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Official Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK thread - Page 46

post #1351 of 1498
7/29/10 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by catchyoulater View Post

Thank you ALL so very much! It was those last two yellow video plugs that Westly mentioned...
Able to view the satellite feed on the Vid1 setting and tape it as well. Whew. It works! It's all set up!!! Hugs and kisses!!!! You guys are sooo cool. Thank you very much!


Great news. I'm sooo happy, sniffle..!
LL
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post #1352 of 1498
7/29/10 at 2:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atomic Girl View Post

Nice to see that you got it all worked out

Well my machine gave up the ghost, it now makes the clunking sound even if there is no DVD in the machine. We cleaned up the machine and it was dirty, but upon putting it back together, it still will not recognize any DVD. So I guess it's off to the $130 prepaid shop for us. Does anyone know how long they warranty the work they do for you? If it's a short period of time, we will have to decide if we really want to go that way.

All of you guys in here have been so helpful, I wish I could give something back....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Westly-C View Post

Spending $130 to fix an ez48? May I suggest that you consider getting the Magnavox 2160 refurb from J&R? While I really do like the picture quality of the Pannys, and RAM disc capabilities, I just don't think it's worth it to spend that amount fixing a 48. With the 2160, you'll gain a hdd with digital tuner for roughly the same price ($159).
Just something to consider, just thought I'd put that out there.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Westly on this one. Buying a referb Magnavox 2160 would be a much better use of your money than repairing your EZ48.
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post #1353 of 1498
7/29/10 at 5:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Westly-C View Post

Spending $130 to fix an ez48? May I suggest that you consider getting the Magnavox 2160 refurb from J&R? While I really do like the picture quality of the Pannys, and RAM disc capabilities, I just don't think it's worth it to spend that amount fixing a 48. With the 2160, you'll gain a hdd with digital tuner for roughly the same price ($159).
Just something to consider, just thought I'd put that out there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Church AV Guy View Post

I'm afraid I have to agree with Westly on this one. Buying a referb Magnavox 2160 would be a much better use of your money than repairing your EZ48.

That is what we are leaning towards. I need to figure out what the warranty is for that refurbed Maggie, it looks like 90 days and I don't want to be here again in 90 days.... I'll need to look at the thread dealing with those refurbed units...

as an aside, does anyone have a description of the picture quality of the Maggie compared to the Panny?
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post #1354 of 1498
7/29/10 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atomic Girl View Post

That is what we are leaning towards. I need to figure out what the warranty is for that refurbed Maggie, it looks like 90 days and I don't want to be here again in 90 days.... I'll need to look at the thread dealing with those refurbed units...

as an aside, does anyone have a description of the picture quality of the Maggie compared to the Panny?

Picture quality is a highly subjective matter. Suffice it to say that I'm very pleased with the picture quality of my Magnavox 2160 HDD/DVD recorders.

I have sixteen functional Panasonic DVD recorders of the ES series (2005 and 2006 models) and EZ series (2007 and newer models). I also have ten functional Funai-built Magnavox, Philips, Toshiba and PYE recorders (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 models). Seven of these are Magnavox and Philips HDD/DVD recorders, and of those four of them are the outstanding 2160 models. As my EZ series models are junked they are replaced with the older ES series Panasonics or Magnavox 2160 models.

The first post in Wajo's sticky thread is the gateway to a wealth of information concerning the Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post12244086
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post #1355 of 1498
7/29/10 at 11:42pm
I have already been spending some quality time in that thread - there is so much there, it'll take awhile.

