Panasonic DMR-E85HS questions
|
New member Username: Alm70Post Number: 1 Registered: Sep-04 | I just bought a Panasonic DMR-E85HS a few weeks ago and I'm having some frustrations with it. Has anyone out there had any luck downloading the TV Guide On Screen feature that this piece comes with? The recording features do seem to be heavily geared around this TV Guide and I can't seem to get it to download. I have digital cable and I'm not sure if this is effecting anything. The manual says it will not work with satelite, but says nothing about digital. Any hints anyone? At the moment I have the digital cable box hooked up to the RF-IN Coax in the E85., The RF Out is going to a RF modulator, and the RF modulator is hook-ed up the the Coax on TV? Then RCA's from the E85 to the RF Modualtor. Since I have an older TV, does this hook-up make the most sense? Also, once the E85 is on, I should be able to use the E85 remote to change the channel on the E85 and it should change the channel on the TV as sent through the digital cable box? Thanks in advance for any insight on the above mentioned problems... |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Andy, The E-85 and certain Motorola STB's have trouble communicating. In fact from the Motorola DCT-5100 and newer guide data will not download to the E-85. xvxvxvx |
|
New member Username: Alm70Post Number: 2 Registered: Sep-04 | I failed to mention the digital cable box I have is a I3 micro technology "mood box" It says in the E85 manual that the device the recorder is hooked up to must be able to receive "a terrestrial broadcast that includes EPG data in the transmission" My digital cable provider has been of no help so I wonder is contacting micro tech would help. |
|
New member Username: Alm70Post Number: 3 Registered: Sep-04 | sorry...my link above for the mood box got broken up. Check this one out. |
|
Anonymous | 1. I was told by Pany that Comcast cable boxes (of all stripes) would block the TVG information to the DMR-E85H. I hooked the cable directly into the DMR-E85H, and the TVG data downloaded. (I took my digital cable box back to Comcast.) 2. You can records shows w/o the TVG data. Not easy to figure out how. The manual sucks. But if you hit "Program Check" and then the green button you can set a timer w/o (or until you receive) the TVG data. 3. Can anyone figure out how to make "Auto Renewal Recording" work. "Auto Renewal Recording* Available on the DMR-E85HS, this feature automatically records an episode of a specified TV show either every day or every week directly onto the hard disk, with the most recent episode being recorded right over the previous one. If the previous episode is being played back while the new one is being recorded, the new episode will be recorded onto a different section of the disk." This website says that auto Renewal Recording is a feature with DMR-E85H: 4. I have found Pany's "operational assistance" (long wait times to speak with uppity dunces) to be 2d rate and its manual to be 3d rate. |
|
New member Username: Alm70Post Number: 4 Registered: Sep-04 | thanks for your input everyone. I think I have come to the conclusion that the TV guide data will not download through my digital cable. I think if I had the regular cable I used to have (non-digital) it would work fine. The manual recording isn't too bad, but I like one button answers myself. That Auto Renewal recording sounds handy. Is that something you have to have the TV guide data downloaded to use? Probably... |
|
Anonymous | The digital/analog data issue should not be the problem. The box will accept digial or analog directly. The problem is the cable box, I think. Of course, if you can't use the cable box, why have the digital service? The reason might be to obtain be the channels that are not in the basic package or are premium. Try hooking the cable directly to the DMR-E85H. |
|
New member Username: Alm70Post Number: 6 Registered: Sep-04 | The digital box (the i3 "moodbox") works fine. I have a service provider that supplies me with digital tv, digital phone, and internet. Everything seemed fine to me until I hooked up the DMR-E85H and couldnt get that TV guide listing. I was just wondering if it was the digital cable that was holding me back frm getting it. Apparently what the above post is saying, if I understand right, is it shouldnt matterif it is digital or analog. As far a hooking the cable right up to the DMR-E85H, all of this digital stuff in my house is connect by CAT5 (ethernet cables) so an ethernet cable is what is plugged into the digital cable box to get the signal. So I would have no way of connecting that directly to the ER85H. |
|
Anonymous | Call Panasonic. 800-211-PANA |
|
Anonymous | Can anyone answer the question on Auto Renewal recording? I am trying to learn how to program the DMR-E85H for "Auto Renewal Recording" to work. Even Panasonic's own website says this works, but there is no help in the manual and the dunces at Panasonic's "operational assistance" repeatedly claim is not possible. I think Panasonic is either guilty of poor instuctions (to users and tech support alike) or false advertising. I am hoping the advertised feature works and that a class action lawsuit is unnecessary. ;0) Panasonic's own Web sites say that Auto Renewal Recording works: Panasonic US: "Auto Renewal Recording Automatically records an episode of a specified TV show either every day or every week directly onto the hard disk, with the most recent episode being recorded right over the previous one" |
|
Unregistered guest | The Auto Renewal Recording function isn't hard once you know how it works. Look on page 19 of the manual. Once you have the program set to record, if you press the blue "Dubbing" button you will see the mode change from once to daily to weekly, etc. Good Luck- I Love mine |
|
Unregistered guest | One more thing. Help!!!!!! Is there any way to load up a larger HDD? From other forums, it looks like it won't read anything larger than a 120GB on the E85HS. Anyone try it and have any luck? Thanks-Mike |
|
Unregistered guest | I'm considering purchase of this machine, the DMR-E95, 100 or 500. I've used the 100 and founf it usable but hopelessly user-unfriendly, with an unbelievably confusing manual. But does anyone have experience with TiVo or anything from other manufacturers? |
|
Anonymous | Mike, What you are describing is the ability to record something once, regularly, weekly, etc. What I was interested in was the "Auto Renewal Recording" function Panasonic advertises. What you are describing does not allow recording "with the most recent episode being recorded right over the previous one." |
|
Unregistered guest | I would like someone to tell me how to get the TV Guide to load on my DMRE85 |
|
Maneshita Unregistered guest | I don't think it supports "Auto Renewal Recording" features on E85/E95. I will tell you some fact and assumption. Japanese version of E85 DOES has this feature under TV guide however when this unit localized to US, panasonic changed its GUI . They look similar but according to the manual, there is another section to turn on the feature after you set the frequency of recording (daily, weekly...) Well we don't have such an option.... So I assume information might leaked somehow to the distributer before its implemented? From Panasonic stand point of view, its may be more risky to support this feature if customer complains that it overwrites recoreded program? Its beyond my understanding.... |
|
Anonymous | I have just got the Panasonic DMR-E53 DVD recorder and i can't find the code to make it multi region. Does anyone know how to do it ? I think it should be similar procedure as in other DMR-E models |
|
mslinia Unregistered guest | To load the TV Guide: You must have an regular type of antenna hook up to it. I've been using "rabbit ears" and it works well. The unit must be turned off for it to download the information. You will also need to set-up your channel guide for the stations/channels that you get in your area. My line-up gives me 8 days of information |
|
New member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 2 Registered: Jan-05 | Does anyone else have the problem that the E85, while off, changes channels all the time? It looks as if it is seeking something-- program guide? What are we supposed to do? Using Scientific Atlanta digital cable box fed by Time Warner |
|
xvxvxvxv Unregistered guest | Does anyone else have the problem that the E85, while off, changes channels all the time? It looks as if it is seeking something-- program guide? What are we supposed to do? It is seeking the correct channel where the program information is being transmitted. If you don't want the guide just remove the infrared transmitter or else leve it on. xvxvxvxv |
|
New member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 3 Registered: Jan-05 | I figured out that it was seeking something like that. I would love for it to find the Program Guide, but it fails. I hope someone else is getting digital cable from Time Warner through a Scientific Atlanta cable box, and perhaps they could tell me how to get the program guide. |
