-28. I can't remember if the EZ-27 had it, if so I never used it. Also my 2 year old ES-25 displays the HDAVI control on a sticker, but no mention of Viera. I guess I never enabled it when using HDMI to the ES-25. Now the EZ-28 is using my only HDMI port on my TV, so I can't test it.
I wonder if Viera is just Panasonic's brand name for the generic HDAVI control system? If other brands use the HDAVI control are they interchangeable with the Panny, or brand specific?

jjeff,
I doubt anyone would be interchangable with another brand. The whole idea is to provide a feature of interconnectivity that lures (locks) you into a single manufacturer. Toshiba has their own system and so did Sony. Your ES-25 probably has the previous incarnation of EZ-Synch. It would be worth it to see if they made VieraLink backwards compatible with their previous system. One would hope so. Also that S53 you have supports the previous EZ-Synch system. You should try plugging these components into your HDMI port just to see if the VieraLink recognizes them.

P.S. I know you have the S53, but go check out the new S54. It has VieraLink and "Deep Color" -- whatever that is.

P.P.S. Only 1 HDMI? Check out Oppo HDMI switcher (http://www.oppodigital.com/hm31/). It too supports "Deep Color" so there must be something to it. I'll have to go look it up later.

Actually I have a Monoprice HDMI 4x1 v1.3 switcher. I haven't hooked it up yet but am wondering if the VieraLink signal would go through it? I know I would need to have the EZ-28 output selected to ensure it would control the TV, but I'm just not positive the signal would go through the switcher at all.
When I bought the switcher last month I had no Idea about the whole VieraLink thing. If it even works, I'm sure the VieraLink's functions will decrease after the switcher. For one thing I will have to manually select each specific input with the switcher, I guess unless Panasonic makes a VieraLink compatible switcher:D
and lord knows how much that would cost:eek:

The new Viera plasmas have 3 HDMI inputs. I can see a Panasonic BluRay player eventually, but VieraLink won't do me any good with a TR-50 and an Oppo player.

Yes the year after I bought my LCD they all got 3 inputs. Funny how most of the Panasonic literature points to Panny Plasma's but the Viera works on the LCD's as well.
Panasonic seems to be that way. Always have to have something different. There always touting RAM and Plasma, which might be superior, but most of the world has gone RW and LCD:D

Well, they jumped on BluRay early so they're not totally out in left field.

Does that Panny DVD player that's going for cheap also play RAM's? That would definitely be a good thing to have then for RAM-capable recorder owners to extend the lives of their machines.

Panasonic seems to be that way. Always have to have something different. There always touting RAM and Plasma, which might be superior, but most of the world has gone RW and LCD:DNaw - plenty of plasmas are still being sold - especially the Pannies. They still keep churnin' 'em out.

Does that Panny DVD player that's going for cheap also play RAM's? That would definitely be a good thing to have then for RAM-capable recorder owners to extend the lives of their machines.
Sure does, I wouldn't expect Panasonic to produce a product that didn't. I don't know if BB still has them though. I think it was a week? ago I got mine. They had stacks of them at the time, but at that price who knows. Ultimate Electronics has them in there ad this week, on sale for $89, was $99:D
The box lists ALL formats, including DivX and MPEG4. I think I'll crack the box this weekend. I'll have to disconnect something else though:confused:
Oh and I'm not saying Plasma's are dead my any means. Just seem to see mostly LCD's now-a-days, and I've noticed RAM's can be quite hard to find, not impossible though.

That S53 was "on sale" at two different BB's near me for $62. For $32, it's a no-brainer. For $62, I have to think about it.

I'm looking forward to hooking up my EZ28 when I get home. Bought one today during lunch at a local BB. Usually, I don't buy anything there, unless it's on serious sale. But, these will be close to MSRP for a while at most authorized dealers, and I had a 10% off coupon. Plus, because it's a B&M, it'll be easy to return if it's as buggy as so many make out these EZ's to be.

FTR, I've never had a problem with Panasonic HDD/DVD recorders. Other than the clunky interface and horrible manuals, they've worked rock-solid.

Good luck with yours, mines been working like a charm. Yes it seems like the same stores in different markets can have dramatically different prices. That's one reason I like to have my location below my name. If I state a price hopefully people will at least know what area it was at. I think in my area they were marked as clearance with a red? price or tag. Probably getting rid of them for a newer model, possibly the S54 Kelson mentioned.

Good idea about the B&M stores. I don't know what I would have done about all my bad EZ-17's if I had to mail them back each time they died. I can tell you it wouldn't have made it to 5 units for sure! Good find on the 10% coupon. All mine had expired and I haven't got one in a while.
My guess is once the dust has settled the EZ-28 will go on sale once in a while for $199.

GGood find on the 10% coupon. All mine had expired and I haven't got one in a while.
Enjoy!

https://moversguide.usps.com/img/coupon/bestbuy/200802_clientarea.gif

Here's the URL, as well: https://moversguide.usps.com/img/coupon/bestbuy/200802_clientarea.gif

garypen is the man!!

Does that Panny DVD player that's going for cheap also play RAM's? That would definitely be a good thing to have then for RAM-capable recorder owners to extend the lives of their machines.

The Panasonic S53 DVD player does support RAM.

AFAIK all Panasonic players support RAM except for the budget S1 model, which I don't think is being sold anymore.

The Post Office change of address moving kit (in the lobby at our local post office) has the Best Buy coupon/card good through the end of May.

The link I provided is to the USPS "moving kit" site. Easier than trudging down to the PO, especially if they are out of them.

Hey all...

I found this today, while searching for a way to change registration details on my DMR-EZ27...

Software Download - DMR-EZ27 DVD Recorder Firmware Update
Date of Release: 2/28/08 5:00 AM
Version: U8-217
Operating System: N/A
Models: DMR-EZ27,DMR-EZ27K

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vSupportDownloadDetail?idval=UCM_PRD_CNT_007139&ModelNumber=DMR-EZ27K&productTitle=Software+Download+-+DMR-EZ27+DVD+Recorder+Firmware+Update&contentType=Software+Download&storeId=15001

Hopefully this will help with some of the bugs we're experiencing...

I was watching live TV last night on my Panny LCD's tuner. All the sudden the input changed and something else was playing:mad: It was the VieraLink taking over. You see I had a event scheduled to record on the EZ-28 at 9pm. Well when the EZ-28 turned on to record the event the TV detected it and switched inputs:( I would call this a flaw. I don't think the TV should switch inputs just because a scheduled event is starting. I can see that it would switch inputs if I push PLAY on the EZ-28, but not for a scheduled event.
Dang, and I was just getting used to how nice it seemed to operate. I'll still leave it on, but "strike one".:D

Update on Viera ilink changing TV's input during timer recording. It's somewhat erratic. I'd day it will change the TV input during timer recordings 20% of the time. 80% it does not, as I would like. Still running with Viera ON.

update-the Viera changing inputs during timer recording seems to be happening less and less. Can't remember the last time it happened. If I had to say I would say it happens "rarely". One out of a hundred?

I notice that the power and open/close buttons are on top. I plan on having 5 of these units stacked on top of each other. Will the buttons be inaccessible in this configuration?

I notice that the power and open/close buttons are on top. I plan on having 5 of these units stacked on top of each other. Will the buttons be inaccessible in this configuration?
WOW, you're really gutsy! Let us know how they all hold up.
The area that the buttons reside is slightly slanted forward. Looking at the unit I think there would be enough room to get the tip of your finger between the button and the unit on top of it. Since the buttons are in the extreme front you could also stagger each unit back 3/4" or so, that would give even more room for your finger.
Yes I think I prefer the slanted front on the ES-15/25 series DVDR's. With those stacking was not an issue, though I don't think it would be a problem with the EZ-28 either.

I notice that the power and open/close buttons are on top. I plan on having 5 of these units stacked on top of each other. Will the buttons be inaccessible in this configuration?That design is part of Panasonic's new universal design initiative. All of their Diga line looks like that, other than those with a built-in VCR.

I've already accidently pushed them many times in the one day I've owned the EZ28, just moving it around in the cabinet. And, I did it a few times recently in Japan while setting up a similar Japanese Diga model at my mother in law's place.

The thing that is really weird is that the power button is over the drive tray, and the eject button is on the opposite side of the drive tray. Whoever came up with that design, and everyone who approved, are grade A morons.

jjeff,

I have been trying to elicit the gitch you spoke of over the last couple of days. I have been lost a recorded event about half the time. As you said in one of your posts, if the 2nd scheduled event is in the early morning, then sometimes the 2nd event still records - I was actually successful pretty frequently when the 2nd event was in the early AM. If I had my second event after noon on the following day, it consistently missed it.

Thought I'd drop this post to let you know you are not crazy - it appears to be genuine.

A work-around I tried that seemed to work pretty consistenly was this. Lets say I have two scheduled events at 7pm on Monday and Tuesday. If I schedule the Monday event as the first one, then schedule a dummy event in the early AM Tuesday morning, the Tuesday evening event records pretty consistently. The dummy event is a 1-2 minute throw away event that is added to 'outsmart' the glitch. I hope this helps.

This may be a variation of the same workaround I used with a DMR-ES40V (a bug-laden 2005 model). I couldn't record a half hour program from 2:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. early Tuesday morning. The workaround was to program a two minute "dummy program" from 11:59 p.m. Monday to 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. That dummy program crossing over midnight broke the "early a.m. bug" allowing the 2:00 a.m. Tuesday program to record correctly.

Hey all...

I found this today, while searching for a way to change registration details on my DMR-EZ27...

Software Download - DMR-EZ27 DVD Recorder Firmware Update
Date of Release: 2/28/08 5:00 AM
Version: U8-217
Operating System: N/A
Models: DMR-EZ27,DMR-EZ27K

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vSupportDownloadDetail?idval=UCM_PRD_CNT_007139&ModelNumber=DMR-EZ27K&productTitle=Software+Download+-+DMR-EZ27+DVD+Recorder+Firmware+Update&contentType=Software+Download&storeId=15001

Hopefully this will help with some of the bugs we're experiencing...

Thank you for the additional information. Based on posts I've seen by jjeff, I do not think they have addressed the scheduled recording glitch in the firmware update for the DMR-EZ27. In any event the DMR-EZ28 uses a different version of that firmware. At least I assume it is a different version as the EZ28's GUI includes a menu to access the USB drive. There was no USB drive on the EZ27, so the firmware for the EZ27 was different. I assume they updated the old software in some capacity for the EZ28, but it does not appear that any of their updates that addressed the scheduling glitch.

For those who are unclear about the firmware update for the DMR-EZ27: AS OF THIS POST, THERE IS NO FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR THE DMR EZ28. YOU SHOULD NOT UPDATE THE DMR-EZ28'S FIRMWARE WITH THE DMR-EZ27'S FIRMWARE UPDATE.

Another workaround I learned on the DMR-ES40V (that is also necessary for my DMR-EZ17 models) is to schedule with actual dates rather than daily or weekly scheduling. None of my DMR-ES30V (2005) models or DMR-ES35V and DMR-ES15 (both 2006) models had scheduling bugs.

The Panasonic S53 DVD player does support RAM.

AFAIK all Panasonic players support RAM except for the budget S1 model, which I don't think is being sold anymore.That's why I asked - because I remembered seeing a real cheap unit of theirs at Target at one time that didn't have it. Must've been the S1.

The thing that is really weird is that the power button is over the drive tray, and the eject button is on the opposite side of the drive tray. Whoever came up with that design, and everyone who approved, are grade A morons.
At first glance I thought the same thing, the Eject should be over the drive, but then when I glanced at all the other 10! things in my AV cabinet and it made sense. The power button was on the left side of ALL of my 10 devices. I think that is the one industry standard that is "standard".


Thought I'd drop this post to let you know you are not crazy - it appears to be genuine.
Thanks, I appreciate that:) Since I don't read a lot of other people having this problem I wonder.....I think not a lot of people A. program there DVDR for scheduled events(more use it to backup there DVR) B. Use Weekly or Daily events. C. Only use there DVDR for a recorder, and hence power up there DVDR regularly(which clears the bug).

Another workaround I learned on the DMR-ES40V (that is also necessary for my DMR-EZ17 models) is to schedule with actual dates rather than daily or weekly scheduling. None of my DMR-ES30V (2005) models or DMR-ES35V and DMR-ES15 (both 2006) models had scheduling bugs.
Agree with every thing you said(except I haven't used the ES-35, the ES-25 I have also has no bugs)

There are defiantly relatively easy workarounds for the bug(once you understand it), it's just I REALLY wish Panasonic would have corrected it on there end, so we wouldn't have to resort to workarounds.
I wonder since the rest of the world now has EZ series Panny's if there's also has this bug, or if it's just the US models that have been cursed.

This may be a variation of the same workaround I used with a DMR-ES40V (a bug-laden 2005 model). I couldn't record a half hour program from 2:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. early Tuesday morning. The workaround was to program a two minute "dummy program" from 11:59 p.m. Monday to 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. That dummy program crossing over midnight broke the "early a.m. bug" allowing the 2:00 a.m. Tuesday program to record correctly.

There was an ES20 bug "midnight" bug that may be related to the ES40. If I scheduled any timer recording that started before midnight and ended after (or on) midnight, it would record in some real slow mode, probably 8 hr. And the display on the TV would read over a million hours remaining! Others on this forum had the same problem. I actually ended up speaking with a Panasonic engineer & he was able to duplicate the problem. It took a few months, but between Panasonic and LSI (the chip maker) a firmware update was made which did correct the problem. It's just too bad other timer bugs are still around.

I just purchased the DMR-EZ28 yesterday and I'm putting it through its paces and learning about its quirks. I'm quite pleased with the picture quality when I record from my cable company's QAM channels and upconvert the picture to my HDTV. Overall, I quite like this unit.

However, I'm not getting any response from the Time Slip and CM Skip buttons on the remote. For example, during playback (using -RW media), when I press the CM Skip button, nothing happens. I thought it was supposed to skip forward by one minute. Same thing with the Time Slip button - it doesn't seem to do anything. I feel like I'm overlooking something obvious. Any help?

However, I'm not getting any response from the Time Slip and CM Skip buttons on the remote. For example, during playback (using -RW media), when I press the CM Skip button, nothing happens. I thought it was supposed to skip forward by one minute. Same thing with the Time Slip button - it doesn't seem to do anything. I feel like I'm overlooking something obvious. Any help?
I'm not 100% sure with the newer model Panasonics, but I assumed that CM and Time slip only worked when using RAM discs. And on unfinalized RWs. I do know that CM & TS doesn't work on discs that are finalized, or commercial, store bought dvds.
Or perhaps the RWs need to be recorded in VR mode. Again, don't have the newer models, but I seem to recall reading here that the newer ones feature 2 options for recoding on RW discs.

Both TS and CM skip only work on "unfinalized" or RAM discs, possibly +RW's since they are not finalized(I personally really never use +RW's so I'm not positive).

Mike99,

Several days ago you were curious about the CPU heatsink found on the DVD drive controller circuit board. In the following post there is a link to a group of photos where a similar heatsink may be seen:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13268159#post13268159

The heatsink in the DMR-ES35V and DMR-ES15 models does not have such tall side walls as those in the photos.

I'm not 100% sure with the newer model Panasonics, but I assumed that CM and Time slip only worked when using RAM discs. And on unfinalized RWs. I do know that CM & TS doesn't work on discs that are finalized, or commercial, store bought dvds.
Or perhaps the RWs need to be recorded in VR mode. Again, don't have the newer models, but I seem to recall reading here that the newer ones feature 2 options for recoding on RW discs.
Ah yes, thank you. The CM Skip and Time Slip does work on unfinalized -RW disks. I had been using finalized disks. I don't seem to see that little detail on p. 27 of the instruction manual. Maybe it says so somewhere else. Thanks again.

Mike99,

Several days ago you were curious about the CPU heatsink found on the DVD drive controller circuit board. In the following post there is a link to a group of photos where a similar heatsink may be seen:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13268159#post13268159

The heatsink in the DMR-ES35V and DMR-ES15 models does not have such tall side walls as those in the photos.


Thanks for the link. I was thinking the heat sink would be more substantial & have many fins. But I guess it must not take a lot of heat sink to do the job.

Sorry if this is a newbie question (I really did read the entire thread and didn't find a mention of it).