Thanks for your opinion of the quality between the two machines. I appreciate it.
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post #1356 of 1498
8/2/10 at 9:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjeff View Post

For the most reliable tuner operation I'd suggest the Magnavox 2160a or it's replacement 513. Check out Wajo's sticky for a wealth of information.
Most Toshiba's I've read about are as flaky as the EZ Panasonics.
Another member(I believe Microlady) has posted good luck with a Toshiba model but had a different model before that was very problematic.
The Maggys have a HDD to record to first, which greatly decreases the chance of a failed recording. The Maggy has no VHS but some of Toshibas do, Microlady has a combo Toshiba.

in reply to Ken H.: I haven't moved any cords or components, but it is summer, so I moved the unit to get more air flow. The only vent in the housing I see is on one side, so that one is now facing more outward from the cabinet. I 've had heat problems in the past with a CD changer, so I understand what you mean.

in reply to jjeff: I'll look into the Maggys. I don't need the VHS side of the combo; that was the only unit they had at Costco. The HDD would eliminate the need for a lot of the DVD recording I'm doing now.

Thanks to you both, Don
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post #1357 of 1498
8/4/10 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdavej View Post

I'd use the DVI too, but on the EZ48 instead to get 1080p upconversion. DirecTV is already HD over component. I've tried both HDMI and component from my box and can't tell any difference. This is all assuming the OP's TV is 1080p of course.

Quote:
Originally Posted by catchyoulater View Post

Okay, I unplugged the rf coax thingy.

I am attaching updated photos of what the connections look like now. In order to view the vhs tape and a dvd I have to switch the input on the directv remote to VID1. I believe the remote on the ez48 goes to INI 1, as it won't toggle and stay on anything else. However, the input selector on the ez remote won't toggle. It is only by using channel up or down that I can get it to toggle at all! I can VIEW both vhs and dvd on that selection but I get no picture of what's on the satellite on the tv. I DO, however, hear the sound for the directv feed! Progress! I feel I'm soooo close!!!

Anyway, I would like to point out in the first photo, see those red and white cables just below the RBG cables on back of the directv box on the Y-spliiter where one set is from the TV to the directv? Well the other pair go to the red white on the ez48...that's why I put the four pins together like that.

So that leaves the red and white pins way over there on the right of the ez48 which are going to the back of the tv set, next to where the s-video is. It seems to me after what someone said about the cables having to be together that there's a video connection still missing somewhere.

I feel so bad about "hijacking" this thread!!! I can't believe what a process this has become.

I hate to say this, but I think you should reconsider using the DVI connection. This article is not reassuring.
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post #1358 of 1498
9/3/10 at 10:01pm
Hello, just joined the forum.

This evening my Panasonic DMR-EZ485V was showing error F09, so I just decided to update the firmware, did everything by the instructions. It was done, ejected, removed disc, left tray open, turned off, it did it's thing said BYE.

I unplugged the power cord for more than 30 seconds (more like 1 minute).

Plugged it back in and it won't power up. Dead as a brick. Tried Power button, reset, channel up and channel down together...NOTHING!

I bought it last August or September (2009)

At least it was better than the SAMSUNG I bought 10 days before the Panasonic. I returned the SAMSUNG to KMART after it started burning coasters no matter what brand of disk I used. I bought the Panasonic at COSTCO.

I love how it says "HD" but won't play HD-DVD (just "HD" jpeg pictures).
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post #1359 of 1498
9/4/10 at 10:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kd6aaj View Post

This evening my Panasonic DMR-EZ485V was showing error F09, so I just decided to update the firmware, did everything by the instructions. It was done, ejected, removed disc, left tray open, turned off, it did it's thing said BYE.

I unplugged the power cord for more than 30 seconds (more like 1 minute).

Plugged it back in and it won't power up. Dead as a brick. Tried Power button, reset, channel up and channel down together...NOTHING!
I bought the Panasonic at COSTCO.

It takes a really long time for the device to power up anyway. Make sure you push the power button once and give time for the device to respond before pushing any other buttons. You might try a different outlet just in case there's something wrong with the one you're using.

Costco has a 2-year warranty on electronics. If the device doesn't come back to life, try calling them.
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post #1360 of 1498
9/4/10 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kd6aaj View Post

...I bought it last August or September (2009).