|
Tracy Unregistered guest | Hi my Panasonic DMR-E53 has lock me out. I did a system reset by holding down the up and down arrows. Now It won't let me set the clock. i Have tried unpluging it. Does anyone know of away to reset this machine? |
|
Janet Unregistered guest | My Panasonic DMR-E85H also froze this morning. The TV guide screen went fuzzy and the colors changed and I couldn't turn it off. I reset it by simultaneously pressing the up and down channel buttons on the recorder. Then I unplugged it for 2 minutes (less was ineffective). It was only then that the unit completely reset and I was able to attempt to reload the TVGuide. (in progress) Before I left it unplugged for 2 minutes, I could watch pre-recorded programs on the HDD or DVD but could not record, change the input, set the clock, etc. One scary part: I had to turn the unit off and on again in order to be able to access the data on the HDD. (The Direct Navigator was empty but when I press the status button it said it had 20 hours left.) I am hoping all is okay. |
|
Anonymous | I have Direct TV with TiVo. It works great with user frienldy menu's. I've not picked up the manual since the initial setup (if then). I was considering purchasing a DVR so that I can write to disc and to increase my hard drive storage (I have 35 hours with my TiVo recorder). I was planning to initially record on my tivo recorder, then record to the DVR to put on disc. Is this a reasonable plan? |
|
New member Username: Ender3rdPost Number: 1 Registered: Jan-05 | "My Panasonic DMR-E85H also froze this morning. The TV guide screen went fuzzy and the colors changed and I couldn't turn it off." Well Janet, my E85H did exactly the same thing on the third day I owned it, fuzzy TV Guide, weird colors, and completely unresponsive. It happened as I was messing with the TV Guide menu and I think I pressed more than one button at the same time. At that time I was having very little luck getting the TV Guide data downloaded. I completely reset the machine (got the "Please Wait" message) and it has not happened since (3 weeks have gone by). The TV Guide data began to download successfully after I started shutting the E85H down with its tuner set to my local PBS station. I don't know if that was what caused it to start succeeding with the data downloads, but after 3 days it filled up my 8 days of programming and has kept itself up-to-date ever since. All its functions appear to work just fine and I am very pleased with its capabilities and performance. Hope yours is working well. Ender |
|
New member Username: PeterjparkPost Number: 1 Registered: Jan-05 | Hi Everyone- I have an E85H and I'm trying to figure out how to split a program I recorded on a DVD-R into 2 parts before I finalize the disk. Has anyone else tried this and figured out how to do it? The manual covers this material on pages 30-31, but I can't get seem to get the "Divide Chapter" option to pop up when I select "Edit" in the "Sub Menu." The path the manual suggest is DVD/Direct Navigator/Sub Menu/Edit/Divide Chapter, but it doesn't come up. All I get for options under Edit is: "Enter Name" and "Change Thumbnail." Am I doing something wrong? Thanks for your assitance. Cheers, -Pete |
|
New member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 7 Registered: Jan-05 | I am not sure, but my guess is that you can do that only on the HDD, but not on the DVD. |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Alex is correct. xvxvxvx |
|
RobbaDobba Unregistered guest | I was wondering if the IR blaster only works with the TV Guide system, or will it still work if I choose not to use the TV Guide system and set programs to record manually? |
|
New member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 8 Registered: Jan-05 | Still unable to download the TV guide to my E85. A call to Panasonic confirmed that Panasonic in Japaneze means: Arrogant, ignorant customer service. I am thinking of givind up on the TV Guide "feature", which makes programming a VCR an easy task. Another problem I encountered is that when I try to choose the L3 input to the DVR, I can only see the channel that the cable box is tuned to. The Panasonic man says that my brand new DMR 85H is alreasy defective, but I think that I am somehow misinterpreting what I am seeing. Should the front panel say L3 after I press the Select Input key when it shows L2? |
|
Anonymous | I also have had problems with the tvguide for the E85. I have Time Warner cable and have hooked it up both to the cable box (Scientific Atlantic 3250 HD) and also to direct cable line without any luck. I called Panasonic support and they had me enter a code and then there were 27 pages of info that was available to view and I had to give them some of the info. They told me that they would contact tvguide and then get back to me in a few days. I keep getting the no data received message every morning when I turn on the unit. |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | The E-85 TV Guide will not yet download on the SA 3250 boxes nor on any Motorola STB's in the 5xxx or 6xxx series. I have an old Moto STB in the 2xxx series which I use to download my guide data for my RCA DLP, it also works on my E-85. SA states that they are working on a resolution, Motorola says we are screwed.  xvxvxvx |
|
New member Username: PeterjparkPost Number: 2 Registered: Jan-05 | Hi Alex & xvxvxvx- Thanks for your assistance. I was kind of afraid that might be the answer. Still it's good to know that is the case. Cheers. -Pete |
|
New member Username: PcbosisGarden Grove, Ca USA Post Number: 1 Registered: Jan-05 | What was weird was that I even hooked up Time Warner cable to the panasonic via the coax cable from the wall and not through the cable box and still did not get any guide. Time Warner has basic non digital cable with channels 1-99 |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | You may have not waited long enough. Initially the guide takes at least 24 hours to download partially then several more nights of downtime to fully propagate. Even then you must specify new settings in your guide setup menu, you must tell the guide that you have no cable box for your method to work at all. One more possibility is that TW is not relaying the guide data contained on your local PBS station through their system to your cable line. If this is the case you will only get partial guide data via an antenna connection. Personally I gave up on using the E-85's guide and find it much faster to do all my programs manually. xvxvxvx |
|
New member Username: PcbosisGarden Grove, Ca USA Post Number: 2 Registered: Jan-05 | I might have to give up on the tvguide. But another question I would like the panasonic to change channels and record some of my cable channels that are above the 100 number all the way into the 900's. The only way that I can do this is to leave the system setup for tvguide to have it send channels over 125. I have not setup it yet for no cable-no tvguide. If I do it this way will I be able to change to the higher channels with the e85???? |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Using a manual timer, yes. xvxvxvx |
|
Unregistered guest | I have an DMR E85H and was able to get the guide to download and it worked after two calls to Panasonic. The guide disappeared 4 days later and hasn't came back. Another call to Panasonic and a 30 minute wait and they tell me they are turning the problem over to TVGUIDE to fix the problem. So far no answer from them and it still has not downloaded the programing guide. I have Charter cable (digital service) with a General Instruments box. They tell me that you must use the t3 connections for it to download the guide, which I use. I may return the unit if they can't get it to work. I bought it on the promise that I could use the Guide for one button recording. It did work great for the three days that the guide was there. Anyone who has an answer please let me know how to correct the problem, because it is obvious that Panasonic doesn't have a clue. |
|
New member Username: PcbosisGarden Grove, Ca USA Post Number: 4 Registered: Jan-05 | I have the same issue but can't get any programs to download. I received a call from TVguide today but they left a message to call them back and I did this 3 times and left my number, but no call back. I think that this is an issue more with the TVguide then the Panasonic and also with the cable company. Also you can not use the manual changer in the panasonic unless you have the cable turned on in the tvguide or you won't have access to the higher channels. |
|
New member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 9 Registered: Jan-05 | 1) How do I tell the E85 to forget about the TV(mis) Guided "feature"? I don't want it to come up each time I turn the box on. 2) How do I get it so I can see the L3 input on the front panel of the box? It shows the chan. that the cable box is on when I go from L2 to L3. The Panasonic "customer service" man tells me that, since my box does not do it, it is defective. I think it is a matter of some setting, but I have not found the combination. I have the TW digital cable box connected to input 3 on the E85. |
