There are many threads herein regarding Panny DVD recorders so I apologize for starting another, but I need the greatest visibility so I don't know which one will fit the following post. The mod is welcome to move this to the place he regards as most suitable and currently in view, though, with no objection from me.
I have two Pannys--EH55 & EH75 and I love them both. Except for the eDVD drive on the 75, all appears to be working well, though I fear at this late date that the clock is ticking. I could replace them but I require massive hard drives, the ability to high-speed dub from hard drive to DVD (and back again, if possible), the ability to read/write DVD RAM (i'll comment on that in a bit), the ability to copy from VHS to digital media, and the ability for unattended recording of programs on different channels. In short, everything the Panny's used to do before the analog/digital conversion forced a converter box on me that restricts what I can do.
Now, I've been at this awhile and, though I have little tech knowledge and absolutely no way to perform do-it-yourself maintenance, I do realize certain things which by not repeating on your end will save time. First, there is likely no single unit that does all that I want, certainly not in the US market. I fully expect, for example, to need a second unit for the VHS functions; that's why I bought the EH-75. I also expect that the recording of successive programs on different channels will likely devolve onto the cable box so Comcast may get in the way
DVD RAM: I've read on this forum that it's a dying (if not dead) format so migration away is essential. Fine, and I've stopped buying, but i've got a couple of hundred so this takes time when drive space is dwindling and must be used for other things as well. Further, the format pretty well limits me to Panny and I am well aware that they have virtually abandoned the US market. After the EH-75, each later model seems to have become more and more simplistic (I also have an EZ-48(?) and it's abominable).
I also need to emphasize the importance to me of high-speed dubbing, especially since dubbing from VHS is by limitation of the format in real time. Once I get something on the hard drive I want to move it to disk quickly and an external drive doesn't allow that, unless I'm greatly mistaken.
So, does Panny have anything in the international market that even comes close? I realize I'll need an external NTSC tuner unless just accepting Comcast's feed is enough, but if I do need the separate tuner, how would I make it work with the uni(s) and the cable box?
Of course, much as I love Panny, I'm not married to it, so if anyone else is out there by all means tell me.
Please understand: I'm not into piracy and I could care less about premium channels, which I neither have nor want. I mean, if I see Frankenweenie in the theater and want it, I'll buy it. It's enough that I'm considering finally upgrading my service to recover TCM, which I dearly love and miss greatly. In the process, though, I'll have to accept tons of crap channels which I'll never watch, let alone record.
But I insist on having the ability to do what I want with the hundreds (maybe thousands) of tapes I have left (and I've already dumped many without even considering moving them to disk). But, quite frankly, most if not all of what I've seen in the brick-and-mortars is minimalist crap, though admittedly I haven't shopped in a while. Anyway, for anyone whose made it this far, thanks for reading (and responding if you do) and Merry Christmas to all.
PatH
I have two Pannys--EH55 & EH75 and I love them both. Except for the eDVD drive on the 75, all appears to be working well, though I fear at this late date that the clock is ticking. I could replace them but I require massive hard drives, the ability to high-speed dub from hard drive to DVD (and back again, if possible), the ability to read/write DVD RAM (i'll comment on that in a bit), the ability to copy from VHS to digital media, and the ability for unattended recording of programs on different channels. In short, everything the Panny's used to do before the analog/digital conversion forced a converter box on me that restricts what I can do.
Now, I've been at this awhile and, though I have little tech knowledge and absolutely no way to perform do-it-yourself maintenance, I do realize certain things which by not repeating on your end will save time. First, there is likely no single unit that does all that I want, certainly not in the US market. I fully expect, for example, to need a second unit for the VHS functions; that's why I bought the EH-75. I also expect that the recording of successive programs on different channels will likely devolve onto the cable box so Comcast may get in the way
DVD RAM: I've read on this forum that it's a dying (if not dead) format so migration away is essential. Fine, and I've stopped buying, but i've got a couple of hundred so this takes time when drive space is dwindling and must be used for other things as well. Further, the format pretty well limits me to Panny and I am well aware that they have virtually abandoned the US market. After the EH-75, each later model seems to have become more and more simplistic (I also have an EZ-48(?) and it's abominable).
I also need to emphasize the importance to me of high-speed dubbing, especially since dubbing from VHS is by limitation of the format in real time. Once I get something on the hard drive I want to move it to disk quickly and an external drive doesn't allow that, unless I'm greatly mistaken.
So, does Panny have anything in the international market that even comes close? I realize I'll need an external NTSC tuner unless just accepting Comcast's feed is enough, but if I do need the separate tuner, how would I make it work with the uni(s) and the cable box?
Of course, much as I love Panny, I'm not married to it, so if anyone else is out there by all means tell me.
Please understand: I'm not into piracy and I could care less about premium channels, which I neither have nor want. I mean, if I see Frankenweenie in the theater and want it, I'll buy it. It's enough that I'm considering finally upgrading my service to recover TCM, which I dearly love and miss greatly. In the process, though, I'll have to accept tons of crap channels which I'll never watch, let alone record.
But I insist on having the ability to do what I want with the hundreds (maybe thousands) of tapes I have left (and I've already dumped many without even considering moving them to disk). But, quite frankly, most if not all of what I've seen in the brick-and-mortars is minimalist crap, though admittedly I haven't shopped in a while. Anyway, for anyone whose made it this far, thanks for reading (and responding if you do) and Merry Christmas to all.
PatH
. The EH59/69 fully support -RAM disks. To record your VHS tapes, you will need a separate VHS player, or, as has been said already, your EH75/EZ48 will work fine using their line outputs to the inputs on the EH59/69. They can be programmed to record from various inputs (three A/V inputs) at any time(s) you specify. You will need a programmable tuner connected to the line inputs to use this feature though, but they are available.
)cheaper than the EH59 (new) at B&H for about $340. If you are interested, that would be the one to buy for cost effectiveness. Open box EH59/69's do become available occasionally, but not often, and they rarely last too long before someone snatches them up. jjeff and I are both guilty of taking advantage of open box sales. 
