Well, I've got some of it figured out now, and some of it I can't quite seem to get still.

First things first - I DO have to run the cable from the wall straight into the EH55, and then out of the EH55 and into the STB, and finally run S-video out of the STB back into the EH55, if I want to be able to record one channel while watching another. If I run the RF into the cable box first, the cable box channel controls everything on the RF line, just like it does on the S-Video/Composite/Component lines. I thought maybe the RF line was just a passthrough, but it's not.

So I can watch my premium channels on the cable box while recording standard channels on the EH55, or I can watch standard channels through the EH55 on the RF line while recording decrypted cable content coming in over the IN3 line.

I wish I could record one premium channel while watching another, but that would require dual tuners within the cable box. So this is better than nothing.

My only issue now is that however it was set up when I came home, it seemed that the EH55 was upscaling the RF signal to 720p over the HDMI connection between it and the TV. Switching back and forth between regular cable, there was a noticeable difference.

However, now there doesn't seem to be. I've changed the black levels on the EH55 inputs and outputs to all be set to "lighter," because I like controlling the black levels directly from the TV. So I think either one of two things has happened: a) I've boogered up something where I have no idea how to fix it and get it upscaling correctly again, or b) it doesn't actually upscale signals passing through it from the RF or Cable Box, and I was just fooled into thinking it looked sharper because of the increased default black levels, which made it look more saturated and reduced "fuzz" (and probably low level detail that I wasn't paying attention to) from across the room where I was standing.

Anyone know if the EH55 only upconverts DVD signals? Or does it upconvert everything that goes through it, be it DVD, HDD content played back, RF and S-Video signals being passed through, etc.?

Thanks for all the help. This whole thing has been tough for me to wrap my head around. =D

My DMR-EH55 is acting up. TVGOS is working, and I can schedule recordings, however, if I try to record too many programs it randomly deletes previously scheduled shows (and no, they are not at the same time, so there is no overlap).
So far, when I get to around 12 or 14 scheduled recordings it starts deleting stuff.
Has anyone had this problem?
I had a EH-50 before with a similar problem, talked to Panasonic, sent it to an official service, emailed the engineers in Japan, and finally gave up and returned it.
I was hoping the EH-55 wouldn't do this...

Just an FYI, but I believe the 42" Panny is actually 1024 x 768

YOU SIR...are correct!

Bill

The EH55 and TH-42PX60U are the first pieces of Panasonic electronics I've owned and their manuals are among the worst written that I've ever read.

I'm going to attempt connections again this weekend as I've gotten an HD STB (Motorola DCT-6200 w/ Comcast service) to now throw into the mix. My initial thoughts are to connect it as follows:

RF Cable from wall ----> EH55 RF In
EH55 RF Out ----> STB RF In
STB RF Out ----> TV RF In

STB S-Vid Out ----> EH55 S-Vid In (along with analog audio)

STB DVI Out ----> TV's HDMI In (DVI-->HDMI cable) along with analog audio

EH55 HDMI Out ----> TV's HDMI In (2)

Question #1: Does the above connection scheme make sense?

I've also got a VCR, Sirius Radio, iPod Video dock, and integrated amp in the mix. I plan on routing all audio to the TV and then out to the amp.

Question #2: If I route the A/V Out from the VCR to one of the EH55's Inputs can I then use the EH55 as a passthrough to watch content from the VCR? The VCR's use is really limited as I plan on transferring all VHS tapes to DVD via the EH55 and then packing it away to give to my 10 month old daughter when she turns 16.

Should be lots-o-fun back there behind the equipment stand this weekend!

Bill

Just received my DMR-EH55 today.

I would have assumed that with the recorder switched OFF the audio and video would pass straight thru just like with my old VCR. No way. To watch TV with the recorder turned off, I need a separate connection from the cable box directly to the TV.

Is this stupid, or is it me?

Just received my DMR-EH55 today.

I would have assumed that with the recorder switched OFF the audio and video would pass straight thru just like with my old VCR. No way. To watch TV with the recorder turned off, I need a separate connection from the cable box directly to the TV.

Is this stupid, or is it me?
Yes it is stupid, not you. The old VCRs typically had a mechanical relay that simply connected Ant. in to Ant. out when powered down. My old Panny DVR didn't pass the Ant. signal when off, either.
Snuffy

Question #2: If I route the A/V Out from the VCR to one of the EH55's Inputs can I then use the EH55 as a passthrough to watch content from the VCR? The VCR's use is really limited as I plan on transferring all VHS tapes to DVD via the EH55 and then packing it away to give to my 10 month old daughter when she turns 16.Bill
You might have problems recording or even playing Commercial tapes, through the Panny, that have Macrovision copy guard. The Panny will detect it. You can use a Macrovision eliminator if you can find one to aleviate the problem.

Thank you Snuffy. Glad to know it's them and not me.

Okay so I have conected all my gear including my new Dish Vip 622 HDDVR as follows.


EH-55 >>>>>>>>>> HDMI 2 in on TV

Dish Vip 622>>>>>>>> HDMI 1 on TV


Dish Vip622 from TV composite outputs number 2 >>>>>>>>>EH-55 IN3 input.


Wall RF>>>>>>>>>RF in on EH-55


EH-55 RF out >>>>>>>>>>>RF in on Vip 622


There is no RF out connection on the Vip 622, so I can't connect this to TV as recommended in Quick set up guide for EH-55.

TV is an Panasonic TH-50PX6U.

I have set up the TVGOS (ie DISH guide) on the Vip 622 to work with an Ext. recording device as per instructions on TVGOS website.

The problem I have is when I set up the schedule to record to the EH-55 from the Vip 622, the EH-55 doesn't record or do anything. (yes i have set the EH-55 to the correct input) The Vip 622 thinks it is sending the signal out as it acts like it's recording but it isn't being picked up on the EH-55.

I do have the Vip 622 recording to "Ext." in the schedule setup so no it isn't recording on it's own HD.

Any thoughts? I'm pulling my hair out.

Thanks in advance.

So I finally got around to inserting a Comcast DCT-6200 box into the chain and have it connected as follows:

RF from wall--->CATV Amp
CATV Amp--->Splitter
Splitter Out 1--->EH55 RF In
Splitter Out 2--->TV's RF In
EH55 RF Out--->Cable Box RF In
Cable Box Composite Out--->EH55 IN 3

Everything seems to be working hunky-dory until I call to have my cable package sent to the box by Comcast. They get no response from the box. I get everything I'm supposed to with the exception of Howard TV On-Demand.

I'm thinking the EH55 is the culprit but I didn't get the chance to take it out of the loop. Any thoughts?

Bill

Connected the RF from wall directly to cable box and had signal sent again. This time they got a response from the box but I still don't have any On-Demand.

I wonder if the CATV amp or splitter between the wall and the box has something to do with it?

Bill

Having a conversation with myself here...everyone must be Christmas shopping.

Anyway, I thought I'd let everyone know that Comcast came out last night and it was the CATV Amp that was causing the problem with the On-Demand. The tech recommended that I run the RF cable as follows:

RF Wall--->Splitter
Splitter Out 1--->Cable Box
Splitter Out 2--->EH55

He tested the signal strength with the above setup and said it was measuring towards the upper end of the specified acceptable range.

Bill

Hi Everyone,

I am hoping that somebody can help me. I just connected my E55 to my new Samsung DLP using the HDMI connection. I am getting a green line running along the left side of my screen.

Anybody know what is causing the line?

Thanks!
Don

Newbie to the forums here and to the world of PVRs. I have a ten year old JVC VHS deck and DVD player that are both acting up and need replacing. I was considereing the Toshiba RD-XS35 because it seems to have lots of features but mainly because Best Buy Canada is dumping it this week for about half regular price. I am worried about that unit though because lots of folks here in the forums say it considers too many shows as "record-once" so they can't be copied from the HDD to a DVD-R.

Has anyone experienced anything like this with the H55 ?

Also this unit is quite expensive even at post-Xmas sale prices. I'm considering it because of the hard drive size and future consideration for the HDMI uplink when I get an HDMI monitor. With all the TVGOS problems (which I don't expect to ever use - I'm more comfortable programming manually) is this unit *really* worth the money ? This week, BBC has reduced the price from $625 Cdn to $450 Cdn - still the most expensive non-Tivo unit on the market locally.

Thanks and Happy Holidaze ! ......Rob

I just got it 2 weeks ago, i haven't burned any dvd's yet because i'm putting together stuff to burn on the hard drive from my old vhs tapes. I can say that copying to the hard drive is easy and recording in LP mode looks pretty good. It's the best recording quality using LP mode from among the few similar machines out there from what i've researched. I also won't use the TV guide that much.

I have a DV question, since this machine has a DV connection, will it connect to my new LCD monitor with DVI connection? Is it even the same type of connection? DV and DVI?

I have a DV question, since this machine has a DV connection, will it connect to my new LCD monitor with DVI connection? Is it even the same type of connection? DV and DVI?

DV & DVI are quite different.

The DV referred to on the deck is a small four pin plug about the size of your pinky fingernail and transfers both digital audio and video. It's meant mainly for digital camcorder connections and is more properly known as FireWire or IEEE 1394.

DVI is Digital Video Interface and uses a fairly large plug about the size of the end of your thumb and moves video only. From memory, it's either a 12 or 15 pin connector.

Cheers ......Rob

Hi,

I have recorded some TV shows on my EH55 HDD and then burned them to DVD-Ram discs at high-speed to avoid taking up too much HDD space, on a temporary basis. I want to re-record them to the HDD and then high-speed burn them to DVD-R when I get the chance.

My question is am I loosing video quality when I do this.

Thanks in advance.

RSB1445

Hi,

I have recorded some TV shows on my EH55 HDD and then burned them to DVD-Ram discs at high-speed to avoid taking up too much HDD space, on a temporary basis. I want to re-record them to the HDD and then high-speed burn them to DVD-R when I get the chance.

My question is am I loosing video quality when I do this.

Theoretically No. Although the first process may lose resolution if you choose a different compression (XP vs. SP vs. LP etc.) than the level it was originally recorded at (onto the HDD). All subsequent processing is digital and every bit is conserved, error correction is applied if necessary and if the media is in good condition there should be no loss.

Hi,

I have recorded some TV shows on my EH55 HDD and then burned them to DVD-Ram discs at high-speed to avoid taking up too much HDD space, on a temporary basis. I want to re-record them to the HDD and then high-speed burn them to DVD-R when I get the chance.

My question is am I loosing video quality when I do this.

Thanks in advance.

RSB1445
I record and copy everything in SP and I am amazed at the picture and sound quality. :) After all, this is SDTV . I see no improvement using XP mode, SP doesn't fill up the HDD as fast. I almost never use high-speed copying. I record some of the HD broadcasts from Discovery HD in SP which end up as anamorphic squeezed 4X3 of course, but play back as excellent quality, just have to switch the TV to 'full' for the 16X9 AR. The '55 does not preserve or add the 16X9 flag :( .

I record and copy everything in SP and I am amazed at the picture and sound quality. :) After all, this is SDTV . I see no improvement using XP mode, SP doesn't fill up the HDD as fast. I almost never use high-speed copying. I record some of the HD broadcasts from Discovery HD in SP which end up as anamorphic squeezed 4X3 of course, but play back as excellent quality, just have to switch the TV to 'full' for the 16X9 AR. The '55 does not preserve or add the 16X9 flag :( .

How is this recording with an anamorphic squeeze? I thought you had to have component inputs for that?

Does anyone have Comcast ON DEMAND? How do i get the recorder's tuner to go to this channel?

You have to record that from the STB's A/V outputs.

How is this recording with an anamorphic squeeze? I thought you had to have component inputs for that?
The video is coming from my DirecTV H20 box's SVideo output. It squeezes the HD 9X16 picture horizontally to a frame of 4X3 in 480i. I have seen some other STBs outputting a letter box :( signal. The PQ of the recordings is surprisingly good, I think as good as commercial SDTV DVDs.
Snuffy

The video is coming from my DirecTV H20 box's SVideo output. It squeezes the HD 9X16 picture horizontally to a frame of 4X3 in 480i. I have seen some other STBs outputting a letter box signal. The PQ of the recordings is surprisingly good, I think as good as commercial DVDs.
Snuffy
Someone should seriously start a thread about which boxes do this.

I have the unit cabled per the instructions, but can't get it to recognize over 99. this is using a comcast cable box.

Bill, have you got premium digital channels recognized thru the unit's tuner with your cabling scheme, or should we just give up the thought of recording HBO?

The instructions basically bypass the cable box thru the dvr? Friggin splitters and A-B switches all over again.

Frustratedly High...

bought brand new pany eh55 in Dec 06 and it has never worked correctly. After getting 2 days worth of listings, it will only record one or two shows before we get a message that says "Press ENTER. The last recorded title might have partially been lost because of the problem wiht the disc. For successful recording please try another disc" The disc we were using in all cases was the HDD. We did try reformatting it, but we don't really think it is a disc problem. When this happens we lose all our TVGOS program listings, any Keyword searches, any schedule history, but not the list of shows that are still scheduled. We also lose any changes we made to the lineup, like deleting channels or reordering channels.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Judy

bought brand new pany eh55 in Dec 06 and it has never worked correctly. After getting 2 days worth of listings, it will only record one or two shows before we get a message that says "Press ENTER. The last recorded title might have partially been lost because of the problem wiht the disc. For successful recording please try another disc" The disc we were using in all cases was the HDD. We did try reformatting it, but we don't really think it is a disc problem. When this happens we lose all our TVGOS program listings, any Keyword searches, any schedule history, but not the list of shows that are still scheduled. We also lose any changes we made to the lineup, like deleting channels or reordering channels.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Judy
From my days with the bad Pio 53x/63x TVGOS, here are some thoughts, none of which might apply...but they're free:

1. Don't reorder any channels or mess with the setup TVGOS wants you to have.

2. Make sure you have the strongest signal possible. This includes shortest runs of cable, best cable, connectors on tight (with small wrench), no splitters...or at least good ones and maybe install an amplifier or amplified splitter (if a splitter is even needed). TVGOS needs a strong, STABLE signal since it dribbles and bursts data to your EH55. If the U.S. system works like the EU's, if there is a problem in data transmission (loose connection, bad cable, weak unstable signal, antenna fire at the station, station itself on fire, squirrels chewing on lines, etc.), it has to start over dribbling, bursting, etc.

These are a couple of things you might try and see if there is any diff.??? :)

[QUOTE=wabjxo]From my days with the bad Pio 53x/63x TVGOS, here are some thoughts, none of which might apply...but they're free:

1. Don't reorder any channels or mess with the setup TVGOS wants you to have.

2. Make sure you have the strongest signal possible. This includes shortest runs of cable, best cable, connectors on tight (with small wrench), no splitters...or at least good ones and maybe install an amplifier or amplified splitter (if a splitter is even needed). TVGOS needs a strong, STABLE signal since it dribbles and bursts data to your EH55. If the U.S. system works like the EU's, if there is a problem in data transmission (loose connection, bad cable, weak unstable signal, antenna fire at the station, station itself on fire, squirrels chewing on lines, etc.), it has to start over dribbling, bursting, etc.

These are a couple of things you might try and see if there is any diff.??? :)[/QUOTE

Translation = It's over.

I'm SURE this has to have been answered before but...

Is there a way to bypass the TVguide channel setting to make timed recordings? Or are we stuck? I just got the 75 today and I honestly just don't trust it to control my box and that everything will work properly. Thus far it seems ok but it hasn't downloaded the information yet.

bought brand new pany eh55 in Dec 06 and it has never worked correctly. After getting 2 days worth of listings, it will only record one or two shows before we get a message that says "Press ENTER. The last recorded title might have partially been lost because of the problem wiht the disc. For successful recording please try another disc" The disc we were using in all cases was the HDD. We did try reformatting it, but we don't really think it is a disc problem. When this happens we lose all our TVGOS program listings, any Keyword searches, any schedule history, but not the list of shows that are still scheduled. We also lose any changes we made to the lineup, like deleting channels or reordering channels.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Judy
I think I have the real answer to this issue.

My EH55 went to Panny for repairs twice. First time they did nothing. Second time they replaced both drives.

While it was being fixed the second time, I called Panny cs and explained (again) my issue. Each time when you talk to a different rep you get a different knowledge base. This guy told me he recalled a few months ago there being an internal Panny email that there was a known issue between the TVGOS in the new models (EH55 and EH75) and the cable companies transmitting the signals. None of the other reps to whom I ever spoke ever mentioned this.

Then I got an pm from another AVS Board member who lives in my town saying he had had the same problem with his EH55. He also had no luck with getting Panny to offer a real solution, but he offered me an interesting idea.

He simply used another ZIP code in setting up his TVGOS, one that was also serviced by Cox, our cable provider, but which was for an adjacent city. This made sense to me since the Panny rep who told me he had heard about our issue also said the cable companies were rolling out the fix on a piecemeal basis. The trick was to find a city or ZIP that had been fixed but that also had the same tv lineup.

I tried it not only on my EH55 but also on my new EH75 which I got for Christmas. That unit NEVER worked, and the TVGOS was lost each afternoon and had to be reset each morning just like the EH55.

So I reset the TVGOS using the ZIP for a nearby area (I used Google to find the ZIP codes). The first one I tried didn't work (the TVGOS never even downloaded), but the second one seems to have been the charm. I've been recording on both units each night for almost 2 weeks without once losing the settings or getting any error messages.

You have to record that from the STB's A/V outputs.


Huh?????? STB?

STB (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-top_box)

How do I connect a DMR-55, DirecTv (RCA DRD435RH) and A TV to a cable wall outlet and get TVGOS? And what should my settings be on TVGOS?

I have Comcast HD cable in south NJ, but will not be using a cable box for this setup.

Thank you.

How do I connect a DMR-55, DirecTv (RCA DRD435RH) and A TV to a cable wall outlet and get TVGOS? And what should my settings be on TVGOS?

I have Comcast HD cable in south NJ, but will not be using a cable box for this setup.

Thank you.

Check your model #. There was an earlier Panasonic model called the DMR-E55 which had no hard drive and no TVGOS. That's what you wrote in your post. If you have that unit, you can't get the TVGOS with it.

The newer model being discussed here is the DMR-EH55, which has both a hard drive and the TVGOS built in.

Thank you.
It is a model DMR-EH55 (P9-S) and does have a 200GB HDD. Since I last posted, I was able to connect and receive TVGOS. Seems to now be working fine, however when I switch the TV from the DirecTV s-video input and to the input from the EH55 (which I connected using RCA jacks as shown in manual), the picture quality diminishes and darkens. Can I just use s-video throughout and still have the TVGOS?
This is a great site and I would like to thank all for their previous informative postings.
Pop

This may have been addressed already but I just received my DMR-EH55 and am looking for a way to pause live TV. Is this an option on this unit?

Anybody know if you can connect the upcoming ITV with this unit so you can record mpegs and mp3 from your pc to the dvd recorder hdd?

This may have been addressed already but I just received my DMR-EH55 and am looking for a way to pause live TV. Is this an option on this unit?
To have it act like a TiVo you must first manually start recording whatever it is your watching then press play. This will let you pause, FF and rewind.

question to the owners of this unit or anyone who knows.
Do you lose much of the picture quality if you connect the unit to a TV (hopefully 1080p LCD) via componenet instead of HDMI?
Or will there be no difference if the TV upconvert the picture anyway?