|
cjogo Unregistered guest | Trying to DUB---have an hour program on the HD and when I try to record to DVD--it starts for about 1 minute--then say BYE ?? 7th DVD in a row I have tried?? I have made 2 sucessful DVD's...in a month of tries though. Never have gotten to TV GUIDE to work..always BLANK DATA. The manual says "make take more than 50 times to download" |
|
New member Username: PcbosisGarden Grove, Ca USA Post Number: 5 Registered: Jan-05 | Hopefully I will receive a call today from tvguide. What the panasonic is doing to retrieve the tvguide is that when you turn off the dvr then if you have the remote sensors plugged in the channels will change every minute or 2. This is because the dvr is searching for a station that carries the signal for tvguide in your area. Hopefully they will have more info on why I can't get it to work so that I can pass it on here. |
|
New member Username: FalanizOrland Hills, IL United States Post Number: 4 Registered: Jan-05 | I recently got the TV Guide feature working. I have Comcast digital-cable with the E85's coax antenna IN coming from the OUTPUT of my cablebox. I have the IR Blaster cables in place and I too noticed the changing of the channels while the E85 is turned off. This requires me to have to turn on my E85 when ever I sit down to watch a movie on cable because it will not stay on the channel. I also found that FOX (channel 12 on Comcast) is the channel it stops on. Which leads me to believe that that is where it is getting the TV Guide listings from. Originally I had the antenna, from the wall going directly into the E85, bypassing the cable box and I was NOT able to get the TV Guide listings to download. I even tried setting the station to PBS when I turned it off. For some odd reason it simply wasn't working. With the discovery I made above, FOX being the channel for TV Guide downloading, I would venture to guess that if I were to try this again and set the channel to FOX that the listings would download. |
|
New member Username: PcbosisGarden Grove, Ca USA Post Number: 6 Registered: Jan-05 | I have been working with TVGuide for the past 3 days trying to get my box to receive the guide. I have found out that at least ABC and FOX are at least 2 of the channels that send the guide. I did receive the guide with just the coax from the wall but I need to have access to higher channels on my Time Warner cable. I did not receive any data when hooked directly to the cable box through the L3 port on the back of the E85. I even had the cable box replaced. I am now trying the coax cable from the cable box to the E85 using all of the cable programming but instead of getting data from L3, getting it from the coax output of the cable box. TV Guide has been trying their best to help me. I will check it out in the morning and call the guide rep when I get up(Im on the West coast and he is on the East coast) |
|
Anonymous | The Panasonic DMR-85 actually works... but it is really slow. Mine finally got the stations downloaded but no shows as yet. I have Comcast Digital cable and I use the L3 cables to grab the info. I guess you need to give it more time. I read an article that Time Warner strips the Gemstar EPG from the feed (Gemstar sued, but the FCC sided with TW). Not sure what became of it as this was in 2001. |
|
New member Username: FalanizOrland Hills, IL United States Post Number: 5 Registered: Jan-05 | I'm not using the L3 cable box/E85 confgurataion and the TV guide feature is working. I appear to have several days worth of listings, including the upper channels. Not all the Upper channels exist though. For example, I have approx. 6 HBO channels that appear when using the cable box but only 4 appear in the listings. I'm pretty sure I selected the correct lineup when prompted in the setup because, out of 4 choices, it was the only one that matched. The others were off by at least one channel. I know Panasonic recommends it, but is the L3 to cable box really necessary? What is the advantage of using this vs. the way I have it setup now? Also, the TV Guide lineup that I do download is in no special order. It took me what seemed like forever to rearrange the sequence of the lineup that was downloaded and sort it by channel number. The remote does not react like most remotes. What I mean by that is that it does not repeatively send the signal if you hold down a button. I had to repeatedly go down the list locate the channel near the bottom and move it up the point where it was to be inserted. Back and forth hitting the same button over and over. What a pain! The remote does not fluidly interact with the TV guide feature. |
|
Don Hilburn Unregistered guest | This will probably win the Stupid Question of the Month Award but can I watch one channel while another channel is recording? I had a movie scheduled to record at 7:00 while I was watching the Super Bowl on another channel. At 7:00 the recorder started to record but the TV also changed to that channel. I had to cancel the record in order to watch the Super Bowl. Is it supposed to work that way? |
|
New member Username: PcbosisGarden Grove, Ca USA Post Number: 8 Registered: Jan-05 | Yes it is. You can only watch what you are recording. If you want to watch a major channel and have a coax splitter you can then watch the game or whatever on the basic cable channels and not go through the cable box. If you have the money and order another cable box then you can record one channel and watch another channel without having to use the basic cable. Almost anything is possible if you have the money. |
|
Anonymous | Not only does my Comcast digital provider not seem to be able to support the tv guide download in the Denver area, but you cannot use the VCR+ without. (they may be the same program but without it ever working, VCR+ is something new to me) Anyone in the Denver area have a solution for here? It's been downloading for 2 days now via L3 connection/S-Video as instructed. |
|
New member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 10 Registered: Jan-05 | I think that pcbosis is mistaken. THe RECORD and PLAY functions seem to be independent of each other: you CAN record a program while watching a previously recorded program. |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | but you cannot use the VCR+ without VCR+ codes work without any guide data. VCR+ is merely an algorithm designed to represent a date, time and length of any show on TV. You must simply know the correct VCR+ codes for your cable lineup and enter the correct code, the E-85 will record at the proper time. xvxvxvx |
|
elec-jky Unregistered guest | (First message) I am using the L3 connection to my digital cable box(Motorola). I had trouble downloading the TV Guide for two days. On the third day I left the E-85 on my PBS station (channel 2). I also move the IR blaster out about 2 inches from the cable box. I noticed that the cable box was staying on channel 2 or channel 9 (PBS) only throughout the day. After 24 hours I checked the guide, the channels were there but it said "no listing". I checked it after 36 hours and all of the programming was there. It worked!!! I have only had the unit about a week. So far, so good. |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 11 Registered: Jan-05 | Since I dispaired of getting the E85 to download the TVGUGIDE from Time Warner, I tried to get the VCR+ codes (from TVGUIDE's web site, but failed. Where can I get the codes? Thanks |
|
Unregistered guest | I have problem with DVD-RAM usage. If I make a dubbing into DVD-RAM disk in my E85, and I take it to my PC, when I put back the disk to the E85, it doesn't want to write it anymore. Says the disc is protected, but it is not. It doesn't want to format it either. Possibly the WinXP writes something into the disc, and it causes the trouble in the E85. Maybe I should use special DVD-RAM driver program in my PC (?). Could anyone recommand me something ? Thanks in advance. Jozs |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Joza, you need to purchase something like NERO or else you will continue to write protect your RAM discs. xvxvxvx |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Alex, go to the below website and register, it is free, then enjoy. If you know the date, channel and times of the shows you wish to record go the the below limk and the java aplet will generate the VCR Plus Code for you: One note for the above link, it will only generate codes for channels 1 thru 64. xvxvxvx |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 12 Registered: Jan-05 | xvxvxvx, I have been to that URL more than once (a couple of weeks ago), but it ALWAYS got stuck somehow and I never got the codes. I thought there might be an alternative source for these codes, something like a VCR+ website. |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Whic website got stuck? The TV Guide or the calculator website? If it is the later you lilely need to download Java so the applet will load. If it is the TV guide site perhaps you have disabled 3rd party cookies or you have Windows XP with SP2 and it is blocking a required popup. xvxvxvx |
