Sometimes, when a program is scheduled to begin recording, the recording light will flash at the proper time but remain flashing--that is, the unit will remain in pause mode--and the program will not be recorded. I believe (but am not sure) that this problem has occurred with programs scheduled both manually and through TV Guide listings.

Does anyone know what causes this problem?

It should flash two minutes before the scheduled recording then records in sync - either through manual or T.V. guide recording method. Does it keep on flashing beyond the program time?

If I remember correctly, the light does not keep flashing beyond the end of the scheduled recording time. Lately I have caught the problem during the scheduled recording time and stopped the pausing. But "stopping the pausing" is not the same as fixing the problem.

Just to make sure it's not a clock/timing problem involving the changed DST rules, set your clock manually and turn DST off.

Here's the Panasonic instruction for your model:

"Gemstar TV Guide equipped models will have the DST time change provided by Gemstar automatically. If unit is used in conjunction with a cable box, IR Blaster must be installed and operating properly.

* If the unit does not receive TV Guide data, set DST to "Off" in "Manual Clock Setting", and press ENTER."

To: wajo

I cannot set my clock manually while I am receiving TV Guide listings. In order to stop receiving listings I think that I must return the unit to the factory preset condition (p. 79 of manual). Are you saying that is what I should do?

No, Panasonic says keep clock on auto if you're receiving TV Guide listings directly or thru a cable box with IR blaster in place... not sure if you have a box or not?

I don't know if cablecos upload clock/DST type changes to their boxes like Sat companies did when the DST problems first started. Those uploads had the new DST rules and the DVDRs had the old rules hard-programmed in them, causing "conflicts."

The Panny instructions assume that you're getting a time signal from your host station directly and that signal is based on the new DST rules.

From your descritption of the problem, it just seemed to me your DVDR clock was trying to determine what time it "really was" cuz it might be getting conflicting data somehow. Just not sure when TVGOS is involved.

I have had the same problem sporadically. There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason for when the unit fails to record a scheduled program. It does not have anything to do with the DST issue and occurs when recording programs from different sources, regardless of being set manualy or using TV Guide On Screen.

To: wajo

I have previously called Panasonic because the clock was inaccurate; I was told that I cannot manually set the clock if I receive TV Guide listings. So I cannot do what you suggest.

I do not have a cable box.

To: Watchman56

Have you tried returning the unit to the factory preset condition by holding the channel up and down buttons and then unplugging it? That is what Panasonic told me to do in a phone call today, but I have not yet been able to do so because I require help due to a disability.

My EH-55 was a good 6 sec ahead of the cable box, then I tried this...
Before you reset the unit to its factory settings, try unplugging the ac cord from the rear of your recorder for about 10 seconds, plug the cord back in to let it refresh itself so the clock can sync with the box and go from there, that way you're not losing any of the EPG listings; then wait for the clock to reset itself and see what happens.
...after this, my cable box/DVD recorder is about 1-1.25 seconds apart.
If that don't fix the issue, then try resetting it.

To: 80sGuy

My current problem is not with the clock, but with the recording function. The recording light comes on at the proper time, but the unit pauses and does not record.

Pardon my misunderstanding, are you trying to record to HDD or DVD?

Hdd.

Free up or save your files and try reformatting the hard drive.

Formatting the HDD is not the problem. I believe there is a timer recording bug issue with TVGOS if you attempt to a recording that spans midnight or if you attmept a back-to-back recording that spans midnight or something like that. Do a search on this forum about TVGOS issues with Panny or programmed recordings disappearing off the list for further info. Maybe others who have experienced the problem firsthand will eventually chime in. I own a couple of EH75v's, but have not experienced the problem. You may also want to visit the Panasonic website to download and install the latest firmware (again do a search on this forum for links to Pansonic DMR recorder firmware updates). Good luck.

Here's the Panny site for FW downloads. (http://www.pasctraining.panasonic.com/specialapplications/productfirmwaredownloads/DVD.ASP)

Regarding vferrari's last post, my problem is not with the TV Guide system. I checked the instructions in the firmware file for my unit, but my problem was not listed.

Regarding vferrari's last post, my problem is not with the TV Guide system. I checked the instructions in the firmware file for my unit, but my problem was not listed.