Thanks

question to the owners of this unit or anyone who knows.
Do you lose much of the picture quality if you connect the unit to a TV (hopefully 1080p LCD) via componenet instead of HDMI?
Or will there be no difference if the TV upconvert the picture anyway?

Thanks
I use the Component connection from mine and the pix is surprisingly great. I could see no difference with HDMI except the low level blacks seemed more accurate with Component. That of course is a subjective opinion. My TV is not a 1080p so YMMV.
Snuffy

I've got my EH55 connected to my system using a Y splitter that feeds a digital STB and also feeds the RF connection to my EH55 so that it can utilize the tuner that is built in for TVGOS and channel tuning. I've had a few problems since originally connecting this piece up with my system. First, the TVGOS programming downloaded partially the first time, as of this morning it seems to be corrected. Also, I am experiencing the a blue screen on channels 2, 4 & 5 which are CBS,NBC, & Fox in the NYC Metro market where I live. I am using COMCAST as a cable provider and all of the other channels do appear, albeit a little grainy on certain channels but overall I can at least see them. When I switch my Pre-Amp back to the Digital STB, the channels are crystal clear as opposed to the analog tuner from the PANNY. Assuming the Y splitter I am using isn't defective (& I've tried switching leads between the two units to see if either end would produce a stronger signal so as to receive the 3 channels) what possible other problems could be causing my symptoms. Does one experience signal degradation when you start splitting the coax. cable? What are some viable solutions I could try to correct my problem? Thanks for anyone's help!

Just noticed on my local Panasonic website (Panasonic Canada Software Downlaod (http://www.panasonic.ca/english/customercare/sandd/softwarequery.asp)
that there's a new software update for the DMR-EH55
Date is 2007-01-11, Name up316
Appears to solve a problem with U71 errrors with HDMI connections to Philips TVs.

Thank you.
It is a model DMR-EH55 (P9-S) and does have a 200GB HDD. Since I last posted, I was able to connect and receive TVGOS. Seems to now be working fine, however when I switch the TV from the DirecTV s-video input and to the input from the EH55 (which I connected using RCA jacks as shown in manual), the picture quality diminishes and darkens. Can I just use s-video throughout and still have the TVGOS?
This is a great site and I would like to thank all for their previous informative postings.
Pop

You can connect your STB via S-Video on Input 3 of EH-55 and still get TVGOS and better PQ. Better yet, use componet out to TV if your TV has componet in.

I use the Component connection from mine and the pix is surprisingly great. I could see no difference with HDMI except the low level blacks seemed more accurate with Component. That of course is a subjective opinion. My TV is not a 1080p so YMMV.
Snuffy

Before I got my EH-55 I had my TV feed from my DirecTV STB via S-Video (no component out on the STB). Now I go from the STB to EH-55 (Input 3) and then out to the TV via component. I have never seen a better picture than with this setup. To me the cost of the EH-55 was worth it just for the picture quality improvement alone! I have a Panny SD 42-inch plasma TV.

I was planning to buy a Pioneer 640H, but the lack of a DV In port, coupled with my need to convert numerous miniDV tapes to DVD and not wanting to use the PC, and not easily being able to find a miniDV camcorder with an S-video jack, has caused me to decide to get the Panasonic EH55.

There was a question earlier in this thread that I didn't see answered, and it obviously would be important for my purposes:

When recording from DV camcorder, the Panny seems to stop DV recording at even the slightest gap/blank tape in the DV tape. Any way to tell it to keep recording and not stop recording when it hits a gap?
I really don't want to have to babysit the DVD Recorder as I convert over 40 miniDV tapes to DVD. Would really appreciate anyone's insight.

Thanks,

Chris

Just noticed on my local Panasonic website (Panasonic Canada Software Downlaod)
that there's a new software update for the DMR-EH55
Date is 2007-01-11, Name up316
Appears to solve a problem with U71 errrors with HDMI connections to Philips TVs.

Thanks for the information!
I'm receiving this error when connected via HDMI from my new DMR-EH75VS to a Vizio VX37L, i had to connect via component cables instead. I also think it has something to do with my Scientific Atlanta 3250HD box being connected to the Vizio via dvi/HDMI cable at the same time but really am not sure. I can't find a firmware update for the DMR-EH75VS that addresses the U71 errors, wondering if i should give the software update for the DMR-EH55 a try or just try to call Panasonic.

:confused:

Originally Posted by debbi2
bought brand new pany eh55 in Dec 06 and it has never worked correctly. After getting 2 days worth of listings, it will only record one or two shows before we get a message that says "Press ENTER. The last recorded title might have partially been lost because of the problem wiht the disc. For successful recording please try another disc" The disc we were using in all cases was the HDD. We did try reformatting it, but we don't really think it is a disc problem. When this happens we lose all our TVGOS program listings, any Keyword searches, any schedule history, but not the list of shows that are still scheduled. We also lose any changes we made to the lineup, like deleting channels or reordering channels.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Judy


I think I have the real answer to this issue.

My EH55 went to Panny for repairs twice. First time they did nothing. Second time they replaced both drives.

While it was being fixed the second time, I called Panny cs and explained (again) my issue. Each time when you talk to a different rep you get a different knowledge base. This guy told me he recalled a few months ago there being an internal Panny email that there was a known issue between the TVGOS in the new models (EH55 and EH75) and the cable companies transmitting the signals. None of the other reps to whom I ever spoke ever mentioned this.

Then I got an pm from another AVS Board member who lives in my town saying he had had the same problem with his EH55. He also had no luck with getting Panny to offer a real solution, but he offered me an interesting idea.

He simply used another ZIP code in setting up his TVGOS, one that was also serviced by Cox, our cable provider, but which was for an adjacent city. This made sense to me since the Panny rep who told me he had heard about our issue also said the cable companies were rolling out the fix on a piecemeal basis. The trick was to find a city or ZIP that had been fixed but that also had the same tv lineup.

I tried it not only on my EH55 but also on my new EH75 which I got for Christmas. That unit NEVER worked, and the TVGOS was lost each afternoon and had to be reset each morning just like the EH55.

So I reset the TVGOS using the ZIP for a nearby area (I used Google to find the ZIP codes). The first one I tried didn't work (the TVGOS never even downloaded), but the second one seems to have been the charm. I've been recording on both units each night for almost 2 weeks without once losing the settings or getting any error messages.

This seemed so far out that I was reluctant to bother, but after I lost my listings while doing nothing but manual records I decided it was worth a try. The first new zip code had the same problem (lost listings after using TVGOS for a primetime record). But the second zip code has been working with nightly primetime records for several days.

Judy

Question for any one knowledgeable with the EH55 and knows for sure.
What resolution does the EH55 record in, 704x480 like most of the previous panny recorders, or 720x480?

Question for any one knowledgeable with the EH55 and knows for sure.
What resolution does the EH55 record in, 704x480 like most of the previous panny recorders, or 720x480?
I'd like to help, but how would I be able to tell? My EH55's recordings look about the same horizontal resolution as my previous E80H.
Snuffy

Question for any one knowledgeable with the EH55 and knows for sure.
What resolution does the EH55 record in, 704x480 like most of the previous panny recorders, or 720x480?

720x480, for sure.

I'd like to help, but how would I be able to tell? My EH55's recordings look about the same horizontal resolution as my previous E80H.
Snuffy

Thank you rgazzara.

@Snuffy101
One easy way would be put a disk recorded on the DVD recorder into a computer and let it play in a a media player like Power DVD or Windows Media player and depending on the program used select some menu or maybe right click on the video playing and select some command to show the videos information or properties.

Like in Media Player 11 select the FILE MENU and then PROPERTIES and select the FILE TAB to show some of the file information including the "video size".
In Power DVD 4 RIGHT CLICK on the video playing, select the CONFIGURATION and then select INFORMATION TAB to display a lot of info including the "SOURCE PICTURE RESOLUTION"

This site has been more helpful to me than any of the manuals or Panasonic website, and certainly more instructive than the dealer.

I have the Panasonic DMR-EH55 connected to a 42 inch Panasonic plasma screen tv. I'm using a Comcast DCT5100 STB. The initial set-up was frustratingly painful, but I can now view television and DVD's normally.

However, the TVGOS system is still not functioning.

I have the audio output from the STB split via a high quality Y-connector, sending signal to the TV via component cable and the other limb to the IN3 input of the EH55. I use S-video from the STB to the EH55. Yet, all I can get is channel line-up, and an annoying channel flip if the EH55 isn't on. When everything is turned off, I can watch the channels progress on the STB display. But when I check the TVGOS status, all it says is that program info is "in progress". This has been going on for over a week.

Will trying a new zip code in my set-up be worthwhile?

This site has been more helpful to me than any of the manuals or Panasonic website, and certainly more instructive than the dealer.

I have the Panasonic DMR-EH55 connected to a 42 inch Panasonic plasma screen tv. I'm using a Comcast DCT5100 STB. The initial set-up was frustratingly painful, but I can now view television and DVD's normally.

However, the TVGOS system is still not functioning.

I have the audio output from the STB split via a high quality Y-connector, sending signal to the TV via component cable and the other limb to the IN3 input of the EH55. I use S-video from the STB to the EH55. Yet, all I can get is channel line-up, and an annoying channel flip if the EH55 isn't on. When everything is turned off, I can watch the channels progress on the STB display. But when I check the TVGOS status, all it says is that program info is "in progress". This has been going on for over a week.

Will trying a new zip code in my set-up be worthwhile?

Well, the setup shouldn't take a week. The last time I did it on my EH55 it took one afternoon to fully populate the TGVGOS listings.

Even though I have a STB for my digital cable, I bypass it by splitting the cable before it goes into the box. I run one coax into the RF In on my Pannys (I have 3 connected to my tv in my family room). I then run the other split into the STB, from there into my home theater receiver and then into L1 on each of my Pannys. That way I can record one show from the digital stations and two others from basic cable. When I want to channel surf, I can either use just the STB or and of the Pannys set to L1 and get all the digital stations.

So I guess my suggestion w/b to try to eliminate the STB and see if you the EH55 will do the setup. Then you have a better idea of whether the unit or the STB is causing the problem.

totally new user on all this... new subscriber to Dish Network and I bought the Panasonic E55S at Fry's.

I can't get the TV guide to work :mad:

My connection setup
)Dish [Dish HD RCVR]---------------------HDMI-------------------------[TV]
)~~~[Dish HD RCVR]-------------------RF-------[PanH55s]-----RF---[TV]
)Dish [Dish HD RCVR]--RGB----------[PanH55s]--------RGB----------[TV]


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I get TV from the Dish network through the E55HS and can record TV manually.
But the TV guide doesnt download and I've read conflicting info that it doesnt work. While the manual list "Dish Network" in the TV Guide setup???

Does anyone have the Panasonic E55HS fully functional on Dish Network?

I'm Lost

Thanks for any help...

Dave

just out of curiousity, what does it say when you go to "Setup" and "Display setup progress"?

I had a lot of trouble getting my EH55 to work with the TVGOS. I have straight cable, so can't help with the dish network part. I would get listings but couldn't keep them if I used the guide to schedule programs. Someone suggested trying a different zip code. I am on my 6th zip code now and it has been working for 2 weeks. The longest I had gone before was 2 days.

This probably isn't much help for you.

Judy

Setup procedure appears normal it even ask what service and I check Dishnetwork. It also ask for what input and I've used RF3 and IN3. Looks as though the TV Guide doesnt even attempt to be downloaded???
I dont have an option to "check setup status" When I mash the TV Guide button a window displays with a video (Sat Ch) playing in the upper left corner. The left side has two small windows with the TV Guide logo. Then a larger window to the right with No Schedule displayed. Top of that is a "history" and "Setup" pull down button...??? :confused:

Setup procedure appears normal it even ask what service and I check Dishnetwork. It also ask for what input and I've used RF3 and IN3. Looks as though the TV Guide doesnt even attempt to be downloaded???
I dont have an option to "check setup status" When I mash the TV Guide button a window displays with a video (Sat Ch) playing in the upper left corner. The left side has two small windows with the TV Guide logo. Then a larger window to the right with No Schedule displayed. Top of that is a "history" and "Setup" pull down button...??? :confused:I don't think Dish passes along any TVGOS signal. You might need to try hooking up a set of rabbit ears or some other type of antenna to receive the TVGOS data over-the-air.

I thought I remembered reading somewhere here that, at least as far as having Dish was concerned, this is mentioned somewhere in the manual.

It's a step to select "DishNetwork" in the DMR H55 users guide... Still doesnt work with any input I select. I havent contacted Panasonic yet just havent had time. I will probably get to it by Friday. If they cant get it running then it's going back to the store.... I havent a clue how companies expect people to buy this and it flat out not work.... If I were to sell them a car that the engine wouldnt run I'm sure they would be screaming :cool:

I finally got around to calling Panasonic tech support. Their answer "Sorry it doesnt work with Dish Network" My response will probably be to return it to Fry's... Really steams me that companies do this... trouble is I think it is a TVGOS<>DVDR/DVR technology defect. So I guess no DVR/DVDR will have the TV guide support :cool:

On page 16, 28 and 71 of your manual it states that you can record tv programs on the eh55 by using the DISH network receiver's schedule. (the eh55 does NOT download the TVGOS when interfaced with the DISH network). But it only works with certain recievers from DISH. Here is a link to which receivers work with the Panasonic DVD Recorders and how to set up recordings via the DISH receiver if it compatible.


http://www.tvgos.com/support/echostar/

There are several things about the "Edit Title->Title Name" menu that irritate me.

First off, if when I burn a disc the title is going to be displayed in a short fat rectangle (3 lines of text), then why am I editing it in a long thin rectangle (1 line of text)? I have to put in lots of weird spaces to make the text wrap around at the right place (between words).

They have really screwed up the handling of variable width characters. If you find you've used enough narrow characters, then it won't let you keep typing even though the small rectangle isn't full yet.

The one I really hate... Some characters cannot be placed at the beginning of the second line like "T" for example. So, if you want the little box to say...

Episode 1:
The Beginning

... you can't have the T line up under the E. If you delete the leading space the T pops back to the end of the previous line.

It's nice to have a place to stash templates for titles you use all the time, but why limit them to even less characters than they allow in the title box? Were they afraid they'd run out of space on the 200GB drive?!?

This is all just really lame, and nothing to do with the fact this is otherwise a nice recorder. This seems like something they could easily fix with a firmware patch.

There are several things about the "Edit Title->Title Name" menu that irritate me.

First off, if when I burn a disc the title is going to be displayed in a short fat rectangle (3 lines of text), then why am I editing it in a long thin rectangle (1 line of text)? I have to put in lots of weird spaces to make the text wrap around at the right place (between words).

They have really screwed up the handling of variable width characters. If you find you've used enough narrow characters, then it won't let you keep typing even though the small rectangle isn't full yet.

The one I really hate... Some characters cannot be placed at the beginning of the second line like "T" for example. So, if you want the little box to say...

Episode 1:
The Beginning

... you can't have the T line up under the E. If you delete the leading space the T pops back to the end of the previous line.

It's nice to have a place to stash templates for titles you use all the time, but why limit them to even less characters than they allow in the title box? Were they afraid they'd run out of space on the 200GB drive?!?

This is all just really lame, and nothing to do with the fact this is otherwise a nice recorder. This seems like something they could easily fix with a firmware patch.

Yeah, I've got the same complaint with my EH-75V. You'd think that they could come up with some sort of automated wordwrap or something. I haven't looked at all the (9 I think) different title boxes that you can choose from, but I think that they are all the same shape, just different colors and patterns.

Looks like I'm going to return the EH55S. Is there a compairable DVDR/DVR on the market? A nice size HDD and must be compatible with DISHNETWORK????

According to the TVGOS internet site (here) (http://www.tvgos.com/support/echostar/default.asp) the EH-55 will work with some Dish Network receivers.

Perhaps the information provided here will be useful.

Just noticed on my local Panasonic website (Panasonic Canada Software Downlaod (http://www.panasonic.ca/english/customercare/sandd/softwarequery.asp)
that there's a new software update for the DMR-EH55
Date is 2007-01-11, Name up316
Appears to solve a problem with U71 errrors with HDMI connections to Philips TVs.

Is there any significance to the fact that this is on the Canadian support site and not on the US site also?
As a US user, is it okay to download this and use?

Once again, I'm returning for some advice that is lacking from other sources.

When I purchased my DMR-EH55S, for some reason, I assumed it would play HD DVD disks. Is this not the case? I just tried to play an HD disk I ordered from Netflicks, and the machine does not acknowledge its presence when I load it.

Bad disk or incompatible format?

incompatible format. this unit does standard DVDs only.

I've had my DMR-EH55 working successfully with a Dish 301 STB, using video into IN3 from the Dish box to switch on record automatically from recordings set up in the Dish menu - worked fine, gave me titles in the recording, wonderful. Last week we had a power outage lasting about 1.5 hours, and since then the Dish box will not control the EH55 - may be a coincidence. I've tried changing the controlling input to RF - still no joy. Anyone else had a similar experience?

TIA

I've had my DMR-EH55 working successfully with a Dish 301 STB, using video into IN3 from the Dish box to switch on record automatically from recordings set up in the Dish menu - worked fine, gave me titles in the recording, wonderful. Last week we had a power outage lasting about 1.5 hours, and since then the Dish box will not control the EH55 - may be a coincidence. I've tried changing the controlling input to RF - still no joy. Anyone else had a similar experience?

TIAHave you tried resetting up things from scratch on the DVR's end?

I ask this because I know that often you will lose TVGOS settings after a power failure.

I have gone through the TVGOS setup process on the DVR, but haven't re-set to factory and started from scratch. I can't see anything in setup that looks wrong, however I'll re-set and start from scratch - worth a try! Thanks.

Of course, the EH55 didn't set the correct time for the new daylight savings time :(
Had to re-set the unit and correct manually. Panny says it works if TVGOS is used but not for those of us that can't get it. Thanks to the idiots in Congress and Panny, another PITA :mad:

I have the DMR-EH55 recorder and have a couple of questions:

1) is there anyway to set the default recording quality for recordings made using the program guide? They all get scheduled in SP mode, and I have to edit each one manually to change this. Quite a bother.

2) Recently, the OSD when playing back a recording has disappeared. It used to pop up to indicate STOP, PLAY, FF, RW, etc. Now these functions still work, but just no OSD. It makes it hard to determine which FF speed I'm in. There is a configuration for this OSD in one of the setup menus. I tried both options (OFF and AUTOMATIC), but no OSD. Off clearly means off, but I don't know what automatic means. This seemed to happen about the same time as the latest TVGOS firmware update (3/1/2007), but I can't say that it IS related or not. Panasonic support was of little help. Their only suggestion was to reset the DVR back to factory defaults, which I would like to avoid if possible. Any ideas?