|
Unregistered guest | xvxvxvx, I use Nero InCD 4. |
|
New member Username: HonzagPost Number: 1 Registered: Feb-05 | Hi, does anybody know how the hard disk jumper should be set? I demounted it and put into my friend's PC (to do backup of some TV programs). But he changed the position of the jumper (to set the HDD up as a slave) and we forgot the original one. When I returned this Samsung HD to my Panny, it fails the boot sequence - SELF CHECK ends with one od these messages: "Error occurred - press Enter ... etc." or "Change the disc ....". I have tried all vertical positions but the error remains. Maybe there is some special horizontal one. It is easy to discover if you have the E85: under the cover (5 screws) just unbend the HDD (3 screws) and pick it up to see the jumper area. It is left from the power supply socket: [::::] <oooo> There is no restraints like protection labels. So be brave and look at it, please. Any other recommendations are welcome. |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Any other recommendations are welcome. Get a friend with more technical savy for your next foray into dismantling your DVD recorder. Really now, disassembly 101 tells you to be sure you keep good notes and not to misplace any loose hardware. This inexpensive lesson may someday save your life when you find yourself in outerspace working on your spacesuit or on the space shutttle Columbia. In case your career goals are not so lofty as to include space travel maybe it will help you when you are working on the milkshake machine at McDonalds. Would you like fries with your burger sir? xvxvxvx |
|
cjogo Unregistered guest | Still no luck >> 47 seperate days of trying to download TV guide?? At 24 hour intervals When recording from L2 with a camera > direct to the DVD > usually take about 4 blank DVD's ~~~ always " error or check or bye, etc." Can record almost 30 secs though, from the DV camera..before the unit fails??? DOes this unit actuall work--eventually?? |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 13 Registered: Jan-05 | I finally got the E85 to try and look up the channel lineup. None of the ones it proposed agreed with my (Manhattan, NYC) lineup, so I put it all in by hand, which took a LONG time. I also specified on which channel the TVGuide information is available (51 on the TW lineup). Twenty four hours later, still no listings. I think this is either a scam or a scheme by TW to force us to buy their own PVR service. I wish the E85 had a button that said: use me like a VCR, and don't pretend to be more sophisticated than that... |
|
metro Unregistered guest | I recently bought an Mitsubishi HDTV 52" Widescreen. I routed my cable through my TW Motorola and then through my Panasonic E85H. However, for some reason, the HD channels are not showing up full screen (it's framed on all sides). When I switch the input on my TV to the antenna or the input directly from the cable box, it's fine. Anyone know of any issues the E85H has with HD signal? thx. |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | The E-85 is not an HD recorder. The picture you are seeing is letterboxed, exactly what you should be seeing. xvxvxvx |
|
metro Unregistered guest | thanks, xv. Do you know of any way around it, not necessarily to record in HD, but to get rid of the letterbox at least? |
|
New member Username: HonzagPost Number: 4 Registered: Feb-05 | to xvxvxvx: You look like a big dog in this forum. Misfortune I found the Roger's URL ( |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | thanks, xv. Do you know of any way around it, not necessarily to record in HD, but to get rid of the letterbox at least? Sorry if I wasn't clear metro but the E-85 is recording the signal you are sending it from the cable. There is really nothing to change since it (and all others as well) DVD recorders record in 480i this is what you will record. Now when you replay the DVD if you will select the non-progressive output from whatever DVD player you use, your TV will be able to stretch or zoom the image so that it will fit properly on a 16:9 ratio display. That is the best you can hope for from any of the DVD recorders on the market today. xvxvxvx |
|
Petef Unregistered guest | RECALLED! Stay away fron this unit! I bought one for Xmas 2004. Three weeks later the hard drive failed. I exchanged it for another, and two months later I lost the TVGuide feature, and experienced lockups requiring unplugging. Took it back to circuit city to exchange for another, and they were out of stock. After a little investigation the manager informed me that this unit was RECALLED. My only recourse was to send it in for repair (glad I purchased the extended warranty). Too late to call Pana on this one. Will have to wait until monday. Hopefully it's an easy fix to this TVGuide issue, or my money back. |
|
New member Username: RobimlawPost Number: 5 Registered: Jun-04 | I know in earlier postings some people mentioned their screen freezing and changing colors when they were trying to get out of TV Guide mode in their DMR E85. This is the second one I've had that had the same problem so it wasn't just my first machine. Aside from having to reset when this happens, does anyone know another workaround? Is this just a glitch with all the E85s? |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | "After a little investigation the manager informed me that this unit was RECALLED." Incorrect information, no recall on the E-85, you just got the brush-off and fell for it hook, line and sinker. xvxvxvx |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 15 Registered: Jan-05 | Read and use the information in: which documents a bug in the E85 firmware, and shows how to upgrade it, plus some nice things you can get from switching the machine to "service mode"/ |
|
Petef Unregistered guest | Interesting. If these folks lied about the recall, then I'm done with Circuit City in Reading, PA. That's no way to do business and profit. Guess I have a story for the local paper or news station... Otherwise it's at the factory for repair, as I was experiencing multiple problems. Should this one break again in as short of time, then legal action is my only recourse. Hmmm, I could dispute this with visa as well. I think we have a case here. |
|
Petef Unregistered guest | According to Panansonic, there is no recall on their end. It's more likely that circuit city recalled the unsold units and sent them back. (Much to do with the TVGuide not working issue). However, my unit would not even allow me to deselect the TVGuide and use the timer record feature. Panansonic informed me that TVGuide is working on a fix. We'll see when the unit comes back. |
|
New member Username: CountryguyAstorville, ON Canada Post Number: 6 Registered: Nov-04 | Re: "DMRE85H TV Guide screen going fuzzy and then not being able to do anything unless the machine is unplugged for a few minutes so that it resets itself." Mine has done this 4 or 5 times now. I have a couple of shows that I have set to record everyday. I have come home from work, turned the DVD recorder on and get the fuzzy TV guide screen...when I finally do get it reset I find that my shows did not record that day. Is it coincidence that the shows don't record and I get the fuzzy TV guide screen at the same time? Is there anyway to reset the recorder without having to unplug it? |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | However, my unit would not even allow me to deselect the TVGuide and use the timer record feature. That seems odd, I am able to choose either the guide or a manual timer without disabling the guide feature. Of course I have chosen to just use the RF input from my cable service to load my guide data. The reason for this being that all Motorola boxes newer than the DCT 2000 series will not provide guide data. To Gary: Try holding down the power switch, on the unit it self not on the remote for ten seconds. This should return the unit to it's preset factory settings allowing you to change all your settings. xvxvxvx |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 16 Registered: Jan-05 | Has anyone tried to upgrade the firmware to see if this will cure the fuzzy screen lockup situation? I have not done that yet, and I was curious. |
|
New member Username: RobimlawPost Number: 8 Registered: Jun-04 | Alex: I emailed Roger (the author of the article you had referenced) and he responded back. He said that he, personally, has not experienced the fuzzy screen problem however he feels pretty certain the upgrade CD will do the trick. He also said to do a version check (as described in his article) and if the version is less than 9xx, then you need the upgrade. I am going to try and see if that does the trick. |