Maybe it was fixed in an earlier firmware update and is not listed in the latest firmware update (the history file only mentions fixes since the last update not the entire firmware history). Also, why do you say the issue is not with TVGOS - did you do a forum search to see if others have had the problem? Also, now that I think about it, the, I believe the TVGOS functionality (TVGOS "firmware" if you will) gets periodically updated as necessary directly from the guide channel in addition to receiving the updated listings, so Panny firmware may not fix the problem. But there is absolutely no harm in applying the firmware update in any event.

BTW - wajo - nice link. How did you find it? That doesn't look like a page consumers would be able to readily find just by going to the Panasonic support website, looks like more of a "service tech" page.

Update: Do a search on this forum for "Skipped Recordings", choose display as posts vs. display as threads and look for panasonic related threads. My apologies to 80's Guy, as it seems some users have reported that the cause may be due to a bad hdd (Kelson) or bad sectors on the HDD (in which case formatting may help). Good luck.

BTW - wajo - nice link. How did you find it? That doesn't look like a page consumers would be able to readily find just by going to the Panasonic support website, looks like more of a "service tech" page.
I saw it in this post by Member bugmenot55 (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13927497#post13927497)... he/she has other Panny-related links in that post... many thanks to bugmenot55 for a very useful post for many people! :)

Thanks for the tip, vferrari. I searched the forum and found one message that mentioned a similar problem with a different model. But the solution was to replace the hard drive, which might cost more than the unit is worth.

I will update the firmware when I have a bit more time.

The EH75 is irreplaceable today, so if you want to get rid of it, there will be people here would would glagly take it off your hands. I for one... I know there is some controversy about it but some here bellieve that machine to be the best DVD recorder ever. If it indeed needs to be repaired, Panasonic has a $130 flat rate repair cost for these items.

The EH75 is irreplaceable today, so if you want to get rid of it, there will be people here would would glagly take it off your hands. I for one... I know there is some controversy about it but some here bellieve that machine to be the best DVD recorder ever. If it indeed needs to be repaired, Panasonic has a $130 flat rate repair cost for these items.

Wasting time on a popular auction site who's name makes no sense, I came across an EH-75V auction with about 10 minutes remaining that had a current bid of about $315. This peaked my interest and I considered bidding because that was a pretty good price considering the time remaining in the auction. I mentally calculated my threshold of bidding pain for the item and then watched the bids in real time as the clock ticked down. Everything was fine and quiet then with about 1 min remaining all hell broke loose (as well as a vanishing of any sense of reason) as the next bid easily shot through my max bid but the best was yet to come. With about 10 seconds left I could not believe my eyes when the final bid rung up at about $615! Close to a 100% bid up in less than one minute. Not bad for the seller.

The EH75 is irreplaceable today, so if you want to get rid of it, there will be people here would would glagly take it off your hands. I for one... I know there is some controversy about it but some here bellieve that machine to be the best DVD recorder ever. If it indeed needs to be repaired, Panasonic has a $130 flat rate repair cost for these items.

I'll say it is. See my post in the Analog to Digital transition sticky thread. I'll be keeping my unit until it dies. ;)

Any Panasonic recorder with an HDD is irreplaceable these days.

True. And for OTA, if you want to keep using the TVGOS with a digital tuner, just get one of the new DTVPal CECB boxes.

If I update the firmware on the Panasonic DMR-EH75V, I will have to perform another first-time setup. Will this erase programs stored on the hard drive and restore the unit to its out-of-the-box condition?

Firmware update will not erase the HDD, can't recall if TVGOS first time setup is required, but all function menu settings (e.g., high speed dub compatibility) will be reset to defaults.

As I recall, the default for high speed compatibility is ON for the EH55 and EH75, whereas it was OFF for earlier models like the E80.

John

Thanks for the reply, vferrari. I think you are correct, JMas.

Cicero61 and Watchman56:

Can you update us if you've found a solution to this problem ?

I too have an EH75V with this random "fail to record" problem, which seems to match what you've described. Here's my symptom summary:

- When I program a recording, randomly the unit will tune correctly at the appointed time, give every appearance that it's going to record the show, and then after 1 second (or maybe 0 seconds) terminate the recording. The next programmed show may or may not succeed as well.

- Source (standard tuned channel or IN3 from cable box) makes no difference

- Recording drive makes no difference - I've had it fail going to HDD, DVD-RAM and DVD-R

- Does not involve "spanning midnight" program intervals at all

- I don't believe it involves the DST issue - at least it can happen any old day well away from the DST switchover date.

