OK the problem I'm now having with my good ol' Panny ES40V is really baffling me.
I had to move the cable box and RF modulator connected to the Panny this morning. When I was done, I noticed something really weird occurring.

Every time (and I mean every time) I play, or record a program on tape or DVD, whether it's a freshly recorded show from cable or a purchased DVD, video, etc. - as soon as I stop playback or recording I lose the signal from the cable box to the Panny. The only solution to this has been to repeatedly press the "VCR/TV" button several times. The signal then returns. HOWEVER....once I record or playback anything on the unit, as soon as I press the "stop" button the signal disappears again and I have to press the "VCR/TV" button until it returns. (The signal remains, for the most part, while recording from cable or input source.)

I don't know if this is the result of a loose cable or what. I've tried resetting the Panny, resetting the cable box, disconnecting and reconnecting cables....none of this helps.

I can't afford to buy another unit for at least a month so I'm trying my best to keep the old gal running.

Why is this happening???????????

PS the shows I recorded were not copy protected; I checked the recordings and they did turn out so I don't think that is the problem.

Anyone? Anyone know what might be going on with my unit? TIA ;)

You lost me when you said "RF modulator." Why would you have a RF modulator between the cable box and the Panny?

Sounds like Lvanett may have the RF modulator hooked up in the usual way - between the Panasonic and the TV. Maybe the setup was transferred to another TV set. If so, the new TV may be the problem.

what make,model of cable box do u have? some sa (scientific-american) boxes connected to panny dvd recorders sometimes cause issues in transport controls. ie: slow or no responses from remote controller. tho, i dont remember if an rf connection was used or if it was just composite/s video cables.

I have had a similiar experience with my JVC dvd/vcr combo, (I use the aux 1 instead of RF), what I discovered was after stopping the JVC I noticed the input selected on the JVC was no longer aux 1, so no picture!!
I don't have a clue about why this happens, but I re-select aux 1 and all is okay.
Another anomoly, on occasion same symptoms, if I hit the stop button twice the picture returns!!

Hi everyone, thanx for your replies.
To answer some questions:

1. I have an RF modulator because the TV is older & not DVD ready.
2. The cable box is fairly new (to me), it's a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2200.

The weird part is this didn't start happening until after I moved the cable box a little bit. This is why I suspected there's a short in the cable.

Gotta go, will write more later...thanx again!

Hi everyone, thanx for your replies.
To answer some questions:

1. I have an RF modulator because the TV is older & not DVD ready.
2. The cable box is fairly new (to me), it's a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2200.

The weird part is this didn't start happening until after I moved the cable box a little bit. This is why I suspected there's a short in the cable.

Gotta go, will write more later...thanx again!

Seems like an obvious answer to your problem: cables. Try swapping them out with new ones. Even if that's not the problem, you'll have a back-up set of cables.

Might it be a remote code problem? I'm not familiar with your equipment but it might make sense if the remote code somehow got changed when the cable box was moved. It sounds like when you press stop, the input source is also changing. I would check the remote setting(s) too.

Hmm....well the remote I use for the DVD-recorder doesn't work with the cable box and never has. So I don't know if that's the case. I had to lift up the Panny to move a cable out of the way and I remember hearing something "clicking" but I wasn't sure if it was inside the unit or along the back panel. So it's almost like whatever "clicked" caused this problem. I checked all the connections and switches on the back panel and everything seems to be as it should be.

Crabboy, I bought a new cable today and replaced the bothersome one with it...no change, I still lose the signal.