|
DariusNewJersey Unregistered guest | I have a problem with my DMR-E85HS. I lose my TVGuide everyday, i.e. I can't even see the TV Guide. I have to unplug the unit, so that it will reset itself, then the TVGUIDE will appear again. I think, the problem happens when it tries to download new set of TVGuide. Has anybody experience the same problem? |
|
theotormon Unregistered guest | Petef and DariusNewJersey: My wife called Panasonic today and walked through the problems with them. Apparently they have had dozens of calls from the PA/NJ/DE area, and it is a problem with the Gemstar encoding of the TVGuide programming. My unit worked fine until last Thursday, and since then, I have to reset it every 24 hours. The technician at Panasonic said to leave the unit on after resetting it, and it should not drop the manual programming that is entered. Gemstar and Comcast are working on a fix to get the information flowing again properly. FYI, I bought mine from Circuit City also -- it has been my experience that they will tell you ANYTHING to get rid of you, and that usually if you do your homework on a product, you will know 10x more than they do. |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 17 Registered: Jan-05 | Progress report: I have now upgraded the firmware on my DMR E85. It took a few minutes of totally automatic operation: just put the CD-rom in, and wati for it to upgrade. So far everything seems fine: the TV guide is working great. Time will tell (it usually does...) whether it also fixed the fuzzy/frozen screen and the other maladies like the DIVIDE problem. Stay tuned! |
|
DariusNewJersey Unregistered guest | theotormon, Thank you. Two nights ago, I used manual programming to record a show (instead of using TVGUIDE). To my surprise, I did not have to reset my machine yesterday and it did record the show. If there's a problem again, I will try to leave the unit on and see it that will help. |
|
theotormon Unregistered guest | My understanding is that the TVGuide system will download only if the unit is left off, so that's only an option if the TVGuide system isn't working (like now, in the mid-atlantic region - though if you leave it on, you will not know when service is restored), or if there's something you can't afford to take a chance on missing. Mine went out again last night. But it now has information for Wednesday, Thursday and next Tuesday. So it seems like the Gemstar people are getting close to fixing whatever the problem is on their end, but not there yet. I'm just hoping the Panasonic people are right, and that it is just a problem with the way the unit reacts to failures on the Gemstar end. |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 18 Registered: Jan-05 | A new bulletin-- Twenty four hours after upgrading the firmware, the machine started freezing MUCH more often than it did before the upgrade. Now I have to uplug the power and wait for a couple of minutes almost EVERY TIME I use it. I am considering returning it to Panasonic, in view of the rampant report of such behavior from numerous owners. |
|
DariusNewJersey Unregistered guest | theotormon, Mine also worked last night. Maybe, GEMSTAR did finally fixed the problem. |
|
New member Username: RobimlawPost Number: 9 Registered: Jun-04 | Alex: Thanks for the follow up posting. I was just about to upload the firmware upgrade and you probably saved me some headaches. So where was it freezing up in particular? Just everywhere? |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 19 Registered: Jan-05 | This machine seems very quirky. I see no pattern in WHEN it would freeze. I think that their debugging and beta testing (in our homes) is not yet complete. Does Panasonic mean torture in Japanese? |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 20 Registered: Jan-05 | More relevant information: on the avsforum.com http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=513097&perpage=20&high light=E85&pagenumber=4 I read that in some cases, bad TV Guide data can lock up the E85. So perhaps the machines are not really defective, just poorly programmed. I suppose this can be considered good news, since Panasonic might be able to fix the problem eventually. |
|
DariusNewJersey Unregistered guest | Last night, my DMR-E85 lose the TVGuide again. So I have to unplug/reset the unit. When it finally restored the TVGuide, all shows saved on my hard drive was deleted. |
|
bfreedma Unregistered guest | I have the same TV Guide lockup problem (Philly area) and have had it since last weekend. Just called Panasonic (unfortunately prior to finding this board), and no mention was made of the Gemstar issue. They ran me through the reset, which usually works for 24 hours or so. I'm leaving it on see if it will record a few things I'd like, but I have my doubts about the reset, as TV GUIDE did not lose all program listings. Based on other's feedback, I think I'll hold off on the firmware upgrade. I guess I'll check back to see when others start working again and see if the issue on my unit is resolved by the Gemstar "fix". |
|
Unregistered guest | Just bought the DMR-E85HS from Best Buy after weeks of debate. Set up per manual (cable box-comcast, with and without vcr, DVR and TV). I can see the unit changing the cable channels as if collecting info, but after a full weekend it always shows "Data retrieval failed". I have tried going RF to RF, and RCA to IN3 from the cable box. Nothing seems to work. Am I being impatient? Shouldn't at least a few channels show up? I have analog cable now but am switching to digital in a few days. Any ideas? Anyone???? Anyone??? Bueller??? |
|
New member Username: FalanizOrland Hills, IL United States Post Number: 7 Registered: Jan-05 | Cable the E85 for L3 using the diagram provided in the instructions and change the source to L3 in the setup for TVGuide. I initially had the same problem and couldn't download until I made this change. I simply could not download using the COAX cable connection. |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 21 Registered: Jan-05 | ri, what is the email for Roger, the man who wrote the epic piece about the E85 snafu? |
|
theotormon Unregistered guest | Just an update: for those in the PA/NJ/DE region, where the Gemstar problem appears to be pervasive -- my unit still has not downloaded the TV Guide info from Gemstar in the past 12 or 13 days, with the exception that it downloaded today's information last Tuesday, for whatever reason. So if your unit is doing the same, you're not alone -- and it's probably the program info, not the unit itself. I have reset it about 8 times, and have been able to use the timer record by leaving the unit on, so it doesn't go out. I plan to have my wife call Panasonic again this week sometime and inquire about the status of the fix -- they said last Monday that it should be fixed "within a week". |
|
DariusNewJersey Unregistered guest | theotormon, Same problem with my machine. Right now, I'm just using manual timer recording. |
|
GeorgeNewJersey Unregistered guest | After experiencing several lock-ups, I took my machine in for service on March 16. The repairman told me today that he now has (6) E85's in for the same problem. He said the problem occurs only on units connected to Comcast cable. He is waiting for a software solution from Panasonic. |
|
New member Username: RobimlawPost Number: 10 Registered: Jun-04 | Alex- If you go to his website ( Still having the same problems since the upgrade? |
|
Bronze Member Username: RobimlawPost Number: 11 Registered: Jun-04 | Alex- It seemed like most on the AVS site that uploaded the firmware update seemed to have success. |
|
Bronze Member Username: VenikNy, Ny Post Number: 22 Registered: Jan-05 | About 2 weeks after my firmware upgrage, my E85 is working fine for the time being, and I even got the full TVGuide from Time Warner. I did have a couple of lockout/fuzzy episodes, which required resetting, which destroyed my laborious and time consuming channel line up, but I now take is like the weather-- we can talk about it, but there is little we can do except hope it improves. |
|
theotormon Unregistered guest | DariusNewJersey and GeorgeNewJersey, The problem with Comcast appears to have been solved. Gemstar's TVGuide programming is downloading and all of mine is fully up to date, and the unit has not gone out in 8 days. Hopefully your units will work as well. |
|
DariusNewJersey Unregistered guest | theotormon, Yes, for the last 5 days, my machine is working fine. Hopefully, this will last. |
|