- For HBO only, I do use a cable box but don't call upon the EH75V to switch channels using the IR blaster [I've never gotten around to hooking it up -- I just tune the cable box manually myself in advance ... primitive I know]

Some weeks ago, this was happening very very rarely , so I assumed I had simply forgotten to program a show now and then. Then I began to see massive occurences - it once failed to record 6 of 10 shows I programmed while away for a weekend.

One thing - real or not - may have helped: last week I noticed the overall responsiveness using the TVGOS and while navigating playback menus was suddenly sluggish. I was just about to leave home for a 5 day vacation, and had just programmed about 15 shows for that interval. In a "desparation" attempt, I decided to try a power reset simply by pulling the plug for 15 seconds (hoping that the CPU simply needed a hard reboot just like my Windows PC does after several days of continuous running). Note I did not perform the channel up plus down action or change any other setting - just pulled the plug for 15 seconds.

When I returned from my vacation, I was amazed that every single show had successfully recorded. Alas, a few days later the problem began to resurface.

Anyone had success with this one ? Firmware updates ... hard resets ... forgo the TVGOS and use a manual clock/manual program operation ?

I have still been having the problems with missed recordings, with no rhyme or reason.

Also, my TVGOS has not been updating over the past week (I have listings through tomorrow, but after that everything just shows "No Listing"). I have kept the unit off overnight, though I haven't had the opportunity to leave it off for a 24 hour period to see if that will help.

Cicero61 and Watchman56:

Can you update us if you've found a solution to this problem ?

I too have an EH75V with this random "fail to record" problem, which seems to match what you've described. Here's my symptom summary:

- When I program a recording, randomly the unit will tune correctly at the appointed time, give every appearance that it's going to record the show, and then after 1 second (or maybe 0 seconds) terminate the recording. The next programmed show may or may not succeed as well.

- Source (standard tuned channel or IN3 from cable box) makes no difference

- Recording drive makes no difference - I've had it fail going to HDD, DVD-RAM and DVD-R

- Does not involve "spanning midnight" program intervals at all

- I don't believe it involves the DST issue - at least it can happen any old day well away from the DST switchover date.

- For HBO only, I do use a cable box but don't call upon the EH75V to switch channels using the IR blaster [I've never gotten around to hooking it up -- I just tune the cable box manually myself in advance ... primitive I know]

Some weeks ago, this was happening very very rarely , so I assumed I had simply forgotten to program a show now and then. Then I began to see massive occurences - it once failed to record 6 of 10 shows I programmed while away for a weekend.

One thing - real or not - may have helped: last week I noticed the overall responsiveness using the TVGOS and while navigating playback menus was suddenly sluggish. I was just about to leave home for a 5 day vacation, and had just programmed about 15 shows for that interval. In a "desparation" attempt, I decided to try a power reset simply by pulling the plug for 15 seconds (hoping that the CPU simply needed a hard reboot just like my Windows PC does after several days of continuous running). Note I did not perform the channel up plus down action or change any other setting - just pulled the plug for 15 seconds.

When I returned from my vacation, I was amazed that every single show had successfully recorded. Alas, a few days later the problem began to resurface.

Anyone had success with this one ? Firmware updates ... hard resets ... forgo the TVGOS and use a manual clock/manual program operation ?

I have this precise problem. I've downloaded the latest firmware, but have not yet installed it. I'll start with unplugging it for a short time.
The TVGOS works and has not failed me-I'm simply getting the occasional 1 second scheduled recording on my HD. My kid now waits with baited breath everytime we fire it up to see if it has recorded her favorite shows...Fun!

I have had this happen sporadically as well.
I don't use the panny extensively anymore hoping to extend its lifetime, so I don't have much opportunity to debug why it might happen.
I think in my case it was when I was using TVGOS to select programs to record and there was a conflict. When it asked if I wanted to record anyway I sais yes, then I would go to the other program and adust it so there was no conflict.
My theory is that when I saved the two programs together with the conflict, something got set in the unit that made them not work.
To prevent the recording problem, I deleted all programs scheduled to record, power cycled the unit, then added scheduled programs again, making sure not to create any conflict.
I haven't had this problem recently so the process seems to work.