What would be the easiest or best models to get, and where would you get them?

Thanks

I'm assuming you live in the U.S., in which case Canada is your best bet, though I don't know the status of Panasonic HDD units there. Canadian eBay sellers show up fairly regularly offering refurb or remaindered Pioneer HDD recorders from retailers like Costco.

OK, there are a few U.S. companies selling incredibly expensive, presumably new "region free" units. Try www.jr.com (http://www.jr.com) and www.world-import.com (http://www.world-import.com) Oooo, actually the latter site is selling the Panny DMR-E57 and E67 at not entirely unreasonable prices. But these are not official U.S. offerings, so there's no mfr warranty coverage, and they appear to have PAL tuners. At the very least, you'll have some setup menu work to do, and you'll need an outboard tuner (a good CECB would probably fill the bill).

What would be the easiest or best models to get, and where would you get them?
I bought one from world-import, an EH67. They have a large number of region-free recorders with hard drives, from Pioneer and Panasonic mostly, but there are others. These have been modified by W-I to be region free, which might create a warranty issue, or not. I don't know.

The two current Panasonic models they have are the EH57, and the EH67. The only difference I found during my research is the size of the hard drive. The EH57 has a 160gb, while the EH67 has a 250gb hdd. I have never really read the manual on my EH67, because once I got it into NTSC mode, it works almost exactly like my EH55. "Almost" because it is missing one small feature: It does not have the phrase save and recall options. It does have a whole additional screen of text you can add to the various titles. I have used this recorder quite a bit and have been very happy with it. Other than that, every menu option and sub-screen is there and they work the same. When I was searching for the manuals on-line, I found that the european manual for the EH67 is for both the EH57 and the EH67, so there is likely not much difference.

Ordering was very easy, and I had no problem with e-mails to W-I and them responding quickly. They aren't exactly cheap compared with the Philips and Magnavox HDD recorders available from Walmart-dot-com though. Not haveing any experience with either of these machines, I can't comment on them. Others here have made comments that you can search for if you want.

I am very happy with my EH67 and knowing what I now know, I would buy it again.

I bought a video stabilizer from W-I last winter, and service was fine. Had it in a few days.

There's also www.bhphotovideo.com. The International Pio's have NTSC tuners, which can be used here, but the Panny's do indeed only have PAL/SECAM tuners.

No problems recording through a line input with either, though.

I have never really read the manual on my EH67, because once I got it into NTSC mode, it works almost exactly like my EH55.

I would also assume, and could you please confirm, that this model does not have a functioning TVGOS for North America.

I would also assume, and could you please confirm, that this model does not have a functioning TVGOS for North America.

No, the Panasonic EH67 "import" models are aimed primarily at PAL countries so the tuner and "Guide+" program scheduler will not work in North America. You can of course set manual timer recordings like any typical recorder, and use an external tuner or cable/satellite box. Nevertheless its true one of the primary features that attracts members here to Panasonics is the TVGOS: its sort of pointless to spend big bucks on an import model and not get that feature. Considering the imports sell for around $500, I highly recommend hunting for leftover stock of the recently discontinued Panasonic EH55: many Canadian eTailers still have them, albeit for $600+.

Then again, all evidence indicates this "analog" version of TVGOS will become non-operational in the USA next February. So maybe it isn't that important a feature after all (unless you live in Canada where it will remain useful for another three years).

I would also assume, and could you please confirm, that this model does not have a functioning TVGOS for North America.
I keep forgetting these things, sorry. As has been said, NO, the TVGOS is not functional here. I have been using DirecTV exclusively for years, so it never enters my mind to point it out. The current TVGOS will not work after Feb next year anyway. I'm not sure what the state of TVGOS will be after the analog signals go dark. As a satellite TV user, I haven't worried too much about it.

The current TVGOS will not work after Feb next year anyway.Well, at least with OTA. Cable, it depends on what your cable company does.

Thanks for the replies. Since I use US cable tv, and don't use the TV Guide programming, which Panasonic model would be best for me?

Thanks for the replies. Since I use US cable tv, and don't use the TV Guide programming, which Panasonic model would be best for me?

Which size hard drive would you prefer? There's your answer.

Any size of hard drive, at least 80GB.

Any size of hard drive, at least 80GB.http://www.world-import.com/dmr-eh57.htm - as long as you're using your cable company's tuner.

I am not using a cable box, just direct to cable hook-up.

That link goes to a Pioneer instead of a Panasonic. A Panasonic won't work with analog cable?

So you just have analog cable? Then you'll have to go with this instead:

http://www.world-import.com/dvr-550h.htm, and one #WSS1905 RF Connector ($4.99).

You'll also need the voltage converter. Most people here said they included that free, but make sure when you order it that you're getting it one way or the other.

Still, a Canadian Pioneer or Panasonic would be better if you can manage to get one somehow. They're exactly the same as the US models in every way. Also, the Canadian Panasonics have an NTSC tuner, which is what you'll need - the international Panaosnics don't. But if not, the above should do.