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmulvany View Post

Costco has a 2-year warranty on electronics. If the device doesn't come back to life, try calling them.

As each of my EZ series recorders are junked they are replaced by the older, better Panasonic ES series recorders or current/recent Magnavox HDD/DVD recorders. Something like this:
LL
LL
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post #1361 of 1498
9/11/10 at 6:11am
I recently purchased the DMR-EZ-48VK after owning an older Panny DVD recorder for about 4 years. I have noticed a number of improvements in the newer model. However, I was disappointed to discover that like the older version, this DVD recorder also records in mono.

This really makes no sense to me. Even basic VCRs have the capability to record in stereo. Here is my setup: I am splitting the cable from the wall. One cable is going into the QAM tuner on my HDTV; the other goes into my Comcast Set Top Box. Then I have cable from the box going into the DVD recorder. Composite video cables along with standard audio cable go from the recorder to the HDTV.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
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post #1362 of 1498
9/11/10 at 8:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by classrock View Post

I recently purchased the DMR-EZ-48VK after owning an older Panny DVD recorder for about 4 years. I have noticed a number of improvements in the newer model. However, I was disappointed to discover that like the older version, this DVD recorder also records in mono.

The EZ48 is capable of 2 channel stereo sound. Perhaps your cable box or recorder audio settings are set to SAP or something else other than stereo.

Are you using both the red and white audio cables between the recorder and TV? Are they connected to the proper inputs and outputs? It's easy to plug an audio cable into the wrong connector, especially when doing connections in dim lighting.
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post #1363 of 1498
9/12/10 at 1:42pm
Mystery solved. It turns out the cable out from the Comcast box (Scientific Atlanta 2200) is in mono. So, I just connected the A/V cables to the IN 1 inputs of the recorder. Now I have stereo sound. I also ran the cable from the wall (also split to the HDTV) into the DVD recorder digital tuner and also have stereo sound there, as well as a suprisingly good picture on the digital and (faux) HD channels.

Thanks!
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post #1364 of 1498
10/4/10 at 3:40pm
Hello. Hope I am going about this correctly. I have had a DMR-EZ485V for a couple years. Has worked OK (maybe not flawlessly but OK). Last shows I recorded when I went to watch it displays "No Read-check disc". I went through about five RAM discs I had been using and I get the same message. It will read and play a commercial disc (rental movie) OK though. Everything else seems OK. What gives with this stubborn behavior? I liked the machine well enough to want to keep it going but not eager to spend more in repair than what it cost initially. I have also tried to put in blank -RW and +RW discs with same result "No Read"
Can these machines be converted to use a HDD
HELP---Please--- Someone
Thanks
Paul
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post #1365 of 1498
10/4/10 at 5:06pm
LOTEC

Try hitting the reset button and let the system reboot. That has got me thru some odd doings on this box. Do let us know how that works for you.

BTW- the reset button is behind the flip down panel on the right. You will need a sharp pointed device to push this reset button.
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post #1366 of 1498
10/4/10 at 5:37pm
Thanks. One of the first things I tried. Zilch. Nada. Same old same old.
About to try a bigger hammer! In meantime I have been enjoying a Magnavox with 160gb hdd. Sooo much easier to navigate but not as nice a remote.
Paul
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post #1367 of 1498
10/4/10 at 8:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LO_TECH View Post

Hello. Hope I am going about this correctly. I have had a DMR-EZ485V for a couple years. Has worked OK (maybe not flawlessly but OK). Last shows I recorded when I went to watch it displays "No Read-check disc". I went through about five RAM discs I had been using and I get the same message. It will read and play a commercial disc (rental movie) OK though. Everything else seems OK. What gives with this stubborn behavior?
Paul

How long have you had those RAM discs? I've gotten the same message on the first RAMs I ever bought (6 yrs ago), and wondered if it was due to their heavy usage. I pulled out some little used ones to replace the 'first generation' buys.