Hi I was wondering if you could create folders & move files into them. Ex. I record several tv shows I would like to put them in the same folder as apposed to listing them by date. FYI I can't use the TVGOS & have to manually record & label all of my files.

thanks

2) Recently, the OSD when playing back a recording has disappeared. It used to pop up to indicate STOP, PLAY, FF, RW, etc. Now these functions still work, but just no OSD. It makes it hard to determine which FF speed I'm in. There is a configuration for this OSD in one of the setup menus. I tried both options (OFF and AUTOMATIC), but no OSD. Off clearly means off, but I don't know what automatic means. This seemed to happen about the same time as the latest TVGOS firmware update (3/1/2007), but I can't say that it IS related or not. Panasonic support was of little help. Their only suggestion was to reset the DVR back to factory defaults, which I would like to avoid if possible. Any ideas?
After a power cycle, the OSD is again working.

I have been following RichardT's advice and editing out commercials etc by using playlists instead of directly editing the original title. Works well for me and I understand it makes it easy to recover from errors and prevents disk fragmentaion. I even generally work with a copy of the playlist, so the edit points don't affect the original title.

My question relates to a project I've been doing: I've recorded a number of musical variety shows, and want to create one playlist of only the song performances, and also save the entire show(s), sans commercials. When I selected the songs-only playlist and selected "add chapter", I am presented with a list of titles to choose from, but not playlists. So there was the original title of the show I had just edited, all pristinely isolated from the edits on the playlist==and without any chapters! I could not figure out if there is a way to select the chapters to add from the playlist in which I had created them. Is there a way?

I suppose I could copy the edited playlist to RAM disk and add chapters from that title, but it would be nice to avoid that step. Or should I just go back to creating chapters directly in the original title, so they will be available to add to the compilation playlist?

Sorry for the length of this, but it's kinda complicated to describe. Any advice would be most appriciated!

Steve

Yes Hoopster,
The EPG is usually on pbs "for analog cable". However, the problem here is that I am using a digital cable box which no longer has ANY analog channels. And the problem has been that the cable companies have not been passing the EPG data through on any of their digital channels. At least thats what I understand. Right now the dvd recorder is diligently searching the digital channels for EPG info, but I dont think it will find any. 900 or so channels to search.

I talked to the panny support guy and he doesnt think it will find anything either. Comcast is clueless as to EPG and digital channels. I will probably end up going manual in order to record digital channels.



I just bought a DMR-EH75 and I'm also not have much luck with downloading the channel guide. Since I probably wouldn't use it to make recordings even if I could get it to work, is there any downside to not having it loaded other than the minor problem of having to leave the DMR-EH75 on to keep it from changing the channels on the cable box (Comcast Motorola) while you are watching TV?

I have been following RichardT's advice and editing out commercials etc by using playlists instead of directly editing the original title. Works well for me and I understand it makes it easy to recover from errors and prevents disk fragmentaion. I even generally work with a copy of the playlist, so the edit points don't affect the original title.

My question relates to a project I've been doing: I've recorded a number of musical variety shows, and want to create one playlist of only the song performances, and also save the entire show(s), sans commercials. When I selected the songs-only playlist and selected "add chapter", I am presented with a list of titles to choose from, but not playlists. So there was the original title of the show I had just edited, all pristinely isolated from the edits on the playlist==and without any chapters! I could not figure out if there is a way to select the chapters to add from the playlist in which I had created them. Is there a way?

I suppose I could copy the edited playlist to RAM disk and add chapters from that title, but it would be nice to avoid that step. Or should I just go back to creating chapters directly in the original title, so they will be available to add to the compilation playlist?

Sorry for the length of this, but it's kinda complicated to describe. Any advice would be most appriciated!

Steve


Sorry, I haven't been checking this thread very regularly.

If I correctly understand your objective, COPY the playlist! Not to RAM; that would give you a Title, not another Playlist. By COPYing the Playlist, you now have two identical Playlists, with chapters, etc. You now can edit one of the playlists for one purpose; the other is still there to edit differently-- or to COPY again.

Now, if you want to "add Chapter" from a different title, yeah, pull down the whole title, then create chapters and erase those you don't want. I don't know of a way to add chapters from a different playlist. Different title, yes; different playlist, no.

Sometimes, I set a few chapter markers in the source title (but I don't erase here), then in the playlist, arrow across to the desired title, then arrow down to the chapter line and select the chapter. Or select titles and chapter by number.

I'll try to check this thread more frequently.

Richard

Sorry, I haven't been checking this thread very regularly.

If I correctly understand your objective, COPY the playlist! Not to RAM; that would give you a Title, not another Playlist. By COPYing the Playlist, you now have two identical Playlists, with chapters, etc. You now can edit one of the playlists for one purpose; the other is still there to edit differently-- or to COPY again.

Now, if you want to "add Chapter" from a different title, yeah, pull down the whole title, then create chapters and erase those you don't want. I don't know of a way to add chapters from a different playlist. Different title, yes; different playlist, no.

Sometimes, I set a few chapter markers in the source title (but I don't erase here), then in the playlist, arrow across to the desired title, then arrow down to the chapter line and select the chapter. Or select titles and chapter by number.
Richard

Since I'm very new to this stuff I'm still trying to grasp use of all this stuff, chapters, play lists, etc.

Following instructions someone gave I have been able to mark commercials as chapters and then delete those chapters. So other than that why would you mark stuff you record with chapters? Is it just to break up a recording to easily locate parts?

Since I'm very new to this stuff I'm still trying to grasp use of all this stuff, chapters, play lists, etc.

Following instructions someone gave I have been able to mark commercials as chapters and then delete those chapters. So other than that why would you mark stuff you record with chapters? Is it just to break up a recording to easily locate parts?

Yes, partly. What do you want to accomplish?

I am probably one of the very few who does very little recording over the air and rarely archive them to dvd. My main use of the dvd-recorder with hdd is 1) Copying home videos, and 2) recording production such as Children's talent program, weekly church services, Christmas Cantata, etc.

First, let's be sure we are using the same terminology, Panasonic-based.

TITLE: One recording, Start to Stop, one entry on the Direct Navigator menu.

PLAYLIST: A collection of index markers pointing to scenes on the source, HDD or -RAM. These are not copies of the source, but merely pointers to a source. You can have scenes (chapters) from different TITLES on one or several PLAYLISTS. Take up very little storage room.

COPYLIST or DUBBING List. This is a list of one or more TITLES and/or PLAYLISTS that will become one TITLE on the output dvd, -ram or +/-r/rw. (I believe Pioneer calls this a Playlist; if so, the need for clarification.)

Now, note some peculiarlarites. A High-Speed copy retains the Chapter markers and Thumbnails that have been defined, but results in a one-second freeze at each edit point; Real time copy eliminates the predefined chapter markers and thumbnails and inserts its own markers every 5 to 10 minutes and eliminates the edit-point freezes if Seamless Playback was selected in the SETUP menu.

Finally, to answer the question, Why Chapters? If set in the Source (TITLE), they will appear in every PLAYLIST which includes that TITLE, which may be what is desired. I prefer to erase unwanted chapters in the PLAYLIST rather than TITLE, 2 reasons, 1) Mistakes. Erased form the TITLE it's gone, irrecoverable. 2) So as to not fragment the hdd.

Why Chapters Answer #2:
1. Erase unwanted, from that Playlist-- you may want to use that somewhere in another Playlist.
2. Rearrange sequences (chapters) in that playlist.
3. Set a "Skip-To" point in the output dvd. Example: A young (20's?) soloist in last year's Christmas Cantata took his own life a couple weeks ago, and the family asked if I could make them several copies of that Cantata. So I added a chapter marker at the point where the soloist first appeared.

Hang in there. I tell my camera people not to be afraid of making a mistake. Just don't make the same mistake twice. That way, the sooner we get all the mistakes made, the sooner we'll be running error-free.

Richard

I have been following RichardT's advice and editing out commercials etc by using playlists instead of directly editing the original title. Works well for me and I understand it makes it easy to recover from errors and prevents disk fragmentaion. I even generally work with a copy of the playlist, so the edit points don't affect the original title.

My question relates to a project I've been doing: I've recorded a number of musical variety shows, and want to create one playlist of only the song performances, and also save the entire show(s), sans commercials. When I selected the songs-only playlist and selected "add chapter", I am presented with a list of titles to choose from, but not playlists. So there was the original title of the show I had just edited, all pristinely isolated from the edits on the playlist==and without any chapters! I could not figure out if there is a way to select the chapters to add from the playlist in which I had created them. Is there a way?

As RichardT notes, you can't add chapters to a playlist from another playlist, only from a title.

In your situation, I would have created chapters in the original title, one for each song and commercial, but without deleting anything from the title. Note that if you make a mistake here, you can recover from it by combining the two chapters on either side of the mistaken chapter mark, and then creating a new chapter mark in the correct location.

Then, I would have created the two playlists by selecting the appropriate chapters for each one from the original title. When you create a playlist, you see a series of thumbnails at the top of the screen, one for each title. Highlight the title that you want by moving left or right. Across the middle of the screen is a series of thumbnails for the chapters in the title that is currently highlighted. Moving down highlights the first chapter, then moving right/left highlights the next/previous chapter. When you click the SELECT button twice, it adds the currently-highlighted chapter to the playlist, which is shown in the series of thumbnails at the bottom of the screen.

(Why do you have to click SELECT twice? The first time, you get an insertion marker at the end of the playlist. If you want, at this point you can move the marker back and forth to put the new chapter somewhere else besides the end. Clicking SELECT again inserts the chapter into the playlist at the insertion marker. I don't use this feature very often because usually I just step through the chapters in sequence and add the ones that I want, skipping over the ones that I don't want, e.g. commercials.)

Steve,

Jtbell has given you good advice.

I may add and amplify a little bit. It makes little difference whether you set the chapter marks in the source or in your first playlist. Either way, I would wait till the playlist to delete the commercials and any other unwanted material.

You want two playlists, one of the complete program(s) from one or more titles, clean (no commercials, etc), and one of songs only.

If you set the chapter markers in the title, around commmercials only, or around both commercials and songs?

On the playlist screen, the top row is the display of titles, the second row diplays the source chapters of the highlighted title
, and the bottom row the chapters in the playlist. Highlight the desired title. If you press ENTER, all the chapters in the title will be selected into the playlist row, and you can then proceed to ERASE the unwanted chapters. Or, as jtbell described, you can arrow down to select the chapters you want to keep, one at a time, highlight and press ENTER, then in the bottom row, press ENTER to position the chapter where you want to place it.

Or, if you choose to define the chapters in the playlist, build the complete program playlist first, define and erase the commercials, make a COPY of the playlist, and define and erase the non-song portions.

Richard

Hey guys – On my EH75, here is how my “Setup Screen” for the TVGOS looks – does yours look the same?

(When you press TV Guide on the remote – the “TV Guide” screen comes up and in the middle says)

TV Guide on Screen Setup process

STEP........................................................ ......STATUS

[X] Search for time.........................................Done: (current time)

[ ] Search for TV Stations with
TV Guide Data.........................................In Progress

[ ] Search for Channel Line-up.....................In Progress

[ ] Listings Transmissions.............................In Progress

I have never got past step one – it always looks like this - from the time I just finish the set-up - and 24 hours later when I first look at it.

This is the way my DMR-75 was for three days and yesterday it finally gave up, so I just exited the setup and will manually set recordings as I would have anyway. I don't see that manually setting a recording is that big a deal to need the TV Guide. Only takes a minute to set a scheduled recording manually. So now I'm 100% happy with my recorder.

RichartT & jtbell,

Thanks for all the good advice and fine points.. My original question arose out of my frustration in realizing that I had done too good a job of protecting the original title, and laziness in not wanting to start over re-editing it.

I have changed methodology to creating the chapters in the original title. That way, I can add the song chapters to the song compilation playlist, and then create a new playlist of the whole show, delete the unwanted chapters (commercials, etc.) and archive that off to disk.

As for the compliation, I am going on the assumption I can't erase any of the titles it is drawn from until I burn it onto a dvd. Would I be better off saving the song chapters off to a dvd or dvd-ram individually (creating numerous titles, but would then have a song list at the beginning)? I've read it's not good to keep adding stuff to a dvd a little at a time.

One thing I'm still not clear on Richard. What is the point of making a playlist from the title, then copying that playlist creating a duplicate playlist upon which to make the edits? I've been doing it, but I always wind up erasing the title and both (edited & unedited) playlists once the dvd is burned. It would seem I could do the same without creating the duplicate playlist.

Anyway thanks much for all your attention and support!

Steve

Why duplicate playlists--

First playlist, full program(s). Edit out the commercials. Then make a COPY of this playlist to get songs only by editting out the rest of the unwanted stuff from the second playlist.

You now have two playlists, both editted, but the second one contains only the songs; the first one contains the complete programs, without commercials.

On earlier model, the E85H, Chapters created in the first playlist were set in the source, and a second playlist then contained all the chapter marks contained in the first playlist, garbage I DIDN'T WANT in the second playlist. The EH55 doesn't behave that way.

The reason I suggested copying the first playlist after deleting commercials was so you wouldn't have to delete the commercials twice.

If you want a title for each song, you can do it. Simply make a playlist for each song (or each two songs, put the song titles on separate lines on the playlist name). The menu contains 8 titles on each page (screen), so if you had 30 songs, 30 playlists, it would take 4 screens of menus. It would work, but might be a bit of a hassle to get to song #29, say.

You can copy all 30 playlists on one copy run, just put the playlists on the copylist.

And you are correct, because the playlists are merely pointers to one or more titles, you cannot delete the titles until you've made all the copies you want.

Something that might be helpful would be to use your greeting card program to make an insert for the dvd case, and list the songs on the insert. The copy paper is pretty thin, but I find it works quite well to make a double page and fold it. (4 3/4" x 9 1/2")

On earlier model, the E85H, Chapters created in the first playlist were set in the source, and a second playlist then contained all the chapter marks contained in the first playlist, garbage I DIDN'T WANT in the second playlist. The EH55 doesn't behave that way.


Thanks once again Richard. I suspected the reason was as you state above, but assumed (without testing) that the EH55 behaved that way. That will save me a step and keep my playlist list less cluttered when I'm just editing out commercials from a movie (my most common pursuit).

I think I've got playlists pretty much down now. My hat's off to your expertise and willingness to share it!

Steve

As for the compliation, I am going on the assumption I can't erase any of the titles it is drawn from until I burn it onto a dvd.

Right. When you delete a title, any playlist chapters that are taken from it disappear from those playlists.

Would I be better off saving the song chapters off to a dvd or dvd-ram individually (creating numerous titles, but would then have a song list at the beginning)? I've read it's not good to keep adding stuff to a dvd a little at a time.

Adding stuff to a DVD-RAM doesn't hurt. It behaves basically like a miniature hard disk in that respect. The main problem is that you can't add chapters directly from a title on the HDD to a playlist on DVD-RAM, because the unit can "see" only one device at a time when you're working with titles or playlists.

One way to do it would be to create separate titles for each song on the HDD, then copy those titles to DVD-RAM. When the compilation is complete, copy them back to the HDD and either burn a DVD-R with separate titles for each song, or combine them into a playlist and burn that to DVD-R. Or if portability isn't an issue, just leave them on DVD-RAM.

Or you can transfer the songs to DVD-RAM in batches using playlists, with all the songs in a particular session being in the same playlist. A playlist on the HDD becomes a title on the DVD-RAM (divided into chapters, of course).

Yesterday because the soccer match I recorded at SP ran over 2 hours I couldn't record it to disk at SP, so I used the Flexable Recording. Even though it took longer to record in real time I liked the transitions where I had set chapter by removing the commercials.

Today I recorded at XP even though I knew the soccer match was going to more than an hour and used FR to copy to disk, because I liked the transitions.

I think from now on I'm going to record at XP and copy using FR.

I have a DMR EH55 P9-S. I had a HDMI cable connected from the panasonic(hdmi output) to a Vizio VX32L lcd tv (hdmi input). The comcast digital cable is connected to the panasonic and then to the tv. There is no cable box and the TVGOS works. The EH55 is connected to a VCR by composite cables. Until last night everything worked fine. My daughter returned from a short 2 day trip and turned on the panasonic and the Vizio LCD. There was no input through the HDMI cable to the tv. I tried another HDMI cable and the same thing happened. I connected the panasonic to the Vizio tv, via componet cables and AV1 on the tv and it worked fine again. Just to make sure I bought a brand new AR HDMI cable and again there was no HDMI signal when I switched the input on the tv to HDMI. Also my daughter told me that on the display on the panasonic it said HDMI connected or something like that before the trouble started. The Vizio has 2 HDMI ports and I tried both. The Vizio is 4 months old and the panasonic is 10 months old. These are the only 2 electronic devices in the house with an HDMI hookup. How do I know if the panasonic is the problem or if the Vizio lcd tv is the problem? I am confused by this problem. The panasonic is set in the menu to use the HDMI automatically. Another problem is the panasonic has only 1 1/2 months of warranty left. Any suggestions?

I bought a LG RC797T DVD recorder/VCR that has HDMI output. Connected it with a HDMI cable) to the Vizio VX32L lcd and the HDMI 1 signal connected right away. Has anyone had a problem with their panny losing the ability to connect through HDMI? Looks like I will have to contact panny support and ship it back under warranty.

I bought a LG RC797T DVD recorder/VCR that has HDMI output. Connected it with a HDMI cable) to the Vizio VX32L lcd and the HDMI 1 signal connected right away. Has anyone had a problem with their panny losing the ability to connect through HDMI? Looks like I will have to contact panny support and ship it back under warranty.
Just to make sure your Panny doesn't have the "DST bug": (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=846731)

1. Set your Panny clock manually.

2. Turn DST OFF.

(Pannys seem to be most affected by the DST bug, but some others too...Philips 3505 for one.)

Thanks. I will try that tonight before I download + burn everything that I have on the hard drive. I called Panasonic today and they issued me an authorization to send the unit back to their Elgin,IL service center for repair. They pay the UPS shipping both ways. Their service rep was very nice about returning the DMR EH55. The only problem is it will take 2 weeks to get it back. Maybe the dst bug is the problem and I won't have to ship it out.

I tried the DST fix and it didn't work. Panasonic has the DMR EH55. They called me yesterday and said they couldn't replicate the HDMI failure. They asked what type of tv it was hooked to. I told them it was a Vizio VX32L. I also told them that my LG RC797T (dvd-r/vcr) worked with the HDMI circuits on the tv. Who knows what will happen now. They called @ 9:00am 5/25/07 and I never heard from them again.

I got the DMR EH55 back from Panasonic's Service Dept yesterday. Plugged it into the Vizio LCD tv and the HDMI circuit now works. Downloaded the TVGOS and everything seems good as new. They did a firmware update and reset the system. I'm glad it is back and fixed.

The Panny's HDMI has gone out again. I shipped it back to Panasonic.I told them they better fix it correctly this time or give me another DMR EH55 refurbished). It worked for 3 weeks and went out again.

I've had my EH55 for a year now and it works great. I have used it a lot to time shift as well as archive some movies. The quality of the recordings are super on all speeds. Outside of the TVGOS being totaly useless (to me), it is better than expected.