That link goes to a Pioneer instead of a Panasonic. A Panasonic won't work with analog cable?No - not an international Panasonic. Only the Canadian and US models have the NTSC tuner that you'll need. You'd have to keep an eye out on ebay for one of those.

The only way an international (Eurasian) Panny will work is if you are using your cable company's external tuner, and you run that into a line input on the recorder.

But you're not really giving up anything by going with a Pioneer over a Panasonic. I mean, I'd prefer a Panasonic too, but I wouldn't have any problem at all living with a Pioneer if it were my only choice.

I mean, I'd prefer a Panasonic too, but I wouldn't have any problem at all living with a Pioneer if it were my only choice.

Seems like we're ALL getting brand-neutral these days!;)

The main advantage of the Panasonics over Pioneers was the TVGOS (assuming you cared about this feature). Pioneer had TVGOS in 2005 but did it so badly it nearly sank the company, so they dropped it on their current models. Panasonic had the best implementation of TVGOS so they kept it going until they discontinued all North American units earlier this summer. Leaving aside the TVGOS, the two brands are at feature and quality parity now: both have optical multidrive burning (-R, +R and RAM), flexible recording modes, reliable editing, etc. If you've never owned one or the other, pick the cheapest and easiest to get. If you already own one, you'll want another of the same because you're used to it.

If your source is direct cable connection (no decoder box) you'll need a Canadian Panasonic or Pioneer, or the worldwide Pioneer 550. (The worldwide Panasonic is not compatible with "raw" cable.) Also bear in mind the days of using "raw" cable with analog-tuner recorders are drawing to a close: cable vendors will be pushing everyone to digital cable after February, requiring either a cable box or an ATSC-tuning recorder.

Thanks. I have a Panasonic DMR-EH75V, which took a long time time to get used to. Do any of the other brands have the better quality LP speed?

Seems like we're ALL getting brand-neutral these days!;)That's kind of easy when there isn't much to choose from.

Thanks. I have a Panasonic DMR-EH75V, which took a long time time to get used to. Do any of the other brands have the better quality LP speed?

The supposed "better quality" LP mode of Panasonics has now nearly passed into the category of electronic urban legend. LP is LP- period. Recorders using the same bit rate and resolution, unless they're crap machines, will look comparable at the same speed. Panasonic and Pioneer and Sony and Toshiba are all now at matched LP specifications. In any case the resolution vs bitrate debate is a never-ending subjective topic: for every person who swears his Panasonic is magical at LP, there is another who bemoans every mfr aping Panasonic to drop the original LP spec (which to many eyes was superior in terms of motion artifacts and macroblocking). Anyway its old history: Panasonic made such a ridiculous splash with its dubious LP antics that every mfr followed suit, so today any recorder you buy will follow the Panasonic LP spec (high resolution, crummy bitrate). People tend to bond inordinately with their machinery: those who own and love Panasonics get hives at the thought of using anything else (as do I with my Pioneers). Since you already own an EH-75, you'll probably be happier getting an additional Panasonic. If you go with another brand, you'll just end up spending weeks comparing it to your Panasonic and hallucinating shortcomings: why aggravate yourself? :D

The supposed "better quality" LP mode of Panasonics has now nearly passed into the category of electronic urban legend. LP is LP- period.

I suspect the quality of the incoming signal has much more impact on how well an LP recording looks. When I first got my Panny DMR-E85, I dubbed a lot of grotty-looking VHS material originally recorded at the slowest tape speed. Saw all sorts of artifacts and macroblocking and problems with fast-motion scenes on the DVDs, so I switched to doing all my recording at the 85's SP rate. Earlier this year, I put a Zenith DTT-900 CECB in the mix--vastly cleaner incoming signal with none of the interference problems we lived with on analog broadcasts.

Suddenly, LP recordings look way better--almost as good as SP on static material. I've even done documentaries and similar non-critical stuff at the 6-hour rate.

With a dirty analog input signal, the DVDR must expend a lot of resources trying to render the extra "detail" the snow represent, which it can't completely handle, hence the macroblocking, etc.

So this is my long way of saying I agree with Citi (who never sleeps). I wouldn't make heroic effortst to get a Panny just for its LP benefits. But if best-quality LP recording is important to you, you might as well get a Panny so you don't sit around wondering if you should have.

The improved LP resolution that the Panasonic's had, and that was heavily promoted was a two edged sword, and they never told you about the other side. Yes, it had improved resolution, but at the cost of bitrate resulting in, as you say, motion artifacts and macroblocking, especially in scenes of fast motion. I very rarely use LP, so it is not much of an issue to me, but for those who use it for long football games, for instance, the limitation of bitrate can really ruin the experience. The "physics" of recording is not negotiable, really. If you try to get longer times in a smaller, or limited data file, the bitrate and resolution have to go down. You can't get something for nothing.