I recorded No Ordinary Family last Tuesday, and while doing a chasing play, I noticed a strange horizontal pixelation line appearing when I rewinded during playback. I don't have any problems when I use RAMs that haven't been used as much. Or with -RWs.
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post #1368 of 1498
10/11/10 at 7:12pm
I'm using the Panasonic DMR-EZ48V to transfer home movie VHS tapes to DVD.

#1 - Does anyone have a workflow for creating DVD chapter thumbnail indexes for DVD case inserts? I have some DVD-RAM discs on the way & as I understand it, I will be able to create chapters on the Top Menu. How could I then take those thumbnails & create a (hopefully professional looking) thumbnail index in Photoshop. Is it possible? What would the workflow be? Thanks in advance for the help!

#2 - What if I want to create a custom DVD Menu? I use the Final Cut Pro/DVD Studio Pro software & just wondering what my options are for creating more of a custom look on the Top Menu. Can I work from the DVD-RAM to customize the menu & then burn to a DVD-R?
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post #1369 of 1498
10/11/10 at 9:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CKSearle View Post

I'm using the Panasonic DMR-EZ48V to transfer home movie VHS tapes to DVD.

#1 - Does anyone have a workflow for creating DVD chapter thumbnail indexes for DVD case inserts? I have some DVD-RAM discs on the way & as I understand it, I will be able to create chapters on the Top Menu. How could I then take those thumbnails & create a (hopefully professional looking) thumbnail index in Photoshop. Is it possible? What would the workflow be? Thanks in advance for the help!

When using RAM discs, a top menu is not created. You can see individual titles recorded to RAM discs while in Direct Navigator. RAM discs cannot be played in most stand alone dvd recorders, except for perhaps, Panasonic brand players.
Additionally, Panasonic recorders do not generate thumbnails pictures for 'chapter' marks within a recorded show-recorded on -R or +R discs. Chapter marks are automatically generated when you finalize the -/+R disc. You will only get thumbnails for each title recorded to the disc.
Quote:


#2 - What if I want to create a custom DVD Menu? I use the Final Cut Pro/DVD Studio Pro software & just wondering what my options are for creating more of a custom look on the Top Menu. Can I work from the DVD-RAM to customize the menu & then burn to a DVD-R?

If this dvd authoring program is compatible with RAM format discs, you should be able to import the disc contents to it and create a dvd using it. If it is not RAM compatible, then you can use -RW discs instead.

Here's what the top menu of a finalized disc looks like.
LL
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post #1370 of 1498
10/12/10 at 6:10am
Hmmm, OK thanks for the information. Appreciate the quick response. Sounds like I need to play around with it. I want to use the recorder to transfer the footage from VHS tapes to DVD, but then put the RAM disc into my computer to customize it a bit. Then burn onto DVD-R.

I'm not sure how the big transfer houses do it... they always have chapter thumbnails for each scene change & they also do DVD inserts showing the chapter thumbnails. Must be some other type of equipment or software? Does anyone know? I'd like to try to figure out a process for doing that with the DMR-EZ48V & my computer/video editing software.
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post #1371 of 1498
10/12/10 at 8:59am
^^ I just googled Final Cut Pro/DVD Studio Pro and from what I've read, this is a program for Mac computers...so, you have a Mac? I'm not seeing RAM listed in it's compatible formats specs. So to do what you want, use the rewritable -/+RW discs instead of RAM. -RW will need to be finalized before bringing to your Mac, but the +RW format does not need to be finalized, meaning you can record to the +rw, and take it out, and playback on a dvd player or pc drive.
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post #1372 of 1498
10/12/10 at 10:51am
Yes, I work on Mac. OK, great - I'll give that a shot. Thanks so much!
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post #1373 of 1498
10/29/10 at 8:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LO_TECH View Post