I got an EH55 this past spring.
I consider myself lucky after reading some of the posts here.
I can't believe it was so hard to find after such a short time after it's release.
I really like mine, I had a DMR-EH50 previously, & liked it extremely well too.
Anyway, I'm having a problem since the DST change.
My unit wouldn't auto update the time. When I went in to change it manually, the menu button for clock settings was greyed out.
I called customer service, they had me reset it with the channel up/down buttons on the front of the machine.
Fine, I got the clock set.
Oh no, now the TV Guide deal again.
I can't & don't use this, and don't know how to disable it.
I'm in a rural area with DirecTV & an antenna.
When I first got this recorder, I couldn't get it to work, and I was extremely busy at the time, so my oldest daughter called Panasonic and they did some kind of work-around. She doesn't remember what it took to remedy the situation.
I don't mind manually setting recordings, and I know how without using the TVG, but I'd like to set it like it was before-when I push "schedule" (or "functions/program") on the remote, I don't want to have to navigate my way around the TVG every time.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

The TVGOS in the Panasonic EH-55 works with DirecTv. For more info click here. (http://www.tvgos.com/support/directv/default.asp)

The TVGOS in the Panasonic EH-55 works with DirecTv.

I don't want to use it.

I have an EH75V, but I think its TVGOS works the same way as on the EH55 because they're in the same "generation" of Panasonic DVD recorders. The only way that I know of for sure to disable TVGOS completely on the EH75V is to disconnect the antenna, go through the initial setup and let the channel scan fail, then set the clock manually and leave the antenna disconnected for five days. (You can still record from DirecTV via a line input.)

After five days, the unit gives up searching for TVGOS data, and shows you a message to that effect when you hit the "Guide" button. You can now re-connect the antenna and TVGOS data will not appear thereafter. However, I don't know if the unit also stops searching for a time signal, because I didn't think to check that separately when I was experimenting with this last spring.

Someone else claimed that he was able to disable TVGOS by entering zeroes for the ZIP code in the initial setup, but I haven't tried it myself.

Thanks, jt, I'll give that a try.
Will the EH55 still be able to change channels on the dish receiver?
If so, that's how it was set up previously.
Cool forum you people have here! http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon14.gif
A guy on a popular stereo forum I visit suggested I come here for some help.

I assume you're referring to the IR blaster. I've never used it myself, so I don't know if you can use it without TVGOS.

I assume you're referring to the IR blaster. I've never used it myself, so I don't know if you can use it without TVGOS.

I was not able to get the TVGOS to work on my EH75 and after it gave up trying the IR blaster still works when I need it to change channels for recording.

I have been having problems with scheduled recordings to the HD failing. Normally, the DMR-EH55 will turn on 2 minutes before the start of the recording and blink the REC light on the front panel display. When the start time arrives (2 minutes later), the REC light stays on (stops blinking) while recording. The problem that I have been having is that the REC light continues to blink throughout the entire scheduled recording, and the program is not recorded. I checked the recording history and it shows that the program recorded OK, even though it didn't. There is plenty of room on the HD. If I interrupt the (non-)recording, and delete the scheduled recording and re-add it, it then records the remainder of the program. Any ideas on what is causing this?

I have been having problems with scheduled recordings to the HD failing. Normally, the DMR-EH55 will turn on 2 minutes before the start of the recording and blink the REC light on the front panel display. When the start time arrives (2 minutes later), the REC light stays on (stops blinking) while recording. The problem that I have been having is that the REC light continues to blink throughout the entire scheduled recording, and the program is not recorded. I checked the recording history and it shows that the program recorded OK, even though it didn't. There is plenty of room on the HD. If I interrupt the (non-)recording, and delete the scheduled recording and re-add it, it then records the remainder of the program. Any ideas on what is causing this?Try unplugging the EH55 for a few seconds and plugging it back in. Sometimes my '55 will act up, not quite like yours, and I attribute it to a "logic scramble" caused by static or power spikes. This has worked when my unit refused to record at all. Other than a reset I'm out of ideas.

I have the EH75V, which has the same TVGOS version (9th). I'm set up for Dish, and everytime I lose power it loses it's "memory" from the setup and won't record at all and I have to reboot the unit and reset the TVGOS over from scratch.

What I do is usually reset it first by pressing down the channel up and channel down buttons on the front of the unit simultaneously, and then do the unplug and replug. That always makes sure everything is cleared out before the reset.

I know, it sucks. I keep telling myself I'm going to get a UPS, but I haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

Try unplugging the EH55 for a few seconds and plugging it back in. Sometimes my '55 will act up, not quite like yours, and I attribute it to a "logic scramble" caused by static or power spikes. This has worked when my unit refused to record at all. Other than a reset I'm out of ideas.

I had also submitted a support request via email to Panasonic, and they mailed me a CD with a FW update. The CD was labeled "DMR-EH55 UP-317". No explanation or release notes accompanied the CD. I haven't yet performed the update.

One question we're having prior to purchasing two Panasonic DMR-EH55 units... can you output or loop simultaneously from S-video, Component and/or HDMI? We use S-video as our inputs and loop the signal to closed circuit televisions in our NPO community theatre. It would be much more useful to loop a component signal, but the input would remain S-video as our Sony cameras are all S-video to the switcher. I know the unit claims to upconvert HDMI but I don't know if this is just from a DVD or from an actual input source, and if you could send a component signal at the same time... we've had terrible luck with S-video upconvert/scaler units, so if the Panasonic DMR-EH55 could do this naturally.. that would be huge. Can anyone confirm?

Cheers,

Erin

Anyone have any idea if Panny DVRs will work when digital broadcasts begin in 2009?

Will it require a digital-->analog STB?

Yes, and yes - if you want more than just the locals.

That's true for the models with digital tuners (ATSC and QAM) that were introduced in spring 2007. Older models like the one that is the subject of this thread will need to record from a set-top box or "converter box" after the transition.

This is for OTA reception, of course. You'll still be able to use them with analog cable for as long as your cable company continues to provide analog service.

One question we're having prior to purchasing two Panasonic DMR-EH55 units... can you output or loop simultaneously from S-video, Component and/or HDMI? We use S-video as our inputs and loop the signal to closed circuit televisions in our NPO community theatre. It would be much more useful to loop a component signal, but the input would remain S-video as our Sony cameras are all S-video to the switcher. I know the unit claims to upconvert HDMI but I don't know if this is just from a DVD or from an actual input source, and if you could send a component signal at the same time... we've had terrible luck with S-video upconvert/scaler units, so if the Panasonic DMR-EH55 could do this naturally.. that would be huge. Can anyone confirm?

Cheers,

Erin

Erin, the E55 will upconvert source material via HDMI and also put out non converted video on component and S-Video at the same time. There is problem however. If you use the HDMI upconversion there is a sound mismatch-a slight video delay due to processing-unless you use the HDMI or Toslink sound outputs. I know the regular audio outputs are always live and guess they would work with STD video that has no delay. If you have a mix of TV's in an area this could be problematic. [HDMI delayed Sound vs. STD Sound]

Hopes this helps.

Anyone have any idea if Panny DVRs will work when digital broadcasts begin in 2009?

Will it require a digital-->analog STB?I've just been experimenting with my EH75V's 9th gen TVGOS, and it is indeed now getting it's info from the local digital, OTA CBS channel.

I installed the upgrade and found that the IR Blaster would not switch the channels for code '1378' with it positioned in front of the H20's sensor. I had to move it to the far left edge of the box to work. It's switching ok now . . looking forward to finally seeing something in the TVGOS guide.

First, this is a great forum. I very much appreciate everyone's advice and knowledge -- Thanks!

Snuffy101, I wanted to ask, did you ever get the TVGOS to come through with D* and your digital recvr? I've looked though all of the posts and I didn't see a follow-up but from reading some comments it looks like utlimately you were unable to get the TVGOS working. Is that correct?

I have both a H20 and D11 (analog rcvr) and have my EH75 setup so I can record using the TVGOS from the D11, however, I'm losing out on being able to record all of the HD channels that the H20 provides. After reading the posts here I downloaded the firmware upgrade and positioned the remote as you suggested and the channels are changing now, however, my first 24 hour period resulted in no TVGOS download.

Also, I've since purchased an older/used Hughes HTL-HD rcvr and was going to try my luck with that but first wanted to confirm whether it is possible to utilize the TVGOS with directv and the H20.

Any help you all can provide would be appreciated.

Snuffy101, I wanted to ask, did you ever get the TVGOS to come through with D* and your digital recvr? I've looked though all of the posts and I didn't see a follow-up but from reading some comments it looks like utlimately you were unable to get the TVGOS working. Is that correct?What he needs to do is hook up some kind of antenna which will allow him to receive the OTA host channel, and then set up for both "Direct" AND "Antenna".

This will work, I assure you. I've tried it myself.

What he needs to do is hook up some kind of antenna which will allow him to receive the OTA host channel, and then set up for both "Direct" AND "Antenna".

This will work, I assure you. I've tried it myself.

Excellent. Just so I'm clear, I need to hook my OTA HD antenna into the RF-in on the Pana? Then in the TVGOS setup choose Direct and Antenna? Yes/no/maybe?

Thanks

Precisely. They do explain it pretty clearly in the manual if you want to follow that.

Ok thanks. I'll give it a try. The way I had my non-HD D* box setup was to just use the s-video out into "in3" on the Pana. This worked fine to pull in the host channel whereas on my HD box it never finds the channel.

I'll give it a try and post back.

I think that's because the tuner has to be set to 480i for it to work. (There's a little note of this in the manual.)

Ramm,
Thank you so much , that did it!

This is now my setup:

Satellite cable to Directv H20
Directv H20 s-video out (and L/R audio) to in/3 on DMR-EH75
HD OTA antenna into the RF-in on DMR

In setup select Directv and antenna

I did have to run setup twice as the signal didn't come through on the first 24 hour run. Also, the channel lineup isn't 100% correct yet so I still needs to play with that some but it shows most of the channels including my HD lineup -- that is huge.

Thanks again

You can go into the channel editor and turn on some of those channels if they are there, and you should be able to change any channel numbers if you need to.

Glad to hear it's working out. Another success story!

Hi all,

I've had my EH55 for quite some time now and after purchasing a used RCA DRD435RH
DirectTV receiver was able to get the TVGOS to work fine. Now I would like to get an HD DVR or HD Directv receiver. Has anyone had any sucess using any of the DirectV HD equipment and still get the TVGOS to work on the Panny? I would hate to go back to programing recordings the old fashion (VCR) way!

Will it be possible for my Panasonic DMR-EH55 to pick up TV Guide programming information for OTA channels with one of the new DTV set top boxes converting DTV->Analog?

I previously used my EH55 for cable but now I am enjoying my new digital TV and I want to record digital OTA from my antenna at standard definition. I don't want to pay for cable anymore - is there a future for my TVGOS on the EH55 or will I have to use timed recording?

On page 53 of the manual it says:
When copying 16:9 aspect titles:
≥[HDD] [RAM] If copying to HDD or DVD-RAM:
Set “Enable High-Speed Mode” to “Off” and you can copy in 16:9
aspect titles.
≥[-R] [-RW‹V›] [+R] [+RW] If copying to DVD-R, DVD-RW (DVD-Video
format), +R or +RW:
Regardless of the “Enable High-Speed Mode” settings, the video
will record in 4:3 aspect titles§.
§ You can change the screen size by adjusting the screen mode on
the television.

and later on page 70, in the troubleshooting section,
The recorded title is stretched
vertically.
≥16:9 aspect programs are recorded in 4:3 aspect in the following cases.
–If you recorded to the HDD or a DVD-RAM and “Enable High-Speed Mode” was set to “On”
in the Setup menu. (The factory preset is “On”)
–If you recorded or copied to a DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, +R DL
or +RW.
It may be possible to adjust the display mode on the TV. Refer to your television’s operating
instructions.

I record on my DV camcorder in widescreen (16:9). My questions:
If I hook it up to the ES55 via DV input, will it only record to HDD with the correct 16:9 aspect ratio if I previously set “Enable High-Speed Mode” to “Off”?

I'm guessing yes, from what I've read. So...

Will I be able to high-speed copy the video to DVD-R, once I turn "Enable High-Speed Mode" back on, and have it retain the correct 16:9 aspect ratio?
If not, will I be able to do a real-time copy (keeping "Enable High-Speed Mode" set to "Off") to DVD-R and have it keep the correct 16:9 aspect ratio?
If so, I suppose it re-encodes and there is generational loss, right?
Would I also lose, by doing a real-time copy, any chapters and thumbnails I had added?


In other words, how can you make a widescreen DVD-R from a widescreen DV camcorder source with the DMR-EH55?

Maybe you should try, and tell us the results. Much appreciated.

OK, I decided to install the machine, roll up my sleeves and try it out.

Sadly, I was never able to find out, because the ES55 fails at recording from my DV camcorder via DV input. It detects that a DV camera has been connected when I first plug in or power up my camcorder, then offers to start automatically recording. But when I click Start Recording it craps out with an error message to the effect that it can't finish recording (it never started) or that no DV camera is connected. Even manually switching to DV Input yields no picture and no sound.

I think I know what the problem may be. I have an older model Canon Elura, one of the first generation of DV cams, bought back in 2000. It's a great machine (cost 2 grand, back in the day) that had a lot of features ahead of its time, like options to record in 16:9 widescreen, progressive mode recording, and analog in, but the firewire interface is an earlier version of the protocol which is not completetely up to date with the latest spec. I had a similar problem trying to connect it to an LG DVD recorder a couple of years ago, and in fact when Microsoft tightened up to adhere more strictly to the current firewire spec when they went from XP SP1 to SP2, even my computer would no longer detect my Elura. I stayed with SP1 for a long time because of that, until I finally found a way to patch a couple of offending .sys and .cab files in SP2 with ones from SP1 (http://www.rme-audio.com/english/techinfo/fw800sp2.htm). It now works, and I can capture from my Elura to my computer.

But I'd like to also capture to a DVD Recorder via firewire, and preserve the 16:9 aspect ratio I shoot in. My Toshiba RD-XS35 does both, I'm happy to say, and I can then high-speed copy from its HDD to make widescreen DVD-Rs as well.

I suppose I could try to see if 16:9 would work recording via S-video on the EH55, but quite frankly, if I can't even get it to record via DV In, I'm not keeping this unit, unfortunately. Furthermore, I suspect you are correct, Rammitinski, because in the passage I quote from the manual above, it does say,
The recorded title is stretched
vertically.
≥16:9 aspect programs are recorded in 4:3 aspect in the following cases.
–If you recorded to the HDD or a DVD-RAM and “Enable High-Speed Mode” was set to “On”
in the Setup menu. (The factory preset is “On”)
–If you recorded or copied to a DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW (DVD-Video format), +R, +R DL
or +RW.


It's a shame, beacause I was so worked up about getting this Panny (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12803712#post12803712).

So now maybe I'll look to the Philips DVDR3575H/37 as my second machine. Alas, it does not have TVGOS. Yeah, yeah, I know TVGOS has gotten a bad rap, and even I returned a Pio because of it, but when it works fine like it does in Toshibas and Panasonics, I really like it.

So, does the Philips DVDR3575H/37 do 16:9 from a DV cam? (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12804651#post12804651)

You can go into the channel editor and turn on some of those channels if they are there, and you should be able to change any channel numbers if you need to.

Glad to hear it's working out. Another success story!
Ramm,
Update to my last post. I have been able to pull in the TVGOS using an OTA antenna, but...my channel guide is still not correct. I've gone in and tried to edit channels but you can only edit channels that are in the list. There are several channels that don't show up at all in my channel listing and I haven't figured out a way to add them. Also, some channels are mis-labled. As an example, channel 75 shows up as HBO where in reality it is TNT-HD.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm sort of at a loss here.
Thanks as always.

Well, if the channel's not in the list at all, there's nothing you can do about that.

But can't you change the channel numbers on those other ones that are mis-labled? You should be able to. When you are on that channel in the channel editor, just hit the "menu" button on your remote and a box should pop up on the bottom left of the screen that allows you to do that.

plplplpl,

I have the first ver Sony 8mm camcorder with DV out. I had the same problem with my recording to the HD as you. But I found out that if your tape is not at the point of video, the panny will shut down. Does your panny detect your camcorder? Mine said the brand and specific model! The panny will also shut down at blank spots in the video from the DV camcorder.

plplplpl,

I have the first ver Sony 8mm camcorder with DV out. I had the same problem with my recording to the HD as you. But I found out that if your tape is not at the point of video, the panny will shut down. Does your panny detect your camcorder? Mine said the brand and specific model! The panny will also shut down at blank spots in the video from the DV camcorder.


What you're describing is similar to what I observed. The Panny kind of initially detects it, but not always, and as soon as I try to record, the Panny doesn't completely shut down, if that's what you mean, but does exit from recording mode with an error message. Is this what you mean?

I was trying to record footage from the very beginning of my DV tape, so maybe the first few milliseconds as the tape begins confuses the Panny. Maybe it might be worth unpacking and setting up the Panny again to try recording once the tape is already a few seconds into the video, what do think? Is your experience similar?

plplplpl,

I have the first ver Sony 8mm camcorder with DV out. I had the same problem with my recording to the HD as you. But I found out that if your tape is not at the point of video, the panny will shut down. Does your panny detect your camcorder? Mine said the brand and specific model! The panny will also shut down at blank spots in the video from the DV camcorder.
One way that might work around the "blank-spot shutdown" is to "stripe" your tape before using it for shooting. It's time consuming but can be done well in advance on several tapes, as needed.

Insert a tape, keep the lens cap on, and record the entire tape with black. You might want to go the extra step and prevent audio by inserting a mic cord (w/o mic) in the external conn. or just let the camera stripe in a quiet room.

Striping puts a continuous time code on the tape that the Panny should see as good recorded tape and not shut down at camera stops?

I currently have the opportunity to test drive an EH50 from work. It is similar to the EH55, but with a 100 GB HDD, no DivX, a few other differences and no DV In, only composite and S-video. I tried to record widescreen (16:9) video from my DV camcorder, both though composite In and S-video In. The EH50 can recognize the camera's signal, of course, in both instances, and does record it, but does not record it as widesceen 16:9. It is vertically squished, whether I start the recording from the beginning of the tape or several seconds in, once the tape is playing.

I'm wondering if anyone has successfully recorded widescreen (16:9) video from a camcorder either on an EH50 or an EH55 and retained the correct aspect ratio, and if so, how?

My guess is unless you use a RAM disc, you will need to "unsquish" the DVD for correct playback on a 16x9 TV.
The unsquishing can be easily done in the DVD setup. Look for something called "stretch 4x3 programs to fill 16x9 screen" At least that's what my Sony DVD player calls it. Or you could have your 16x9 TV do the stretching. Both results in a fine picture, in correct ratio.

Yes, I suppose I could do that, but if I burn DVDs for sharing home movies with family and friends, I'd have to instruct everybody to jump through that hoop, and it comes off as amateur. My Toshiba RD-XS35 will record and burn DVDs with the correct 16:9 aspect ratio (is this what's called the 16:9 flag?) and so will a whole variety of computer video applications, even Windows Movie Maker. Can the Panasonic?

The Panasonic recorders do not set the "widescreen flag" on DVD-R or (I think) DVD+R, only on DVD-RAM and on HDD (if the unit has a HDD, of course).

