I guess I'm the only one with E80 problems given my previous postings, all of which related to my dubbing of my large VHS collection after recording to the E80's hard drive.

The new problem is more serious since I am prevented from recording video at the moment. When I installed my Panny plasma panel in February, I ported the cable box by component output to the panel and that has worked very well. I used the HDMI output from my BD layer to connect with the panel.

The leftover component was the EH80. It has no component input so I used the SV output from the cable box to the E80's SV input and it has also worked well these 9 months...until the day before yesterday when the video stopped being either sent to or received by the EH80 (since the cable box component connection to the plasma still works, I've narrowed the search to the box and the EH80. I checked for tightness in the SV connections and its "reasonably" good (these things don't fit tightly like RCA plugs). No video. But the audio is okay.

I can keep watching television on a real time basis but most of my watching is time-shifting; I like to record films and some programs for later viewing at my convenience. Now, of course, I can record only the audio of films which is not really any better than not recording them at all.

By the way, the video output from the EH80 to the plasma panel is just fine so I can play the recordings from the hard drive made through November 14 but not after.

I plan to call Panasonic (they've given me much better phone service than has been complained about on this forum), and if they can't solve the problem, I'll call ComCast and have them come over for a $20 diagnosis.

I may have to actually buy a Panny disk DVD recorder before "24"'s debut on November 23, but I'd really like to get my Panny back in business.

Has anybody had this video problem and/or can suggest solutions to try?

Being also the owner of a Panasonic E-80, I thought I knew most of the problems associated with aging E-80s, such as worn out remote control buttons and a balky tray opening button. Have you tried another video cable from the box to the E-80, on the off chance the video cable is bad? I have had a similar problem with audio only when I plugged in the wrong output video cable, from another source, into my DVD recorder, while using the correct audio cable.
You probably have done this maneuver, but you can test the E-80 input by using another video input source, such as a VCR or DVD player, to check if the input is bad. First use the original output cable from the Comcast box. if that doesn't work, use another video cable. If neither work, and you have the right input setting on the E-80, your problem is a new one for me, for which I have no solution.

I may have missed this from one of your previous posts, but have you eliminated a problem with the S-Video out from the cable box? Have you simply disconnected the S-Video from the E-80 and plugged it into the Panasonic plasma to see if it is working?

Thanks to my respondents for their inputs.

I did test the E-80 input by using another video input source, my VCR. I also tried switching out the SVs connection for conventional RCA phone plug connectors between the cable box and that option produced no video. I did spend about a half hour on the phone with a Panny technician (somewhere at Panny tech support), switching around the video and audio inputs to the E80 and we could always get the audio to work, but never the video.

The Panny tech is sending me the UPS mailer documentation to ship the Panny to its factory repair facility for the $130 repair and the mailer is to arrive "within 5 business days"; however, I called the service department for the dealer from which I purchased the E80 five or so years ago. The service tech there agreed with me that the video input section of the E80 is where the problem lies. He checked with Panny and the appropriate circuit board is discontinued, so it doesn't seem very promising to box up my E80 and send it to Panasonic.

Even though the Panny tech on the phone couldn't fix the problem after working with me on a lot of connection switching experiments, I do want to give Panny credit for a diligent attempt.

I'm about to go to Craig's List to see if I can buy a HD Panny recorder in the next week or so (in the meantime I'll VHS tape 24 on November 23 and we'll watch it on my backroom Hitachi monitor, or watch it live.

Any additional ideas will be appreciated.

Have you tried both the front and back input jacks?
Good luck on Craigs list but I rarely see and Panny HDD models come up. If you really want the HDD you've got a couple choices(other than fixing yours): A Magnavox from Walmart, a Philips 3576 from Sams club (note none of the Sams in my area seem to carry the Philips anymore, other areas might be different) or a trip up to Vancouver to a Future Shop to pick up a Pioneer or Sony w/hdd. Note the Canadian recorders won't have the digital tuner that either the Maggy or Philips will have but since you're on cable that might not matter anyway.