Hello. Hope I am going about this correctly. I have had a DMR-EZ485V for a couple years. Has worked OK (maybe not flawlessly but OK). Last shows I recorded when I went to watch it displays "No Read-check disc". I went through about five RAM discs I had been using and I get the same message. It will read and play a commercial disc (rental movie) OK though. Everything else seems OK. What gives with this stubborn behavior? I liked the machine well enough to want to keep it going but not eager to spend more in repair than what it cost initially. I have also tried to put in blank -RW and +RW discs with same result "No Read"
Can these machines be converted to use a HDD
HELP---Please--- Someone
Thanks
Paul

Before my machine died outright, I use to have a similar problems with recorded discs I made. Cleaning the unit helped that, so that's what I would suggest. I think the unit didn't record correctly when it was dirtier and that why commercially recorded discs were okay. Maybe you could try that?
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post #1374 of 1498
10/29/10 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atomic Girl View Post

Before my machine died outright, I use to have a similar problems with recorded discs I made. Cleaning the unit helped that, so that's what I would suggest. I think the unit didn't record correctly when it was dirtier and that why commercially recorded discs were okay. Maybe you could try that?

The routine DVD Drive lens, rubber hub and spindle area cleaning procedures are described and illustrated here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...8#post14479898
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post #1375 of 1498
1/22/11 at 1:46pm
Just wanted to let you know we have a Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK that just "died" while we were programming channels (we do not have cable or satellite) The EZ48VK would not power up initially but then finally did, only to freeze on "Hello", plus the dvd player made crunching/shifting noises since a dvd was still inside. Finally we unplugged everything (tv, antenna, receiver, ac power, etc). Then re-hooked it all up one by one... ac cord first and it powered up unfrozen then hooked up the receiver, tv and antenna. It works great! Also, saved all our programmed channels and the dvd opened.The channels even come in better! We had recently changed to a new antenna but re-hooking it all up seems to make the new antenna work better somehow. Hope this helps!
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post #1376 of 1498
1/25/11 at 8:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miaeon View Post

Finally we unplugged everything (tv, antenna, receiver, ac power, etc). Then re-hooked it all up one by one... ac cord first and it powered up unfrozen then hooked up the receiver, tv and antenna.

Did you try doing a reset? You can reset the machine by holding in the power button for 10 seconds. I have to do this with most of my machines on a regular basis. Whenever the machine behaves in an abnormal way, I just do a reset and it comes back. With my 48V the most common problem is that when you turn the machine on, instead of displaying HELLO or the time remaining, the clock stays up until the disk read is done. Not a show stopper, but a bit disconcerting given that you're not getting appropriate feedback that the machine is coming up. When this happens I take that opportunity to do a reset, which forestalls any more serious problems from cropping up for a while longer.
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post #1377 of 1498
4/2/11 at 6:34pm
My Panasonic DMR-EZ48V works fine... just wondering if any of you have found newer machines that offer more features, functions, etc??

Anyone still out there??

Paul
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post #1378 of 1498
4/2/11 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pruez View Post

My Panasonic DMR-EZ48V works fine... just wondering if any of you have found newer machines that offer more features, functions, etc??

Anyone still out there??

Paul

Yes!

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post12244086
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post #1379 of 1498
4/2/11 at 8:02pm
Thanks for the tip... so the MDR515H/F7
is the hot one. I'll read into it.
Looks like I need to keep the EX-48V if I want the VHS functionality?
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post #1380 of 1498
4/22/11 at 5:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pruez View Post

Thanks for the tip... so the MDR515H/F7
is the hot one. I'll read into it.
Looks like I need to keep the EX-48V if I want the VHS functionality?

My 48 has died. Contacted Panny service. They don't have locals fix the U99 error problems. But the price of repair is now up to $170.00. Ouch!

So I think I'm going to junk the 48 and go with the 515. Seems like a no-brainer.

And that seems to be the consensus of those here. Any other thoughts?
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