Panasonic DMR-EZ17K DVD Player/Recorder - Page 5

WOW, just when you think it couldnt get any weirder....
After trying Kelson's tips for resetting Panny's, I was in the room with the EZ unit, it was off. Then all of the sudden, buy itself, it turned on, went into direct navigator, and started playing the first title on the inserted disc!! I stopped play and turned machine off. 10 min later it came back on, did the same as before, but this time during play, it started to change Scan speeds, all by itself! It tried all the speeds for 5 seconds each, then tired all the slow motion speeds, again all by itself.......I'm gonna guess that one of the button combinations that I had tried to reset the Panny, somehow got the unit into a DEMO???? mode??? Weirdest thing I've ever seen. Not sure which reset did this, but I thought my machine was "posesed".
Luckly the "old reliable" CH up/down at the same time for 5 seconds, put the Panny out of it's missory, and has been fine for the last 1/2 hr. Now I just have to reset all the damn channels/time/and some....of the defaults in the setup.
Good for a laugh though.

Now, that is freaky! Are you sure the cat wasn't standing on the remote?

Is there anyone out there who owns an ez17 and another hdd/dvd recorder? Have you tried burning a disc on the ez17 and then attempt to high-speed dub it when you put that disc in the hdd/dvd recorder? I'm just wondering if this is usually possible, or do additional factors come into play?

Mr Hanky, I would have thought the kids were playing games, but I was the ONLY one in the house at the time. Very odd indeed, although after the last ch. up/down reset, all has been fine(at least as far as that problem).

I do have a EZ-17, and did try to copy a program recorded on the EZ-17 to my new Philips 3575 DVDR w/HDD, and even though a person cannot HS dub from DVD to HDD in the Philips, I real time copied the DVD to the HDD, then HS copied it back to another DVD, no problem. Don't know if that helps you? I've been told Pio. makes a unit than HS copy both ways. I guess to truely answer your question, you'd need someone with both a EZ-17, and one of those Pio's.

The Pio 53x/63x and 640 can HS copy any finalized, non-copy protected DVD to the HDD, but it's only a temporary copy for its Disc Backup function. It allows the HS copy to HDD, then allows you to make as many copies as you want automatically... you just insert discs as instructed in on-screen menus. The final discs come out ready to play, finalized and all. There just won't be any permanenent copy on the HDD to edit, etc.

I'm just wondering if the "general rule" is that hs copying is typically only available from discs that the hdd/dvd recorder made originally, not just a disc made on any other machine (where there could be exceptions, of course). If it is from another machine, then the dvd needs to go through one realtime copying stage to hdd before that copy, in turn, can be used in a hs copy operation (as jjeff, described).

Hello,

There is a lot of excellent information on this thread about this product but I still have a couple of questions.

Panasonic says the Accutune tuner allows you to record on one channel while watching another.
I was told that this is was not possible on any DVD recorder.
What can you tell me?

This product is supposed to be able to record on channel one.
I would like to be able to do so for recording On Demand Etc.
Will this product record on channel one?

I was a bit concerned about using DVD RAM's in this machine due to compatibility issues with other players.
I record on Double Layer Disks and bet set to RAM.
All my disks play back on my Oppo which does not even support Dual Layer Disks.
Please explain?

Most appreciated,

Mr.Panda

I've never tried out the function myself (I could be wrong on this), but I think they are just taking some liberty with the "record one channel while watching another" feature point. Afaik, all this amounts to on this unit is that when you connect the coax cable to it (from either an antenna or cable feed), you can record one thing with the built-in tuner, while tuning (probably analog only) to something else on your tv via the coax passthrough (essentially, just like a traditional vcr). There isn't anything like a "dual tuner" on the ez17.

I don't know on your 2nd Q, and I don't understand your 3rd Q.

Hello,

I am afraid you are absolutely correct on this.
Panasonic is very unclear on this.
They say the Accutune tuner can perform this function.
It can not with out having a dual tuner.
Maybe I can hook up my system to perform this function by using my dual tuners in my TV someway.

As far as my second question,

Can this product tune in channel number one?
Can it find it when setting up initial Chanel scan or can I manually program it for channel one.
The Panasonic site says it can tune in Chanel one but I am not sure if it in fact can do so.
I called panasonic numerous times and they were unable to give me a definite answer.

In regards to question number three,
I think I might have posted in the wrong place.
Trying to find out if DVD Ram's recorded on this machine can play back on other players.
Such as oppo.