Panasonic and I tried every jack, front and back, without success. I note on Future Shop shows on its web site these two models, each with a 160 Gb HD: a Pioneer DVR-560H-K for $330 (a $70 sale reduction price) and a Sony RDRHX780 for $300 (it says with 1080 upscaling capability). Assuming I can drive up there (about 150 miles from Seattle), and a large import duty is not payable, has there been any consensus on the forum about the relative quality and reliability of the two?

I believe the consensus is both are very good quality, more based on the older better built machines than the current DVDRs.
I think their should be a thread on this or the next page comparing the Sony with the Pio. I believe they are based on the same machine, the Sony is just lacking a few features found on the Pio. RAM compatibility is one I remember, the Sony doesn't do RAM.
You shouldn't have any problem with duty, I think?? you can take something back like $400 duty free, maybe more. It's been posted I just can't remember now. The warranty is a issue since I've read US Pioneer isn't wanting to warranty the Canadian machines:mad:
If you really like the features on your Panny you might be more happy with a Pioneer vs. a Philips or Magnavox unit. If you don't mind returning things you could but one of those locally and if you don't like them just return them. It would be easier than a trip up north.
I bought one of the last Panasonic EH-55s from FS this spring and have been very happy with it. I had no problems at the boarder.

Thanks for the input, Jjeff.

I'm a bit dubious about warranties in general (e.g., the Canadian Pannys are not covered under US warranty I understand but Panny told me last year that Canadian Pannys can be fixed ex-warranty for a price in the US.

I talked with a sales person at Pioneer's retail store and she told me that while Pioneer DVDRs are no longer sold in this factory-authorized repair facility.

I'll do a bit more reading about the Pioneer where I can find it in the forum before I drive northward. The US Customs web site says that, with a less than 48-hour stay, the first $200 of the retail price is duty-free with a 3% tax on the amount over $200 (that should be, with the tax, not more than $10).

The Panny tech is sending me the UPS mailer documentation to ship the Panny to its factory repair facility for the $130 repair and the mailer is to arrive "within 5 business days"; however, I called the service department for the dealer from which I purchased the E80 five or so years ago. The service tech there agreed with me that the video input section of the E80 is where the problem lies. He checked with Panny and the appropriate circuit board is discontinued, so it doesn't seem very promising to box up my E80 and send it to Panasonic.

Any additional ideas will be appreciated.

Actually it's very common that local Panasonic "authorized" service shops find that older Panasonic parts are "discontinued." These "discontinued" parts may no longer be ordered through Panasonic Parts by local shops. "Discontinued" parts are stockpiled at the corporate Panasonic Service Center in Elk Grove Village Illinois. That location does not sell parts. Elk Grove repairs/rebuilds Panasonics. The "discontinued" parts are reserved for returning Panasonics to new or better than new operational condition. This is especially important for owners of Panasonics equipped with hard drives. See this post:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15066187#post15066187

Panasonic and I tried every jack, front and back, without success
I haven't seen any mention of a "hard reset" of your E80, which might reset the video input circuit (which might go "bonkers" like a standby circuit after a power sag or outage)?

I think on the Panny it's holding the channel up/dn buttons down simultaneously on the front of the unit with the power on?

The Panny tech got me into setup and did the hard reset. It didn't help and she had to reset the earlier-modified remote codes so that I could avoid the earlier problem of using a Panny remote facing a Panny Blu-Ray player, the E80H and my Panny plasma panel. You may imagine the nightmare of the various DVD drive trays opening and closing and not-needed components being turned on and off.

Good suggestion. Again I'll give Panasonic's tech credit for being really thorough in trying to solve the problem.

Thanks for the input, Jjeff.

I'm a bit dubious about warranties in general (e.g., the Canadian Pannys are not covered under US warranty I understand but Panny told me last year that Canadian Pannys can be fixed ex-warranty for a price in the US.

I talked with a sales person at Pioneer's retail store and she told me that while Pioneer DVDRs are no longer sold in this factory-authorized repair facility.