With the DMR-EZ28K, can you watch one program while recording another while using a cable set-up box?

Is there any special setup required?

Thanks.

Sorry if this is a newbie question (I really did read the entire thread and didn't find a mention of it).

With the DMR-EZ28K, can you watch one program while recording another while using a cable set-up box?

Is there any special setup required?

Thanks.

The easy answer is "no". But the real answer is "kindof". You cannot record one channel while watching another. You need two tuners for this function and this recorder only has one. What you can do with this recorder is record one program while watchnig another program previously recorded on the same disc (DVD-RAM only).

the only way I could think of to accomplish what you want would be to split the cable before it enters the cable box and take one coaxial back into the DVD recorder and another coaxial cable into the cable box. Then take the cable box and have the video signal input into the recorder via composite inputs. Then you might be able to set the dvd recorder to recird the video coming in via the composite inputs (set to whatever channel you have the cable box set to) and at the same time watch whatever channel you want from the DVD recorder (these would of course only be the unscrambled channels that you could watch).

All of this is dependent on the DVD recorder allowing you to watch video from one INPUT while recording from another INPUT. That is different than watching a previously recorded program from your RAM disc while the recorder records another program onto that same disc. I can confirm that you can do the ladder, but cannot confirm the former.

I would be interested to hear from you if you get this working.

Yes, you can watch one channel while recording another if you connect as described here. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298409&postcount=10) Different unit but works same way.

With the DVDR 1st on the coax, you can then tune your TV to another channel, or your STB to another channel.

Only if there are unscrambled channels coming through the RF input. If all the channels are scrambled, then no can do.

In that case, you would need 2 STBs.

Yes, unscrambled channels, so it seems like wajo's solution will work. I haven't purchased the unit yet; I want to make sure it can do this. I feel like I'm missing something --- doesn't everyone want (or in some case need) to do this? Unless you live alone, you can't tune in a channel on the STB for a recording several hours later and expect it to remain that way. Someone (wife, kids, maybe even me) will tune to another channel (and leave it there), turn off STB (accidently or otherwise). It seems like this is an unusual feature (requiring 2 tuners, etc) --- not sure why --- VCRs could do this 15 years ago.

wajo's solution looks similar to setup instruction on page 9 (coax in to unit, then RF out to STB, STB's RF out to TV RF in). Then AV out on unit to AV in on TV (makes sense). What I don't understand is the other connection: AV out on STB to AV in on unit --- what does this do? Why does the unit need another input of the same signal it already has via coax from the wall?

That other connection, back to the DVDR, is for recording Scrambled channels or things the DVDR can't tune by itself (each cableco protects different stuff).

Only if there are unscrambled channels coming through the RF input. If all the channels are scrambled, then no can do.

In that case, you would need 2 STBs.
Well, let me tell you what I do. I use a combo of Wajo's and dhjellen's approach. I split the cable coax signal, with one feed going to the cable box and the other going to my new Panny EZ28. From the Panny, I use the RF out to a VCR. All the boxes feed their audio and video into an AV Receiver. I use the line out (audio and video) from the receiver and connect it back to the Panny's line inputs. This suits me just fine: 99% of what I record is from the big 4 networks, and my Panny tunes to the clear QAM channels from the cable company (nice recordings that way!) or from the 70 or so unscrambled analog channels. If there is a second simultaneous show I want to record, I do it through the VCR. There is a way to set up the system so I can record a scrambled channel from the cable box, with the signal being sent to the Panny via the receiver, although I rarely do this and it tends to tie up the rest of the system. I have a Harmony remote that sets everything up with one button press.

So, getting back to the original poster's question, yes, you can record something on the Panny and watch something else - I can do it through the VCR, the cable box, or OTA. But you need to bundle other tuners into the system and be willing to get creative.

It seems like this is an unusual feature (requiring 2 tuners, etc) --- not sure why --- VCRs could do this 15 years ago.Because 15 years ago you had unscrambled analog video coming out of the wall and all TV's and VCR's had cable-ready tuners that could receive all the channels that you were paying for. You simply ran the cable from the wall into the VCR then back out of the VCR into the TV. The signal was passed through the VCR and so fed both it and the TV's tuners so both could operate independently to receive all channels.

Now with the digital age, the cable co's are encrypting (digital scrambling) most of their channels and have thrown us back into the dark ages of 35 years ago when no TV's had cable-ready tuners and everyone needed a cable box to tune in the channels. No DVD recorders or TV's have built-in tuners that can tune in these encrypted channels -- these tuners are only available from the cable co as an external STB (back to the stoneage). The tuners in present day equipment can only tune in the unencrypted channels. Depending on your cable co there may be many or few unencrypted channels, but guaranteed to become fewer as time goes by.

So if you run the cable from the wall to the DVDR then back out to the TV, you will only be able to tune legacy analog channels and unencrypted digital channels (and there may be problems with that) which is a fraction of the channels you are paying for. If you want access to the encrypted channels as well you have to rent their tuner (STB) to go between the wall and the device(s).

What needs to be made very clear is the following: If you want to operate the devices independently (i.e. watch one encrypted channel on your TV at the same time you record a different encrypted channel on your DVDR), each device needs its own dedicated STB. One for the TV and one for the recorder.

Because 15 years ago you had unscrambled analog video coming out of the wall and all TV's and VCR's had cable-ready tuners that could receive all the channels that you were paying for. You simply ran the cable from the wall into the VCR then back out of the VCR into the TV. The signal was passed through the VCR and so fed both it and the TV's tuners so both could operate independently to receive all channels.

Now with the digital age, the cable co's are encrypting (digital scrambling) most of their channels and have thrown us back into the dark ages of 35 years ago when no TV's had cable-ready tuners and everyone needed a cable box to tune in the channels. No DVD recorders or TV's have built-in tuners that can tune in these encrypted channels -- these tuners are only available from the cable co as an external STB (back to the stoneage). The tuners in present day equipment can only tune in the unencrypted channels. Depending on your cable co there may be many or few unencrypted channels, but guaranteed to become fewer as time goes by.

So if you run the cable from the wall to the DVDR then back out to the TV, you will only be able to tune legacy analog channels and unencrypted digital channels (and there may be problems with that) which is a fraction of the channels you are paying for. If you want access to the encrypted channels as well you have to rent their tuner (STB) to go between the wall and the device(s).

What needs to be made very clear is the following: If you want to operate the devices independently (i.e. watch one encrypted channel on your TV at the same time you record a different encrypted channel on your DVDR), each device needs its own dedicated STB. One for the TV and one for the recorder.
Yes, I totally agree - those set top boxes really complicate things and I try to minimize having to deal with them. The system that I described in my previous post is my solution to my particular situation and habits. But if my cable company ever decided to encrypt a whole bunch of channels that are not encrypted now, I might consider the DVR route either through the cable company or more likely switch to a satellite provider. My Panny would then go from being my primary recording device to being an archival recorder - stuff dumped off the DVR.

Let me also add that the reason why I've stayed with my cable company is that I have TVs and VCRs throughout the house that don't need STBs for the channels we care about (including several HDTVs with QAM tuners). As soon as I'm forced to get STBs for them if they encrypt, they will lose me as a customer and I will switch to satellite where I can get a better deal.

I wish there was a system here like in Japan, where the DVR/DVDR's use a smart card for encryption. So, no STB is needed. Sure, there is cablecard here. But, the cable companies made it so difficult to implement, that you don't see in TV's anymore, and only in Tivo S3/HD models.

ALL of the Panasonic DVDR's (which are also DVR's, btw, and some with dual-tuners) include a smart card (BCAS), as well as analog and digital OTA tuners, and two types of satellite tuners (BS and CS110). You just phone whichever providers you are interested in, give them the card number, and voila!

Along those lines, I wish they sold the DVR's here. Not as good as Tivo. But, no monthly fee. I guess they felt they couldn't compete with Tivo, plus the providers' own DVR offerings. (In Japan, the providers don't offer DVR's, as far as I could tell. So, all of the CE companies offer them.)

ALL of the Panasonic DVDR's (which are also DVR's, btw, and some with dual-tuners) include a smart card (BCAS), as well as analog and digital OTA tuners, and two types of satellite tuners (BS and CS110). You just phone whichever providers you are interested in, give them the card number, and voila!Wow, sounds like a free market. Wish we had one here.

Wow! Lots of great answers --- thanks to all. Next step for me is to purchase the unit and give it a try. I'll report back later.

Greetings all, I have the Ez17, which I have had for some time. It was put aside for a while as cox cable offered me a free digital box for 3 months. When Putting the panni back into service, I have now lost all but one of the music choice channels. it only gets the bluegrass one and it comes in strong and clear. All the channels lock on when I do a new channel search, but still, only the one works. Does anyone have any ideas? Is it a weaker cable signal perhaps, or something other.

If you push the display button there is a option for signal strength meter. That would tell you if it was indeed that.
As far as the music channels I wonder if Cox has began encrypting them since the last time you tried? Do you have another device which gets the channels, other than a Cox STB?
I wonder if, when they took back there digital box if they didn't also turn off something so you cannot get the music channels anymore?

I was unaware of a signal strength indicator on the EZ17. I will look into that. Regarding cox having done something, it may be, though I do get one music channel.

I wasn't aware the Panny had that either. That's an excellent feature to have. At least they did something right.

Yes it started with the EZ-x7 series and has carried on to the EZ-x8 series. It's one of the nice ones with numbers, 0-100%, not just a bar graph like on some.

Wow, sounds like a free market. Wish we had one here.OTOH, a single-tuner DVDR/DVR goes for over $700 at the mainstream retailers. (Although, we paid around $500 from a discount shop.)

OTOH, a single-tuner DVDR/DVR goes for over $700 at the mainstream retailers. (Although, we paid around $500 from a discount shop.)Is that SD? They were around that price here back when they were actually well built - a few years back (a lot of those old models are still running for many, in contrast to the cheap, flimsy, throwaway, Chinese crap we have now. Most were Japanese). They were worth the extra dough. Wish we still had 'em.

It's HD, and includes both OTA and Satellite tuning capability. The newer model also uses HDAVC (mpeg4), so the hdd holds a lot more HD recordings.

It's made in Japan, as well. iirc. Other than people looking for the cheapest stuff, many, if not most, Japanese still prefer things that are made in Japan. And, I don't blame them.

OTOH, my new Panasonic US plasma seems to be made in Mexico (I'd almost prefer China), and the EZ28 is made in China, if memory serves.

Called panasonic, the signal strength meter on the EZ models is for an OTA signal and does not work for a cable signal.

Now that I've been playing with this unit for a couple weeks now I thought I'd post my observations in regards to Picture Quality:
Just so you know I have a 32" Panasonic 720p LCD which I believe is about the best TV in it's class(ok Sony could be a little better, but I didn't want to pay the $300 premium for the Sony:D, and I'm not totally convinced it would be any better). My EZ-28 is hooked up via HDMI and OTA only.

First watching live 720p channels through the EZ-28 produce a picture that at times can actually seem sharper than watching the same program on my TV's built in tuner. I know it sounds hard to believe but I've tried switching back and forth hundreds of times during varying screen conditions and for the most part I prefer watching live TV through the EZ-28's tuner.

1080i channels are a different story they are much better watching through my TV's tuner. Watching 1080i channels through the EZ-28 produces a slightly annoying pulsing or occasional fuzzy frame. Anyone familiar with my posts may remember I have commented on this before with a previous EZ-17 and EZ-27. On both those the pulsing was much worse and even effected 720p channels. On the EZ-28 the pulsing is very slight. I have to get 4 feet from my screen to see it, and even then it's only during very clear and stationary pictures. Most noticeable in hair or something with fine horizontal or vertical lines. It doesn't seem to bother my wife in the least, and I'm sure some people may never notice it, but it's there. Also when watching something like Basketball the round line near the basket tends to be slightly jagged watching through the EZ-28, but is perfectly smooth with the TV's tuner.

Recording 720p channels produces a very very good picture when played back on the EZ-28, but I've noticed one annoying fact. When I play the DVD-RW back on my Sony DVD player(hooked up via component to the same TV) the picture is "too hot". By that I mean too sharp, or too much noise. If I turn on the DNR on the Sony it helps matters, or if I turn down the sharpness on my TV it also helps, but it's odd. I guess I'd rather have a picture that's a little too sharp than fuzzy but I have never noticed this effect on any of my other Panasonic recordings. It is very livable after making adjustments but then when I play a commercial DVD on the Sony I need to readjust things. Not ideal. When the disc is played on the EZ-28 it's just fine.

Recording 1080i channels produces a very good picture that only has the slight pulsing which is slightly noticeable on both my Sony player and the EZ-28 itself. Note the 1080i recordings do not seem to exhibit the overly sharp problem on the Sony like the 720p recordings do.

Overall I am very pleased with the recordings made by the EZ-28 from HD channels. I've compared recordings made from non EZ machines off of 1080i channels and while they don't have the pulsing they are also not nearly as clear as the EZ-28. Personally I would rather have a picture that is sharp 95% of the time than one that is fuzzy 100% of the time.
Same goes for macroblocking on speeds above 2hrs up to 4 hr mode. Some people complain that since Panasonic DVDR's retain their full resolution up to 4 hrs they produce blocky pictures in fast moving objects. If they were to cut the resolution as most all other mfg's do it would lessen the macroblocking.
I guess I'd prefer the occasional macroblocking if it meant full resolution all the other times. Just personal preference and others may disagree.

All and all I've been quite pleased in the weeks I've had my EZ-28.

Called panasonic, the signal strength meter on the EZ models is for an OTA signal and does not work for a cable signal.
Can someone else with cable confirm this. It's not that I don't believe Shivaji but I know Panasonic support does not always provide the correct answer:D
I searched in my EZ-28 manual and it said "Allows you to check the strength of digital broadcast signal. Only the strength of the digital broadcast recieved through the antenna is displayed accurately." If by antenna they mean OTA antenna it's cut and dry, but they also refer to the coax input as the antenna input, which is why I ask. It's there for me, OTA but I can't verify for cable, but I can't see what the difference would be. Doesn't make sense, but sometimes things dont:D
Again to access the signal strength meter push DISPLAY button and arrow down to OTHER MENU. Then select signal strength meter.
Thanks to anyone with cable and a EZ recorder.

Can someone else with cable confirm this. It's not that I don't believe Shivaji but I know Panasonic support does not always provide the correct answer:D
I searched in my EZ-28 manual and it said "Allows you to check the strength of digital broadcast signal. Only the strength of the digital broadcast recieved through the antenna is displayed accurately." If by antenna they mean OTA antenna it's cut and dry, but they also refer to the coax input as the antenna input, which is why I ask. It's there for me, OTA but I can't verify for cable, but I can't see what the difference would be. Doesn't make sense, but sometimes things dont:D
Again to access the signal strength meter push DISPLAY button and arrow down to OTHER MENU. Then select signal strength meter.
Thanks to anyone with cable and a EZ recorder.

OK, my Panny DMR-EZ28 is hooked up to my CATV. I push the Display button, select Other, and I only see one submenu choice - Position. So no signal strength meter.

Now I unhook the CATV and hook up the coax cable from my rabbit ears antenna. I have to now do a new setup and select "antenna" and not "cable" and do a rescan of the channels. OK, it is set up now, so I press Display, then Other...and...wait for it, wait for it...voila! A signal strength meter! Hey, the OTA tuner is doing a good job in locking into digital channels and is picking up some analog channels I didn't get before!

OK, my Panny DMR-EZ28 is hooked up to my CATV. I push the Display button, select Other, and I only see one submenu choice - Position. So no signal strength meter.

Now I unhook the CATV and hook up the coax cable from my rabbit ears antenna. I have to now do a new setup and select "antenna" and not "cable" and do a rescan of the channels. OK, it is set up now, so I press Display, then Other...and...wait for it, wait for it...voila! A signal strength meter! Hey, the OTA tuner is doing a good job in locking into digital channels and is picking up some analog channels I didn't get before!

Pardon my stupidity, does the EZ28 output 1080i on the HDTV channels over HDMI? So it can be used as a set-top HDTV receiver?

Has anyone yet tried the EZ28 for recording premium feeds on D* or E*?