My personal opinion has always been that recording anything less than SP mode is a waste of media. As church points out, the physics of digital recording are not negotiable. However, marketing knows no physics. DVDR's were the successor to VCR's. VCR's could record up to 8 hr on tape. It didn't look too good but it was watchable, especially on the SD CRT TV's of the time. So, how do you market a high-quality successor for the VCR when it can only record 1/4th the amount? You add low-resolution and low-bitrate modes so you can at least say on the box that you can record up to 8 hrs -- they don't have to tell you if it is watchable or not. Low bitrate digital recordings are bad enough -- especially when compared to an analog VCR recording at the comparable "speed" -- they are even worse when viewed on the larger flatscreen HDTVs of today.

Thanks for the replies. I may try out one of the Wal-Mart Phillips hard drive recorders, but I still need to combine b video from the Phillips and my Panasonic hard drives on to one DVD. The local Wal-Mart does not have the Phillips
.

Thanks for the replies. I may try out one of the Wal-Mart Phillips hard drive recorders, but I still need to combine b video from the Phillips and my Panasonic hard drives on to one DVD. The local Wal-Mart does not have the Phillips.
One thing you might consider is to connect the Philips 1st on the coax, then on to your Panny, then on to the TV... all with separate line connections to the TV.

Then, connect a line output from the Philips to the Panny and let IT record 4:3 programs by itself OR digital WS programs thru the Philips tuner. This is one way they can work both independently AND together, which is the same as described here for my Philips/Pioneer 640 test. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1016350)

With that line connection, you could record digital channels (and analog too of course) live to the Panny, as well as copy stuff from the Philips HDD to the Panny... as well as connect in reverse also so you can copy back and forth at will (real-time unfortunately).

With this setup, you could record TWO channels while watching a 3rd on the TV! YOUR NEW FALL SEASON OF SHOWS SHOULD BE WELL CONVERED! :D

You can also do real-time conversion dubs when necessary to lower-quality/longer rec modes when you record a digital channel (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12436141&postcount=94)... higher starting quality in the original recording than from an analog channel!

The local Wal-Mart does not have the Phillips.
It, and two "magnet-box" HDD recorders are available from walmart-dot-com.

It, and two "magnet-box" HDD recorders are available from walmart-dot-com.You can also return it to one of their stores if you need to.

Last week I used my EH67 along with an external VHS player to record a large number of tapes. This last weekend I copied most of them to T-Y 8x DVD-R disks. There were over fifty by the time I finished, and that was merely due to time, there are still a few titles in the machine that I have yet to copy. The only point I am making here is that, in the spirit of the thread title, I made all these (50) disks in a very compressed timeframe, and didn't have a single burn error. The machine worked perfectly, and at least a sample of the disks played on my oldest DVD player also perfectly. I use DirecTV, so I don't care about the tuner, but the machine works just fine.

One other side note. The first recorder I bought was an E85. The remote did not have an eject button. I was told that the previous model, the E80 (I think) had an eject button on the remote. I bought one of these remotes, and found that the eject button, missing from the E85 remote, worked on the E85 with the E80 remote. This remote also works on the EH50, the EH55, the EH75 and the EH67 as well. These recorders have capabilities that the E80 did not, and so you can't use the E80 remote to access those functions, but for regular DVD recording work, it is quite serviceable. I have now bought a bunch of these E80 remotes and use them exclusively with all my recorders. Panasonic has moved buttons around with each recorder model, and being able to use the same remote with all of them is preferable. As I said, they all respond to the eject button, and I like that feature. Initially, there was a bit of hunting to discover which buttons on the E80 remote were the "A" and "B" buttons for one model recorder, or the "blue" and "green" buttons for another model, but once that was done, there were no further issues.

Is it correct that none of the World Import Panasonic hard drive recorders would work for me, because I am using basic cable, without a box? If so, where could I get one that would work?

Thanks

Is it correct that none of the World Import Panasonic hard drive recorders would work for me, because I am using basic cable, without a box? If so, where could I get one that would work?

ThanksYes - no international Panasonic models will work.

Maybe look for a Canadian or US Panasonic on ebay - those are the only ones that will work.

There is one other way you could use an international Panasonic, though - put an old VCR with an NTSC tuner in between to decode the analog channels.

Something new came up today with my EH67. I was transferring a bunch of episodes of a show that I had on two VHS tapes. I was using my EH75 and the EH67 (with an external VHS player) to copy the tapes. The episodes were out of order, so I did my initial editing and labelling on the machine on which they were recorded, and because there were more episodes on the EH75, I put the ones on the EH67 onto -RAM disks and transferred them to the EH75. I was very surprised to find that the text titles for the content did not transfer with the -RAM disks. When I put the -RAM disks back into the EH67, the title names were there, but they did not show up when I put the -RAM disk in the EH75. The content was all there, as was the thumbnail, but not the text.

Weird. That is the first thing I have seen with the EH67 that I cannot explain. The content WAS flagged with an >>! symbol, meaning that it could not be HS dubbed onto +R or +RW media, and I don't know what that's about, but since I use -R media, it wasn't a concern. Are these two things linked? I just thought someone might be interested.