I'll do a bit more reading about the Pioneer where I can find it in the forum before I drive northward. The US Customs web site says that, with a less than 48-hour stay, the first $200 of the retail price is duty-free with a 3% tax on the amount over $200 (that should be, with the tax, not more than $10).
AFA warranties on Canadian Pannys I saw a post not too long ago that said Canadian Pannys are indeed covered in the US but basically it's a moot point since none have been available new in Canada since the early part of this year. They'd be just about out of the warranty by now anyway.
From what I've read Pioneer is definitely a NO for warranty repair in the US although considering the built quality hopefully they'll not have any problem for some years to come. One thought would be to try and buy a warranty in the US or some charge cards give a warranty if you charge the product on them. I think it's usually the Gold or Platinum cards.

I do have a line on a "demo" EH-55 Panny in a Vancouver store at $399 Canadian. (The store video person assured me that the box, together with all the usual materials, is available. It is likely the recorder will still be there this weekend, if I deide to take that option.. It comes with the full Canada warranty (which dates from purchase date), but I know is not recognized in the US. Panasonic did inform me on a previous enquiry that Panasonic would perform out-of-warranty service (the $130 job) on Pannys marketed in Canada. I believe the Canadian and US EH-55 are identical recorders.

My choice now will be between the "demo" (and I'll call for them to hold it) and the Pioneer 560 which appears to be in plentiful supply at Future Shop on sale at $329 Canadian and I assume will be fixable, if necessary, on an out-of-warranty, pay for repair basis in the US. So it seems to me, if I'm willing to take the gamble on these machines without warranty protection, I'll settle for that and get my chosen machine fixed out of my bucks when it has to be.

I'm slightly inclined toward the Panny because I'm used to what I assume are recording and dubbing protocols which may not differ much from my EH80 (somebody could correct me on this point), but I'd be taking a larger risk because it is a demo.

The price difference is not a deal-breaker for me; in fact, today's US/Canada exchange rate is about $1.23 for each US $1, which works out to about an 18% discount, which may help to absorb some of the Canadian VAT.

I'm sure most are tired of this thread by now, but I'm hoping for some recommendations between the Pioneer 560 and the Panny 55.

Here's a thread comparing a international Panny which would be similar to the EH-55 and a Pio 650. I think Citibear said it best when he said it you've got a Panny now you'll probably be more satisfied with a Panny and opposite if you have a Pio now.
I think their both probably top notch products although I've never had a Pio w/hdd.
I found this thread talking about the Canadian warranty on Pannys:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1077543
I could have swarn their was another but I couldn't find it. It also stated the Canadian Pannys warranty should be good here. Luckily I've never had a problem with my EH-55 so I can't say first hand. You're also right about sale date, the warranty is supposed to start when the product is sold for the first time, even if it's last years model.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1053601&highlight=canadian+warranty
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14636372#post14636372

If the Panasonic EH-55 is anything like the EH-67 (which I have, along with an EH-80, which I don't use much except to store recordings for playback), you will find using it much easier. High speed recording on my EH-67 is about 8X, and the EH-67 allows you to select whether you start the DVD with the recording or by displaying the title when you go to the advanced recording screen. I also have a Pioneer DVR 450 that I bought from ebay, but that unit turned into a lemon. I would stick with Panasonic. Its method of titling your recordings is better than the EH-80, and the remote control is far more ergonomic. The only advantage the Pioneer has is that it can make frame accurate edits, not much of an advantage if the unit you have hard drive's is always acting up (as mine does). I got tired of holding down the power button to reset the Pioneer when it freezes. My advice: stick with Panasonic.

If the Panasonic EH-55 is anything like the EH-67 (which I have, along with an EH-80, which I don't use much except to store recordings for playback), you will find using it much easier...
I have both, and I can say from experience that the EH67 is almost identical to the EH55 once you select NTSC as your video type.

I encountered the identical problem with my E 80 when it was still under warranty and arranged for a repair by their repair center. It was over 5 years ago but if I can remember correctly the repair center replaced the main board and tuner. I never experienced another problem with the repaired E 80 and gave it to my son when I replaced it with an international Pioneer.