Thanks jtso, you've verified it.
rdgrimes-Yes the EZ-28 outputs 1080i but it is only upconverted 480i. Not the same thing. Although as I noted above I've noticed at least in the case of 720p channels that the internal tuner of the EZ-28 did a excellent job. At times better than my TV's internal HD tuner. This was not the case with 1080i channels though.
Sorry I don't have Sat, but it would be my guess the EZ-28 would obied by any CP schemes used. That's what I would use my Sima CT-2 for, again if I had Sat. or cable. Maybe someone with SAT can give you a better answer.

Thanks jtso, you've verified it.
rdgrimes-Yes the EZ-28 outputs 1080i but it is only upconverted 480i. Not the same thing. Although as I noted above I've noticed at least in the case of 720p channels that the internal tuner of the EZ-28 did a excellent job. At times better than my TV's internal HD tuner. This was not the case with 1080i channels though..

So it tunes HD channels but in SD? Then upscales them to 1080? That's pretty worthless.

So it tunes HD channels but in SD? Then upscales them to 1080? That's pretty worthless.That's what every single DVD recorder does. Doesn't look like it will change because they only can record in SD, so why would they add the extra expense of an HD tuner.

That's what every single DVD recorder does. Doesn't look like it will change because they only can record in SD, so why would they add the extra expense of an HD tuner.
Maybe to offer something people can actually use and need? Lots of us don't have monitors with HD tuners. This is being done for reasons other than financial, it's part of the paranoid anti-copy conspiracy.

Though it upscales the 480 signal only, the picture is quite a bit better on the HD channels than the SD ones, so I wouldn't call it worthless. When I record directly from my OTA HD box, the picture is really good, even on my 106" screen.

I searched in my EZ-28 manual and it said "Allows you to check the strength of digital broadcast signal. Only the strength of the digital broadcast recieved through the antenna is displayed accurately." If by antenna they mean OTA antenna it's cut and dry...Yes. It is cut and dry. You have found the answer to your question right there in the manual. Of course "antenna" means OTA. No need for anyone to call Panasonic. Also, multiple posts seem to confirm it, as well.

Now that I've been playing with this unit for a couple weeks now I thought I'd post my observations in regards to Picture Quality:
Just so you know I have a 32" Panasonic 720p LCD which I believe is about the best TV in it's class(ok Sony could be a little better, but I didn't want to pay the $300 premium for the Sony:D, and I'm not totally convinced it would be any better). My EZ-28 is hooked up via HDMI and OTA only.

<snip>

Hmmm. I have a Panasonic 32" LCD, and it is far from best in class. (Mostly due to uneven backlighting, which was common with Panasonic LCD TV's) I'm very glad to have moved it up to the bedroom after buying a new Pansonic plasma.

As for the EZ28's tuner, I could never use it, except in emergencies, such as recording a 3rd show, if both tuners on my Comcast DVR are already in use. The lag between changing channels in unbearable. I don't understand it. The tuners in my two Panasonic TV's change channels just fine. But, the EZ28 takes forever. And, judging from other posts, this is normal for it. How can you stand it?

As a manual DVD Recorder and Player, which is what I use it mostly for, it works great. Playback of retail DVD's look great. And, recordings made from DVR playback look like the originals. It's also easy to use, and shares the same basic onscreen menu structure as our Japanese DVD/DVR, so no huge learning curve for the missus.

For those that do not need a digital tuner in their DVDR, I'd recommend the EZ18. Or, buy the EZ28, but only use the tuner as a backup, or for timer recordings. For everyday use, this tuner will drive you crazy.

Maybe to offer something people can actually use and need? Lots of us don't have monitors with HD tuners. This is being done for reasons other than financial, it's part of the paranoid anti-copy conspiracy.Yes. It's annoying. But, it's SOP. It is done that way for copy protection. I'm sure we'll be seeing Chinese knockoffs soon that don't adhere to this. (I wouldn't let my kids put it in their mouths, tho.)

Hmmm. I have a Panasonic 32" LCD, and it is far from best in class. (Mostly due to uneven backlighting, which was common with Panasonic LCD TV's) I'm very glad to have moved it up to the bedroom after buying a new Pansonic plasma.

As for the EZ28's tuner, I could never use it, except in emergencies, such as recording a 3rd show, if both tuners on my Comcast DVR are already in use. The lag between changing channels in unbearable. I don't understand it. The tuners in my two Panasonic TV's change channels just fine. But, the EZ28 takes forever. And, judging from other posts, this is normal for it. How can you stand it?


Actually I really love my Panny LCD. With the exception of maybe Sony LCD's I haven't seen any better LCD's. I get no backlight bleed and the blacks are 100% black, like the TV is off during totally black scenes. It's one of the reasons I bought the set. As far as plasma's, Friday I was 10 min away from scoring a Panasonic 42" z700u (1080p)for $1099!! Costco had them online and just as I was going to put it in my cart it said, OUT OF STOCK!! Man I was ticked. Never had a plasma before but for that price I was going to give it a try. People say how good plasma's are for contrast ratio and color and to me that's all about what I want in a TV.

About the tuner I agree 100% with you. I basically NEVER watch live TV through the DVDR. It's so slooooooooo to change channels it drives me nuts. I was only making the comments for people who wanted to use the unit for that purpose. Not me, I always watch live through my TV tuner, even if I thought the 720p broadcasts look a little sharper through the DVDR, it was very minimal.

Actually, the black levels on the 1080p 700u panels aren't all that great. It's certainly nowhere near what they claim it to be. It's noticably better on the 768p 700u models.

The new models are supposed to be improved, so maybe look out for one of those cheap instead.

Thanks, the specs did say only 5000/1. The th-42pc77u (720p) said 10,000/1 and that one is only $999.
The new 800 series say something bizarre like 100,000/1 (don't quote me).
I really wasn't sure what to believe.
So you think maybe the 768 set might be the one to get? Most of my viewing is SD DVD's so I don't know how important the 1080p would be. They still have the 720p's in stock and I believe $999 is there normal price. Maybe I'll get a plasma yet:)
Do you think I'd like them better than my LCD?
Edit:actually website says 1,000,000/1 dynamic and 15,000/1 native for the x80u

Oh yeah, you're definitely gonna enjoy a 42" 768p Panasonic plasma more than a 32" Panasonic LCD - that's a given.

How far will you be from the set?

At this point, if it were me, I'd go for 1080p, because I've already got a 768p 50" Elite. But for you, that would still be a big upgrade and a huge difference. Maybe if you're going to be sitting closer than 10 feet, then I'd consider the 1080p. But even still, the 768p will look great. After all, it's a Panny.

Actually I really love my Panny LCD. With the exception of maybe Sony LCD's I haven't seen any better LCD's. I get no backlight bleed and the blacks are 100% black, like the TV is off during totally black scenes. It's one of the reasons I bought the set. As far as plasma's, Friday I was 10 min away from scoring a Panasonic 42" z700u (1080p)for $1099!! Costco had them online and just as I was going to put it in my cart it said, OUT OF STOCK!! Man I was ticked. Never had a plasma before but for that price I was going to give it a try. People say how good plasma's are for contrast ratio and color and to me that's all about what I want in a TV.

About the tuner I agree 100% with you. I basically NEVER watch live TV through the DVDR. It's so slooooooooo to change channels it drives me nuts. I was only making the comments for people who wanted to use the unit for that purpose. Not me, I always watch live through my TV tuner, even if I thought the 720p broadcasts look a little sharper through the DVDR, it was very minimal.

Actually, the black levels on the 1080p 700u panels aren't all that great. It's certainly nowhere near what they claim it to be. It's noticably better on the 768p 700u models.

The new models are supposed to be improved, so maybe look out for one of those cheap instead.

Thanks, the specs did say only 5000/1. The th-42pc77u (720p) said 10,000/1 and that one is only $999.
The new 800 series say something bizarre like 100,000/1 (don't quote me).
I really wasn't sure what to believe.
So you think maybe the 768 set might be the one to get? Most of my viewing is SD DVD's so I don't know how important the 1080p would be. They still have the 720p's in stock and I believe $999 is there normal price. Maybe I'll get a plasma yet:)
Do you think I'd like them better than my LCD?
Edit:actually website says 1,000,000/1 dynamic and 15,000/1 native for the x80u

Get one of the 1080p models. Period. The 720's do not look better. Period. Especially when you go with 50" or larger. (I said "period" twice. I must be serious.)

The only thing you will need to choose between is whether wyou want an anti-glare model, or an anti-reflective model. These two screen surfaces are vastly different.

The PZ700U is anti-reflective, which is not nearly as effective in reducing reflections and glare. In fact, I find it totally ineffective. That is why I didn't purchase that PZ700U from Costco. I ended up getting a PZ77U, which has the anti-glare surface.

The image on the 700U is indeed a bit sharper and deeper than the 77. But, and this is a big but, if there is any light at all in the viewing room, you will be looking at a reflection of yourself, your furniture, and the light source, instead of that beatiful picture. With the PZ77U, I can look at the picture, not a mirror image of my living room.

Both the PZ77U and the PZ700U are discontinued, which is why you are seeing the deep discounts. I suggest you check local dealers. Or, if you wanna take a chance, you can go online. (I paid $1185 total for my PZ77U from 6ave.com.) This is an excellent time to step up to plasma.

PM'd Gary to continue my Plasma talk:oOne thing leads to another....

Get one of the 1080p models. . . The 720's do not look better. . . Especially when you go with 50" or larger.I agree without hesitation. A 1080p plasma is 1920x1080. A 720p plasma is 1024x768 -or- 1366x768. You can see the difference.

Well, if he can find the newer 1080p 42" model for around the $1000.00 that he was originally intending to spend, then by all means, he should get it. I just hope he tells me where he found it so I can get one at that absurdly unrealistic low price, too.

For those interested in the Panasonic DMR-EZ48V (this is still a DVD recorder thread, right? ;-), you can check out my new Official Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13530174#post13530174).

I noticed that it does not say anywhere in the manual it will take DL but on the pany website is an option to buy with the player. Thanks

I don't believe RAM's come in DL? The do come in DS(double sided) though. I've only tried regular SS RAMS and no problems their.
It will also record to DL R's.

Jeff you are correct I meant DS and not DL.

Yes it will record to DS RAM's, page 21 of the EZ-28 manual.

Office Depot used to sell DS-RAM discs (I have some), but no more. The quality is below the Panasonic RAM discs.

I think Panasonic still sells DS-RAM discs, but expensive.

Office Depot used to sell DS-RAM discs (I have some), but no more. The quality is below the Panasonic RAM discs.

I think Panasonic still sells DS-RAM discs, but expensive.

RIMA.com (http://www.rima.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=R&Category_Code=DR3) has them in carts, 5-packs.

Using the machine for 3 weeks now I just wanted to report on 2 odd events. Nothing that killed the machine, just weird things.
First one was last week. A scheduled event was set for 7-8pm. It started at 7PM but shortly after it started to record it stopped and displayed something on the screen about the disc cannot be recorded to. I ejected the -RW disc and reinserted it and was able to continue the recording......the disc recorded fine, I was able to finalize it, then after watching the program on my Player I reformatted the disc and have since recorded to it with no problems....odd

Second problem was with another -RW disc. After watching the event on my player I put the disc in my EZ-28. I went into the functions and selected FORMAT disc. Usually it comes up with a status bar that advances as the disc is being formatted. It takes 15? seconds to format. This time I never got the status bar, and after 2 minutes I was forced to hold down the power button on the front of the unit to get it unstuck. None of the other buttons worked, the unit was locked. Well I turned it back on and tried reformatting the same disc and the same thing happened. I tried this 3 times to no avail. Note the disc would still play just fine, it just wouldn't format.
Next I put the disc in my ES-25 and it was able to format the disc fine, no problems.....Then I put the disc back in the EZ-28 and recorded a short test to it no problem. I finalized the disc, which went fine. Then I reformatted the disc, again no problems.
I have been able to use this disc twice since the odd event, and no problems since.......
I was happy about one thing, the machine did not die like my EZ-17's. It might have hung up and required a reboot of such, but at least it didn't die which is a good thing. I sure wish the EZ machines were as rock solid as the ES machines of the past, but the EZ's do make nice recordings so I'm not about to return it anytime soon.

Using the machine for 3 weeks now I just wanted to report on 2 odd events. . . .shortly after it started to record it stopped and displayed something on the screen about the disc cannot be recorded to. I ejected the -RW disc and reinserted it and was able to continue the recording
Could have just been apiece of schmutz on the -RW, or it needed to be re-seated on the drive spindle.
Second problem was with another -RW disc. After watching the event on my player I put the disc in my EZ-28. I went into the functions and selected FORMAT disc. Usually it comes up with a status bar that advances as the disc is being formatted. It takes 15? seconds to format. This time I never got the status bar, and after 2 minutes I was forced to hold down the power button on the front of the unit to get it unstuck. jjeff, I am not a real big fan of -RW disks. I use them a lot for recording temporary movie copies so I typically burn and reburn the full disk. It's because I use them a lot, that I am not a fan. There are few manufacturers and the quality of most -RW disks is pretty low. The better quality ones are comparable in price to RAM. Despite the marketing BS of 10,000 burns, I typically get no more than 20 full disk burns before the disk starts having problems. The problems don't start with burns -- they burn "perfectly" -- the problem shows up on the verify. That's when I first start seeing errors. Since none of these recorders verify a burn (how could they) you won't know a -RW is having problems until it get's really bad. Once I get a -RW with a verify error it's done and I throw it away. I can reburn that disk 10 times and each time get a verify failure (I've done it, to test). If I play a disk with a verify error, it usually has some trouble with a skip or a momentary freeze. I trash the disk long before it gets bad enough to cause a player lockup -- which it can, I've done that too.

I use -RW to make movie copies, but based on my experience, I would never use a -RW for DVDR timeshifting use. They become too unreliable, way too soon. I know you don't care for RAM, but Panasonic really knew what they were doing when they built their machines for RAM. It is the most reliable removable media I have used. I've never had a RAM go bad on me and I'm still using the originals I bought in 2005. That may be atypical. Other people may have lost a couple, but in less than that period of time I have thrown away a full 25 spindle of -RW that have gone bad 1 by 1.

Buy a couple RAMs and really run that EZ-28 through it's paces.

P.S. - After 3 weeks, any problems at all with the ATSC tuner?

2+ on the use of RAM over RW discs. Faster, nearly 100% reliable.

Third that opinion...RAM is the way to go.

Yes it could have just needed to be reset in spindle. I suppose I could have tried removing the disc then reinserting it in the EZ-28 instead of trying it right away in the ES-25. I did try it several times in the EZ-28 but never removed the disc between tries.
In my first example the -RW disc was a Maxell that had probably been recorded to 20? times. I have a post-it note on each disc's sleeve and write down each recorded event and then just cross it off after I watch it. It was one of my older discs. The odd part is is I never have problems with my -RW's in any of my ES machines, just the EZ ones.

I would use RAM's except since I like to use my Sony player, it doesn't support RAM's. The thing I like about my Sony is that it can remember something like 10 discs and where I was playing the disc. It's really handy not having to remember where on the disc I was playing prior to ejecting the disc. Kinda like VCR tapes, they resume where you left off.
This was the hardest part to get used to switching from VCR's to DVD, and once I found out about the Sony's disc resume feature I was sold on it.

No tuner problems whatsoever with the EZ-28, these 2 disc anomalies have really been the only problems so far.
Ideally I should probably be using a DVDR w/hdd for my time shifting, they also remember where you left off(at least the Philips 3575, the only DVDR w/hdd I have ever used).
That's why I'm so interested in the Echostar TR-50, plus the true HD will be nice, although as noted the EZ-28 also can produce some nice PQ, but not true HD.

The odd part is is I never have problems with my -RW's in any of my ES machines, just the EZ ones.For a -RW starting to have problems, the difference between the ES and the EZ could be a result of a higher quality DVD burner in the ES. We all know that build quality is declining with model years. A higher quality burner will read problematic disks on the road to complete failure that a lesser quality burner will choke on.

Here's a good example. I have a very inexpensive Sony player that I use for playing all my -RW. My daughter is home on break and has been watching lots of older movies I burned in 2004-5 (3+ year burns) before I converted to T-Y. The Maxells have been fine and play defect-free, but all the old Memorex and Ritek DVD-R have developed problems and freeze the Sony, usually at the outer portion of the disk. I have some really good burners on my PC (much better quality than the reader in the Sony) that will read disks that start to fail on consumer players, so before I go through the trouble of re-ripping and shrinking from the original DVD I try a DVD Decrypter rip of the troubled disk for a fast re-burn. So far I'm batting 1000.

