I have a 32” TV with three A/V inputs: (1) Component for a DVD player (2) S-Video for the DirecTV R15 receiver and (3) Composite inputs for a VCR. I just bought a Magnavox ZV427MGA DVD Recorder/VCR that’s going back to the store. My intent was to use the S-Video input and output on this unit to pass video from my DirecTV receiver through the Recorder and on to the TV. However, the manual for the DVD Recorder/VCR doesn’t show any connection scheme that uses the S-Video output. I tried just using the composite signal instead of S-video and the picture quality degraded significantly and the unit wouldn’t pass the signal through from the DirecTV receiver to the TV when it was turned off.

So, I’m considering the Panasonic DMREZ48V. I downloaded its manual shows an S-Video input but doesn’t list a connection scheme that uses it.

I guess my question is, is there a unit that will pass an S-video signal from the satellite receiver to the TV even when it’s powered off? The diagrams in the manuals don’t seem to fit my setup.

Thanks.

AFAIK no current DVDR allows line signals to be passed through when off, for sure no Panasonics. I think one of the cheaper older DVDRs (maybe Polaroid?) had this feature.
You could just leave a Panasonic ON all the time(I think it draws something like 4? watts OFF, 21 watts with Quick Start enabled(default) and 23 watts when fully ON. IMO if you're going to go with QS you might as well leave it ON all the time, the power savings is very little.
That said, I'd really not suggest the EZ-48v due to reliability issues, oh and also the newer Panasonics like the EZ series won't start a scheduled event if ON, the older ES series didn't have this oversight.
Monoprice.com sells 4x1 HDMI switchers with a wireless remote for ~$20, I'd think they must also sell S-video/composite switchers for a similar price or less? Personally I'd go that route.

Did you try the Magnavox with the S-video connections, and it didn't pass the signal through? That would surprise me, because Panasonics that I've had were able to do that. On those units, S-video and composite video are equivalent in terms of connectivity.

However, they don't pass the signal through on those inputs/outputs when turned off, only on the RF (antenna/cable) connections. I doubt any powered device passes signals through on composite/S-video when turned off.

AFAIK no current DVDR allows line signals to be passed through when off, for sure no Panasonics. I think one of the cheaper older DVDRs (maybe Polaroid?) had this feature.
You could just leave a Panasonic ON all the time(I think it draws something like 4? watts OFF, 21 watts with Quick Start enabled(default) and 23 watts when fully ON. IMO if you're going to go with QS you might as well leave it ON all the time, the power savings is very little.
That said, I'd really not suggest the EZ-48v due to reliability issues, oh and also the newer Panasonics like the EZ series won't start a scheduled event if ON, the older ES series didn't have this oversight.
Monoprice.com sells 4x1 HDMI switchers with a wireless remote for ~$20, I'd think they must also sell S-video/composite switchers for a similar price or less? Personally I'd go that route.

I have an old panasonic (ES10) that passes the audio via line out even when the unit is turned off. This was a pleasant surprise. Havent tried connecting video, since i'm using it only as a headphone connection to work around the fact that my tv has no headphone or non-digital out option. Generally speaking, in the past whenever I needed to use the panny as a tuner (for an old tv), I just left it on all the time.

Remember also that you have to turn the panny off for timer recordings. I assume your TV also has coax in. If you want to get by without buying any switches or splitters, I'd go coax from the R15 to the TV, S-vid from the R15 to the 48, then S-vid from the 48 to the TV. For the best PQ all around you'll have to use S-vid for everything. That requires some sort of extra switch. That could even be a receiver you already have.