Many thanks,

Mr.Panda

Well, I was able to dial-in "a" channel 1, and it went to a "channel 1". Naturally, it was all black for me, since I don't have On Demand. So I cannot really verify for you that a real station can be tuned there- just that it is physically possible to select that number.

Regarding dvd-ram's, recording dvd-ram on this machine should be playable on any other machine that is compatible with dvd-ram discs. I have observed nominal interoperability with dvd-ram between the ez17 and my Toshiba hdd/dvd recorder.

The catch you really need to find out is that not all machines are dvd-ram compatible. If there is nothing in the manual mentioning dvd-ram compatibility on the machine in question, then it likely will not be able to read it if you insert such a disc.

Sorry for not trying to answer you sooner; internet problems. But...

1.) I don't recall reading about this feature but again, that is not what I use mine for. I don't know how it would work with only one tuner, unless you can somehow tune in something with both the analog and digital tuners seperately. But in my usage, I don't see how that is possible as I only get a list of analog and digital channels combined to scroll through. Besides, it only has one output, so how could you display two channels at once? It IS supposed to be able to record a channel while you watch a previous recording when using a DVD-RAM.

2.)Never tried, but even if it could tune channel 1, I can't see where that would help you. I can tune channel 1 on my TV but it is nothing; definitely not my (Cox's) PPV. Since the EZ17 does not have cable card much less the not yet available bi-directional cable card 2.0, I don't know how you would order PPV thru the EZ17. I order PPV thru the cable box and record thru the S-Video input on my EZ17.

3.) This would depend on if the other player supports DVD-RAM in the first place. If the Oppo even does, then it *should* play discs made on the EZ17. I would definitely check the appropriate thread for the player in question.

I would really like to take a moment to thank everyone who has replied to me.
I really appreciate this.
Have had nothing but unclear answers from Panasonic and other manufactures of DVD recorders as well.

Watching one channel and recording another is listed under product on Panasonic' site.
It does say the Accutne tuner performs this.
You might be correct that it has something to do with having an analog tuner and a digital tuner.
But I really do not see how this can work and I do not think this product has two seperate tuners.

As far as channel one goes.
Yes, after reading the replies on thsi I think it can see a channel one but do not see how this can help me.
Would set the recorder to record channel one and then hope that it would record what is cominhg out of my Comcast Box.
PPV channel that I subscribe to or free on demand programing.
Do not exactly know what cable card is or a bi-directional cable card but will look into this to see if this can help.

My Oppo does not support DVD RAM.
Just looked over my manual and called them some time ago.
This is why I mentioned that all my DL disks do play on my Oppo when I set Bit rate to RAM.
Will ask about this on the Oppo thread.

Was really looking for a Hard Drive/DVD recorder in the first place.
But was told that there really would not be any coming out in the future.
Hence, I went back to a DVD recorder.
LG has some Hard Drive recorders out now.
But after reading the thread on this site they really do not look very promising.

From everything I have learned, it really might be better for me to go back to using a VCR until everything goes to digital.
Can watch one channel while recording another,can tune in On Demand by going through default channel on my VCR and the only issue would be the seperior features of having a Hard Drive recorder or DVD's.

Most appreciated,

Mr.Panda

Mr Panda, if interested, check out the Philips DVDR3575H/37 w/160 GB HDD and NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners. A very nice machine for $289.

Lots of info in this thread.

Thank you very much for reminding me of this.

There was something that would not work for me with this player.

Just remembered what it was.
Not Dual Layer disk compatible.
If I have this wrong,please let me know?

Called phillips about this and checked the manual.

Mr.Panda

Mr.Panda,
Plays dual layer but doesn't record to it.

DVD-RAM is a DVD variant invented by Panasonic before the DVD format was even standardized by the DVD Forum. As such, I would think, and from my experience seen, that if a player/recorder does not specifically state DVD-RAM read and/or write support, then it does not. Some companies besides Panasonic support it in their recorders; Samsung (used to OEM their first DVDRs from Panasonic), Toshiba and Sony (Read but no write). Players probably support it even less than recorders. Sometimes players/recorders offer limited support to unspecified disc types because they possibly designed their product around another manufacturers bare drive. The drive itself may recognize that disc type but the player/recorders firmware is not written to do anything with it. My Sansui DVD recorder/VHS combo deck is -R only. However, since they used a Pioneer bare DVD drive meant for PC use in their chassis, the drives firmware will recognize +R discs, allowing the Sansui to play those discs. However, Sansui's firmware for the overall unit was not written to record to +R; thus it won't do that. But unless Oppo used a bare drive that happens to support DVD-RAM ( hint, their cabinet looks alot like the current Pannies to me)I would not count on it.