When I want to create a widescreen DVD, I record it to DVD-RW on my Panasonic, then put the disc in my Mac, copy the VIDEO_TS folder to hard disk, set the widescreen flag using a freeware DVD-editing utility, and then burn a DVD-R on the Mac. It's time-consuming, but at least I can re-use the DVD-RW's.

Yes jtbell, I don't think any current DVDR sets the flag except when using RAM's, for whatever bizarre reason! Really is stupid. And plpl I agree, if you want to give relatives the disc, I'd stay away from the RAM's for compatibility problems.

plplplpl,

Yes, it did not "shut down" completely. Just gave an error message. But when I set the tape to the point where there was actually video, it would record. The striping method is only good to do before you use the tape, just to time consuming. Also, maybe a good thing to stop at break points if it's different footage? The tape control thing didn't work like it says in the manual, I think that would only be for Panasonic camcorders.

OK, progress, to some extent. I tried the EH55 again via firewire, and keep getting the error message whether I let it auto-detect the DV signal (it starts up then craps out right away) or whether I go to the Functions menu and select DV Camcorder Rec (same error message and inability to record). However, by cycling the Input Select button through its permutations (Tuner, Input 1, Input 2, Input 3) it then goes to DV In. If I start the DV tape playback first, then hit the Record button on the EH55 remote, it does start recording!

However, recording to the HDD at least, it does not set the widescreen 16:9 flag, and the widescreen recordings from my DV camera are vertically squished. I tried changing the TV Screen settings in the Setup menu to 16:9, but I'm guessing that's for output only. I even tried changing the Disc -> Settings for Recording -> Enable High-Speed Mode to off, as I recall it says something about that in the manual. Each time it was no go; I got a vertically squished 4:3 video.

Sure, it might be possible to burn those videos to DVD-RW, take it to my computer and add the widescreen flag in VideoReDo or something, then burn again, but that sort of defeats the purpose of recording DV cam with a DVD Recorder. I could just as well capture directly to the computer, where most video apps will capture as 16:9, even Windows Movie Maker:

http://images.jakeludington.com/wmm/wmm_options_advanced.png

hi all. i'm in dire need of help on this unit. i was copying a show from the dvr hard drive to a dvd-r on monday night. the copy failed (perhaps because the disc was smodged). since then the machine is not reading DVDs at all. i receive error code U88 at times. it won't even read a lens cleaner DVD.

i left it plugged off today to see if it will reset.

has anyone been able to fix this problem ? i've seen several posts about it on the internet but with no definitive solution.

Here is advice concerning DVD drives that seem to be failing but just need a spindle/hub cleaning:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=210507

Following these detailed instructions clean the lens, rubber and plastic spindle parts and hub area, and the circular guide in the DVD drive lid.

Panasonic 2006 and newer DVD drives are easy to service. Remove the case top cover to get access to the DVD drive. Remove the four small Phillips screws and lift the DVD drive top lid. When viewing the DVD drive from the front (where the tray rolls out) notice the roller assembly at the rear of the DVD tray. This mechanism must be positioned to the left corner before reassembly so these parts will be correctly aligned to the guide rail on the underside of the drive lid. With the 2006 and newer models opening of the Panasonic case, removing the DVD drive lid, cleaning the drive, closing the drive lid, and closing the case takes around fifteen minutes.

With 2005 or older models the case cover and the front panel assembly may need to be removed in order to give clearance for the DVD drive lid to be lifted somewhat at the front, slid forward, allowing the rear to disengage, following which the lid may be lifted off. The opaque plastic part at the left rear seems to be a retainer/guide. Allow around 35 minutes for opening the case, removal of the front panel after loosening the snap clips at the top, sides and bottom; removing the DVD drive lid; cleaning and reassembly.

Note: On a combo recorder be sure to hold the VHS door open as the front panel is fitted back into place. This will correctly align the VHS door opening mechanism.

thanks!

what should i use to clean the DVD player parts? rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab?

Yes.

Keep in mind that the poster's terminology (found in the link) is UK useage.

Or of you feel adventurous you could try my little trick first. If it works you should probably take the machine apart and clean it right. But I have one DVDR that is extremely hard to get at, and I keep limping along with the occasional temp fix.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=982378&highlight=panasonic+dvdr+grinding+when+finalizing

well, today i cleaned the spindle of the damed thing until i could not see a spec of anything on it. unfortunately, the machine is in the same state it was before and still giving the U88 and not reading ANY DVD.

does anyone have any idea what i should try next? the thing worked fine last weekend.

shucks!

here are some pictures from today's adventure - http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/andreebay/Panasonic%20DVR/

Dre1988,

One of your close-up photographs shows that your machine has some leakage of a large electrolytic capacitor in your power supply.

Six of my eight functional Panasonic 2006 models developed varying degrees of leakage with the largest power supply electrolytic capacitor.

My first DMR-ES15 now has around 2,900 recording hours. This machine is still functional but exhibited leakage from this electrolytic capacitor. I also have three other functional DMR-ES15 models, two of which evidenced this capacitor leakage.

Three of my four functional DMR-ES35V models also exhibit this capacitor leakage. These three average over 3,000 recording hours per machine.

In the last week I replaced the leaking capacitors in three of my DMR-ES15 models. Next I shall turn my attention to the leaking capacitors in three of my DMR-ES35V models. Different models use different specification capacitors in the power supply. (C1143 in a DMR-ES15 is 100uF 350V 105 degrees; and C11108 in a DMR-ES35V is 220uF 250V 105 degrees.) At my local electronic parts supply store I special-ordered these electrolytic capacitors. These were priced less than $4.00 each.

Replacement of electrolytic capacitors in my models requires dissassembly of the machine to the extent of removal of the chassis motherboard from the case.

Be sure to leave the machine's power disconnected overnight before the procedure. Observe capacitor polarity when removing the old capacitor and soldering in the new capacitor.

In my DMR-ES30V models the power supply is located on a platform at the rear center. That power supply uses two large electrolytic capacitors instead of one. These models do not exhibit capacitor leakage. (One of my DMR-ES30V models has over 4,200 recording hours and the other one has around 2,300 recording hours.)

This thread provides more information concerning circumstances related to leaking power supply capacitors on a Panasonic hard drive model:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=204006

The Jazzguy1233 post is most on-point.

DigaDo,

You could be right! We experienced some horrible storms here this week that knocked out the power. Even though the DVR was connected to a surge protector, it could have been damaged. Unfortunately, I have very little experience with the internals of electronics. Can you please point our which capacitor is leaking in the picture below.

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/andreebay/Panasonic%20DVR/?action=view&current=2008-03-01048.jpg

I you have picture editing software, can you circle it? Will I be able to get the capacitor at a place like Radio Shack? I can try changing it.

I don't have a soldering kit but can get one and try this.

Thanks for your advice.

Dre1988,

Electronics is not my field. Nevertheless I will offer my observations and advice based upon my experience in replacing electrolytic capacitors in several of my Panasonics.

In the single photo (you linked) the electrolytic capacitor that I observed leaking (in an earlier linked close-up, the second of your group) is just opposite the sliding assembly on the back of the DVD tray and between the DVD drive case and the heat sink with two coils appearing in the foreground just below the heat sink on the chassis motherboard. This capacitor is the black or dark brown cannister with the silver top (with a dot on the top) with a grey stripe running down one side. The grey stripe indicates the capacitor's polarity orientation. The other close-up photo I mentioned shows the leakage, a bubbly ooze around the capacitor's base. This leakage will probably be somewhat hardened rather than pliable or moist. While this capacitor is in an early to moderate stage of failure this leakage may still have an adverse affect upon your Panasonic's operation or performance.

Upon closer scrutiny of several of your photos (instead of the close-up showing the leaking capacitor behind the DVD drive) I observe that your Panasonic appears to have one large chassis motherboard extending across the whole rear area and includes the area at the right beside the DVD drive (as viewed from the front of the machine). In order to replace the leaking capacitor it is necessary to remove the front panel; the hard drive and its cables/connections; the DVD drive controller circuit board assembly and its cables/connections; many of the screws securing the rear panel to the tuner, I/O jacks, ac power connector, etc.; possibly the fan; those motherboard screws indicated by the adjacent screw icon (seen on the motherboard in your photos); and the central anchoring screw from the chassis found recessed into the motherboard's front input jack assembly. Then the motherboard itself may be lifted off its small blade type guides and removed from the chassis in order to gain access to the back side for the soldering process. In an orderly fashion lay out all the various parts and screws so that they may be correctly reassembled following the procedure.

Capacitors store an electronic charge. That is the reason to disconnect the AC cord well in advance of the procedure to allow the capacitor to lose its charge. Exercise caution when working in and around the power supply, even after it has been disconnected from the power.

The specifications of this eletrolytic capacitor will be found on its side. This will include specifications for uF, V, and the degree range. You may wish to measure its physical height as an additional specification as it appears that the case is of the same low-profile as found in the DMR-ES15 and other models. I would guess that this capacitor is 20mm or 25mm in height. A capacitor more than 30mm or so may be too tall to fit. Radio Shack doesn't list many electrolytic capacitors in their online catalog but they may be able to special order them. A local electronics parts store may have them or be able to special order them. Panasonic usually prices these electrolytic capacitors in the $12-$15 range but these may be ordered from some online sources for as little as $2 each.

I purchased my five-piece Soldering Tool Set at Radio Shack; around $7, their item #64-2802B.

Make a notation of the grey stripe polarity orientation so the new capacitor may be oriented the same way. When unsoldering the capacitor from the back side of the motherboard be careful to pull the capacitor straight off the front side of the motherboard after heating both soldered areas around the pins on the back side of the motherboard. Do not rock the capacitor as that may loosen or damage the "foil" covering carrying the circuitry on the back side of the motherboard. (If the "foil" lifts somewhat that does not necessarily mean that the repair has failed. This is just meant as a caution.) The capacitor removal is somewhat difficult as the electrolite leakage itself forms somewhat of a bond to the motherboard. Carefully remove the residual leakage from the front side of the motherboard. Guide the new capacitor's pins through the holes, heating the solder to allow insertion, if necessary, making sure not to loosen or damage the "foil" on the back of the motherboard. Be sure to reheat the existing solder or use very little new solder until the solder flows smoothly around the pins, taking care not to allow any excess amount to intrude upon another circuit or another component's solder or pins. Trim off the excess pin length after the solder has cooled.

Allow at least one hour for the procedure.

Jazzguy gives a description of a different model Panasonic than you have. He mentioned the failure of two capacitors in his Panasonic's power supply. His description of the leaking capacitors sounded more like those that appear (in your single linked photo) like the small blue chip-type capacitors standing with two legs, as seen in your photos (for instance) in the foreground below the heat sink and two coil-type devices.

Dre-Cool photos. Reading Digado's post I could see where he was going, being in radio and TV repair years ago(before almost everything became disposable). I could also possibly see your head spinning with all the possible investments. Soldering iron, solder, capacitor(which may or may not correct your problem). It could very well be the capacitor, Digido knows his Panny's, and capacitor failure in Panny's have been very well noted, but were not positive this is the cause of your problem.
If I were you and didn't want to get too deep into the whole thing I would check out this post (also by Digido) to the Panasonic factory service center. For a $130 flat fee Panasonic will fix your machine no matter what the problem. Considering you have a Panasonic w/hdd, which are very hard to find now a days I think it would be worth the investment to keep it going. It's up to you. Note the EH-55 does have a analog tuner(which you could just add a converter box(like the upcoming TR-50)). So don't think the machine is obsolete just because of that.
You could also try selling it as-is on eBay. You may be able to get something out of it that way. I just wouldn't toss it. There becoming somewhat of a collectors item.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13002258#post13002258
Good luck!

Dre1988,

My lengthy post gave a description of what one might do. Jeff is correct in that replacement of the capacitor may not correct the problem.

To the practical considerations that Jeff raised, your large investment in this fine and unique product that may still provide years of outstanding service, what would I do in your situation?

Personally I would make up an information sheet with all your observations/concerns about your Panasonic and then contact the Panasonic Service Center in Illinois. Include your information sheet with your Panasonic. The $130 flat rate includes shipping both ways. Your Panasonic may be gone for a week or two but will return in new functional condition.

This is the corporate Panasonic Service Center that offers the flat-rate repairs for $130.00:

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

1-888-439-2676

DigaDo,

whoa! thanks for the instructions. i think changing the capicitor is beyond my skillset!

for less than the $130 that panasonic wants, i can go buy a dvd recorder without a hard drive. i can then output the A/V signal from the panny hdd dvr to that if i need to record anything to disc. plus, i'll have a working dvd player for watching discs.

of course, i'm wondering if this is all worth it as the price of blue ray dvd players fall. maybe we'll see a blue ray hdd dvr for a reasonable price soon.

Dre1988,

If I had known months ago what I now know about the current state of technology I would have certainly diverted some of my resources to purchase a DMR-EH55 when it could still be found in the USA marketplace.

Your DMR-EH55 is a model to maintain for continuing use.

My attention to technological trends was diverted by the need to copy to DVD selected portions of my twenty year archive of home-recorded videotapes. I deemed that the best approach to the project was to purchase several machines and set them up to dub at the same time. Such a project was more than any one machine could handle. With completion of my ten month long dubbing project I found that Panasonic had discontinued its hard drive recorders with the transition to the analog/digital tuning DMR-EZ models.

You are indeed fortunate to have your DMR-EH55. It is certainly worth $130 to return it to as-new condition.

for less than the $130 that panasonic wants, i can go buy a dvd recorder without a hard drive.Sure - if you want a piece of junk.

Dre-Ramm makes a good point. You may have something "new" for $100 but it will more than likely be total junk in both build quality and picture recording quality. IMO putting that money into your older unit would be better money spent. New is NOT better in the current DVDR market. It's like saying it would cost $5000 to get your Mercedes fixed, but you could buy a new Yugo for $5000. I sure know where I'd put my money.

I continue to have problems with dropped scheduled recordings. It seems to most likely occur with "regular" scheduled recordings (vs once or weekly). The scheduled recording will work fine for weeks, and then just disappear. I reported this to Panasonic support several months ago, and they sent me a FW update which I installed. I'm still having the same problem. Anyone else experiencing this issue?

Hi,

I got my EH55 in December so I'm a newbie. I'm also a profession editor so hopefully I won't be too dense. I've made a playlist from pgms on the HD that I've transferred to dvd in fast-copy mode. My dilemma is that the finalized dvd retains the chapters I used to create the playlist* (that's good) but additionally I'd love for each item/chapter in the playlist (made from different programs) to get its own thumbnail on the final(ized) dvd. I have a hunch this might require me to copy first, take some additional steps and then finalize, yes, maybe?

*My method for making the playlist is to define the select scenes I care about by bracketing them with chapter markers in regular viewing/playback mode. Then it's quick work creating the playlist from the chapters I defined earlier. But the resulting dvd so far has one thumbnail (bad) though retains the chapters so I can "chapter skip" on the remote from scene to scene, ah tolerable. The IDEAL would be if each item/chapter had its own thumbnail for a quick menu overview, possible? Thanks in advance.

Best,

Paul

My guess is going to be you will need a computer to make thumbnails for each chapter. Many people seem to inquire about this and the computer is what's usually suggested. Maybe someone else is more familiar with the EH-55, I know on non HDD Pannys what you want to do is not possible, at least to regular DVDR's.
Another option is to have a DVD player such as my Sony DVP-NS41p. It has a NAVI button. What it does is to make it's own thumbnails for each chapter. You push the button and after a few seconds, wala, thumbnails for each chapter. Then you just arrow to the one you want and hit enter, it goes right to that chapter! Note obviously this would be no good for giving the disc to others, but for you yourself it would be a option. It was ~$60 at Sams or Costco.

My guess is going to be you will need a computer to make thumbnails for each chapter. Many people seem to inquire about this and the computer is what's usually suggested. Maybe someone else is more familiar with the EH-55, I know on non HDD Pannys what you want to do is not possible, at least to regular DVDR's.

It is possible to create chapter thumbnails, even custom chapter thumbnails, on a Toshiba RD-XS35 and possibly on other Toshiba HDD models, but if you don't have access to one, jjeff's suggestion of doing it on a computer would be the way to go.

Hi,

I got my EH55 in December so I'm a newbie. I'm also a profession editor so hopefully I won't be too dense. I've made a playlist from pgms on the HD that I've transferred to dvd in fast-copy mode. My dilemma is that the finalized dvd retains the chapters I used to create the playlist* (that's good) but additionally I'd love for each item/chapter in the playlist (made from different programs) to get its own thumbnail on the final(ized) dvd. I have a hunch this might require me to copy first, take some additional steps and then finalize, yes, maybe?

*My method for making the playlist is to define the select scenes I care about by bracketing them with chapter markers in regular viewing/playback mode. Then it's quick work creating the playlist from the chapters I defined earlier. But the resulting dvd so far has one thumbnail (bad) though retains the chapters so I can "chapter skip" on the remote from scene to scene, ah tolerable. The IDEAL would be if each item/chapter had its own thumbnail for a quick menu overview, possible? Thanks in advance.

Best,

Paul
Instead of making "a playlist from pgms on the HD," don't make "A" playlist, take "the chapters I used to create the playlist," and make each one of them a separate playlist, then copy them as separate titles onto the DVD. Each title gets its own name and thumbnail. If you start playing the first title, it will automatically move to the next one, and then the next one until all the content has been played. Pressing the skip forward will automatically skip to the next title, etc. The ony drawback with this is the one second or so transition between titles.

If you ever have too much content for a normal -R, you can use a DL disk, and I have found the layer change on my DL +R disks to be longer than the title change on a standard DVD -R.

Church AV Guy beat me to the punch answering you, and he is exactly right. (For more detail on similar task, see posts #576 to 587 where I got some great helpfull advice when I was a newbie, esp #580 & 585.)

Also, you can easily copy all of the "chapters" (now each a separate playlist, treated as a title on the target disk) at one time. Use Functions/Other Functions/Advanced Copy to create a copy list; at the "Create List" prompt, right-arrow to "New Entry." A list of the titles on the hard disk will be presented, but just press the "B" button to display your all of your playlists; select the first and repeat as necessary until all the ones you want to burn are listed.

Another advantage of "Advanced Copy" is it does not finalize the disc unless you explicitly tell it to. It is faster to set the thumbnail for each playlist on the hard drive, but until it is finalized you can also reset the thumbnail on the DVD+R (I'm not sure about this on -R.) By not automatically finalizing, you can get a "do-over" on the thumbnail selection if you change your mind about which frame to use; you can also add additional titles later, so you don't have to complete the entire project in one pass. The EH-55 will nag you to finalize the disk every time you open the tray, giving you the choice to finalize or leave it unfinalized. The completed menu of your now-independently named and thumbnailed "chapters" will not be displayed until the disc is finalized.

Hope this helps.

