I have a Panasonic DMR-EH75V recorder connected to a Sony Bravia
40" LCD TV. My source is Cablevision using a Scientific Atlanta Settop
Box with a Premium Package that includes HBO, Starz, Encore, IFC.
My recorder has been connected since last December and I have been
recording the Premium Channels to DVD with no problem until about 2
months or so ago. At that point I started experiencing numerous problems
with the DMR-EH75V: Sluggish operation, not recognizing it's own finalized
discs, freezing, etc.
After leaving the unit in an authorized Panasonic repair shop for 2 weeks,
their testing did not reveal anything wrong. Thoroughly confused now, I made
a last desperate call to Panasonic (I had called before taking the machine in
for service) and luckily this time got a knowledgeable tech who recognized my
symptoms as Firmware problems caused by a recent cable company update. He
mailed me a disc that corrected all my problems except that I am not unable to
record the premium channels because of a "copyright protected notice".
I am assuming that this copyright restriction came about as a result of the cable
company update which threw my recorder off, although Cablevision assures me that
nothing in the transmission has changed. Except the last person I spoke with there
simply told me that, since I was receiving a perfectly good signal, my not being
able to record to DVD was not their problem.
Anyone have a solution to this? I read about a Grex to be attached but don't know if this would do it and if image quality affected.:(

i think it was last spring that there were a bunch of posters describing how their pan dvd recorders were responding slowly or not at all to commands from remote controllers when connected to some scientific/atlanta hd stb. not sure about sd stbs. many people simply called cable co. for different stb. its a perplexing problem. i have used a sima ct-2 to isolate the two machines. it worked but the ct-2 is no longer available, (check ebay.) i have a grex also , havent tried it on stb cuz image is softer than straight or simas image from other sources. now, onto copy protection issues. my comcast supplied hd channels have recently all become copy protected. the ct-2 breaks the coding but ill not use it cuz its illegal. the powers that be seem to be cracking down!!

Go down to Cablevision and swap out your box for a Scientific Atlanta 4250HD or a 4200 Std (non-HD), it's free to swap. Either box will solve your problem. I went nuts for a few weeks with the same problem, cablevision/SciAtlanta updated the firmware in the 4200HD boxes system wide about 2 months ago that causes freezing and erratic behavior on the Panny's. My EH75 is kickin' ass again since I got the 4250HD, that is definitely THE problem (and a very weird problem at that). Same thing with my other EH45v, problem solved with 4200STD (non-HD for my bedroom setup). Ditch the 4200HD for a 4250HD asap, let us know what happens, it'll work.

The firmware update seemed to solve the problems, except for the sudden
restriction on copying movies from Premium Channels. Is there any other
benefit for switching the 4200HD box to 4250?
Love my DMR EH75V recorder. I noticed it is no longer available and only a
few for sale at extremely high price. Wonder why they stopped making them. Don't seem to be any on the market (Except TIVO and recorders from
cable company.

The firmware update seems to have solved the problem with slow response etc. Cablevision was no help with anything. Knew nothing about inability to
record premium channels and said if you're able to see the movie that's good, anything else is not our problem! To be honest, knew nothing about the products like the Sima and Grex until i started reading these forums
recently. Is the Grex also illegal...I know it is sent from Israel. In desperation I ordered one two days ago. I sent an email to them first, but then decided not to wait since have seen a lot of comments on their poor
customer service. I ordered and the next morning got a reply that it should solve my problem and to order the latest version Grex651. I wrote back that I had ordered already and didn't know there were different version. He wrote back an hour later to find out what name I ordered under. I told him and the next morning got an email that he made sure I got 651 and it had already been shipped and sent a tracing link. It was to an Israeli airline and not in English but I saw a blank and put in the tracking number and saw it had been shipped out already. Anyway...I was amazed at the helpful customer service after all I had read. As soon as I get it (2 weeks or so) will write my comments.

Just curious if you got your Grex and how is it working?

I have used a sima ct-2 to isolate the two machines. It worked but the ct-2 is no longer available, (check ebay.)The Sima's have been replaced by the ATX500. It's the same thing made by the same company, I believe, but with updated firmware. Basically the same price, too.

I just got a ct-200, and it doesn't alter the picture quality at all, at least on the one DVD I've used it on so far.

You don't need to go to ebay. The ATX500 is available new - just google it.

Unless they've changed things, I always thought these things were covered under the Fair Copy act. As long as it's for yourself, that is, it should be legal. At least that what it says on the product package.

Hi, I'm replying to your question about the Grex.
Got it in about ten days. Very happy with it.... it does what they
say. I can now record from the premium channels with no problem.
The whole process went with no problems...if you order be sure to
ask for the latest version.

Rammitinski, I think they are OK for "fair use" although I'm sure the big media companies (RIAA, MPAA, etc.) would like everyone to believe otherwise.

Drgon, thanx for letting us know! :)

I always believed that, too, but I know there are a few people here who get really paranoid when you bring them up, even just for "fair use".

And there is this:

"The complaint, filed at the FTC today, alleges a nationwide pattern of unfair and deceptive trade practices by misrepresenting consumer rights under copyright law, In some cases, copyright holders threaten criminal and civil penalties against consumers who choose to exercise Constitutionally guaranteed rights. These false representations violate the letter and spirit of the Federal Trade Commission Act’s prohibition against unfair or deceptive practices in commerce.

The practices alleged in CCIA’s complaint affect the information and communications technology industry, including CCIA members, by reducing demand for new and innovative products and services that involve digital media. Evidence suggests that consumers are confused about their rights to use legally acquired media and forego the use of legitimate products and services out of confusion or fear.

The complaint was filed against the following parties: Major League Baseball, the National Football League, NBC/Universal, DreamWorks, Harcourt Inc. and Penguin Group."

From here:

http://www.ccianet.org/artmanager/publish/news/FTC_copyright_complaint.shtml

From the same link:

“Every one of us has seen or heard that copyright warning at the beginning of a sports game, DVD or book,” said Ed Black, CCIA President and CEO, during a press conference at the National Press Club. “These corporations use these warnings not to educate their consumers, but to intimidate them.”

What I'd like to know is, just what tactics are these companies using to intimidate the filter manufacturers from selling there products "over-the-counter"?

Why are no more Sima's being sold in the stores? Or is it just that they don't sell well enough for the stores to want to carry them anymore?

Sima was enjoined from selling their copyguard-defeating products (CT series) in early 2006. It was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals in August 2006. Looks like that's where it still is?

Here's an article about the original lawsuit filed by Macrovision. (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060816-7517.html) What I found interesting is the "technical" description in the 2nd para. of how the Sima works..converts analog to digital and back to analog again... I didn't know that before.

Here's the "Friends of the Court" brief filed by several orgs siding with Sima in the Fed. Appeal. (http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:7kvu3JAd5Z4J:www.eff.org/legal/cases/Macrovision_v_Sima/sima_brief.pdf+Macrovision+v+Sima&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us)