Unregistered guest | TVG _ Channel Line UP - Problems I've had TVG problems since almost the beginning. When I 1st got the unit it downloaded fine, but after about a month it stopped. Called Panasonic, Comcast etc, but it was an unresolved problem. Several weeks ago I missed two timer recordings of "24" two weeks in a row, I called Panasonic and they recommended I do a reset, at about the same time I read about the firmware upgrade, so I applied the firmware upgrade & reset. It appeared my TVG was now working. And the channel lineup was very different from what it had been. So I don't know for certain whether the fireware upgrade or the resetting improved the TVG. My suspicion is that Comcast here in CO made a change. BUT there still seems to be a problem with TVG. After it looked like things were set right, TVG downloaded almost a week of programing, I decided to re-arrange my lineup so that channels were in numeric order, added a few channels that weren't included in the downloaded guide and turned off a few that I'd never record, like TWC, CSPAN etc. I don't know if there is a connection, but after I went through all this tedious channel listing modification the TVG either stopped or slowed to such a trickle that I can no longer use the guide to program recordings. Could there be a problem caused by the rearrangement of the channel lineup? I've reset again and I'm giving it a day or so to attempt the download of the TVG again. And I plan to make no changes to the lineup just to see. But has anyone else noticed a problem with changing the lineup? |
|
xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Changing the lineup works fine but adding channels which do not exist in the first place (which you state you did) will cause you major problems. xvxvxvx |
|
buckm Unregistered guest | xvxvxvx When you say adding channels that didn't exist would cause problems... FOX - KDVR is listed, but it didn't have a channel number, OLN existed but had a 200+ number when it is on 32. Bravo and A&E were listed but without channel numbers. Does providing the numbers constitute adding channels in your definition? When I added these most of them, at least at first, downloaded programing. It was only after I did the numeric listing that the downloads stopped. I got an email indicating someone else had the same problem. |
|
ycagwyw Unregistered guest | I've had my e85hs for about three months and it worked perfectly for two. The connection is Comcast (SE Michigan - both cable and broadband) and there is no cable box connected to the dvr because I didn't want to mess with the ir blaster, and the programs that I want to record don't require it. The channel lineup was downloaded the first night and has been updated almost perfectly since. A few weeks ago it started the freezing/fuzzy screen/not recording routine. It's probably coincidence, but it started shortly after I first transferred material from the hard drive to a dvd-r. Taking this in for service is a real pain - no authorized dealers nearby according to the Panasonic website - so I'm about to put it in a closet until somebody finds a fix. It looks like Amazon (my source) is no longer selling this model directly, though they will send you to their partners. I've thought about renting Comcast's new dvr, but maybe that's what Comcast is hoping for rather than putting pressure on Panasonic to fix the problem. My understanding from this forum is that the firmware upgrade does not fix this problem, correct? Thanks for all the information - at least I do not feel alone. |
|
buckm Unregistered guest | I'm convinced the problem is my cable provider (Comcast). I received the channel line up but absolutely NO quide info since my last reset. I'm going back to the manual programing, but envy those that can actually use one of the features I paid dearly for in the E85H. |
|
Anonymous | I have had my E85 about 3 months. I had the tv guide after some trouble for about a week. After several resets mine is now working with about 8 days of programing. I believe there is a problem with this system, as I don't expect it to keep the guide. I did notice as one of you had mentioned in an earlier message posted here that they had lost the guide after trying to realign the guide. That was when I lost mine the last time. Believe me I will not try to rearrange my guide or delete any from the list as I believe this is the reason that my guide went away. I am just thankful to have it working again. I don't know how I got the guide back to the original settings because the most of my attempts to reset the box to factory defaults still left the guide they way I had modified it. This last time I found that the Interactive TV Guide channel was turned "off" on my first attempt to download. This was the only change that I made. I turned the Interactive TV Guide channel to "on" and within 24 hours I had about 3 days of programing. |
|
Anonymous | Where do you find this menu selection? "This last time I found that the Interactive TV Guide channel was turned "off" on my first attempt to download." I would like to verify that mine is set to on as well. Thanks. |
|
buckm Unregistered guest | A couple of days ago I checked the EPG and there was a message stating something like 'the previous guide setup was no longer valid, and I needed to choose an alternate service provider'. When I did I immediately got some EPG data. The EPG has also populated through next Saturday (with the exception of Thursday for some reason). So again I'm more convinced that Comcast is changing things which keep causing me to lose the EPG. |
|
Deldrin Unregistered guest | Thank you everyone for the clearly abundant wealth of information here. I too am having the TV Guide lock up and get all green and fuzzy (certainly not leaving me warm and fuzzy on the inside). I would proceed to hold the power button for 10 seconds and then turn it back on. It would clear the lockup and sometimes the the TV Guide info would be lost and occasionally a recording or two. This week has been especially worse as it has happened every fracking day! I'm not sure I'll do the firmware update yet but I'll keep monitoring this post and see. My thoughts on this problem are the same as a few others here that have mentioned. I believe the fault lies with Comcast (I live in the Chicagoland area). I believe it to be bad TV Guide programming (no, I don't mean too many reality tv shows either). The unit doesn't know what to do with the bad programming it gets so it locks. Even though I think Comcast is at fault (I really hate them right now because the cable internet has been down 4 times this week. grrrr) I think if Panasonic was smart, they would have programmed the unit to protect itself from bad programming. In other words, throw out tonights programming because I can't understand it and we'll try again tomorrow. Or-- I'll take what I can read of this programming and throw out the rest. |
|
Deldrin Unregistered guest | I just followed the guide from BTW - anyone else tempted to try other 2 digit codes while in service mode? <IMG SRC="https://www.ecoustics.com/bbs/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0> I was, but didn't. |
|
Fillibuster Unregistered guest | The firmware upgrade doesn't affect programs on the harddrive, does it? Or should I burn what I want to save to disc before attempting the upgrade? |
|
Fillibuster Unregistered guest | The firmware upgrade doesn't affect programs on the harddrive, does it? Or should I burn what I want to save to disc before attempting the upgrade? |
|
buckm Unregistered guest | Here's a new one. Last night I had the guide on, and it was up to date for the full 8 days. Suddenly! I have a message on the screen saying the quide needed to be setup, like the first time you connect the E85H. I tried to get out of this but couldn't so I set it up yet again for my area code, etc. 24 hours later the guide has repopulated most stuff through Sunday. What the heck happened there? |
|
formerly xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Spike in the power most likely, I keep mine on a UPS to avoid those glitches. xvxvxvx |
|
theotormon Unregistered guest | I have a question for other DMR-E85HS users: I just ran out of my normal Memorex DVD-R 8x's that I normally use w/ no problem, and tried to use comparable TDK DVD-R 8x's. They didn't work - so now I have 50 coasters. I read through the manual and noticed that the unit only supports 4x, though the Memorex 8x's work fine for me (and it's almost impossible to find 4x or slower anymore). Went out and bought a new pack of the Memorex ones, and they work fine. Anyone have experiences w/ ones that do or do not work with the unit? |
|
Bronze Member Username: TlstriegPost Number: 20 Registered: Mar-05 | Interesting Theotormon. I've just put the last of my 100 spindle TDK 8X DVD-Rs in my E85 and have only had two or three coasters, and I think all of those were my fault, not the E85's. I have a new spindle of TDKs due to be delivered today, and I sure hope I don't encounter problems with those. From what I've read on this and other forums, the brand of media makes little difference. It's the manufacturer that's important. For what it's worth, I always record to my HDD and then use the high speed dubbing to transfer to the DVDs. I don't know if that makes any difference, but so far, it has worked for me. Peace, Tom |
|