Steve

Thanks Steve & Luke,

You did a great job of explaining that. I now get the concept and in attempting to apply it I've run into one snag... it's is not a brickwall but rather a time-consuming bump. Ok I make a playlist that is just one scene, knowing that it will be a thumbnail of its own on the final dvd. The final dvd will be made up of many one scene playlists, great. The snag is related to the fact I have dozens of programs on my HD so that after successfully assigning the one scene(chapter) to a playlist, I hit Return and go back to the Playlist View screen that is showing me playlist 1, playlist 2 and Create. Next when I select/enter on Create I'm returned to the first program on the HD, then have to scroll thru dozens of programs to pick up where I left off to set up the next victim, then repeat scrolling thru dozens of programs every time I make a 1 scene playlist. Ok this is a high-end consumer devise and maybe I'm spoiled by my experience with pro gear but I just want to make sure that this is par-for-the-course and I'm not doing something wrong.

Put another way I wish I never had to leave the 3 row screen and give a command "new play list" with top row of titles remaining unchanged. Wishful thinking huh?

Paul

Originally posted by Pauld2007:
...Next when I select/enter on Create I'm returned to the first program on the HD, then have to scroll thru dozens of programs to pick up where I left off to set up the next victim, then repeat scrolling thru dozens of programs every time I make a 1 scene playlist....

This may not be your ideal solution, but it does eliminate scrolling through the program list over and over. Note that each of your programs on the HD has an index number. After you hit "create" on the playlist screen, you will indeed be returned to Programs 1, 2, 3, & 4 on the top line of the create screen; but instead of scrolling to the "next victim," just input its index number with the number keypad. The number will appear in a box at the top of the screen and that numbered program instantly will appear in the top row, already selected. Press "enter" twice (or move to the middle (chapter) line and select the chapter you want to make into a playlist by entering its number the same way). Press "return" once and you are returned to playlist view, ready to enter the name of your brand-new playlist.

This same trick of entering the item number to jump directly to it works in playlist view (I generally have over a dozen playlists waiting to be burned or edited, sounds like you will have quite a few also), playback ("direct navigator"), "delete navigator", and probably anywhere else there is a numbered list of programs, playlists, or chapters.

Hope this saves you some time and frustration.

Best, Steve

Hey Steve,

That sounds like a magic bullet, I'll try it soon. Thanks so much.

Best,

Paul

This time sberlin beat me to it. That number entry works in a lot of places where moving around a lot gets tedious. It has been a while since I read the manual, b ut I'm not sure it is really documented. Even if it is, the manual is so bad, it might as well not be. Within the advanced copy window, I use direct numerical entry for title selection and for chapter within title selection. It works in top (title) menu page, and in playlist screens too.

Another recording problem that I used to have has resurfaced. Sometimes a scheduled recording will start and then end after a few seconds. I checked the Recording-History and it shows that the program only recorded for 9 seconds with a status of "xHost". Successful recordings show a status of "OK", and recordings that are skipped (because the program did not air that week) have the status "xSusp". Does anyone know what "xHost" means? The program that failed to record was on a channel other than the TVGOS host channel.

Never saw that with any of my TVGOS units. Might be some kind of a copy protection message maybe?

Usually if a recording starts, but stops after a few seconds, CP is the culprit.

Never saw that with any of my TVGOS units. Might be some kind of a copy protection message maybe?

Usually if a recording starts, but stops after a few seconds, CP is the culprit.

I'm thinking that is not the case. This was from the PBS analog channel OTA. It had just finished recording the previous two programs from the same channel. I've seen this behavior before also on my FOX station.

Sorry if I get this sent wrong but I thought I would pass this on.

Panasonic will not carry any hard drive machines as of April 2008.
Their new line comes out April 7 2008, in Canada I believe they match the US.
DMR eh55 is no longer available from Panasonic.
I just got off the phone with the Panasonic manager in Toronto.

I have had my EH55 in for numerous problems and they were going to replace the whole unit, but no more EH55 and no DVR in the new lines had a hard drive.

My eh55 kept stopping recording after 10 seconds and showed system error in the history for that show. Panasonic said it was a bad sector on the hard drive it needed to be replaced and I needed to update the software.

It also missed channels on my cable box channel 86 would only get 6 on the CB intermittently.

I use the machine every day; the machine has good options, but many intermittent problems.

Does there Canadian line now just mirror the US line? That is EA-18, EZ-28, EA-38, EZ-48?
I was thinking the day would come. Too bad, since in Europe they have Panny's W/HDD's and digital tuner, but not ATSC.

I have had my EH55 in for numerous problems and they were going to replace the whole unit, but no more EH55 and no DVR in the new lines had a hard drive.

My eh55 kept stopping recording after 10 seconds and showed system error in the history for that show. Panasonic said it was a bad sector on the hard drive it needed to be replaced and I needed to update the software.

My EH55 is a replacement for my previous E95H model, which had all kinds of TVGOs problems that Panasonic could not fix. Does anyone know if it is possible to replace the hard disk themselves, or does it need special "formatting" to make it work?

falcon58 - Do you know the specific system error that was displayed in your recording history that Panasonic said was indicative of a bad sector on the hard drive?

My EH55 is a replacement for my previous E95H model, which had all kinds of TVGOs problems that Panasonic could not fix. Does anyone know if it is possible to replace the hard disk themselves, or does it need special "formatting" to make it work?Very easy to replace. I replaced the HDD on my E-85 last summer without a hitch.

Does there Canadian line now just mirror the US line? That is EA-18, EZ-28, EA-38, EZ-48?
I was thinking the day would come. Too bad, since in Europe they have Panny's W/HDD's and digital tuner, but not ATSC.

Canada they mirrored the DMR EH55 so I would assume they would continue to do that.

Panasonic is tight lipped about what they will announce.

My EH55 is a replacement for my previous E95H model, which had all kinds of TVGOs problems that Panasonic could not fix. Does anyone know if it is possible to replace the hard disk themselves, or does it need special "formatting" to make it work?

falcon58 - Do you know the specific system error that was displayed in your recording history that Panasonic said was indicative of a bad sector on the hard drive?

I think that if the hard drive lines worked well they would continue them, I use mine daily and the fuller the hard drive and schedule and history the more problems I had.

"The history shows the red dot and says that “recording was stopped by the system. – reason error has occurred/stopped recording”. "


The shortened memo I sent with the unit for repair follows:
The unit has many problems and intermittent glitches that are increasing.

1. It stops recording a scheduled program after 10 seconds, even in the middle of the night. This happens even more frequently if I am actively using the DVR eg. TV guide, schedule, navigation etc. The history shows the red dot and says that “recording was stopped by the system. – reason error has occurred/stopped recording”. This seems almost like the memory in the computer is being scrambled, or the machine can’t handle the job.
Examples are shown on the DVR itself

#173 on the navigation 10/25 thurs 6:59P-history under “Without a trace”10/25 10:01 show error

#179 10/26 3:pm -history under Matlock 10/28 12:am and 3:pm both show errors

#196, 197, 198, 207 210 211 213 all in navigation show errors.

2. The DVR misses some of the numbers when changing the channel on the cable box; this happens more often with a number that has an 8 in it eg. Chanel 86 is scheduled to record but only the 6 is received. It seems like the DVR only sends a half signals for the 8 and a full signal for the 6. This was a rare occurrence before, however now it happens every 20 scheduled shows.


Examples of these on the DVR:
on navigation
#194 10/27 Sat was to be channel 42 but only got channel 4 and this channel was recorded.
# 190 3:59 10/27 sched ch 127 recorded 27 and #165 #161
# 191 4:59 10/27 sched ch 42 recorded 23 channel appears never changed
# 175 7:14 10/26 sched ch 138 38
# 178 7:59 10/26

3. DVR has performed a system reset at least 3 times in the 11 months, for no apparent reason, and not a power failure. This as I remember showed up in the history, while recording a show. I have all my electronic equipment including the DVR on a UPS backup all the time.
4. Shows that are being recorded are showing more and more computer noise or pixel squares as the hard drive is getting corrupted.
5. Shows copied from the DVR to a DVD disk also occasionally have computer noise on them and some so bad that the DVD cannot be played. I use new DVD’s for recordings.
6. After calling Panasonic tech we tried to enter the code number at the setup screen/general defaults to show what the base setup was, this never would allow us entry and he said the unit for sure needed to be fixed. To show how intermittent the DVR is I tried this code for three days and fourteen attempts and it never worked until the fifteenth time.
7. Closed captioning does not display on the DVR programs, I have a new sharp TV connected with a HDMI cable, and the cc does work when the input is from the TV. A DVD created from the DVR played on a different DVD player does give cc.

8. TV GUIDE PROBLEMS

9. Updated TV guide shows many listing in prime time with “title unavailable” but on either side the shows are listed. This was a very rare occurrence before now it is quite often.
10. TV guide system is very sporadic in updating the 8 day TV listings. Many times as it currently is the listing for one or two days get missed but the next 3 days are fully updated.
11. Correct content on the TV guide system does not display for WGN ch66 and AMC ch53 they show a different lineup of shows as listed in the Shaw cable box listing.
12. Many of the channel information is not being displayed eg 61,62,63, movie channels that I subscribe to.
13. The Number of displayed channels and the history must be deleted or turned off otherwise the scheduling and recording problems get much worse. This also limits the use of the DVR by not showing this information.
14. information about a show is sporadically changing, e.g. If I press the info button for more information on a lager screen the screen is blank some times, if I go to another show and return right away then it gives me the full screen of information.


15. Sound from the hard drive is more noticeable now and increasing.
16. DVR does not consistently show the 16:9 formats for my Sharp TV, the Sharp on it’s own input shows all in 16:9.
17. I can not get any AVI files to play on the DVD; the manual says these will play.

((((this I foud latter was because they needed to be done with NERO formatting))

18. History of recorded shows occasionally has show information for the future e.g. it says that two days from now this show did not record.
19. Sound volume on recorded shows varies by 40% e.g. I have to adjust the volume at the start of the show on 30% of every show even from the same network on the same night.
20. DVR does not seem to receive signals from the remote on a regular basis. e.g. I used to be able to point the remote at the ceiling and the signal was received even with low batteries. Now it must be directly aimed at the unit and it still misses some signals, as though the DVR is not recognizing the signal.
21. DVR takes much longer than it used to, even with the same amount of memory usage, to display the next screen image or do other tasks. Many times it takes 3-5 seconds to update the screen for the TV guide and navigation etc.
22. Fast forward or reverse scanning is not working properly, the response times lags or does not scan at the setting selected and many times the icon does not even show up to say what has been selected.

end of memo

Hope this helps

I know my equipment and this machine is well designed with good options,
((I owned the Panasonic VCR PV-VS4821K that marked commercials but in 6 years I had it replaced three times under extended warranty))

But quality and consistency is lacking.
If Panasonics line of hard drives was good they would continue, they are not.

Thanks. I don't think I'm running into a hard disk failure problem (yet). The problem happened again on a different channel (recorded 6 seconds with xHost status). I'm now recalling that I think a Panasonic support person once told me that the DVR has a known bug where it will sometimes not record back-to-back programs. Each of the failing cases that I can recall were back-to-back recordings on the same channel.

falcon58 - Can you elaborate on your experience with playing .avi files on a DVD? I tried this on a whim and it didn't work. My files were on a DVD +R DL DVD. The files were also MPEG4 encoded, 25 fps, so I didn't expect it to work anyway. What is NERO formatting?

Is there any firmware that fixes the U71 error?

Thanks

Jay:

When I want to record back-to-back programs on the same channel, I record them together as one program and then use Divide to separate them into two programs. I have never had a problem doing it this way.

John

I second John's post. That's how I record back to back programs as well (at least when I'm forced to use a single deck - see the last part of my post below for elaboration). Specifically, I use one of two methods when I am using a single DVD recorder deck with TVGOS to record back to back programs - In the first method I simply set up a manual recording that spans the length of the two programs (this method is more foolproof but requires slightly more complex setup because you are using the TVGOS manual recording setup screen vs. just clicking on the desired pgm using the TVGOS display). If I am lazy then I sometimes use method two, whereby I set the first program's recording using the normal TVGOS interface then I go into the record settings adjustment on that program and set the "turn off" offset to be whatever duration spans the length of the second program (i.e., 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes). The only time where this doesn't work is if I need to use FR mode on one of the programs because its duration exceeds the normal 2-hour SP mode disc capacity or if the "back-back" programs are on different channels. In that case I am forced to use method three which involves recording back to back programs on two separate DVD recorder decks. In reality, I most often record back-to-back programs on separate decks when possible, but sometimes a separate channel recording will overlap one of the back-to-back programs I want to record and then I resort to the single deck methods described above because the second deck is tied up recording the overlapping program on the separate channel. HTH

I thought I'd briefly share my successful experience integrating a Zenith DTT900 ATSC converter box with this DVR so that I can record digital TV off an antenna. Bye bye cable!

I chose the Zenith tuner box because I heard that it could be controlled using IR codes for an LG satellite receiver, which the DMR-EH55 knows how to control via an IR blaster. This worked! I configured the DVR setup for Antenna and DirecTV and connected the Zenith as if it were the satellite reciever, on IN3. I connected my antenna to the DVR and connected the RF antenna passthrough from the output of the DVR into the antenna input of the Zenith tuner.

I autoprogrammed the Zenith to find my local channels and went into the settings to disable auto-off. I stuck the IR blaster below its IR port.

The hardest part was configuring the channel numbering scheme. I found that the only workable scheme to make the DVR automatically change channels on the Zenith was to configure the DVR to always use three digits for the channel, and disable four-digit values. I selected 028 when the setup screen asked how the box wants channel numbers like 28 entered. This causes the zenith to treat the third digit as a subchannel number.

Note that the Panasonic sends the channel number out the IR blaster TWICE when it gets ready to record. This caused problems with the Zenith if I didn't use a numbering scheme that included the subchannel; otherwise, the Zenith would switch to the second subchannel number on the second time. For instance sending '4' would go to 4.1 and sending '4' again would go to 4.2; but 041 always went to 4.1 no matter how many times it is sent to the Zenith.

I spent a lot of time editing the Panasonic's TVGOS channel listings to show just the channels in my area, and selecting IN3 as the source connection. I then programmed the digital channels as follows:

For 4.1, use channel number 41
For 4.2, use channel number 42
For 17.1, use channel number 171
and so forth.

Since I have a wide screen TV, I set up the CECB to output anamorphic wide screen mode for the 16:9 HD stations. This plays back from the DVR as 16:9 full screen on my TV. It's only 480 lines, but it looks good, better than analog cable and way better than an analog antenna.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Edit/Update: I have been having some problems with IR blaster control of the Zenith due to the way my Panasonic DMR-EH55 sends the channel command twice. Sometimes it sends the second command so soon after the first that instead of 171 tuning to 17.1 and then 171 tuning again to17.1, the Zenith sees 171171 and interprets this as 17.11 followed by 7.1 !

It looks like the commands are spaced apart better if the DVR is OFF when the recording is scheduled. Most (or all?) of my shows have been recorded properly while the DVR was off and I wasn't watching, but when a recording started while I was watching another program the tuner control problem surfaced. It looks like the problem happens when the DVR tries to automatically change channels when the DVR is currently on, but I wonder if it will also happen if I try to record two programs on different channels back to back. I will continue to run experiments and report (I can't run more than one auto-tune experiment per half hour so this take a while!)

I cannot find any way to turn off the double-channel-set behavior in the DVR settings, and none of the other numbering schemes I've tried work either. So, the way a DVR attempts to set the channel number remains a challenge for my own integration with a CECB and could certainly affect other people.

I thought I'd briefly share my successful experience integrating a Zenith DTT900 ATSC converter box with this DVR so that I can record digital TV off an antenna. Bye bye cable!

I chose the Zenith tuner box because I heard that it could be controlled using IR codes for an LG satellite receiver, which the DMR-EH55 knows how to control via an IR blaster. This worked! I configured the DVR setup for Antenna and DirecTV and connected the Zenith as if it were the satellite reciever, on IN3. I connected my antenna to the DVR and connected the RF antenna passthrough from the output of the DVR into the antenna input of the Zenith tuner.

I autoprogrammed the Zenith to find my local channels and went into the settings to disable auto-off. I stuck the IR blaster below its IR port.

The hardest part was configuring the channel numbering scheme. I found that the only workable scheme to make the DVR automatically change channels on the Zenith was to configure the DVR to always use three digits for the channel, and disable four-digit values. I selected 028 when the setup screen asked how the box wants channel numbers like 28 entered. This causes the zenith to treat the third digit as a subchannel number.

Note that the Panasonic sends the channel number out the IR blaster TWICE when it gets ready to record. This caused problems with the Zenith if I didn't use a numbering scheme that included the subchannel; otherwise, the Zenith would switch to the second subchannel number on the second time. For instance sending '4' would go to 4.1 and sending '4' again would go to 4.2; but 041 always went to 4.1 no matter how many times it is sent to the Zenith.

I spent a lot of time editing the Panasonic's TVGOS channel listings to show just the channels in my area, and selecting IN3 as the source connection. I then programmed the digital channels as follows:

For 4.1, use channel number 41
For 4.2, use channel number 42
For 17.1, use channel number 171
and so forth.

Since I have a wide screen TV, I set up the CECB to output anamorphic wide screen mode for the 16:9 HD stations. This plays back from the DVR as 16:9 full screen on my TV. It's only 480 lines, but it looks good, better than analog cable and way better than an analog antenna.

Great post! Something I might try with my EH75.

I thought I'd briefly share my successful experience integrating a Zenith DTT900 ATSC converter box with this DVR so that I can record digital TV off an antenna. Bye bye cable! . . .Great find. This is way too valuable information to get lost in this thread. Could you please repost it in the sticky thread above entitiled "FAQ: DVD Recorders and the Analog to Digital Transition" to preserve it.

sggoodri-One question, do you think the Zenith box lacks anything because it does not have S-video out?
I've really been holding out for a box with S-video out, thinking I will get superior PQ using S-video, do you think that would be the case, or is composite OK? For my reference what kind of TV are you displaying it on? Is it a HD set, it must be 16x9 according to your post. I agree this is a valuable post for anyone with a Panny w/IR blaster, should probably go in the Sticky as Kelson suggested.

The Zenith DTT900 ATSC converter box has a good picture even with the composite outputs (but with a slight greenish tint). If it is set to the "squeezed" setting and your DVD recorder (I have a Phillips 3575, a Panasonic, and a Sanyo) is set to 16 X 9, then recording from the input that the Zenith is set to - come out as widescreen on my HDTV but look squished on a 4 x 3 screen. It does not set the anamprphic flag, but that does not matter to me because I play back all the recordings on my widescreen HDTV. Even though they are up-converted they still look very good.

Thanks. I don't think I'm running into a hard disk failure problem (yet). The problem happened again on a different channel (recorded 6 seconds with xHost status). I'm now recalling that I think a Panasonic support person once told me that the DVR has a known bug where it will sometimes not record back-to-back programs. Each of the failing cases that I can recall were back-to-back recordings on the same channel.

falcon58 - Can you elaborate on your experience with playing .avi files on a DVD? I tried this on a whim and it didn't work. My files were on a DVD +R DL DVD. The files were also MPEG4 encoded, 25 fps, so I didn't expect it to work anyway. What is NERO formatting?

I believe every back to back show or different show louses 4 seconds of the end and the beginning of the recording transition, I use a cable box with the IR blaster and for that I do louse 8 seconds every time. I record back to back same and different channels, I miss the 8 seconds and I hope this hard drive replacement will stop the "system error" of not getting the second show. I keep a full memory-history-scheduled and hard drive I begin to believe that the machine cannot handle a full system and it stops the recording.