I would use RAM's except since I like to use my Sony player, it doesn't support RAM's. The thing I like about my Sony is that it can remember something like 10 discs and where I was playing the disc.I hear you. The portability aspect is the only reason I burn anything to -RW. But if you use RAMs to test out the EZ-28, you get the full functionality of the machine and can just use it for your time-shifting playback.

I hear you about different burners reacting differently to different discs. I do have several "free" RAM discs that were included with my earlier DVDR purchases(before Panasonic got cheap and didn't include them:D ). I'll throw a few into the mix and see if I ever have problems with those.
The problem is so far it's been so intermittent that I have problems. Both discs that I had prior problems with on the EZ have worked several times since:confused: but again I suppose it could be related to a disc that was "almost" bad, but not totally bad. If I have a problem with the almost new RAM's I'll have more to worry about.
I'm happy so far that I have been able to easily reset the machine after it got stuck. I'm sure if it were a EZ-x7 machine they would have got the u99 error and I would have had to return the machine. I'm more apt to accept an occasional freeze up, but not a total failure of the machine.
I'll keep you posted. Note most of my recordings have been using SP mode, but the other day I recorded a show that was only 1hr, so I used XP and it was even better than SP. Recording off analog TV I never really noticed a big difference using XP but with the high rez. of HD digital channels it seemed really noticeable using XP. And on the opposite end of the spectrum LP recording off of HD digitals seem better than LP off of analog stations. I suppose it's all related to the source. At this point it would be very hard to go back to analog, at least where PQ is a factor.

I just came home on Friday night with a new EZ28. We got it so that we could start copying all of our home made videos - you know, bits and pieces of old TV shows, etc., that we've recorded over the years.

When I hooked up the vcr to the ez28, the video quality was horrible. I can compare the output of the vcr on the TV (through the antenna input on ch. 3), to the same output routed through the ez28 and to the TV through the hdmi cable. Routing the output through the ez28 increases the brightness so much that it is really unwatchable. Is that normal, or is there a problem with this unit? It looks OK when the video just goes from the VCR to the TV directly.

I tried to record onto a Maxell DVD-R that I have. The recording seemed to go fine, but when I stopped it told me that it needed to go into a self check, and then it never came out of it. I left it overnight, and this morning I finally unplugged it and plugged it back in. Then it seemed to be fine - the disk came up and I was able to finalize it (and it plays in another dvd player, so it must be OK). But then I put in another disk to record on (also a maxell dvd-r, it is all I have around) and when I pushed the record button it sent it into another self check, which it has been in now for two hours. Is this normal? Is it because I'm not using verbatim disks? Is this unit wonky? I feel like I should return it, but I don't know if I should abandon the ez28 altogether and get a different brand, or if I should try another one. And if they are all going to mess up the brightness of the tapes, maybe I don't want another recorder at all.

Can anyone help?

You may want to look into some of the setup menus, regarding that recording is too dark issue. I think it is the "video" menu where you can select "lighter/darker" settings for the input and output of the recorder. I don't really understand why they are labeled the way they are or what the "proper" settings are, but could be something to address the particular symptom you describe.

As far as the brightness, no it should not do what you describe. The only thing I can think of is if your TV adjustments for the HDMI input are way off their default settings, example HDMI set to VIVID or similar and your RF input is set to something different.
Since the EZ-28 does not have a RF modulator you can't check it by swapping with your VCR, but that's what first comes to mind. Their is also a HDMI light/dark adjustment, but on mine I've left it default and it works fine.
The self check is a BAD sign. You should not be getting that unless something is majorly wrong. I've used many maxell -R's (gold colored top) and they all work just fine. Verbs are probably better but Panny's burn pretty much any major brand I've tried. I think their pretty forgiving.
To me it sounds like you many have gotten a bad unit. I would exchange ASAP. It should not be working the way you describe. Their's nothing you could be doing wrong that would give you a self check error.

To me it sounds like you many have gotten a bad unit. I would exchange ASAP. It should not be working the way you describe. Their's nothing you could be doing wrong that would give you a self check error.Agreed.

Can anyone else easily confirm whether the EZ-28 or any of the Panny EZ-x8 DVDR's can indeed upconvert via the Component outputs? Their is some question whether they can upconvert a commercial DVD to it's component outputs. If no one else has tried this or can easily confirm this I'll pull mine out and hook up components to it. I currently am using the HDMI cable and my player is using the component cables. Tomorrow evening would be the first time I could try this if nothing else comes up.

The specs say 480, 720, 1080 for component. It may be that it does not upconvert a commercial DVD, just the stuff you record. So if you test it yourself, make sure you evaluate both sources.

I've tried every possible combination of Component and HDMI settings, and it does not upconvert commercial DVD's via component.

Along those lines, I do recommend you try using your AV receiver's upconversion, as opposed to the EZ28's, if you are so equipped. I disabled the EZ28's upconversion, and enabled my Denon's. The picture looks so much better now. (Very noticeable on a 92" screen.)

FYI, there is a new firmware for the EZ-28. I'll have to give it a shot at some point.

So Gary does your EZ-28 upconvert DVD's you have recorded(both finalized and unfinalized) over component? How about watching TV through it's tuner? Just want to clarify. If the answer is yes to the 2 questions it sounds like the unit can tell the difference between a burned(with dye) and a commercial DVD (with pits) and is selective on what it upconverts.
Is your receiver capable of inputting component and then upconverting a commercial DVD to a component out or does it also only upconvert to HDMI?
I only have a 32" 720p screen so you may very well see things I don't. Is it your opinion that the upconvert signal of the EZ-28 is actually worse than not upconverting or just not better?
On my EZ-28 I never experimented with anything other than upconvert over HDMI, although I did experiment on my Philips 3575 and IMO the component non upconvert signal looked "slightly" better than the HDMI upconvert. Maybe I should experiment with the EZ-28. The reason I hadn't is because I think the HDMI upconvert looks so darn good I left well alone. With the Philips I was trying ways to make it look better, mainly because of the dark PQ.

Thanks for the answers, I'm just trying to avoid rerunning the mess of cables behind my units if I don't have to, and you with your 92" screen can probably see flaws better then me with my 32".

edit:as mentioned looking at the manual it says "videos from DVD-Video are output with 480p irrespective of the settings." Just not sure what they consider "DVD-video" I would assume commercial DVD's but what about finalized R and RW's?

Well I had some time and answered my own questions.
1. The EZ-28 will upconvert to Component outputs but only "UNfinalized" DVD's.(why Panasonic doesn't just use simple words like that is beyond me!)
2. It also upconverts tuner output to component.
3. It's interesting when watching tuner output via component and setup for upconverting my TV says 1080i(what I have EZ set for) as soon as I insert a finalized DVD and it goes to displaying the menu the TV flickers and converts to 480p.

4. My '06 Panny ES-25 does not upconvert anything to component. Only to HDMI. I don't think I ever tried on my EZ-27 but others have said the EZ-x8 series is the first to upconvert to component, with the big exception, the DVD must be unfinalized.

Gary-I'm still interested to hear your opinions on upconverted vs. non for PQ. I feel with your large screen it should be more evident. BTW I do not have a receiver with upconverting:(

I've tried every possible combination of Component and HDMI settings, and it does not upconvert commercial DVD's via component.

Along those lines, I do recommend you try using your AV receiver's upconversion, as opposed to the EZ28's, if you are so equipped. I disabled the EZ28's upconversion, and enabled my Denon's. The picture looks so much better now. (Very noticeable on a 92" screen.)


On a similar note regarding my Panny ES20 & EZ17. Neither of these upconverts, but I can choose 480i or 480p output. Initially I had them set for 480p because that is what is supposed to look better. However I experimented & changed them both to 480i as my Sony HDTV does a better job with 480i on DVDs that I record. I cannot tell a difference with commercial DVDs.

I've seen several comments over the years that DVD recorders do not play as well as a regular DVD player. That their electronics are cheap, or words to that effect. So your receiver, or TV, may very well upconvert better than the Panny, as you have found out. But you have to try the different possibilites.

Well I had some time and answered my own questions.
1. The EZ-28 will upconvert to Component outputs but only "UNfinalized" DVD's.(why Panasonic doesn't just use simple words like that is beyond me!)
2. It also upconverts tuner output to component.
3. It's interesting when watching tuner output via component and setup for upconverting my TV says 1080i(what I have EZ set for) as soon as I insert a finalized DVD and it goes to displaying the menu the TV flickers and converts to 480p.I knew you would end up having to reconfigure your equipment and run the test. You just can't help yourself ;-))

With respect to component upconversion, what about RAMs. I would be shocked if it didn't upconvert them.

I haven't tested with a "home-made" DVD yet. But, it definitely does not upconvert a commercial DVD via the component outputs, regardless of the setup menu setting for component output. (What's the point of it, then?!!!) It does upconvert via HDMI. I know what resolution is being output because my TV and projector both display that info.

I do not remember if my Denon 3808 upconverts to its component output. I only use the HDMI output to the projector. I do know that it upconverts component, s-video, and composite inputs, in addition to HDMI inputs, via the HDMI output. (So, I got that going for me...which is nice.)

As for PQ from the EZ28 upconversion...I'm not sure I even see a difference between the EZ28's 480p output and 720/1080. It doesn't seem to do anything to the picture itself, only the technical resolution. OTOH, the Denon's conversion actually improves PQ, making it clearer, sharper, less grainy. Not quite HD, but definitely better than standard DVD. I believe it uses a Faroudja DCDI chip.

(FYI - I have the HDMI output of the EZ28 going to the 3808 and on to the projector, and the component output going directly to the TV.)

I knew you would end up having to reconfigure your equipment and run the test. You just can't help yourself ;-))

With respect to component upconversion, what about RAMs. I would be shocked if it didn't upconvert them.
Yes I'm kind of like Wajo in that respect:eek: I love testing different things to see the outcome.:D
Yes since RAM's aren't finalized they also upconvert to component. Again basically only commercial and finalized recordable DVD's will not upconvert.
Now the one disc I didn't try was +RW(since I really don't to like use them). I would think??? they would upconvert since they don't need to be finalized, but I can't swear to it.

Thanks Gary, for now I think I'll just stick to my one simple cable from my EZ-28 to my TV. On my 32" I still think the PQ is very good, maybe if I upgrade to a larger display I'll take your suggestion. It would also be nice to have Dolby surround. My current 80's Sony receiver is nice but lacks all Dolby provisions.
One nice thing about my current setup is the HDMI Viera control. The DVDR and my Panasonic TV talk to each other and automatically to switch inputs or turn off the DVDR when the TV is turned off. I'm getting to like it. I would think I would lose this with the receiver setup, but I guess if I got better PQ I would rather have that.

There are a few questions I have about the USB functionality of this recorder that I wasn't able to determine from the manual.

Are files on the USB key displayed with their full long filenames or are they truncated to 8.3 format.

Can you copy recorded video from DVD-RAM to the USB key?

For anyone who has a EZ-28 and I would assume all the other EZ/A-x8's and possibly EZ-x7, if you want to gain extra "actual recording time" on all your discs(+-R, +-RW and RAM) and you have a Panny ES machine here's a trick I found.
Now I did this with a ES-15/25 and ES-30, not sure if it will work with ALL ES machines since those are the only ones I have. Here's the trick.

On a blank R or reformatted(RAM/RW) record anything on the EZ machine, say a 10 second EP(Speed doesn't matter but for R discs it will be lost space so keep it short)event. Then delete that event on either your ES or EZ machine. If you then take that disc and insert it in your ES machine you will notice that instead of actually showing 2hr SP it will show 2hr 8 min. SP. 1hr 4min XP, 4hr 16min LP, etc. Cool:cool:
Yes I know this must somehow sacrifice some buffer space but I still was able to add words as well as change the thumbnail on my test disc, even after recording 1hr 4 min(all the way to the end).

This is the only combination I found that works like this. I cannot ever gain recording time on my EZ machine, only for my ES machines. Again all it takes is writing even a little bit on the EZ machine to gain time on the ES machine.
I think this is cool. I did this to 1/2 dozen -R discs last night and the next time I am burning something on my ES machine I will use those discs and enjoy the extra "actual recording" time.

Wasn't sure where to put this, but I figured since I know for sure it works with the EZ-28 I'd put it here, and since many Panny owners seem to be collectors I bet lots of EZ machine owners also own a ES machine or 2 and would appreciate a few min. extra on their ES machines.

Jeff,

Back in May 2006 I spoke with a Panasonic engineer that had been part of the team that designed the DMR-ES40V combo recorder. He called me in response to a letter I sent to Panasonic headquarters in New Jersey. In that letter I described a number of bugs and design flaws in my DMR-ES40V, a 2005 model combo recorder purchased at Costco in December 2005. I wrote that my DMR-ES30V, an earlier 2005 model combo recorder purchased at Wal-Mart in September 2005, did not have such bugs and design flaws.

During that conversation I mentioned that when I swap a partially filled DVD recorded on the DMR-ES30V into the DMR-ES40V that the available recording time on the DMR-ES40V increased. (An example would be that the DMR-ES30V would show an available remaining time of 1:10 at the EP speed but the same disc inserted in the DMR-ES40V would show an available remaining time of 1:27 at the EP speed.) I asked if this was because "these machines use a different method of compression or something?" He said that there was a somewhat more complicated technical explanation for this but my speculation was essentially correct. Then we discussed other functional dissimilarities between my two Panasonic combo recorders.

Perhaps this has something to do with the additional time situation you describe.

The bugs and design flaws from the 2005 DMR-ES40V model were corrected by the time the 2006 models reached the marketplace. The 2005 DMR-ES30V combo recorders (I have two of these models) and the 2006 DVD recorders and combo recorders (I have four DMR-ES35V and four DMR-ES15 models) seemed to be relatively free of bugs and design flaws.

The same DMR-ES40V bugs and design flaws from that 2005 model resurfaced in the 2007 models. (Yes, those very same bugs and design flaws are present in my two DMR-EZ17 models from 2007.) Perhaps Panasonic may correct the bugs and design flaws by the time the 2012 models reach the market, unless Panasonic has abandoned the DVD recorder and combo recorder market by that time.

Yes I just mentioned the "new" or formatted disc scenario, but you are correct. Even partially recorded discs on the EZ machines will show more time when put in a older ES machine. It sure sounds like your ES-40 is more like a EZ machine than a ES machine in more than one way(and that's not necessarily a good thing:D)

...so before I go through the trouble of re-ripping and shrinking from the original DVD I try a DVD Decrypter rip of the troubled disk for a fast re-burn. So far I'm batting 1000.As someone just starting to use DVDs (and I *STILL* have 100's of blank CDs from either the FAR or BIG *SALE* days), why wouldn't you just do a 'Disk Copy'? :confused:

As someone just starting to use DVDs (and I *STILL* have 100's of blank CDs from either the FAR or BIG *SALE* days), why wouldn't you just do a 'Disk Copy'? :confused:That's exactly what I'm doing, but using a free piece of software that makes an image copy of the DVD and then transfers it to another disk. It just isn't called "disk copy" on a menu.

Well it's been a month and a half now and no major problems with my EZ-28. I've been using mainly -RW discs with a few RAM's thrown in for good measure. I thought I'd just post a few comparisons for anyone with a ES Panny thinking about getting a EZ-28.

minuses-
Cannot eject a DVD(from a powered off state) without machine first reading it, which takes 40 seconds with a -RW. I sure like my ES machines that I can just push eject and the disc ejects right away. Using Quick Start ON and RAM discs they eject within seconds though.
If you name your DVD's and enjoy the phrase save feature on your ES machines, that feature is not on the EZ machines. I use my ES machine if I'm going to use the phrase save feature. It works fine to interchange between the two.
If you were bugged by the occasional status display that would pop up on the screen if you had a EZ-x7 machine, they didn't fix that one. You always have the option of turning off all status messages if you want though. That gets rid of the occasional unwanted pop up.
If you like to be able to see the actual time on the unit's display when searching or while in pause mode, NOT on the EZ-28. It only displays the search speed or the word pause! You can choose to do a OSD and see the time that way though.
It's been mentioned several times but with all EZ's machines they must be OFF to start a scheduled event, even during chase play.
No 2x search with sound.
Personally I wouldn't use weekly or daily events on the EZ machines. They have a bug that causes programs to occasionally be missed. This was not the case with my ES machines, although I believe this was a problem with the ES-40 machine(I don't own one though).

pluses+
Digital tuner.
Automatically names thumbnail from PCIP info if recording a digital channel.
Next/Now program guide. No description though but does tell the program times.
Built in signal strength meter, only for ATSC though, not QAM or analog.
Great recording quality off HD channels.
Watching live 720p HDTV through built in tuner and upconverted over HDMI equals or is even better than my TV's built in HD tuner. Not sure if everyone will agree with this but in my setup this is sure the case. On the same vein just hooking up a CECB to the line input of a ES machine does NOT give nearly the PQ as my EZ-28. It's better than the ES's built in analog tuner but not up to the EZ-28's built in digital tuner.