Again, as for PPV, it sounds like you already have a cable box, just use it and record to the EZ17 via S-Video. That's how I do it. The EZ17 DOES NOT support cable card nor will you be able to order PPV thru it. Even if it tunes in a channel 1 it won't be what you are hoping for. I am no expert on cable companies and PPV but their channel 1 is some digital interface on the cable box not a real channel 1.

Technically, it has three tuners. An analog tuner, an OTA digital tuner and a QAM digital tuner. It has been my experience, however, that they all act together as one logical tuner. Using mine for OTA reception, when I scroll thru the tuner, it goes thru the list of analog and digital channels in numerical order with no apparent way to isolate the tuners individually. Thus is displays and/or records what it is tuned into. You are supposed to be able to watch a recording on disc while recording from the tuner when using DVD-RAM. While I believe that works I have had no need to try that. If I understand your questioning of this, I still see no reason why you could not use this, or any, DVDR just like your VCR; only difference being media - tape vs. disc. Just set the EZ17 to record off your desired channel, hit TV/Video (I think it has that - I only timer record) and use your TV's tuner to watch something else. Unless you were wanting to record two shows at once, that would still work as with your VCR.

Absolutely outstanding information!

I see now that this machine can perform the functions as my VCR's.

The only difference being the media that is being used.

I just do not like the idea of having to use DVD Ram's for functions a Hard Drive recorder can do.
You are correct, I do not think my Oppo or any of my other players can play a RAM disk.
This sounds like some proprietary piece of Junk that Panny is pushing on us.
Sounds exactly like a couple of other manufacturer's I can think of.
I try to stay as far away from them as I can.

Time to take another very good look at the Philips Hard Drive/DVD recorder.

Many thanks,

Mr.Panda

Another option: If you're using an external tuner and don't care about it having a built-in, digital one, you could also consider one of the international Panasonic or Pioneer models. They are region free and come with anywhere from 80GB to 400GB hard drives. The Pio has an NTSC M tuner which can be used here, but the Panny doesn't. They can be found at www.world-import.com and www.bhphotovideo.com.

People here who have gotten them have said they are excellent units.

Ha,

That is the other option I forgot about.

Not sure why I did not look into them again.

Maybe because I wanted at least one built in tuner.

Will look into these again as well as the Philips model.

Thank you,

Mr.Panda

Also, there's the Magnavox H2080MV8 80GB model from Walmart. Smaller hard drive than the Philips, but closer to your Panny in price.

With either one, I'd try to get it from somewhere you can easily return or exchange it (Walmart and CC online should still be OK - you can always return it to any store). The digital tuners in these things are awful buggy and inconsistent. It sounds like the Magnavox is that way across the board, though, while the Philips is kind of hit or miss. Terrible quality control on these things, but I guess that includes all US-sold (at least) recorders in general now. It's a dirty shame, but if we keep buyin' 'em, they're gonna keep puttin' 'em out there.

When I compared the two first hand, I thought that the picture quality of the Maggie's tuner seemed maybe just a hair sharper and clearer. Could've just been my particular units, though. The Philips' was definitely more sensitive with digital and analog OTA. The Maggie hardly picked up any digital cable channels at all for me (Comcast) - not even ONE of the local 720p/1080i ones, where all of my other digital tuners do, but I haven't had a chance to try the Philips with cable yet.

The remote for the Maggie is truly awful, I must say. If you like to watch TV in the dark, and/or your eyesight is not 20/20, the Maggie's remote is not the one to have. Hopefully you'll have a good, learning remote already in your possession.

Also, Oppo's definitely do not play DVD-RAM. But it's not a bad thing to have in a recorder.

Actually, quite the opposite. Panasonic was one of the original developers of the DVD format. Early on in their research, they developed a disc format for the storage of data formatted in a similar fashion as a PC hard drive. Since the DVD format was still being developed, they marketed and sold these discs for storing data on a PC as the PD format; promising users that PD discs would be readable in future DVD drives when released. They would later finalize the format as DVD-RAM with both 2.6G and 5.2G discs. When the DVD-ROM format was finalized and 4.7G and 9.4G disc sizes agreed upon, Panasonic changed the capacity of DVD-RAM to those sizes and DVD-RAM was adopted by the DVD Forum as a data storage format variant of the DVD specifications.