Deldrin Unregistered guest | Update on the firmware upgrade on my machine. It's been three days now and it works great!! I was having a problem everyday last week with the TV Guide locking up and since the update, not a single problem. Again, I won't give my hopes up as the true test is continued time. We'll see.... |
|
theotormon Unregistered guest | Tom, Thanks for the input -- I'll probably let my TDK's sit on a shelf and try them again sometime. They weren't 'coasters' in the sense that they burned and had errors -- the machine just refused to recognize them and start burning to them. I've accepted the fact that it's a quirky machine, and can live with that... |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 13 Registered: Jul-04 | I have serious issues with my panasonic dmre80h..i called panasonic help and they said it needs to be serviced..but maybe someone might have read or knows anything about my problem...about a week ago for no reason at all(i did not select the option) the format screen came on and the system FORCED me to reformat the entire harddrive..i disconnected from the plug several times and the same option continued to come up...it did not allow me to select anything else or even select NO...so i went ahead and formatted the hard drive..erased all my stuff--no big deal...but when i would record stuff and play it back on the hard drive it would stop and the picture would freeze and the harddrive would be going in a loop...this occurred at various different point of the hard drive but would not allow me to bypass that one scene..NEVER had this issue is the 18 months that i have used the system...so i tried to reformat again and still the same issue...now last night i got a new message in blue telling me "error has occurred" so i press the enter/return key then it reads "please change disc" and i dont even have a disc in the machine though...its a loop now...i unplugged and it will not even allow me to get to the hard drive or dvd drive options anymore as the same 2 looped messages keep occurring...of course the warranty is over and was wondering if you had any advice...thks |
|
formerly xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Replace the HDD with an 80 gig 5400 rpm Maxtor 4R080L0 hard drive. It is easy, costs less than $65 and will make your machine as good as new. Do not, I repeat do not purchase a faster HDD it will overheat and cause you mucho problemo. PS: Even if you purchased a larger HDD (like a 120G) the Panny will reformat the unit and not use the excess space available. xvxvxvx |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 14 Registered: Jul-04 | xvxvxvx Thks so much for the info but since im not good at this kinda stuff..i have a couple more specific questions....not only does the hdd not working but the DVD part is also not working as that looping message occurs when trying to use both the hdd/dvd parts....will the new hard drive from maxtor fix this problem?? Do i do the installation myself or still bring to get serviced?? I tried to access the service menu and that wouldnt even work...again i have the dmre80model...again are you confident replacing the HDD is the issue as to why i am having these serious issues??? thks for your input |
|
fornerly xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Asked and answered Dan. Why would I give you all the information if it would not repair your entire problem? xvxvxvx |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 15 Registered: Jul-04 | xvxvxvx so i then do the installation myself of the new hard drive and dont need to service it? i really appreciate your help....is the installation easy?? |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 16 Registered: Jul-04 | xvxvxvx is this the maxtor hard drive i need?? |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 17 Registered: Jul-04 | it seems to be impossible to find the 5400 rpm model.....all i find is the faster 7200 rpm..which may overheat |
|
formerly xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | Dan, It installs quite easily. You might want to call Maxtor to find a distributor with the 4R080L0 5400 rpm model in stock. Other's have tried the 7200 rpm version and it burns up within a month after the unit has been reassembled. You can always return it to Panny and pay the shipping and repair fee but that will cost you an arm and a leg compared to less than $65. I did a Nextag search and found these two vendors: http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buyer/outpdir.jsp?nxtg=132037_B69B44283C4BACC1&s earch=4r080l0&OVRAW=4R080L0&OVKEY=4r080l0&OVMTC=standard I have not ordered from either one so I cannot vouch for them. Good luck, xvxvxvx |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 18 Registered: Jul-04 | xvxvxvx you are awesome..i did take the cover off my panney and saw the hardrive....but i live in Toronto and no one has a 5400 only 7200...now the link you showed me links to the 5400 but the hardrive shows 160?? i can only get one thats 80?? right??? thks again... |
|
Unregistered guest | Received my unit back from Panasonic guide was not coming up unless unplugged unit and then next morning would not work. Panasonic updated Firmware and said Gemstar/TV Guide had patched their software which caused the problems. They have since corrected the problem. Then I was told if I had a problem to give it a few weeks as there was to be another patch 04/25?? Anyone know about this. Also my guide loaded for Sunday thru Thursday and then Saturday. For whatever reason it skipped over Friday. Any suggestions/ideas?? Thanks.. |
|
adtice Unregistered guest | One other question, does anyone know of a computer dvd drive that can play dvd-ram? |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 19 Registered: Jul-04 | xvxvxvx Does it matter if i buy a 120 gig hardrive instead of 80??? its seems maxtor has discontinued the 80gig 5400rpm and i am in canada and the only places that still have the old 5400rpm 80 gig dont ship to canada...so i guess if i install a 120 gig it will still work the same as the 80gig...even though i will be only able to use 80 of the 120....thks |
|
formerly xvxvxvx Unregistered guest | "One other question, does anyone know of a computer dvd drive that can play dvd-ram?" All the Panasonic's can as well as many others. "...so i guess if i install a 120 gig it will still work the same as the 80gig...even though i will be only able to use 80 of the 120....thks" Correct and you are welcome Dan. xvxvxvx |
|
newracer Unregistered guest | Just wanted to say thanks to all that have posted here. A lot of great info. I haven't had many problems with my E85H yet (it has froze a few times) but I upgraded the firmware anyways. I am switching over to cable from sat next week, hopefully the guide will work! |
|
Daughn Unregistered guest | This forum has been very useful! I got my E85H last November but didn't have any problems until March. After getting the 0970DL firmware upgrade, everything was ok for about 10 days. Today, I called Panasonic, and the service tech said that they were working with TV Guide to "download a mod" in the TV Guide listing to "upgrade" the E85H in the near future--they are still testing the fix. The only problem I have had since the 0970DL upgrade on April 11th was when no scheduled programs recorded and several remote keys would not function. Disconnecting power on the E85H for 20 seconds cleared the problem and all has worked ok the past 3 days. I also used the SERVICEMODE commands to verify data such as data manufactured (20040323) and firmware version (970DL). |
|
Unregistered guest | Does anyone know if Cablevision in NJ still passes the Gemstar EPG through? My DMR-E95H stopped being able to download the info last month (March/2005). When I contacted Cablevision they said that they didn't support Panasonic hardware and also that their cable boxes (Scientific-Atlanta 4200) had to turned off in order for them to get the program data that appears when you hit the "info" button on the remote. Previously the cable boxes could get the info while on. |
|
Deldrin Unregistered guest | Well it's been about two weeks since I upgraded the firmware and no problems so far! |
|
Guy on Long Island Unregistered guest | My apologies for mis-posting this question previously as a new thread (instead of appending it here as a new addition)..... I'm on Cablevision in NY, using an SA 4200HD STB to receive digital cable. The STB feeds HD component video to the TV, and composite video to the DMR-E85. Either Cablevision strips out the programming data needed by the E85's TV Guide feature, or the STB doesn't pass it thru. Regardless, the TV guide feature never gets what it's looking for, so it keeps flipping channels to try to find it. I don't care about the TV Guide feature, but I do want to be able to use the E85 like a VCR (ie., set it to record a particular channel at a particular time), so the E85 needs to be able to change the channel on the cable box, so I need the IR Blaster to be functional. I tried leaving the E85 on all the time (which suppresses the channel flipping in search of data for the TV Guide feature), but the unit times out and turns off, so the flipping re-starts. Only other options appear to be to unplug/disable the ability of the E85 to control the STB, but that defeats the ability to record automatically using a manually set timer & channel. Is there some way to stop the E85 from flipping channels all the time that still leaves te E85 with the ability to change the channel on the STB? Thanks in advance...... Guy PS. This is a tremendous forum..... |