Even though the -'s out number the +'s on my list most of the -'s are minor complaints and I sure wouldn't trade my EZ for several ES's. The PQ is the main factor for me and on that point the EZ-28 leaves my ES's in the dust, at least for recording off HD channels. SD's recordings are similar.

Well it's been a month and a half now and no major problems with my EZ-28.

Thanks for the update.

Automatically names thumbnail from PCIP info if recording a digital channel.

I have one complaint about this feature. It uses the program title being transmitted at the time of the beginning of the recording. Since I always start my timer events one minute early, I always get the title of the preceding program. It's interesting that they thought enough to select the thumbnail image from one minute into the recording, but did not do the same with the title. In this case, I would rather have the channel number and date/time that you get with analog channels, but they don't give you that option.

Built in signal strength meter, only for ATSC though, not QAM or analog.

My take on this is that you don't really need a signal strength meter for analog since you can pretty much determine that from the PQ. The importance of a signal strength meter for digital is that digital looks pretty much the same regardless of the signal strength, until it drops below a certain threshold and then, *POOF!*, no picture at all. I'm not really sure what useful information you get from it, though. I have one channel (7.1 - New York) that I can only get occasionally. When I'm not getting it, and I look at the meter, it jumps back and forth between 23% and 73% about every 2 seconds. What does that mean?

I agree about the the time that the program title is caputred. As you said it it's the second it starts to record. In my area anyway the stations tend to be 15 seconds behind so it's a 50/50 that it actually gets it correct. If I started it early it would probably never be right. Like you said it's funny they get the thumbnail at the 1min 5 second mark but didn't think it through to get the title at that same time. If they did I'd probably get many more with the correct title! Idealy I'd like the title done at something like the 5 min mark. That way even if you started your event a little bit early it should still be correct.

I agree with your analog signal meter analogy but I was talking about digital QAM for the cable people. I would also think they would like to know the signal strength but for some reason on QAM the option is missing, just like it is on Analog channels.

On you channel that changes signal strength very quickly, that's a classic example of multipath. If you were watching a analog channel you'd see bad ghosting, but digital is so good on covering it up you may only see the occasional breakup if it gets bad enough or at best just the signal strength varying. I had one channel like that, it would occasionally break up. All I had to do was move my antenna maybe 1 degree and now it's 88% rock solid. Of course now another channel that was 80% dropped to 50% but it's still 100% viewable, no breakups. Amazing how moving the antenna only 1 degree made such a drastic change.

Otherwise are you also happy with your EZ-28? I guess you were probably the first to get one, at least the first to post it on AVS.
I have never missed a scheduled event, something I cannot say in the least about my EZ-x7 series recorders but I know not to use weekly or daily events. At first I really missed them, but not as much as if I were to miss my recordings:D

The importance of a signal strength meter for digital is that digital looks pretty much the same regardless of the signal strength, until it drops below a certain threshold and then, *POOF!*, no picture at all. I'm not really sure what useful information you get from it, though. It's very useful for aligning an antenna for maximum signal. Especially if you have a rotor.

Well it's been a month and a half now and no major problems with my EZ-28.Don't you know it's bad luck to bring that up before the final out is made? :)

I don't want luck to have anything to do with my EZ-28 actually lasting:D That's part of the reason I'm still using the same -RW discs that killed all my EZ-17's(but never have problems with them in my ES machines). I'm not trying to abuse the machine but I'm walking on egg shells either. If it fails it fails. I've still got 15 days on my receipt and I plan on getting a new receipt one more time. That should bring my option to return it to almost the 3 month period.
I really feel(or hope) they've fixed the crashing issue that plagued my EZ-17's. I suppose after the 3 months I'll be a little more on edge since between then and the 1 year point I'd have to have the machine fixed/exchanged and I'd lose my money back option but I really feel if I can make it past 3 months I'll be good to go.

Kelson, so far I haven't seen any EZ-28 referbs. If everyone else is having as good luck with theirs as I am, I bet you'll see a lot less of those than the very plentiful EZ-x7 series machines. I see tons of those dogs as referbs.

I really do hope it turns out for the best though. If I were to lose this machine I would have to go back to recording to a ES machine through a CECB which really doesn't provide the punch that the EZ-28 does. In fact with the picture quality were getting with the EZ-28 my wife doesn't see the need for a TR-50:confused: but I keep telling her how much nicer it will be for timeshifiting not to have to screw around with stacks of -RW/RAMS and all the benefits of recording to a HDD. Oh we'll get a TR-50 but as long as my EZ-28 keeps humming along I'm not in any dire need of one. I guess possibly not until I get a 1080p 42" Panny Plasma. I've also been watching Costco/Sams to see when they'll get the new ones in. I missed out on all the great end of the model year bargains this time around:( I was probably 15 min. late getting one at Costco.com. It literally went out of stock when I was on-line:mad:

Well nearing the 2 month point and I had my first major recording failure. The bad news is I missed part of my scheduled event, the good news is it didn't kill the machine(no U99).

Last night I had a scheduled event for 7-10pm to a almost new Panasonic "RAM" (not -RW) disc. At 7:05pm I came in the room to see the display stuck on 00:00 for the recording time. I turned on the TV but the DVDR was not outputting any signal, only blank screen. I pushed DIRECT NAVIGATOR button and it showed a blank thumbnail with the red recording dot. I tried to play this title but nothing happened. I tried to stop the DVDR but nothing. I was able to move around in the setup but again the display on the unit just kept saying 00:00. I tried turning off the machine from the remote and the unit but no go. I was just about ready to push the reset button when I thought I'd try a soft shutdown. I held the power button on the unit for 10 seconds and the unit changed to cascading 00000's. This went on for 30 seconds, then unit shut off. I turned it back on and it went back to cascading 000000's it did this for 1 min. until I finally did a forced shutdown again. This time it went right off.
I then turned the unit back on and it did it's normal startup routine. I then checked the disc and nothing had been recorded. I did a display and it said the disc had 1hr XP open. Next I turned the unit OFF and right away it started recording my event.

After 20 min. I started chaseplaying and all went fine, except for the missing first 10 min. The disc continued to record the event to the end and when I checked the disc this morning all was well.....less the first 10 min.

And the bugs continue?..........

I'm just glad this time I had a RAM disc in the machine when it acted up. Many people have been pointing at my -RW's as a possible problem, but not this time. I will be exchanging my receipt this weekend to keep my return options open. I sure wish I could find a recording option using my reliable ES machines and a converter box but so far I haven't found a way to get the great recording quality I get from this EZ-28, but I'll keep trying.

For now I'll just consider this a fluke, but considering my luck with the EZ series.............. only time will tell.

That was me, again- I managed to sneak into your house (had to acquire a new key since you changed your locks from the ez17 days) and press the pause button on your new recorder. :p

You can't stop me...no one can! :D

I did a little testing last night to see if I could figure out what happened the other night. My thought was that the unit stuck on the pre-pause that happens 1 minute before the scheduled event is going to start. During this pre-pause warm up mode the display stays on 00:00, but I noted the REC light flashes during this time, and it was not flashing during my failed recording. It was on constant like once it starts to record.
I also noted during this pre-pause mode the unit outputs a signal of what it's going to record. In my failed event the screen was BLANK, so I guess my thought about the machine sticking in the pre pause mode is not valid.
What I don't know is if I had not noticed the machine hung and it was left in it's hung state for say 1hr if eventually the machine would have died with the u99. I guess if this happens again I'm going to leave the machine alone and see what happens. If it goes to a u99 state then that's the end. Back to BB it will go. No replacements this time. I'll wait for the TR-50 and abandon the EZ line. Since basically all I do with this machine is timeshift the TR-50 should suite me better anyway. Lord knows I've got enough working ES machines to burn things to DVD if I should want. Time will tell....
P.S. Mr Hanky, keep your sticky fingers off my dvdr:D This time I put 6-pin locks on my doors:cool:

For now I'll just consider this a fluke, but considering my luck with the EZ series.............. only time will tell.I wonder why they can't make them work as rock solid as their Japanese models?

We have never missed a timer recording to hdd with our Japanese DMR-XP12, which is from their newest line, which should be similar in quality to the newest US EZ line. (other than the lack of hdd.)

OTOH, the Japanese models have on onscreen guide, and the timers are set from the guide, not by manually entering time and channel info. Maybe that makes a diff.

Someone on another forum said Panasonic does or used to make their first batch of new recorders in Japan, then they farm the mfg off to Malaysian producers for subsequent batches???

I also think the HDD makes a difference. All my failures have been to DVD's. I'd guess if my recordings were to a HDD it would be more reliable, but who knows:confused: Unfortunately in the US we don't have a choice, if we want a Panny that is. I think my last Japanese Panny was a ES-30, circa '05.

Wajo,

My 2005 DMR-ES30V models, with serial numbers in the 2,xxx and 7,xxx production range, are of Malaysian manufacture.

DigaDo, thanks for confirming that... wasn't sure how believable it was, but it makes business sense in today's global market with U.S. dollar value falling down a rat-hole in China! :)

Wajo,

I have just made a quick check of several, but not all, of my Panasonics with these results:

2005 DMR-ES40V Malaysia (one of one checked)
2005 DMR-ES30V Malaysia (two of two checked)
2006 DMR-ES35V Malaysia (three of four checked)
2006 DMR-ES35V (Parts Machines) Malaysia (two of two checked)

The above are combo recorders

2006 DMR-ES15 China (three of four checked)
2007 DMR-EZ17 China (two of two checked)

The above are DVD recorders

2003 DVD-S35 China (one of one checked)

The above is a DVD player

Malaysia production is localized to Johor. China production is localized to Dalian.

Checked my Pannys and they agree with Digado. Malaysia for my ES-30s, which are my oldest Pannys and my ES-25(ES-15's big brother) is also China as well as my newest EZ-28.
It seems like the first gen of things have a chance of being made in Japan, but it's all down hill after that:D

Kelson, I think it was you that asked on a earlier post about Viera control and Pannys. My TV only has one HDMI input and I finally got around to hooking up a monoprice 4x1 HDMI switcher. On one port I hooked up my EZ-28 and on the other my '06 ES-25. I'd never really used the Viera on my ES-25 but I'm happy to report it works just fine. Like the EZ-28 if I say push the schedule button on the remote it automatically changes the input on my TV to HDMI. Also if I turn off my TV the ES-25 turns off(if it's not recording or playing).
I wasn't sure how the switcher might change things but I'm happy to report it works even better than I though it might. Somehow even though I might have the switcher input set for say the EZ-28, if I turn off my TV both DVDR's go off. Also if I've selected the EZ-28 on the switcher but say watching TV on my Display and I push the schedule button on my ES-25 it actually switches my TV to HDMI input. Note it does not switch my switcher though, I must manually do that so it actually displays the EZ-28 until I manually push the switcher. I just find it nice that somehow the Viera control is going through my switcher even though I might not have that particular input selected. Cool:cool:
I'm glad you had me try this option. It's nice to be able to turn off my TV and have BOTH DVDR's also turn off, all with one button. Oh I suppose a Harmony remote could do this too, but it's nice to be able to do it all with the equipment I already have.

I'm preparing for testing my new HD tuner. I ordered a Tivax LX1000 and will be running that through my HDMI switcher. Geez I'll still have a open HDMI port on the switcher. Maybe I should get a 3576?, oh no wait I'll need that for the TR-50 if or whenever that comes out. Dang, I guess I should have got the 6x1 switcher:rolleyes:

Has anyone out there who has one of these units had issues with the optical out audio cutting in and out when changing from the tuner input on the recorder to either imput 1 or 2 on the recorder. I have had 2 units now with this problem. The receiver I have is a sony str da4es. The only way to stop this is to go to the dv imput first on the dvd recorder then go to imput 1 or 2 . when I do this the sound is steady. Dvd's play fine and the tuner plays fine all the time.
Also this problem does not affect the analog output just the optical.
Maybe firmware update?

Thanks, Michael

I just bought the DMR-28EZ DVD recorder and have been able to record single shows on it. But I can't figure out how to set it to record daily or weekly shows. The manual says set the Date/Frequency in the schedule recording screen. It only seems to give me options to set a specific date for recording, but doesn't tell how to convert that to daily or weekly. The menu shows I can enter 0-9 but doesn't tell me the logic for what those numbers mean. Help!

I just bought the DMR-28EZ DVD recorder and have been able to record single shows on it. But I can't figure out how to set it to record daily or weekly shows. The manual says set the Date/Frequency in the schedule recording screen. It only seems to give me options to set a specific date for recording, but doesn't tell how to convert that to daily or weekly. The menu shows I can enter 0-9 but doesn't tell me the logic for what those numbers mean. Help!
Don't have the ez28, but on the ez47, you do this...When you get to the date tab, press the arrow down button, that takes you to 'weekly', and press again to get 'Mon-Fri'.

Does the EZ28 (and EZ18 and EZ17/27) have the issue that the ES15/25 had with continuous recording on a dual-layer disc? The ES15/25 had to have the first layer finalized before being able to record the second. This was a pain for recording a long movie or hockey game on a DL disc.

You may set the Schedule menu to record daily or weekly programs as Westly-C mentions.

Your Panasonic is a 2008 model. In the 2007 Panasonics (I have two DMR-EZ17 models) scheduled recordings set up daily or weekly may not always record. This is just one of several bugs in the 2007 models.

The workaround for this bug is to schedule all programs with actual dates.

UPDATE:
My DMR-EZ28K recently died!! I have owned it for about 11 weeks and was not using it very frequently for anything besides the tuner and occasionally watching movies or recirding a show. During the 11 week period, I used the tuner for several hours daily, used the DVD player about once every other day and used the DVD recorder about once a week.

On week 11, while I was changing channels, the recirder froze. I was unable to get it to turn off or on and after trying myltuple means of resetting the device, I ended up unplugging it in order to get it to turn off. I spent at least an hour trying to get it to turn back on, but it simply would not. Resetting (with the reset button and with the on//off button) for extended durations of time, unplugging, waiting and even yelling did not work. I managed to get the "HELLO" message to appear on the LCD display after resetting it with the on/off button at just the right time, but was unable to get further than that. It never displayed any image and I was unablet o eject the DVD tray to extract my disc.

The Panasonic support rep was no help as he simply had me repeat the steps I had done on my own to no avail, then said "you're right, it won't turn on". He offered to send me a box with instructions to ship it back to them so they can service it, but I refused as I had purchased the Besy Buy service plan when I originally purchased the device and this plan allowed me to take it directly to them, get my DVD out and have them service it without having to wait for the mailing system to transport my DVD recorder back and forth to Panasonic.

As of this update, I have retrieved my DVD and Best Buy is working on the recorder - I'll keep you updated.

Dhjellen,

If Best Buy sends your DMR-EZ28 to a local "Panasonic Authorized Service" location don't expect a prompt resolution as they service many makes, specializing in none. I would expect that Best Buy may eventually exchange your DMR-EZ28 for a new one.

If Best Buy does not resolve this to your entire satisfaction be sure to accept the Panasonic solution. Your DMR-EZ28 is covered under the Panasonic one year warranty that provides free to and from shipping, through a local UPS Store, to the corporate Panasonic Service Center in Elk Grove Village IL. This is the only location where there are Panasonic experts with immediate access to parts for quick and efficient service.

For Panasonic warranty service, call 1-800-211-7262 to obtain a RMA.