DVD-RAM is random access and can be written to 100,000 times per disc. Unfortunately, it never really caught on, so the media prices did not fall as rapidly as other DVD discs; further hindering it's acceptance. It was all but dead until Panasonic supported it in their DVD recorders. Quite well suited for multiple writes, it is great for timeshifting on DVDRs that support it. Many here have multiple discs and record to them repeatedly, transferring those recordings to a PC for editing and later archiving to another DVD format. While still somewhat costly per disc initially, their ability to be recorded on so many times make them attractive for those with the right DVDR and a PC or the avid timeshifter.

Hello,

your advice is extremely appreciated.

Yes,

I forgot about the Mag. as well.
Did not look very promising when I looked into them before.

You are totally correct,

I really should purchase something,if I want a usable tuner,that I can return if not working properly.
Especially in regards to tuning channels.
Finding a Philips Etc. at a local retailer might be a bit problematic though.

What are the advantages of one of those "off shore" models over a standard US model?

I am really surprised that there are so many problems with these new machines compared to quality VCR's of the past.
But just by looking at current products and then opening the hood tells quite a lot.

Thank you,

Mr.Panda

Well, in the past, Pioneers and Panasonics were usually much more reliable than something like a Philips or Magnavox. Those two were always rated very low for reliability.

But I'm really not all that sure now. If the international models are made in China now (and I think they are), who knows. But their company standards for their gear have always generally been better, and maybe that hasn't changed. I noticed that the Pannies do look a lot closer to last year's US design - and those were the last good models sold here.

They do have more features, more advanced editing features and larger hard drives, that I can say for sure. The Pio's have "TV Guide Plus", which is basically what TVGOS is called everywhere else. I'm not sure if it works here or not, though. Depends on if the feature is integrated so that it'll work through the NTSC tuner, I'd guess. That I'd like to know for myself. Maybe someone here who has one could answer that for sure. They also have a "jukebox" feature, where you can transfer your CD's to the hard drive.

Excellent points!

Any thoughts on the new LG models?

None of these machines are built like a good quality VCR of the past.

I have three or four Mitsubishi HSU 82's.

Thanks again,

Mr.Panda

I'm not sure which LG DVR models you're referring to. The only ones I know of don't have hard drives. Speaking of LG's, though, I know that someone has just today stated that he wants to sell his LG 3410a HD DVR over in the 3410a thread in the hardware forum. Maybe you'd wanna check that out, since you're more interested in the DVR side of things than the DVD recorder one. I've got a Sony DHG-HDD500 HD DVR, and I wouldn't sell it for the world.

As far as the VCR part, you can still get pretty good s-vhs JVC models new, I know, but standard VCR quality has really gone down the crapper in the last 10 years. I would say my older Panny and Sony HDD/DVD recorders are every bit as good as those older VCR's you mention, though.

LG has some new hard drive recorders listed on their site.

Exactly my point,

you are speaking of older DVD recorders as opposed to new models in regards to my older VHS machines.
Excellent point!

Mr.Panda

Mr.Panda,

You can watch one channel while recording another, just as you did with a VCR. You pass the RF signal thru the recorder and into the TV. Then use the TV tuner to watch the one channel. Obviously if you want to watch a digital channel on your TV, it needs to have an ATSC tuner for OTA or a QAM tuner for cable.

When I did a channel scan a week or so ago, one of my clear QAM PBS sub-channels shows up on channel 1.4. I thought this very strange.

My HDTV gets 6 local clear QAM HD channels in the 108.x to 117.x range. That's where they came up when I did an initial scan way back when & they have stayed that way.

My EZ17 recorder initial scan placed 4 of these in the same upper channels, but mapped ABC to 7.1 and WGN to 9.1. I'm curious why the split? And if I directly enter ABC-108.1 it does not work, yet it still works on the HDTV. I would have thought that manually entering the actual channel/frequency would have worked. After all, that is where the real channel is, correct?

A week ago I turned on the DVD recorder & all 4 of the upper range QAM HD channels were gone. I did a new scan and now all 6 are mapped to the lower virtual numbers. This is OK, but I'm surprised they do not still show up under the actual channels where they used to be. Is something telling the tuner that the information is not there, when of course it is because the HDTV still receives the actual QAM upper channels? I'm guessing the recorder tuner is detecting the mapping data and blocking the tuner from receiving the signal on the actual frequency, whether the unit did a another scan or not.

My concern is missing a timer scheduled program if Comcast re-maps channels when I'm away. Obviously the odds of this happening are small, but right now NBC HD is 5.2, not 5.1 and WTTW-D HD is 11.2, not 11.1. So I'm guessing they could change these two at any time.

Any comments on the basics of how channel mapping works would be appreciated. And why the HDTV still receives on the actual frequencies, but the EZ17 cannot.