Avi cannot be played on the DVR, not from a windows formatted disk. I use DVD -rw and use NERO to copy the avi files to the DVD. NERO.com is the disk formatting software that came with my DVD writer.

sggoodri-One question, do you think the Zenith box lacks anything because it does not have S-video out?
I've really been holding out for a box with S-video out, thinking I will get superior PQ using S-video, do you think that would be the case, or is composite OK? For my reference what kind of TV are you displaying it on? Is it a HD set, it must be 16x9 according to your post.

I wanted to hold out for S-video, but known IR Blaster functionality and widescreen "squeeze" mode won me over to the Zenith. I see some very minor chroma issues with the transfer; the Panasonic appears to have a decent comb filter on the composite input and the Zenith does a good job on its output. The most visible artifacts IMO are the drop in resolution from HD to 480 lines and the effect of recompressing a previously compressed signal. I know what to look for since I work in digital video compression technology, but it doesn't bother me much given the low cost of the coupon-eligible converter compared to buying a Tivo HD.

I have a year-old 42" LG LCD 1080P HDTV.

Edit: BTW, I connect to the TV using HDMI from the Panasonic.

I agree this is a valuable post for anyone with a Panny w/IR blaster..Not necessarily just Panny.

... I see some very minor chroma issues with the transfer; the Panasonic appears to have a decent comb filter on the composite input and the Zenith does a good job on its output...

This is precisely the reason there was a heated debate here in the past whether is it was better to sub S-VHS (or even std VHS) source tapes to Panny DVD recorders via the S-video input or the using the composite with its superior comb filter. Many anecdotally noted that the VHS/S-VHS dubs looked better when dubbed via the composite inputs vs. the S-video inputs of their Panny DVD recorders. Looks like the argument still holds up over the years. Good stuff.

Update: I have been having some problems with IR blaster control of the Zenith due to the way my Panasonic DMR-EH55 sends the channel command twice. Sometimes it sends the second command so soon after the first that instead of 171 tuning to 17.1 and then 171 tuning again to17.1, the Zenith sees 171171 and interprets this as 17.11 followed by 7.1 !

It looks like the commands are spaced apart better if the DVR is OFF when the recording is scheduled. Most (or all?) of my shows have been recorded properly while the DVR was off and I wasn't watching, but when a recording started while I was watching a previously recorded program the tuner control problem surfaced. It looks like the problem happens when the DVR tries to automatically change channels when the DVR is currently on, but I wonder if it will also happen if I try to record two programs on different channels back to back. [update: it does.] I will continue to run experiments and report (I can't run more than one auto-tune experiment per half hour so this takes a while!)

I cannot find any way to turn off the double-channel-set behavior in the DVR settings, and none of the other numbering schemes I've tried work either. So, the way a DVR attempts to set the channel number remains a challenge for my own integration with a CECB and could certainly affect other people.

I have verified that the DVR has problems setting the channel when recording a second program immediately after the first due to the double-channel-set problem I described above. I can reliably record one program from any channel, in isolation, when the DVR is off. Multiple programs can be automatically recorded if there is an inactive period behind them, again with the DVR off. It is when the DVR has already tuned to one channel and attempts to change to another to record from it that the problem surfaces.

I wish I could program the DVR to send three digits followed by enter rather than just three digits; this would fix the problem, as would not sending the channel number twice whent starting a recording. But I see no way to accomplish either.

On my Zenith digital tuner's remote if I just key in the first two numbers it always goes to the number -1 channel. This would not work with the sub channels but you might try it with the main channels. Example: Hit 12 and it aways goes to 12-1. I was wondering if this might help your situation with the IR blaster.

On my Zenith digital tuner's remote if I just key in the first two numbers it always goes to the number -1 channel. This would not work with the sub channels but you might try it with the main channels. Example: Hit 12 and it aways goes to 12-1. I was wondering if this might help your situation with the IR blaster.

I tried this. If I am currently on channel 5.1 and I enter 12, it would go to 12.1, but if I enter 12 while already on 12.1 it would go to 12.2.

Since the DVR often sent the channel number when it was already tuned to the correct channel, this would cause the tuner to go to the second subchannel, usually a lower quality SD version or a weather program.
Also, the fact that the DVR would often send the channel command twice was also causing problems this way.

Right now I am reliably recording as long as the DVR goes back to sleep between recordings (no back-to-back recordings and no starting recordings while watching playpack). That's good enough for my current needs but not as solid as others might demand.

Does anybody know where I can get an extension cable for the IR blaster on my '55?

Radio shack should sell a general purpose extension cable with the correct ends on it. I don't know exactly what the specific connector size is, or the number of conductors, but for an IR LED, two is all that's necessary. It isn't anything special. I have built 100 ft. extensions to use at church, so you have nothing to worry about. Just find one with the same connector configuration.

Thanks Church AV Guy, but Radio Shack doesn't have anything, Parts Express doesn't either.
If they don't have it, I don't know where else to look.
I tried Panasonic, too.
It's a 1/8" 4 conductor plug.

Hi,

I purchased my five-piece Soldering Tool Set at Radio Shack; around $7, their item #64-2802B.

Does Panasonic use lead-free soldering?

It's a FOUR conductor 1/8" plug?!? Okay, I stand corrected, they would likely not have something quite so exotic, atleast I have not seen four conductor cables. How odd that it is four conductor when only two are needed. I'll have to look into that.

Thanks Church AV Guy, but Radio Shack doesn't have anything, Parts Express doesn't either.
If they don't have it, I don't know where else to look.
I tried Panasonic, too.
It's a 1/8" 4 conductor plug.


Try http://mcmelectronics.com/

Does anybody know where I can get an extension cable for the IR blaster on my '55?
I checked my box and behold, whatever I had thought about these things was wrong, and you were correct. It is a 3.5mm TRRS connector. Why? I have no idea, but getting an extension for that will be tricky. I guess I would suggest that you cut the cable in two and solder long extensions onto it to lengthen it. I can find cables with two male ends, but no female ends.

I can find cables with two male ends, but no female ends.

Have you tried http://www.monoprice.com? (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021802&p_id=650&seq=1&format=2) for example.

I often record 16:9 (widescreen) programming content on the hard disk from one of my HD sources (HD DVR, HD TV, etc.). Since the DMR-EH55 records this as 4:3 format. I typically squeeze the 16:9 to 4:3 (anamorphic), and archive it on DVD (which is always 4:3). When I play this DVD back on a 16:9 television, I use the stretch/wide function to stretch the anamorphic 4:3 back to 16:9 aspect ratio.

I would also like to be able to play these DVDs on a 4:3 television and have it displayed in a letterbox format, but I cannot figure out how to do this. The manual states that for playback, you can select letterbox of pan & scan for playback of widescreen DVDs. How can I tell the DMR-EH55 to record the DVD in widescreen format (16:9 flag), instead of 4:3?

I have on occasion recorded the program on the DVD in 4:3 letterbox, but this wastes (throws away) picture content by recording the black bars on the top and bottom of the 4:3 image on the DVD.

The manual specifically says that the widscreen flag, if present, will only be carried along with the content on the hard drive and -RAM disks. On +/-R, RW, etc, the flag is lost. There are many threads in this forum about this issue, and ways to circumvent the problem. Most of them involve moving the content to your PC using some rewritable media, editing the data files to include the flag, then reburning the DVD. I don't have a 4:3 television any longer, so it isn't an issue for me. A search for specific terms should give you many hours of reading pleasure on the topic:)

I started to use Cinematize to lift DVD chapters from discs burned with a Panasonic DMR-EH55. I used to do this all the time with dvds made on a Pioneer DVR-310 (all ok) , when I do it with the EH55, the result is out of sync by close to 10 frames (audio behind).

In Cinematize I use the option to decode to Elementary Streams & separate (a&v) files. I've gone with these settings because I was told this is the way to do a transparent (native) lift with no transcoding. I then make the new dvd compilation with Toast 8 Titanium. If I use Cinematize to make a single a/v Quicktime I trust it would be in sync but I'd take a transcoding quality hit (yes?). Any work-arounds that take into account the apparent difference between the Panasonic & Pioneer discs.

Thanks in advance,

Paul

What type of recordable media (i.e., DVD-RAM, -R, +R, -RW, +RW) and mode type (i.e., VR or Video mode) discs are you using Cinematize on from the EH55?

I'm using Fuji DVD-R plain video

OK I'm finally getting around to setting up my TVGOS to be able to automatically record from line input. Currently I've been just setting up manual recordings in the TVGOS when I want to record from my CM-7000 CECB's line output. My questions are:

1. What option do I want to select in the setup to enable me to see OTA digital channels on my TVGOS and not cable channels? Currently TVGOS only displays the analog channels that I never record from(setup for OTA only). I record everything from my CECB.
The setup talks about Antenna w/cable box, DirectTV or Dish Network. I've selected OTA and cannot get the TVGOS to automatically record from line input, only the analog channels from it's built in tuner. I wouldn't mind just manually changing the channel on my CECB if I can't get the IR blaster to work. Currently I have 2 CMs hooked to my EH-55. One to Line 1 input and one to line 3 input. At least this way I can record from 2 channels unattended.

2. Speaking of TVGOS if I cannot get it to work after 2/09 is their a way to DISABLE the whole TVGOS thing and have the machine revert to the regular manual scheduler like on all my non HDD Pannys? Doing a manual schedule in TVGOS is very cumbersome and I cannot name my titles like with the manual NON TVGOS scheduler I'm used to. If I cannot just get the digital OTA channels to display on my machine I'd just as soon do everything manually, and I don't mean manually in TVGOS, I mean like on non TVGOS Pannys.

3. Not relating to TVGOS but a question I cannot find the answer for, is it possible to setup the machine so when I watch a title on the HDD that it remembers where I was and starts back at that point? It does this as long as I don't play another title on the HDD but if I do it forgets the first point and just remembers the last title I was watching. I guess I got spoiled with the 3575 which I believe allowed every title to be resumed, not just the last one. Am I just missing a option on the EH-55? If not this is a big bummer for me. The whole reason I finally switched to DVDs from VHS tapes was I found a Sony DVD player that remembered my last 6 DVDs and would automatically go back to where I left off. On the HDD I don't have the luxury of playing it back on my Sony player. This is OK now but once the first run programs come back it's going to stink. During that time I regularly have 5 or 6 titles in various stages of playing and I'd hate to have to write down the counter on each title. Thanks for any help.

jjeff:

I can answer #2. I also have an EH55 and use a Digital Stream converter to pick up OTA channels. When I set up the EH55, I chose Antenna. The only channel it could pick up was 3, because that is the output for all the channels from the converter. But that was good enough. Now I can set the clock manually and do all my scheduling manually. I don't use TVGOS at all.

John

Thanks JMas, when you say don't use TVGOS at all does this mean you don't have to go into TVGOS to do a manual recording or do you just do the TVGOS manual recording option? If the first option, how do you setup the recorder to not use TVGOS. Does it finally give up after not receiving any guide info and revert to no TVGOS? I don't see a option to manually turn if off.

To schedule a recording, I press Schedule, then Sub Menu, then select Manual Recording from the column on the left. I then key in the info and set the timer.

You may need to use the channel up and down buttons on the front to force a reset and start from scratch, choosing to set up using an Antenna. This is described on page 64 of the manual. Once you are set up this way, there is no TVGOS to contend with.

John

jjeff:
I can answer #2. I also have an EH55 and use a Digital Stream converter to pick up OTA channels. When I set up the EH55, I chose Antenna. The only channel it could pick up was 3, because that is the output for all the channels from the converter. But that was good enough. Now I can set the clock manually and do all my scheduling manually. I don't use TVGOS at all.
Hate to butt in, but it sounds as if a step is missing here. During Setup, doesn't jjeff have to choose "Antenna" then do a channel scan with the converter box attached (to RF IN?) and turned on so the 55 only sees channel 3?

Yes that is the manual TVGOS programming. It's what I currently do to record from my line inputs. The problem with that method is I cannot name my program prior to it recording like I am able with my non HDD Pannys. I also don't like that it doesn't tell me the day, only the date.
Don't get me wrong, I like the TVGOS feature(with it's program descriptions) it's just since I'm recording from the line input I end up using the manual method all the time which is quite cumbersome after using the non TVGOS Pannys for years. I think the key lies in the setup, it's just I don't want hundreds of cable channels showing up on my list when all I can receive is digital OTA.

Wajo-It looks like in the setup I am able to record from the line input(which I'd rather do for better PQ) but the manual is confusing since I'm not talking about cable or SAT but just OTA and yes I believe I'll still need to have the antenna hooked up to the EH-55 to get the TVGOS signal. It's just I don't want to record from that connection but rather from the line out of my CECB.
BTW Wajo, was I correct that the 3575 had a feature to resume any or all titles on the HDD? I kind of thought all DVDRs w/HDD would have that nice feature but if this one does I sure can't find it.

OK I'm finally getting around to setting up my TVGOS to be able to automatically record from line input. Currently I've been just setting up manual recordings in the TVGOS when I want to record from my CM-7000 CECB's line output. My questions are:

1. What option do I want to select in the setup to enable me to see OTA digital channels on my TVGOS and not cable channels? Currently TVGOS only displays the analog channels that I never record from(setup for OTA only). I record everything from my CECB.
The setup talks about Antenna w/cable box, DirectTV or Dish Network. I've selected OTA and cannot get the TVGOS to automatically record from line input, only the analog channels from it's built in tuner. I wouldn't mind just manually changing the channel on my CECB if I can't get the IR blaster to work. Currently I have 2 CMs hooked to my EH-55. One to Line 1 input and one to line 3 input. At least this way I can record from 2 channels unattended.jjeff, I thought you were following the DTVPal and TVGOS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=1043425) thread in the CECB forum -- if not, that's the thread you need to be in. The DTVPal is the only CECB, currently, that is supposed to have the ability to translate digital TVGOS into analog TVGOS for legacy devices with IR blasters (i.e. the Panasonic E-85 --> EH-55). The CM-7000 does not support TVGOS. Ramm has gotten the DTVPal to be controlled by his Sony and ttod has gotten his Toshiba to control it. Nobody has gotten a Panasonic to control it yet and nobody has gotten the digital TVGOS to work yet. You may be able to get the EH-55 to control the CM-7000 with it's ir blaster but I don't know what you will do for a channel lineup. Anyway, the CECB forum is covering all this.

BTW Wajo, was I correct that the 3575 had a feature to resume any or all titles on the HDD? I kind of thought all DVDRs w/HDD would have that nice feature but if this one does I sure can't find it.
Yes, the 3575/76 remembers all HDD title playback positions, but I've only tested... there's that fun word again!... 12 titles thru multiple playback sessions and on/off cycles... this test was boringly predictable. ;)

I only used Antenna to set up my EH55. My Digital Stream converter gets the OTA channels and the subchannels. They all come into the EH55 on Channel 3. I change the channels on the converter, not the EH55.

John

But don't you have to have it connected through RF to do that? The PQ's better when run into a line input.

Ram:

You are correct that I do the set up through the RF connection. But my only purpose is to avoid using the TVGOS in any form. I want only manual scheduling because I record mostly from 4DTV and FTA, and they do not have TVGOS. If I want to record from the converter box, I use the line inputs from it to the EH55.

John

I have a chance to buy a slightly used EH55 from a friend for about $300. Is it worth it? I know almost nothing about this machine, but I already have 2 Pioneer 640s and a Toshiba. Are there are major issues or firmware updates. What is the unique feature about this machine? Also I do not have the remote so is it easy to get in Canada? Sorry, I haven't the time to wade though all the posts.

If it's truly only slightly used and in perfect working order, then yeah - 300 bucks is worth it.

No issues or important updates needed that I know of.

But I'll leave the rest to the others who know more about the relative differences between those recorders. I've only had the EH75V myself, which is basically the same as the EH55V.

I will at least say though, that the TVGOS on the EH55V works with Dish or DirectTV, and that and the EH75V are the only models ever made that have that ability.

I have a chance to buy a slightly used EH55 from a friend for about $300. Is it worth it? I know almost nothing about this machine, but I already have 2 Pioneer 640s and a Toshiba. Are there are major issues or firmware updates. What is the unique feature about this machine? Also I do not have the remote so is it easy to get in Canada? Sorry, I haven't the time to wade though all the posts.

The correct Panasonic remote for the DMR-EH55 is model EUR7659YR0, priced at $42.72 (not including shipping) at the Panasonic Support website (see DMR-EH55S parts list, page 3; cf. Operating Instructions, pages 11f). This remote may interchange with those of other Panasonic hard drive models but I did not check the parts lists of other models. The correct remote is essential for full operation/control of the DMR-EH55.

Other Panasonic remotes beginning with the number EUR7659 (from standard DVD recorders/combo recorders from the 2006 and newer model years) may control many EH55 operations but may not access the TVGOS. Operating Instructions for the DMR-EH75 shows a EUR7659Y90 model remote. The EUR7659 series remote model numbers are found on the rear just below the battery cover release tab.

You may download the DMR-EH55 Operating Instructions here:

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Operating-Instructions/details-DMR-EH55S

The correct Panasonic remote for the DMR-EH55 is model EUR7659YR0, priced at $42.72 (not including shipping) at the Panasonic Support website (see DMR-EH55S parts list, page 3; cf. Operating Instructions, pages 11f). This remote may interchange with those of other Panasonic hard drive models but I did not check the parts lists of other models. The correct remote is essential for full operation/control of the DMR-EH55.

Other Panasonic remotes beginning with the number EUR7659 (from standard DVD recorders/combo recorders from the 2006 and newer model years) may control many EH55 operations but may not access the TVGOS. Operating Instructions for the DMR-EH75 shows a EUR7659Y90 model remote. The EUR7659 series remote model numbers are found on the rear just below the battery cover release tab.

You may download the DMR-EH55 Operating Instructions here:

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Operating-Instructions/details-DMR-EH55S

That price is ridiculous when compared against the price of the EH75V remote at $17.98. As the EH55 and EH75 are of the same generation, I can't imagine that the EH75V's remote would not work with the EH55, in fact, since the EH55 lacks the VHS deck, if anything, the EH75V's remote features should be a superset of the EH55's (i.e., IOW there may be some controls on the EH75V's remote that are not present on the EH55 but not vice versa). If faced with that dilemma, I personally would opt for the EH75V remote over the EH55's remote.

Here is a link to the Parts support page. You can compare replacement/repair part prices for various Panasonic products by entering the product model number into the form.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vSupportPartsSearch?storeId=15001&langId=-1&catalogId=11017&catGroupId=75627

Unfortunately, as this is a usa website, I have no idea what you would have to do to order a replacement remote for shipment to Canada. You can try calling them direct to find out (Phone contact info is on the page linked above).

That price is ridiculous when compared against the price of the EH75V remote at $17.98. As the EH55 and EH75 are of the same generation, I can't imagine that the EH75V's remote would not work with the EH55, in fact, since the EH55 lacks the VHS deck, if anything, the EH75V's remote features should be a superset of the EH55's (i.e., IOW there may be some controls on the EH75V's remote that are not present on the EH55 but not vice versa). If faced with that dilemma, I personally would opt for the EH75V remote over the EH55's remote.