Here is the address for the corporate Panasonic Service Center:

Panasonic Service Center
1590 Touhy Ave
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

I am in Oregon. When I called Panasonic with a warranty claim for a DMR-ES30V in 2006 I was sent an email with RMA information and a link to print out a UPS shipping label. The same day I visited my UPS location and the Panasonic was on its way to Illinois. My Panasonic was back in service in less than two weeks. This machine has had heavy use (around 4,200 recording hours) and continues to give good service.

I agree with DigaDo.

I would rather send it to Panasonic directly during the initial 1-year warranty then trust BB to get it serviced either quickly or correctly.

Another Update
Well it kind of pained me to do this but I returned my EZ-28. The last straw was when I was recording a program I really wanted to a Panasonic RAM(that had only been used 2 other times). I pushed DIRECT NAVIGATOR and it brought up my title list. I pushed PLAY and the machine popped up with a warning that the disc may be corrupt and to hit enter to proceed with disc recovery. I did this but the machine was just stuck in a loop, changing between HELLO, 000000 and the disc recovery menu. Finally I held down the power button for 10 seconds which shut machine down. I was then able to eject the disc. I reinserted the disc which started the whole loop over again. I ejected the disc again and this time inserted it in my ES-25. The disc played just fine all the way to the end (where it locked up on the EZ-28).
After playing the disc I reformatted the disc and it worked just fine on the EZ-28.
While I think the machine makes beautiful DVDs off HD broadcasts(espically 720p ones) it's just too flaky for me. I can't trust it with irreplaceable recordings. IMO this machine is more reliable than the EZ-x7 machines(the EZ-28 might occasionally lock up but doesn't die) but since I have a abundance of ES machines that never give me problems I will use those with a CM-7000 CECB using it's S-video to feed my ES machines.
Doing this I'd say I get about 80% the PQ of a EZ-28 recording off a HD broadcast. IMO a EZ-27 would be 90% while a ES analog recording would be 40%. Using my Zenith composite CECB I'd guess 70%.

Other than the great recording quality the EZ-machines were never a good match for me. Their just to slow and flaky. I love to use weekly scheduled events which have a bug in all EZ machines. I'd guess the EZ-28 is 98% reliable for recording while my ES machines are 99.5%. 98% isn't bad but since lots of my recordings are of programs that are never repeated or sold on DVD, eg. Grammys, Oscars, and the occasional reality show dance programs. I really want every recording to work, or be as close to 100% as possible.

If you do have a EZ-28 and it locks up, for me what clears it (or did every time I had problems) was to hold the power button in for 10 seconds. Does wonders but depending on where you were on your recording you may loose your recording.

My ultimate device will be the TR-50 (if or when it comes out). I will apply my EZ-28 moneys towards one of those. The EZ-28 does make some very fine HD lite recordings but I'm sure I'll get used to the true HD in a hurry and only use my DVDRs for DVD backups and borrowing to friends.

I really hated to see it go but after reading our threads initiator also had problems with his I think I made the right decision. If this was my only DVDR I would have kept it, but it's not.

Another Update
Well it kind of pained me to do this but I returned my EZ-28. Too bad but understandable. It's the potential of lost recording issues such as this that makes me determined to never buy a recorder without a HDD. I still have 8 months before I'm forced into action so I'll just wait and see what equipment comes to market. I know we're waiting for the TR-50 but I'm not pinning my hopes on a mystery box that may have it's own set of reliability, tuner or PQ issues.

I picked up an EZ-28 from the Best Buy Outlet Store on eBay for $76.00 ($95.61 including tax + shipping). I figured that for less than a hundred bucks I'd take a chance on it.

So far I like it a lot. I recorded the Lost season finale on it on a DVD-RAM disc, and, although not HD, the WS recording from the digital channel of the local ABC station looked VERY good through HDMI on my Samsung 40" LCD HDTV.

I haven't tested it for jjeff or dhjellen's "bugs", but I can confirm that channel surfing is not something you want to do on this recorder -- it's painfully slow.

I will not use it as the only recorder to record "irreplaceable" programs though, but I won't have to. For example, I programmed 3 DVDRs to record the Lost program, my workhorse E-500, the EZ-17 and the EZ-28. I still have my Pioneer 640 as another back up if I need it.

I will probably use the EZ-28 to record those programs on DVD-RAM that I want to watch in full WS from digital channels. If the show is a keeper, I can always dub it to a TY DVD-R disc.

So my EZ-28 is a keeper, but I'm sorry to hear that jjeff returned his.

I will not use it as the only recorder to record "irreplaceable" programs though, but I won't have to. For example, I programmed 3 DVDRs to record the Lost program, my workhorse E-500, the EZ-17 and the EZ-28. I still have my Pioneer 640 as another back up if I need it.

I will probably use the EZ-28 to record those programs on DVD-RAM that I want to watch in full WS from digital channels. If the show is a keeper, I can always dub it to a TY DVD-R disc.

So my EZ-28 is a keeper, but I'm sorry to hear that jjeff returned his.RG, here's an issue that hasn't come up in ages but you are in a position to test it on the new recorders with digital tuners. Let's just talk about the EZ-28 and forget about the EZ-17.

1. Can you HS dub that RAM Lost recording from the EZ-28 to the E-500? (probably yes)

2. Once you get it on the E-500, can you HS dub the lost recording to a DVD-R -- or will it have to be re-encoded in realtime.

Remember, we had these issues with the ES-15 and others because they did not have a HS-dub option to constrain the VBR recording into DVD standards.

Remember, we had these issues with the ES-15 and others because they did not have a HS-dub option to constrain the VBR recording into DVD standards.

As I spend more time at this forum I am beginning to wonder what the fascination is here with "high-speed dubbing", which is what? 5x? Can anyone explain that to me? Maybe I'm missing something.:confused:

I have never seen a stand-alone DVD recorder make as good or as fast a recording as a computer-based burner. That is, the stand-alone-recorded dvds have way more errors when scanned (I am assuming the use of generally accepted quality media). Are people here adverse to recording to -RAM (or - +RW) importing to a computer and then burning? Is it a time issue?

And what does "constrain the VBR recording into DVD standards" mean? I use an ES15. I import my recordings to the computer and edit there. According to Recode, even after Nero 'transcodes', the resulting video files are still VBR and the DVD picture is virtually indistinguishable from the original source (unless that original source was in HD, in which case the DVD 480i picture looks ALMOST as good as the original especially when upscaled.). Now, to be fair, my tv is only 36" so it may be too small for me to notice the differences you all are alluding to.

I'm not complaining, but I am looking to be educated in the thinking of this particular forum.... :)

Thanks in advance.;)

I think the perk of high-speed dubbing (aside from avoiding generational losses) is not necessarily the brute n-times increase, rather that it just happens faster than having to record it all over again at 1:1 time. Additionally, you can often still do other things on the recorder (watch a different source, record, or play another program) while HS-dubbing, as opposed to the alternative (realtime dubbing) which utterly "occupies" the device.

It's also convenient to do everything "in situ" on the recorder, rather than move it all to a pc just to do the same thing. Naturally, there are others with more demanding requirements that would be met with a pc editing suite. If that is the case, then more power to you. If not, then avoiding touching a pc can be just as desirable.

RG, here's an issue that hasn't come up in ages but you are in a position to test it on the new recorders with digital tuners. Let's just talk about the EZ-28 and forget about the EZ-17.

1. Can you HS dub that RAM Lost recording from the EZ-28 to the E-500? (probably yes)

2. Once you get it on the E-500, can you HS dub the lost recording to a DVD-R -- or will it have to be re-encoded in realtime.

Remember, we had these issues with the ES-15 and others because they did not have a HS-dub option to constrain the VBR recording into DVD standards.
With my Panny combo ES30 and a RAM disc, you can hi speed dub to my EH85's hdd, that show will not carry the hi-speed 'flag' if that's the proper terminology, to allow that show to be hi speed dubbed to a dvd-r. Only with RAM can you go back and forth like that. Same goes for my new EZ47, anything recorded on it, doesn't carry the h/s flag.
Trek101 said
As I spend more time at this forum I am beginning to wonder what the fascination is here with "high-speed dubbing", which is what? 5x? Can anyone explain that to me? Maybe I'm missing something
Hi speed dubbing allows you to dub from a hdd model recorder's hdd to disc in les than 15 mins-depending on the final file size of what you're dubbing. A 'real time dub' is just that-a 90 min movie on the drive, will take 90 mins to dub to a dvd-r, with the picture quality taking a hit, and any manually inserted chapter markers obliterated.

RG, here's an issue that hasn't come up in ages but you are in a position to test it on the new recorders with digital tuners. Let's just talk about the EZ-28 and forget about the EZ-17.

1. Can you HS dub that RAM Lost recording from the EZ-28 to the E-500? (probably yes)

2. Once you get it on the E-500, can you HS dub the lost recording to a DVD-R -- or will it have to be re-encoded in realtime.

Remember, we had these issues with the ES-15 and others because they did not have a HS-dub option to constrain the VBR recording into DVD standards.

Hi Kelson,

OK, I'll give it a shot as soon as I have the time.

I'll take the Lost DVD-RAM and HS dub it to the HDD of the E-500, which probably will happen with no problem. Then I'll try to HS dub it from the HDD of the E-500 to a TY DVD-R. This is where the problem may occur. If the program doesn't show up with the HS-enabled icon on the dubbing screen, then it probably won't HS dub to the DVD.

Another thing I can try is to take the Lost DVD-RAM and HS dub it to the HDD of the Pioneer 640, and then try to HS dub it to a DVD-R.

If neither of these methods work, does anybody know if you can copy a DVD-RAM disc to a DVD-R disc losslessly (equivalent to a HS dub) using computer drives? Do you need special software? Are there DVD-RAM to DVD conversion programs that produce a bit-for-bit copy?

Finally, if none of these works, then I'll have to predict which shows might be keepers, and record them directly on DVD-R discs in the EZ-28.

I'll post the results as soon as I can.

With my Panny combo ES30 and a RAM disc, you can hi speed dub to my EH85's hdd, that show will not carry the hi-speed 'flag' if that's the proper terminology, to allow that show to be hi speed dubbed to a dvd-r. Only with RAM can you go back and forth like that. Same goes for my new EZ47, anything recorded on it, doesn't carry the h/s flag.

Westly, if it doesn't work on the EZ-47 it probably won't work on the EZ-28 either, but I'll give it a shot.

In any case, I'll try it on the Pioneer 640 as well.

Another thing I can try is to take the Lost DVD-RAM and HS dub it to the HDD of the Pioneer 640, and then try to HS dub it to a DVD-R.
Barring copy protection, a Disc Backup on the Pio 640 should make a high-speed temporary copy on the HDD and spit out a final dub in HS also, already Finalized and ready to go!

Since it's a VR-mode disc, it should also HS copy (w/the normal Copy menu) to the HDD for a permanent copy on the HDD for normal HS dubbing, altho I've never tried it with a -RAM disc either this way or a Backup, so it'll be an interesting test! :)

Hi Kelson,


If neither of these methods work, does anybody know if you can copy a DVD-RAM disc to a DVD-R disc losslessly (equivalent to a HS dub) using computer drives? Do you need special software? Are there DVD-RAM to DVD conversion programs that produce a bit-for-bit copy?

Is your pc burner RAM compatible? If so, it should have come with a dvd authoring program, can you check to see wha program's on your pc? Sonic's MyDVD, Ulead, TMPG DVD Author Pro all handle RAM content. The latter 2 offer fully functional trial versions-TMPG being the best, imo. :o

rgazzara-Sounds like you got a super deal. I will still recommend the EZ-28 for its great recording quality it's just in my case with an abundance of basically 100% reliable ES machines the EZ-28 with it's occasional problem didn't make sense. I will miss the PQ but not it's somewhat temperamental behavior. Lets just say it was a love hate relationship;)
For the price you got it for I wouldn't hesitate and would probably pick one up myself. It's just for over $229 retail the EZ-28 is almost 1/2 the price of what I'm hoping the TR-50 might sell for. I guess I'm really putting all my eggs in one basket with the TR-50 but until then I'm getting some pretty decent recordings using my CM-7000 CECB hooked up to my ES-25s line in. I'd guess I get about 90% the PQ of the EZ-28 using this setup. I can live with the -10% until the TR-50 comes out.

I think I've read all the posts here but haven't seen an answer to the question about the EZ28 being able to record Cable movies with protection. I have a Sony RDRGX330 that records everything but it's an older machine that doesn't upconvert (Progressive Scan only). I had a newer Sony RDRGX355 (upconverts to 1080i) that wouldn't record anything protected (including movies from non-premium channels like TNT, AMC, etc.) I used it mainly to watch upconverted DVD's and for transferring from my camcorder to DVD (because it had a "pause record" function that the 330 didn't). The 355 died so I want to replace it but am looking for a machine that can upconvert to 1080p AND record movies on TNT, AMC, etc. that are protected.

Will someone be kind enough to answer the following questions about the EZ28 if possible:

1. Can the EZ28 record protected movies that are played on TNT, AMC, etc?
2. Can the EZ28 play "finalized" +R DVD's made on a Sony 330 or 355? (I know this may be hard to answer unless you also have one of these machines.)
3. Can the FR, "Flexible Recording", function be used when recording from a cable company DVR? I have a Comcast "Motorola" High-Def DVR that I record movies on. The ones I want to archive, I record to DVD. Some of the movies are over 120 minutes long (some 130 to 180 minutes). The Sony allows me to select a 2.5 hr or 3 hr mode that doesn't look too bad. The 4 hr mode was almost
not worth watching. I suspect the 4 hr mode for the EZ28 is just as bad so I was hoping the FR function could be used when recording from the Motorola DVR. (Why doesn't Panasonic have a 3 hr mode since there are so many movies that run over 120 minutes but usually under 180 minutes?)

Thank you for your help, Mac


Sony Bravia KDL-40V2500 (1080p)
Motorola DCT3400 High-Def DVR
Sony RDRGX330 DVD Recorder

1. I don't have cable but I haven't heard of anybody else not being able to record the channels you mentioned. Occasionally people may have problems with pay channels like HBO etc. and then sometimes only certain programs like The Sopranos comes to mind.
Sony is known for overzealous copy protection problems so I wouldn't be surprised of a Panny was able to record programs the Sony could not. Of course if you're trying to copy a Hollywood DVD you will get the warning unless you use a filter. I think it really depends on your local cable company on what programs may contain the CP bit and what may not.

2. Finalized + discs should play no problem on the Panny, no matter what machine it was recorded on. Unfinalized discs recorded recorded on anything but a Panny will not play though.

3. Yes this Panny has FR mode. Using FR you can set the recording length to a standard DVD at anything from 1-8 hours/disc. As far as a 3hr recording speed, I would sure have liked that. Personally I think you'll find the 4hr LP mode on a Panny to be equal to a Sonys 2 1/2 or 3hr mode(IMO) but where the Pannys really excel is in speeds between 2+ hrs and about 3hrs/disc. If you're recording a straight through 3 hr program it is relatively easy process to use FR button and set the length for 3hrs and hit enter. If you have more than one title per disc it gets a little harder. For that what I do is for the first title set FR to 3hrs. Lets say the first title was 1hr long. After 1hr I push stop. Then for the next title I set FR for 2hrs(3-1=2). Lets say the second title is also 1hr. After one hour push stop. Then for your last event set FR for 1hr(3-2+1). After this last 1hr event has finished the disc will be full and you will have 3 1hr titles each in a speed that I call FR3. I know it would have been easier if Panasonic had included a 3hr mode, but once you get the hand of FR you'll find out it's not that hard, plus you'll have the benefit of unlimited speeds/disc. Note you MUST push STOP after each event(except the last one) using this method. You will not be able to do this on a scheduled event, again unless it's only one event per disc or it's the last event on the disc.
I said 3hrs although I've also read something like 2hrs 40 min/disc is optimal. What happens if you go much over 3hrs/disc is you'll start seeing Macroblocking or a mpeg effect which causes the screen to break up onto small squares in areas of fast movement(caused by I've read the signal being bit starved). If your material does not contain lots of fast movement you may be able to push the 4hr speed and still have the added benefit of full resolution using the Pannys.
If you ever want to see macroblocking and have a HDTV with a digital tuner tune to a 480i digital station(ION Life is a great example in my area). Pick a station that has something like 4 or 5 SD stations/major channel. You'll see macroblocking at its worse. It mainly happens at times of a scene change or when the screen has lots of small things moving at the same time. Running water or something like falling confetti will macroblock every time. Of course if the macroblocking is in the original signal your DVD will have it no matter what speed you use.
Another tip for seeing macroblocking is to look at the station bug during scene transitions or autoracing is another good example. You will see the station bug get fuzzy or turn into blocks even on a 1080i channel like NBC HD, since NBC tends to use subchannels on their main HD channel. CBS HD that does not contain subchannels is the best I've seen OTA but I've also even seen macroblocking on CBS. Blue Ray has the potential for a macroblock free image I believe because of the bandwith dedicated to its signal and maybe its superior mpeg compression techniques.
Sorry I degressed but macroblocking is really a pet peeve of mine.

RG, here's an issue that hasn't come up in ages but you are in a position to test it on the new recorders with digital tuners. Let's just talk about the EZ-28 and forget about the EZ-17.

1. Can you HS dub that RAM Lost recording from the EZ-28 to the E-500? (probably yes)

2. Once you get it on the E-500, can you HS dub the lost recording to a DVD-R -- or will it have to be re-encoded in realtime.

Remember, we had these issues with the ES-15 and others because they did not have a HS-dub option to constrain the VBR recording into DVD standards.

Here's an update on my attempt to transfer a program recorded on my EZ-28 DVDR on a DVD-RAM, to a DVD-R using HS (bit-for-bit) dubbing.

(1) Well I think we can put to rest the notion that programs recorded on any Panasonic DVDR (including the 2008 models) can ever be HS dubbed to the HDD of a Panasonic recorder with the HS dubbing flag set. After I dubbed the EZ-28 DVD-RAM to the HDD of my E-500, the HS dubbing icon was not visible, and the recorder refused to allow me to HS dub the program to a DVD-R. It would allow a HS dub back to a DVD-RAM, but we all knew that was possible.

(2) Next I tried using my Pioneer 640 to do the deed. I HS dubbed the program to the HDD (although it took longer than on the Panasonic at 27 minutes), and I set up the 640 to HS speed dub the program to a DVD-R. All appeared OK as the recorder happily displayed that the program would be HS copied onto the DVD-R. I started the HDD->DVD-R copy and left to do something else. When I returned to check on the dubbing, I found that the recorder was no longer responding (crashed?). I managed to shut the recorder off by holding in the power off button until it shut down. I removed the disc and it appeared that the copy was about 80% completed before the crash. I don't know why it crashed (bad media?) and I will try it again, but it appears to be possible.

More later when I try again.

jjeff,
Is the DVD drive as noisy as in the EZ17 series? I do not use chase play with the EZ17 nearly as much I do with the ES20 because the drive is making such a racket going back & forth. I hear it all the way across the room. I was wondering if your EZ28 is quieter in this respect than the other Panny's that you returned.
I can't say about the EZ-17 but the chaseplay on the EZ-28 is a fair amount quieter than the ES-15/25. I returned my EZ-28 and have started using my ES-25 w/CM-7000 CECB. Anyway I never used chaseplay on my ES-25 before, but now that I'm into chaseplaying I've been using it. I can say for a fact that the ES-25(and also ES-15) is way more noisy than the EZ-28 during chaseplay. With the EZ-28 I would only occasionally hear a grinding noise coming from the machine. With the ES-25/15 I hear this much more often and it's louder. In fact during quite parts of a show it's downright annoying. And for those in the know, no I don't believe disc slippage is causing the noise. I recently cleaned the machines don't see scuffing on the disc spindle. I think the ES-25 and ES-15s are just not as isolated as far as disc noise.
For another reference point my '05 ES-30 is basically silent during chaseplay. It also probably weighs twice what the ES-25 does, although the ES-30 also contains the VHS unit I believe it's just overall a better build quality.

DTV HD-H21-200 ----hdmi to----tv
PS3----hdmi to-----tv
Panasonic DMR-EZ28K---red yellow white ----out or in?----to red yellow white----out or in??? on DTV?

Can someone help a noob?

Not sure what you want to do. If it's play a DVD on the EZ-28 I would really suggest the HDMI out of the EZ-28 to your TV. The only other output I would consider would be component. I noticed a rather big drop in resolution and color quality by using S-video or composite out of my EZ-28. You'll also only get upconverting via HDMI or Component(if using unfinalized discs).
To record from your HR21 use its S-video out and RED and WHITE audio out to the S-video input and Audio input of the EZ-28. Personally I'd try and avoid the yellow composite unless it's the only option.

Best: EZ28 HDMI out to TV (1080p)
Better: EZ28 S-Vid/Red/White out to TV (good 480i)
Worst: EZ28 Yellow/Red/White out to TV (lousy 480i)

If you don't have enough HDMI inputs, go component (Red/Green/Blue video + Red/White audio) out from your H21 or PS3 to your TV so you can free up an HDMI for the EZ28. Otherwise, you're really missing out on a great picture.

To record from the H21, connect it's S-Vid/Red/White out to S-Vid/Red/White in (input 1) on the EZ28.

I have upgraded my DVD recorder from the EZ-47 to the EZ-28. I record on DVD rams and noticed on replaying recordings I made from HD-channels, an annoying flickering when the picture transitions between dark scenes and lights scenes. it doesn't seem to bother my wife but I notice it. Again it is only on recordings made from an HD channel. My cable provider is Cox and I am running the cable directly from the wall into my Panasonic. After all the bugs I had with the EZ-47 I was hoping for a problem free EZ-28.
Anyone else have this flickering problem?:(

TO: JJeff. Thank you very much for the information. Sorry it took me so long to post this but my C drive had major problems and I had to restore it from a copy that was almost a month old that didn't have this site in my Favorites. Took me forever to find this site again. Anyway, thank you. The information will help me decide which DVDR to purchase. Mac

PS: Is Macroblocking the fuzzy pixalation you get around SD broadcasts? When I "upgraded" and got the Comcast "Digital" and HD programing I thought that the crummy SD video would improve but it didn't. The only video signals that look good are the true HD signals I get. The digital SD channels range from bad to worse and most of what I watch is SD. I thought going digital was supposed to improve the picture quality (at least a little). The SD channels actually seem to look better at my son's house and he has a regular CRT TV.

Yes I have noticed Macroblocking on SD digital OTA stations. In my area ION is the worst. They cram 4 stations into a signal major channel and the PQ suffers terribly. I believe the reason for the macroblocking is the same reason you get it with a Panny if trying to record full resolution in too slow a speed. Bitrate is being starved and cannot keep up when the action gets fast and unpredictable for the MPEG algorithm to predict. To see this look in areas of fast movement and you will see blocks about 1" square. Another good time to see this is during scene transitions. Strobe lights and falling confetti is also a great time to see this effect.
Because of this effect I actually prefer to watch ION(and other analog SD channels) on my local analog channels since analog TV doesn't seem have a problem with fast movement. IMO (and everyone may not agree with this) a good quality strong analog channel looks better than a SD digital channel. Of course a good quality ghost free analog channel is harder to come by than a digital channel. It requires a good signal, good wiring/baluns/splitters low noise distribution amps etc. It's easier to fudge things with a decent strength digital signal.
Welcome back:)

Hello everyone, I may appear naive and this may have already been covered. I just ordered a DMR-EZ28K from Bestbuy. I had previously owned a LG DVD-R/VCR recorder. This lasted for about 2 years but finally died the other night (it will not read any blank DVD-RW or DVD-R, says "no disc"). I noticed reading through the posts that you are able to extend the return time by getting newer sales receipts. How do you go about doing this? Is this something that I can do? I do not live close to Best Buy and ordered the player online. I may be jumping the gun but after reading this it seems like I may or may not have problems with it. I do plan to timer record with it, the old LG recorded my soap opera 5 days a week for the past 2 yrs. It only recently had trouble reading the disks to start the recording. If someone has any advice about getting newer receipts, I would really appreciate it.

As a side note, I do not consider myself a electronic guru but am fairly knowledgeable with computers. However when work is done I just want to come home, turn on the stuff and have it work. I have a 42" plasma Insignia TV, a regular Toshiba older DVD player and a home theater in a box audio system. I have just ordered Direct TV and plan on cancelling my cable. I am waiting to schedule the install appt. until after the new Panasonic DVD arrives so I can get my system back to normal before the satellite people come and change it all again. I will try to come back and post to let everyone know how it goes, in case it may be helpful.

I got the EZ28 and set it up today but am having problems getting a decent HiDef picture. I've got a coax going from my Comcast (Motorola) HiDef Box to the EZ28 and a HDMI cable from the EZ28 to the Sony 1080P TV, but the picture in FULL mode shows up only 3/4 size centered on the TV with black boarders all around. If I set the TV pic to Zoom it fills the screen but the picture quality goes way down. The TV indicates 1080p.

When I tried it with Component cables, the picture filled the screen horizonally but with large black areas on top and bottom, the picture was distored (people were short and squat) and the PQ wasn't as good. TV indicated 1080i.

Any suggestions on what I can do to get a decent, full screen HD picture with the EZ28?

Thanks for the help. Mac


Sony Bravia KDL-40V2500 (1080p)
Motorola DCT3400 High-Def DVR
Panasonic EZ28 DVD Recorder

Hello everyone, I may appear naive and this may have already been covered. I just ordered a DMR-EZ28K from Bestbuy. I had previously owned a LG DVD-R/VCR recorder. This lasted for about 2 years but finally died the other night (it will not read any blank DVD-RW or DVD-R, says "no disc"). I noticed reading through the posts that you are able to extend the return time by getting newer sales receipts. How do you go about doing this? Is this something that I can do? I do not live close to Best Buy and ordered the player online. I may be jumping the gun but after reading this it seems like I may or may not have problems with it. I do plan to timer record with it, the old LG recorded my soap opera 5 days a week for the past 2 yrs. It only recently had trouble reading the disks to start the recording. If someone has any advice about getting newer receipts, I would really appreciate it.

As a side note, I do not consider myself a electronic guru but am fairly knowledgeable with computers. However when work is done I just want to come home, turn on the stuff and have it work. I have a 42" plasma Insignia TV, a regular Toshiba older DVD player and a home theater in a box audio system. I have just ordered Direct TV and plan on cancelling my cable. I am waiting to schedule the install appt. until after the new Panasonic DVD arrives so I can get my system back to normal before the satellite people come and change it all again. I will try to come back and post to let everyone know how it goes, in case it may be helpful.
Not sure how I missed this post but I'll respond now. You must be talking about what I did with my EZ-28. Since I had such bad luck with my previous EZ-17/27s I was really leary about purchasing another EZ Panny. I didn't want to happen with my EZ-28 what happened to my EZ-x7 series machines. That is go beyond the 30 day "return" period, so I'd be stuck with having to repair the machine if it broke down. Been their, done that. Anyway what I did to extend this "return" period was to, after 28 days I would buy a new EZ-28. I would take it home but NOT unbox the unit. Then the next day I'd go back to the store with my OLD receipt. I would return the NEW unit with my OLD receipt. Then I'd have that new receipt which would allow me to return my OLD unit for the next 30 days. It just bought me 30 more days to return the OLD unit. When I would return the unboxed unit I would say I bought it but never opened it(changed my mind). Hopefully they would just put the unit back on the shelf for resale. I wasn't trying to have them lose money by having to sell it as a return but just wanted to "extend" my return period on my initial EZ-28.
That said I did start having minor issues after about a month and a half and decided to do the return thing a second time to buy me some more time. I don't know that I'd suggest what I did for everyone, after all it's kind of dishonest;) I just felt personally justified since I had so much bad luck with my previous Panny. If you didn't need the tuner I'd think about Target if you live near one. They sell the "tuner less" EA-18 and I believe have a 90 day return period. I think most issues would show up by 90 days and then you wouldn't have to screw around with the return thing.
BTW it might be too late, but in your case you might just want to look at a Philips 3576. It has a HDD that would probably be more reliable for your day to day soap operas and time shifting. If interested check out the extensive sticky on that model.
I'm sure not everyone has as much problems with their EZ machines as I did although I suppose a extended warranty is also a option. Personally I didn't want to go that route since if I started having issues I just wanted to be able to return the unit and be done with it.


I got the EZ28 and set it up today but am having problems getting a decent HiDef picture. I've got a coax going from my Comcast (Motorola) HiDef Box to the EZ28 and a HDMI cable from the EZ28 to the Sony 1080P TV, but the picture in FULL mode shows up only 3/4 size centered on the TV with black boarders all around. If I set the TV pic to Zoom it fills the screen but the picture quality goes way down. The TV indicates 1080p.

When I tried it with Component cables, the picture filled the screen horizonally but with large black areas on top and bottom, the picture was distored (people were short and squat) and the PQ wasn't as good. TV indicated 1080i.

Any suggestions on what I can do to get a decent, full screen HD picture with the EZ28?

Thanks for the help. Mac


Sony Bravia KDL-40V2500 (1080p)
Motorola DCT3400 High-Def DVR
Panasonic EZ28 DVD Recorder
Mac, first are you recording your channels by directly tuning them in on your EZ-28 or are you first tuning them on your STB and then outputting to CH3 which you then record on your DVDR?
Your best option would be to directly tune channels on your EZ-28 channels that it can receive. For scrambled channels you'll want to use the S-video output of your STB and go to the line input on your Panny. Your one(and major problem) might be, since you have a Motorola STB, they tend to NOT output full screen 16:9 to any of their outputs other than component or HDMI. Since current DVDRs don't have component inputs you'd be stuck with 16:9 letterboxed output, which if the station is broadcasting a pillerboxed 4:3 image on a HD channel, you'll end up with a tiny postage stamp image in the middle of your screen. Not very desirable at all. If this is the case I don't know what to tell you other than maybe complain to your cable co. Possibly? they might be able to get your a STB with full screen output over S-video(although I doubt it). Many other people on these forums have the same problem as you might be experiencing. Some look for a older Polaroid DVDR which did have component inputs others look for some type of component to S-video converter which aren't too easy to find.
Note being OTA only I really don't run into the postage stamp effect much, but I do run into the problem when a HD station is broadcasting a 4:3 image. In that case I get the black bars on both sides. Occasionally a SD station will broadcast a 16:9 letter box image. In this case I use the Zoom option on my TV and I maintain the proper aspect ratio although it does lose some PQ.

Be careful, though - I know at least Walmart matches up the serial number on the box and the receipt when being returned (yes, it's on their receipts).

With Sam's though, you're likely to be able to take the 3576 back anytime within a year, possibly even more if they're in a real good mood that day.

Good point. I did check out my receipts though and saw nothing indicating the S/N. As mentioned the whole idea isn't probably the right thing to do:o

I just bought the EZ28 to replace a previous model, and ran into something that I'm not sure can be worked around. When either recording something directly, or with schedule recording, it's hard to watch other channels on the tv while the recorder is on. I didn't have this problem with my previous model, the ES15. And I tried doing a search for this problem and haven't had any luck, so I was hoping someone here could help. I really appreciate the help. Thank you.

Since the E-28 doesn't have a RF modulator it can't be that the RF mod is on. Their really shouldn't be any reason for your problem. I'll assume you are speaking of using the RF passthru option. That is recording one channel on the EZ-28 while tuning into another channel on your TV. I never noticed mine, or any other DVDR or VCR for that matter, to take more signal when on and recording vs. not.
One "possibility" might be if you are using a rabbit ears type setup and have a very weak signal and watching analog channels on your passthru signal. In that case the DVDR itself could be broadcasting some type of analog noise, which your TV is then picking up. This scenario is kind of unlikely but it's the only thing I could think would be causing your problem. Maybe someone else has an idea. The EZ-28 might have a different type of switching power supply than your older ES-15 which might interfere more with your analog passthru:confused:

One "possibility" might be if you are using a rabbit ears type setup and have a very weak signal and watching analog channels on your passthru signal. In that case the DVDR itself could be broadcasting some type of analog noise, which your TV is then picking up. This scenario is kind of unlikely but it's the only thing I could think would be causing your problem. Maybe someone else has an idea. The EZ-28 might have a different type of switching power supply than your older ES-15 which might interfere more with your analog passthru:confused:

Jeff,

You are correct. I have a DMR-ES35V combo recorder with analog tuner. Its RF input is the Comcast coax feed and its composite output is to a Dynex LCD TV. The ES35 is a time-shifter dedicated to recording Twilight Zone episodes from (analog) SCI-FI and a few other randomly scheduled analog programs. The ES35 RF output passes through the Comcast feed to a cable ready analog tuner RCA CRT TV. If I'm watching the RCA TV and a scheduled recording is initiated on the ES35 the RCA TV picture becomes severely degraded as the ES35 is outputting the program it's recording to the RF connection and the RCA TV is trying to tune another channel through its cable-ready tuner. (A Zenith DTT900 CECB feeds the RCA TV's composite inputs. The Zenith is currently connected to a Staples Paper Clip Antenna, style #1, standard size, priced at $2.99 for a box of 1,000 antennas.)