If I had made the effort to look at the DMR-EH75V parts list my advice would have been the same as yours. $17.98 is very reasonable for such a remote.

I believe the EH50/EH55 are the best recorders, but the DVD drives on them are junk. My buddys crapped out a little over a year on his and they wanted $400 to fix it. Mine is acting up too but I still have warraty until September 11. It makes a lot of grinding noises when transfering from the HDD to a DVD. When I finalize the disk I get major grinding sometimes. It screws the DVD up and then says its damaged. I can still get my hands on 2 EH55's in town But I am not so sure I want another one. I might go for the Pioneer DVR-560H or the 660H. I prefer the Panny though.

I believe the EH50/EH55 are the best recorders, but the DVD drives on them are junk. My buddys crapped out a little over a year on his and they wanted $400 to fix it. Mine is acting up too but I still have warraty until September 11. It makes a lot of grinding noises when transfering from the HDD to a DVD. When I finalize the disk I get major grinding sometimes. It screws the DVD up and then says its damaged. I can still get my hands on 2 EH55's in town But I am not so sure I want another one. I might go for the Pioneer DVR-560H or the 660H. I prefer the Panny though.

I have fifteen functional Panasonics from the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 model years. Six of my most heavily used 2005 and 2006 models average more than 3,000 recording hours per machine. One 2005 model has more than 4,200 recording hours.

Good environment is important. Avoid shutting up a Panasonic inside a cabinet. Maintain good ventilation. Avoid dusty surroundings and do not smoke in the same room with the machine. Do not handle discs with a finger through the center hole.

Oily residue and dust finds its way to the DVD drive's rubber hub/spindle area causing recording/finalizing errors/failures. Regular cleaning of the hub/spindle should prolong the useful life of Panasonic DVD drives. The attached photo shows hub/spindle cleaning of a 2008 model DVD drive.

The following post gives more advice and a link to the actual cleaning procedure:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13997000#post13997000

Many others report very good results cleaning the hub/spindle. Once a drive goes bad the cleaning procedure is of no help.

In 2007 I began to service/repair my own Panasonics once the original factory warranty had expired. With such heavy Panasonic utilization I had settled upon the 2006 models (four DMR-ES35V and four DMR-ES15 models) as workhorses. Then I purchased two additional DMR-ES35V models as-is for parts. Two of the DMR-ES15 models had been purchased used with bad DVD drives. Then the good DVD drives from the parts ES35 models were swapped in; it's a simple procedure to swap DVD drives between 2006 Panasonic models. I have also swapped other parts, circuit boards, mini-switches, chassis motherboards; replaced capacitors; serviced/adjusted/rebuilt VHS mechanisms and various other assemblies. (Panasonic DVD drives from the 2005, 2006 and 2007 model years may not be interchanged from one model year to another.)

Panasonic has a $130 flat-rate repair that includes return shipping, parts and labor through the corporate Panasonic Service Center in Elk Grove Village Illinois. Additional information is found here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14198066#post14198066

It is a mistake to take a Panasonic to local "Panasonic Authorized Service" locations.

Hi folks ~

Amazing forum you have here!

I'm on my third DMR-EH55, which I bought new-in-the-box in June from an eBay dealer in Canada, as Panasonic no longer makes a DVD recorder with a HDD and I couldn't locate one in the US. I installed it on July 4, after finally getting most of what I needed off of the HDD. Today it stopped recognizing any discs at all (brand new, from different new spindles).

It says "Cannot copy. Possible reasons are: Non-recordable disc, finalized (closed) disc, damaged disc, etc."

It says this even when there is no disc in the machine. It also fails to recognize that there's a finalized disc, or a "commercial" DVD -- or even a head-cleaning disc -- in it when set to drive select of "DVD." It even goes into Sleep mode with any kind of disc in it (which typically only happens when there's no DVD in it at all). I've rebooted it several times and even unplugged it for an hour. Same results.

I've always used Memorex discs with excellent success and the machine worked fine last night. Also, there were no early symptoms -- it just stopped working when I went to copy a film to DVD early this afternoon.

I have had the problems mentioned elsewhere in this lengthy thread before replacing each of my first DMR-EH55s but haven't seen anything like this before. Seems hard to imagine that it would die after just over a month of heavy use but apparently that's what's happened.

Like other folks here, I use this a lot -- burning maybe 10 or more DVDs daily. I have cancer so I have a lot of free time and, hence, an extensive film collection.

Any idea what would cause this, especially so quickly? Or what I might do short of sending it to Elk Grove Village, IL?

As always, I have 140 or so titles on it which need to be burned before I can switch to one of my other machines...

...which, thanks to you kind folks, I might be able to repair (both of them had the same "dying at 91%" and "grinding" problems frequently mentioned here and I did keep them).


Thanks so much for anything you can tell me -- even if it's just that I posted this in the wrong place! OK, a real answer would be more helpful :)

~Gary

PLEASE SEE FOLLOW-UP

Now that I fixed that bloody "black plastic piece" and have it working, at least to record and watch from my Direct Navigator, I deleted a lot of titles I was keeping just to watch. I'm up to 40 or so hours free, or 43%.

Still doesn't recognize a thing. I can still copy to it but eventually need to burn a disk.

What on earth could still be wrong, now that it's thoroughly cleaned? It'll switch to DVD using Drive Select, but has the red circle with the line through it when I insert a burned or commercially-made DVD. This is really killing me. Like you, I use mine a lot.

My concern with sending it to Panasonic is that they may delete all of my titles.

My concern with sending it to Panasonic is that they may delete all of my titles.

At least two other posters with Panasonic hard drive models had the same concern when they recently sent their machines to Elk Grove Village. They were having problems with the DVD drive. I believe that both posters mentioned that they included this concern in the letters they included with their machines. Both posters reported that their Panasonics were repaired and returned with hard drive contents preserved. These posts disappeared in the AVS "crash."

I recently sent two EH75V's to Elk Grove Village for flat rate ($130) optical drive replacement only and they replaced the optical drives and updated the firmware while keeping the HDD contents intact. Had each unit back within three weeks of initially sending them out.

How long does it take the TV Guide to download? Does it take over 24 hours? I have a cable without cable box setup and it's been 24 hours and the channel listing are still in progress. I live in Canada and use Shaw Cable.

Hello fellow Panny users. I just picked up my first DVR, a panasonic DMR-EH75VS. Kind of off topic, but thought I'd say hello since a lot of you were on this thread.

Did some research here and elsewhere and finally joined the "poor man's Tivo" club. I'd rather call it the smart man's tivo club. I can't believe people are using other machines and that these pannys are gone. In fact, the same day I bought this one, I bought another EH75VS off Ebay for parts.

Needless to say, recording via TV guide is amazing and even more amazing is the industry has abolished it. The only "free guide" I've seen on a modern machine is a Philips 5520 that records in PAL & is currently selling in Europe.

My girlfriend & I need to archive some old VHS tapes, the one touch copying should make it doable even for her. I don't watch much TV, and I hate commercials so this is the right machine for my needs.

The manual is easy to decipher, the unit started sucking down the channel guide overnight. Scheduling recording with the guide is the only way to go. The unit has some depth....I like the playlist feature, the auto-title feature, the ability to change the video clip preview still frame, lots of stuff....

It's like these Panasonics were the golden age of the DVR/hard-disc/DVD machine and nothing better has come along.

Japan gets to play with blu-ray/hard-disc right now. I don't know if they have TV guide. We'll eventually get those in the U.S. Till then, it looks like I'll be rocking with the DMR-EH75VS.

How long does it take the TV Guide to download? Does it take over 24 hours? I have a cable without cable box setup and it's been 24 hours and the channel listing are still in progress. I live in Canada and use Shaw Cable. Follow the instructions carefully. You can also try different zip codes in your area. If you do the setup correctly, input a zip code & cable system channel lineup it recognizes, you should be good to go.

The only hangup could be if the cable company is not transmitting the info down the cable. I wasn't sure if mine was, but turns out it does.

How long does it take the TV Guide to download? Does it take over 24 hours? I have a cable without cable box setup and it's been 24 hours and the channel listing are still in progress. I live in Canada and use Shaw Cable.

Do you have anything yet? After 24 hours, your guide ought to populate with days 1, 2 and 8, then the next day should give you day 3 as well, and so on each day for the first week. Following that first week, if all is working normally, you should have a complete eight day guide thereafter.

Do you have anything yet? After 24 hours, your guide ought to populate with days 1, 2 and 8, then the next day should give you day 3 as well, and so on each day for the first week. Following that first week, if all is working normally, you should have a complete eight day guide thereafter.

It's been about 2 days now and I still see nothing. The tuner works and I am able to see and record shows manually and that's it! I have several DVR's though and I threaded the RF cable through one of them, I wonder if that is causing problems?

I reset everything again today to try again.

It's been about 2 days now and I still see nothing. The tuner works and I am able to see and record shows manually and that's it! I have several DVR's though and I threaded the RF cable through one of them, I wonder if that is causing problems?

I reset everything again today to try again.
The recorder must be left off for a minimum 24 hours straight...that means no timer recordings, or turning on and off to check to see if guide info has been downloaded...;)

The instructions say you MUST make a connection (red/yellow/white cable) from the dvd/vhs common out on the Panasonic into the AV input on the TV. This is required regardless of your setup.

That's what my instructions said & TV guide has worked fine and downloaded some TV guide stuff within first 10 hours after I hooked things up. Double check your directions and re-do them if necessary. If your directions don't have that step, I'd re-do with that cable added.

It's working now. Yes, I did use the machine and checked many times so it was tough to get it to be idle for 24 hours straight.

I took it upstairs where I had my cable split and now it works! Before I was threading it trough another DVR but output was to in A/V receiver which is connected to my TV.

The recorder must be left off for a minimum 24 hours straight...that means no timer recordings, or turning on and off to check to see if guide info has been downloaded...;)

Darn .. After getting a trickle of listings yesterday, I checked again and all the channels say no listing. I am not going to touch this machine for 2 days.

Does the 55 have a go to time point search function? I find in a 4 hour recording, I have to FF 200x to get to a certain point late in the program.

No, I wish it did. It's the main reason I use my Sony DVD player to play all DVDs. I know this doesn't help for HDD recordings though. 200x (or next chapter, if you have chapters) are your only options.
AFAIK no Panny DVDRs have go-to function, or time remaining which I really like in my players.

The 55 has a "TIME SLIP" function which might be close to what you want, i.e., not a "go-to" but just a time-advance? Page 38 of manual says this:

1 Press [TIME SLIP].
2 Press [^, v] to select the
time and press [ENTER].
Play skips the specified time.
≥Each time you press [^, v], the
time increases [^] or decreases
[v] by 1 minute intervals. (Press
and hold for 10-minute intervals.)

No, I wish it did. It's the main reason I use my Sony DVD player to play all DVDs. I know this doesn't help for HDD recordings though. 200x (or next chapter, if you have chapters) are your only options.
AFAIK no Panny DVDRs have go-to function, or time remaining which I really like in my players.

I've just checked the operation of the go-to function on one of my DMR-ES35V combo recorders. When playing a finalized DVD press a numbered button followed by ENTER. The DVD play jumps to that chapter number within the title being played. When playing a finalized DVD the SKIP buttons move forward and back incrementally by those same chapter locations. The five minute chapter marks are placed on the DVD during the finalization process. When playing an unfinalized DVD the SKIP button moves to the next title.

The 55 has a "TIME SLIP" function which might be close to what you want, i.e., not a "go-to" but just a time-advance?

Yes, that would be his best option. I use T-slip all the time on my EH-55. I was thinking about DVDs but if his program is on the HDD T-slip is the way to go and would be much faster than 200x.

Digado, on the EH-55 HDD I don't believe their is the option to automatically have chapter marks every xx min. like on the 3575/6. It is quite easy to add them though. Their is a dedicated button on the remote that can be pushed anytime during playing and it adds the chapter mark. Personally I don't use chapters on the HDD since I mostly timeshift then delete. If I was burning to DVD I would then take advantage of the chapters.

The 55 has a "TIME SLIP" function which might be close to what you want, i.e., not a "go-to" but just a time-advance? Page 38 of manual says this:

1 Press [TIME SLIP].
2 Press [^, v] to select the
time and press [ENTER].
Play skips the specified time.
≥Each time you press [^, v], the
time increases [^] or decreases
[v] by 1 minute intervals. (Press
and hold for 10-minute intervals.)

Time Slip only works on HDD recordings and unfinalized discs. It doesn't work on a finalized disc.

John

It's becoming more common for my EH-55 to record (to HD) a scheduled pgm and abort after less than 10 seconds. I don't discern much of a pattern except that typically the thumbnails for the "aborts" do not show the program name - but might indicate the network. Please note that I've never filled the HD much past the 50% mark so it should not be terribly fragmented. I called Panansonic and they were not familiar with this problem and suggested a reformat. It might come to that but I have so many unscreened programs backlogged on the HD that I would not reformat casually.

Thanks,

Paul

The usual recommendation for a disk showing signs of a corrupted structure is to offload everything onto -RAM disks and then do a format. If the format does not help, it COULD be a failing hard drive, in which case, getting the content off is very important, if you care about it.

This does not sound like a hard drive problem to me. It sounds like some kind of flaky EPG issue, though I am hardly an expert in these matters.

It could be that the recorders firmware PRAM has become corrupted by a power surge, etc. Have you tried an overall system reset? This usually clears stubborn clock/timer weirdnesses. You could also try re-initializing the TVGOS setup, go thru the entire host channel setting thing once more. Look in the troubleshooting section of your manual for reset tips. Many areas in the US are having TVGOS hiccups, especially thru cable-provided host channels, but if you are still getting a fully-populated and updated guide screen you should be OK in that regard. This sounds more like an internal recorder glitch.

At least two other posters with Panasonic hard drive models had the same concern when they recently sent their machines to Elk Grove Village. They were having problems with the DVD drive. I believe that both posters mentioned that they included this concern in the letters they included with their machines. Both posters reported that their Panasonics were repaired and returned with hard drive contents preserved. These posts disappeared in the AVS "crash."


Hi guys & gals ~

I haven't written for awhile because I had to send mine back to the good folks at Elk Grove Village (note for future readers here: they honor Canadian warranties as well -- free o' charge, including shipping BOTH WAYS!).

While it was in for service I used one of the two other Panasonics I'd fixed, again, thanks to you. So when I got the new one back (in 10 days or so) I wasn't able to use it until I'd cleared the 20 hours of new films I'd put on the old one.

Hooked the new one back up this past weekend and all's swell! They were able to save my HDD, as DigaDo had suspected, so I couldn't be happier.

Thanks so much to all of you who assisted me before the Big Crash of '08!

~Gary

(note for future readers here: they honor Canadian warranties as well -- free o' charge, including shipping BOTH WAYS!).



Great news, should my Canadian EH-55 need service. The shipping is sure a odd thing. So many people report they have to pay shipping to, and they pay return. Then others report what you said. I guess it's kind of the luck of the draw on who you get on the phone:confused:
Anyway thanks for the heads up. Many people including myself kind of though we were warranty-less on our Canadian Pannys. Good to know this is not the case.

Hi Luke, when you say RAM disk I'm guessing that means a SD card. Putting capacity issues aside what would be the deal in restoring content from the SD card to the HD once it's been reformatted?

It's becoming more common for my EH-55 to record (to HD) a scheduled pgm and abort after less than 10 seconds. I don't discern much of a pattern except that typically the thumbnails for the "aborts" do not show the program name - but might indicate the network. Please note that I've never filled the HD much past the 50% mark so it should not be terribly fragmented. I called Panansonic and they were not familiar with this problem and suggested a reformat. It might come to that but I have so many unscreened programs backlogged on the HD that I would not reformat casually.

Thanks,

Paul

I have always had this problem with the EH55 (see post #666 in this thread). If you check the recording history it will probably indicate xHost for the recording status. I have never been able to prevent this problem, it just happens randomly. I have deleted all programs from the HD, updated the FW, and reset and rebooted, but nothing makes it go away. It is just a bug in the EH55 FW. My resolution is to record shows on multiple recorders from multiple stations. This provides backups for DVR failures and station screw ups.

Hi Luke, when you say RAM disk I'm guessing that means a SD card. Putting capacity issues aside what would be the deal in restoring content from the SD card to the HD once it's been reformatted?
No, you misunderstand me. There are DVD +/-R disks and RW disks, and there is another variant called -RAM disks They are treated by the DVD recorder like a mini hard drive in that you can do almost everything with -RAM disks that you can do with the dard drive. Here (http://www.thenerds.net/PANASONIC.Panasonic_3x_DVD_RAM_Media.LMAF120LU5.html)is an ad describing them. They are heavily mentioned in the manual.

I have always had this problem with the EH55 (see post #666 in this thread). If you check the recording history it will probably indicate xHost for the recording status. I have never been able to prevent this problem, it just happens randomly. I have deleted all programs from the HD, updated the FW, and reset and rebooted, but nothing makes it go away. It is just a bug in the EH55 FW. My resolution is to record shows on multiple recorders from multiple stations. This provides backups for DVR failures and station screw ups.
I would call that an unacceptable solution to the problem. Panasonic should find the problem and fix the firmware. In reality, I doubt that a closed off and terminated product and product line, will ever get much further attention from the manufacturer. Maybe that IS the best solution. It irritates me though that the problem can't be fixed.:mad:

Great news, should my Canadian EH-55 need service. The shipping is sure a odd thing. So many people report they have to pay shipping to, and they pay return. Then others report what you said. I guess it's kind of the luck of the draw on who you get on the phone:confused:
Anyway thanks for the heads up. Many people including myself kind of thought we were warranty-less on our Canadian Pannys. Good to know this is not the case.

The fellow on eBay from whom I bought the unit also told me that Panasonic USA wouldn't honor the Canadian warranty, as they were two totally different companies. The truth is that I'd have happily paid the $130 mentioned elsewhere in this thread, because I use the bloody things so much! And they continue to sell new-in-the-box on eBay for $700+ with shipping, with the only new ones I've seen being sold in Canada.

I'm not sure if it matters who you talk to in Elk Grove Village. Following my brief initial conversation with a woman there, back in August, I realized I'd forgotten to ask for an RMA (Returned Merchandise Authorization) number, so I called back. This time I got a different person, and he assured me that no RMA was required. Just pack the box up with NO accessories -- not even the power cord -- write up a brief explanation of what's wrong (being sure to mention that you'd like them to save the HDD's contents, if applicable) and take it to a UPS Store.

The woman at the UPS Store wasn't too happy about the whole thing, as she said that the locally-owned franchises don't make a dime on these returns. When I asked if she gets a lot of Panasonic returns, she said that this was her first one, so she was apparently just in a bad mood.

But she typed a few things into her computer and a label printed out automatically. No charge whatsoever -- including insurance! And the machine arrived back at my home in 10 days, tops.

Again, this only applies to drop-offs at UPS Stores -- not sure what happens if you have to use an alternative shipping method (from, say, a rural area).

Just keep this info on hand -- I know that I do!:

1-888-439-2676
Panasonic Service Center
1590 Touhy Ave
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Thanks again, all!
~Gary

Good info, thanks.