The ES35 is a time-shifter dedicated to recording Twilight Zone episodes from (analog) SCI-FI
:D Actually I broke down and bought all the "complete seasons" of TZ on DVD. Much better PQ on the DVDs than I ever saw on analog TV. Plus its very nice to see the episodes in the order they were shot in. I'm currently working on Alfred Hitchcock presents. I think I'm up to season 3 or 4. I've also got a complete season of Outer Limits, although I haven't had time to even crack the shrink wrap. Gotta love those 50's TV programs. I just wish they had the original Playhouse 90's on DVD. Maybe someday.
Personally I like to spend the money I save on pay TV to buy TV on DVD. Although it sounds like you get your moneys worth recording from TCM. I wouldn't mind paying $10/month for just that channel, its just I don't have a interest in 95% of the rest on pay TV.
Sorry to get OT, its just Digado peaked my interest:o

You don't have a "retro" channel there (like MeTV or MeToo, like we do)? Those things are getting pretty popular everywhere, I hear. If not, then maybe you'll be getting one there eventually.

They show all of those shows you mention, and they use the remastered versions. They look excellent OTA.

:D Actually I broke down and bought all the "complete seasons" of TZ on DVD. Much better PQ on the DVDs than I ever saw on analog TV. Plus its very nice to see the episodes in the order they were shot in. I'm currently working on Alfred Hitchcock presents. I think I'm up to season 3 or 4. I've also got a complete season of Outer Limits, although I haven't had time to even crack the shrink wrap. Gotta love those 50's TV programs. I just wish they had the original Playhouse 90's on DVD. Maybe someday.

At the moment I'm missing just four TZ episodes. I've dubbed all the Alfred Hitchcock Presents & Hours that I had on videotape (around 70 episodes). I also purchased both seasons of the original Outer Limits; two collections of One Step Beyond (twenty episodes); and the complete Boris Karloff series The Veil (10 episodes).

Sorry to get OT, its just Digado peaked my interest:o

I've been naughty, again. It's like a guy named Adam who said "The woman you gave me made me eat the apple." Whoops, that's another subject.

Sorry

RAMM, no OTA retro channel here, it sounds great. Only one independent channel plays a few old shows but they are of such poor quality. You can always tell when a scene transition is coming since the snow(or rather scratches on the film) starts to fly. Not to mention the punch marks that were added to alert the people at the TV station to get the commercial ready, or maybe change a film reel.
Your correct, most I mentioned were early 60's. As far as missing episodes, I believe their are a few Twilight Zone episodes that were only broadcast once in their day and then canned, deemed too controversial for their day. Of course they are on the complete season DVDs.
Digado, never heard of One Step Beyond or the Boris Karloff series, I'm sure I'd like them. I was only a "very young" lass in the early 60's:D
Now I started something:D, I suppose we should get us a room:o or maybe the software forum....

Hi, has anyone tried watching Divx movies from the usb port? Does it have to be a flash drive or can it also be an external harddrive? Thanks.

I have posted an update on my experiences with my Panasonic DVD recorders, 6 of which are EZ28's, to the EZ48 thread. You can read it at the link below:

Perl's update (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14312253#post14312253)

A technically challenged friend of mine recently bought this DVD recorder "open box" from Best Buy. I think whoever had it previously and brought it back to Best Buy had attempted to program the remote for his/her equipment as there were codes handwritten on the front of the user manual. As a result, when my friend tries to use the remote to control just the DMR-EZ28K , he gets a "RC1" message on the units display and nothing else happens. I have looked at the user manual and can't find any reference to that message. Before I go to his house and try to "fix" it, I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem with the remote or knows the solution. Thanks in advance for any help.

A technically challenged friend of mine recently bought this DVD recorder "open box" from Best Buy. I think whoever had it previously and brought it back to Best Buy had attempted to program the remote for his/her equipment as there were codes handwritten on the front of the user manual. As a result, when my friend tries to use the remote to control just the DMR-EZ28K , he gets a "RC1" message on the units display and nothing else happens. I have looked at the user manual and can't find any reference to that message. Before I go to his house and try to "fix" it, I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem with the remote or knows the solution. Thanks in advance for any help.
RC1=Remote Code 1. The Panny recorders allow for up to 3 different codes to be set to operate their units in rooms with other Panny equipment. Arrgh...changing the remote code requires accessing the Setup menu. Ask your friend if he has a universal remote in the house that may have some Panasonic dvd player-or even tv, codes listed in the manual. If so, see if he can use it to get the recorder's menu screen up.
If he doesn't have a uni-remote, then see if this might work. Press the dvd power button on the unit and holding it down, press and hold down the '1' button on the remote for about 5 secs. Release both at the same time, and see if that will set both unit and remote to work on code 1. That's just a guess now, so don't let him get his hopes up too high. There has to be a way to set both to the same code-I think this happened once to me, but I can't recall how I resolved it (if it even actually happened...) :o

A technically challenged friend of mine recently bought this DVD recorder "open box" from Best Buy. I think whoever had it previously and brought it back to Best Buy had attempted to program the remote for his/her equipment as there were codes handwritten on the front of the user manual. As a result, when my friend tries to use the remote to control just the DMR-EZ28K , he gets a "RC1" message on the units display and nothing else happens. I have looked at the user manual and can't find any reference to that message. Before I go to his house and try to "fix" it, I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem with the remote or knows the solution. Thanks in advance for any help.


I have a different model Panny but IIRC look in the troubleshooting section at the back of the manual. I think that's where I found how to change the codes. The "RC1" that appears on the recorder is letting you know that it is set for code 1, but the remote is sending out something different, either code 2 or 3.

RC1 indicates that the recorder is set for operating code "1." If the remote does not control the recorder it needs to be reset to code 1. Hold down the remote's "1" button and hold down the ENTER button at the same time for several seconds. The remote will be reset to code "1." The other codes (2 and 3) are reset in the same way.

To reset the recorder to another code one enters the setup menu to do that. After resetting the recorder's code the remote is reset as stated above.

This information is found in the DMR-EZ28 Operating Instructions on page 48.

I appreciate the quick help. I can now go over to my friends house and maintain my genius facade. Thanks again everyone.

HI Im new here. I really need someones help. Panasonic is pretty much useless here. I purchased the DMR EZ 28 today. I got it home hooked everything up and it seemed ok. I put in a dvd and watched it with no problem. I went to record CSI off my DVR and the problems started. I put in a blank Memorex DVD-R..the counter on the front read 4 hours. When I pushed record it gave me an error message on the TV screen. It said there may be a problem with the disc then the player went into self check mode. I watched it click zeros across the LED for a bit, after about 10 minutes it kept doing it. So I reset the player holding the power button. I tried 4 more discs all the same crap. Can someone tell me what in the heck is going on here?

I put in a blank Memorex DVD-R..the counter on the front read 4 hours. When I pushed record it gave me an error message on the TV screen. It said there may be a problem with the disc then the player went into self check mode.
Memorex is a brand that has gotten very poor reviews, so it may be the media that's causing the problem. Since this is a newer model, it should write to both the -/+R formats, so might be the brand. Try some Maxell or Sony.

OK after umteen hours fighting with this machine and searching for information I may have solved the problem. I found on the Panasonic site a Firmware Upgrade for the device. I did that and then had to redo the set up. Once I did all that it began to record. Go figure..Ill keep everyone updated to see if it occurs again

Hi gents

I just got this model, it works fine but the TV pictures are always in panoramic mode.

I hooked up to my cable and connected to my 16:9 TV monitor via HDMI-dvi converter, scan through all channels, no problem here. The only problem I have is that no matter what I changed on the menu screen display or HDMI input, the TV pictures stays at panoramic mode using this Panny recorder as a tuner. Both digital and analog channels are being zoomed.

Hope I made sense, any idea?

Hi gents

I just got this model, it works fine but the TV pictures are always in panoramic mode.

I hooked up to my cable and connected to my 16:9 TV monitor via HDMI-dvi converter, scan through all channels, no problem here. The only problem I have is that no matter what I changed on the menu screen display or HDMI input, the TV pictures stays at panoramic mode using this Panny recorder as a tuner. Both digital and analog channels are being zoomed.

Hope I made sense, any idea?
Does this mean you went into the Setup menu under Functions on the ez28, and selected 16:4 for output to tv, and you're getting back picture that is zoomed in and not letterboxed?

Does this mean you went into the Setup menu under Functions on the ez28, and selected 16:4 for output to tv, and you're getting back picture that is zoomed in and not letterboxed?

Yes, that's correct. And I've tried it several time to switch back between 4:3 and 16:9. The picture was still zoomed (expanded) with either setting. I actually set up in both place - TV aspect and HMDI functions to 16:9

All dvd playback look fine, whether it's widescreen, 16:9, 4:3. It's only problem when using it as a TV tuner.

Have you checked all the settings on your display?

Have you checked all the settings on your display?

It's being blocked out as it takes whatever HDMI/DVI is sending - However, I just read a note from the owner manual - page 11

"For display units compatible with HDCP (High bandwidth Digital Content Protection) that are equipped with a
digital DVI input terminal (PC monitors, etc.):
Depending on the unit, images may not display properly or at all when connecting with a DVI/HDMI switching
cable (audio cannot be output)."

Sounds like that maybe a limitation - I will try the firmware upgrade first. I may have to connect through component.

Yes, that's correct. And I've tried it several time to switch back between 4:3 and 16:9. The picture was still zoomed (expanded) with either setting. I actually set up in both place - TV aspect and HMDI functions to 16:9

All dvd playback look fine, whether it's widescreen, 16:9, 4:3. It's only problem when using it as a TV tuner.
I saw the same thing until I found the Full/Normal setting in HDMI Output Display Aspect under Functions of HDMI. Normal won't stretch it. That's on my EZ27. Hopefully the EZ28 is similar.

I saw the same thing until I found the Full/Normal setting in HDMI Output Display Aspect under Functions of HDMI. Normal won't stretch it. That's on my EZ27. Hopefully the EZ28 is similar.

I did that also but didn't matter what setting it was on - still expanded picture.
I also switch to component cable output and setting but still the same.

So last night I actually got the firmware and try initial setting again. Amazing, that fixed it (not sure whether it was the firmware or the reset that fixed it though). Now I have the proper picture size on all channels. :)

Thanks gents for taking time to read my post.

I have a ES-15 right now. I was consider going with the EZ28K as a replacement as I'm looking to go to a HDMI setup and would like an upscaling player. Is the record quality better on the EZ28K than the ES-15? Also, how is the build quality compared to the earlier Panny recorders?

I have a ES-15 right now. I was consider going with the EZ28K as a replacement as I'm looking to go to a HDMI setup and would like an upscaling player. No DVD recorder makes for a good upscaling player. Upscaling on recorders and mass-market players is nothing more than a marketing gimmick, the scaler in the HDTV is probably much better. If you want a good upscaling player that makes a difference you can see, look at the Oppo 981HD (http://www.oppodigital.com/?partner=111).

I just bought the EZ28K and am trying to program it into my Comcast 3-Device Universal Remote Control (silver). However, none of the Panasonic codes on the Comcast's Manufacturer's Code sheet work. Does anyone know the correct Panasonic code to use for this Comcast Univeral remote?

Try these: 20503, 20490, 20571, 20703, 21362, 21462, 21490, 21641, 21762. You may have to drop the 2 from the beginning if your remote takes 4 digit codes, or possibly change the 2 to a zero. I think it's code 490, IIRC. Please post back with the one that worked.

Here are the advanced codes for all the OEM remote commands. Pad the codes below with 00 at the beginning if your remote takes 5 digit codes instead of 3. Follow the "How To" link in my sig for instructions on how to assign them to buttons.

1 117
2 121
3 119
4 123
5 116
6 120
7 118
8 122
9 245
0 249
CH+ 148
CH- 152
DVD Power 024
Input Select 101
Audio (A) 155
CM Skip 036
Skip- 041
Skip+ 039
Slow/Search- 180
Slow/Search+ 184
Stop 181
Pause 182
Play 055
Up 192
Down 190
Left 194
Right 061
Enter 191
Direct Navigator 003
Functions 106
Sub Menu 189
Return 193
Schedule 004
Display (B) 127
Dash 042
Time Slip 043
F Rec 178
Setup 124
Delete 164
Rec Mode 105
Rec 053
Info 198
Create Chapter 229
Status 234
Cancel * 195
Power On 022
Power Off 026
Open/Close 185
Drive Select 084

Guys I'm considering purchasing this player. From what I've read it has a digital and analog tuner, but does it do QAM?

Thanks

From what I've read it has a digital and analog tuner, but does it do QAM?It does indeed.

Guys I'm considering purchasing this player. From what I've read it has a digital and analog tuner, but does it do QAM?

Thanks
Yes, the digital tuner is QAM capable.

Thanks guys thats all I needed to know(for now :)). I'm sure I'll have more questions
once mine comes. See you guys in a few days with more quesions.

Thanks
Legairre

Thank You mdavej for the DVD 0490 remote function code table.
Since your list includes the CANCEL* code, the list is actually is for the DMR-EZ17K & DMR-EZ27K.
Two button changes are visible on the DMR-EZ28K remote:
- The CANCEL* button is now the DELETE* button and
- The DELETE button is now the FAVORITE button.

I have a DMR-EZ27K remote and neither button performs the FAVORITES function when used with the DMR-EZ28K.

When I determine the actual codes for the new buttons I will report them here.

Since none of these DVD recorders are virtual cable channel compatible (something I have seen only work on CableCARD equipped tuning devices) and since the cable companies are grouping MPEG2 Program Streams together into MPEG2 Transport Streams as they feel appropriate, we are stuck with their sub-channel program placements.

Did you know they provide the subchannel numbers that are deliberately not matched to their virtual channel numbers ;-) as used on both their STBs and through a separate table to their CableCARDs (hereafter CC).
FYI: I know because I have both a STB & a CC. 3 of their CC had virtual channels 419 (UHD) & 420 (HDNet) mapped to the same subchannel that was used for UHD so I could not watch HDNet using the CC. Only after the Olympics did they perform a remap that corrected their error.

At least now with the 30 channel FAVORITES list we can restore a certain semblence of order to sequential channel progression when using the FAVORITES button.

Sure thing. Thanks for identifying those differences. I built the original set of codes from my old EH75 and saw they didn't change much when I went to the EZ17 and EZ27 (I don't have an EZ28). I've never bothered, but you can go through all 255 codes, besides the ones posted, in a few minutes and find the missing functions. Just don't do 021 - that's factory reset. Not a big deal, but you'll lose all your settings (been there, done that). It's possible you won't find Favorites that way if they've used a different device code for it. Sony is bad about that, Panasonic, not so much. Also, the discrete Power Off code which worked on my EH75 doesn't seem to work on these later models.

Can someone tell me How to do the Firmware update? I dl the update, put it on a flash drive and put it in the USB port but there is no hint in the manual on how to actually update the firmware.

Thanks !!

Can someone tell me How to do the Firmware update? I dl the update, put it on a flash drive and put it in the USB port but there is no hint in the manual on how to actually update the firmware.

Thanks !!

The firmware update needs to be burned to a CD and inserted into the DVD drive. Do not burn the firmware update to a DVD.

The EZ28 firmware update will appear to be a Word Perfect document--which may seem not to be correct--but it is correct. The EZ28 will read and install the update if you follow the very precise instructions, otherwise the update may fail.

Click the link below. Be sure to click "download instructions."

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vSupportDownloadDetail?idval=&pagetitle=DVD+Recorders&productTitle=DMR-EZ28+DVD+Recorder+Firmware+Update&contentType=Software+Download&idval=&fname=&storeId=15001#

The current PDF version of the instructions, including illustrations, is eight pages long. Earlier PDF instructions, without illustrations, were one or two pages long.

Again, you must follow the very precise instructions after the CD has been created.