|
fx Unregistered guest | "Is there some way to stop the E85 from flipping channels all the time that still leaves te E85 with the ability to change the channel on the STB?" Nope, what most people do is to remove the IR blaster and set manual recordings on both the E-85 and the SA 4200 for the times you wish to record. That is your only alternative besides waking up every six hours and turning on your E-85. If your cable company offers an older model STB and doesn't strip out the signal you might get guide data in that manner by leasing an additional cable box. You can discover if the guide data is being transmitted by using a coax splitter and sending one tap directly to your E-85 before the signal is processed by your STB. If the guide downloads you can at least program and record all the analog channels on your system in this manner. This is what I do for my downstairs theater setup. xvxvxvx |
|
newracer Unregistered guest | Just got Comcast installed and have been trying to get the TV Guide to download. Have tried having the signal from the STB via coax and line output. Both times the next morning "Download has failed" is displayed not "No listings found." Any thoughts? |
|
Guy on Long Island Unregistered guest | fx, thanks for the answer... i made a discovery about the E85's auto shut off feature. turns out that the E85 is set to auto shut off after 6 hours as a factory default, but you can also set it to auto shut off after 2 hrs, or, to NOT shut off at all. you access this feature through the SETUP menu. hit SETUP on the RC, which presents a screen of more choices. on this screen, the 2nd choice from the top is SETUP. select that, then look at what TIMER is set to. available choices are 6 hr, 2 hr and OFF. mine was set to 6 hrs. i set it to OFF about 11PM last night, left the unit on, and its been on ever since. you still have to wade through the TV Guide glop to set the timers, but at least it won't flip channels any more.... Guy |
|
fx Unregistered guest | That is interesting Guy. My E-85 only has the 6 hour and 2 hour options. I may have an older firmware version than you. I am glad you solved your major headache. xvxvxvx |
|
ProfEnigma Unregistered guest | I checked my Jan '05 purchased E-85 and found that it was manufactured in Mar '04 and had the old firmware. I ran the firmware update and it has been running without problem for several weeks. It took several days before the TV Guide fully re-populated. One thing that I thought of after reading all these posts is that since the E-85 has to be turned off and must flip through the channels to find the TV Guide data, you can't be recording during that time either since the channel will be locked on the one being recorded. Basically, the more you record the less chance of getting an update. Many thanks to all here for the help. |
|
Unregistered guest | Anyone use this dvd recorder with a HDTV with a cable card? Are you able to record the upper tiered digital channels that the cable card gives the tv...I am thinking about buying a tv with a cable card and want to make sure this will work... Thanks |
|
fx Unregistered guest | No DVD recorder will record a digital input. You are able to send an analog output from your display and record on the DVD recorder. Your limitation in this case would be that to record a digital channel your TV must be tuned to that channel while you are recording the analog converted output of that channel. xvxvxvx |
|
adtice Unregistered guest | Is it like having the channel on 3 and using a cable box...how would it work ...the tv would be on the digital channel and the dvd recorder would be on what?? |
|
fx Unregistered guest | First your TV will need to have it's own analog output such as an S-Video output or the Yellow component output. Remember to hook up a set of red/white RCA cables for the sound as well. Your recorder has L1, L2 and L3 line inputs, choose any one of those and be sure to select the correct input when you program your manual recording times. Since you have not specified the model of TV you have I can only assume it does indeed have video out jacks. Most upscale HD sets do have them. xvxvxvx |
|
Anita Unregistered guest | Hi: Have had an E85 for about a year now with no problems...the other night tried to play a copied DVD and it came up with "NO READ". After that, it would still play HDD stuff, but no CDs or DVDs of any kind. My husband took it apart to take a look, put it back together, and now it won't respond to anything either remotely or with the buttons on the recorder itself. The power is on but nothing is lit up on DVD or HDD, just says NO DISC with channel 7 showing. Are we totally out of luck at this point? Should it just go to a repair place or can it be fixed? Thanks! |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 21 Registered: Jul-04 | How can i find out whem my DMR e85 was actually manufactured like the date and month??? Is there a step by step way to get this info??? thks |
|
Daughn Unregistered guest | Dan - you can go to the link |
|
Bronze Member Username: Thunder2004Post Number: 22 Registered: Jul-04 | Well I have the DMRe85h for about 3weeks now...the only issue is i get the message"SELF CHECK" and reboots a couple of times...this is when i am dubbing from HDD to DVD-R and also once when i tried to "write a title" to the disc when finalizing. I Never use the tvguide thing or the DIVIDE TITLE function. Do you think updating the firmware is really necessary? since i dont use the tvguide or divide options and will never? My machine was manufactured in APRIL 2004 and I just bought it...cant of frusterating that it was produced over a year ago from the date i bought it.... |
|
Darron Jeans Unregistered guest | I have a DMR-E85H that i have had for a few months now, and I am experiencing a problem that I haven't seen anyone else post about. My unit downloads TV Guide fine, but will forget the shows it is supposed to record regularly or weekly, almost every week. For instance, I set it to record the Simpsons, and tell it to record regularly. The next week, I will have to set it again because either it doesn't appear to be set anymore, or it will show an "!R" over the title meaning it's not going to record. This happens both when set to regularly and weekly. One the other hand, shows that come on daily continue to record when set to regularly. For instance I have it set to record Seinfeld which comes on every night, and that works like a charm. Anyone else having this problem, or know how to fix it? |
|
Bronze Member Username: CountryguyAstorville, ON Canada Post Number: 19 Registered: Nov-04 | Darron, I had a similiar problem - I have 2 programs I have set to record every day, one at 1:30 pm on channel 5 and one at 4:30 pm on channel 3. The one at 4:30 works like a charm however the one on channel 5 will not record. The program on channel 5 is also broadcast on channel 22 at the same time so I tried setting the recorder to channel 22 instead of 5 at 1:30 pm and now it records like a charm. There was another post on here where they had the same problem between 1 and 2 pm on channel 5. Seems very weird to me but so far no explanation on how to fix it. |
|
New member Username: TorquerPost Number: 1 Registered: May-05 | ---TV Guide stopped working after firmware upgrade--- I got my DMR-E85H in December 2004. For the first couple months everything worked great. I have it hooked up through my Scientific Atlanta digital cable box connected to Cablevision here in New York to the L3 input. The TV Guide functions worked fine and updated properly through the box. In February, I started having the lock-up problems that have been discussed extensively. I called Panasonic and they told me to send it in for repair. The only useful thing they did was upgrade the firmware. I got it back from Panasonic and now it refuses to get the TV Guide information through the cable box. I tried plugging the cable directly into the E85 and that works...I get a listing overnight. But I can not get it through the Scientific Atlanta box. Given that nothing changed (same cable company, same box), I have to believe the latest firmware in the E85 broke the TV Guide. I really fell in love with the TV Guide functions (especially search for upcoming movies by Genre) and can't live without it. So right now for my use, I was better off with the old firmware. Has anyone else seen anything like this? |
|
Daughn Unregistered guest | I have a Scientific Atlanta digital cable box model Explorer 2100, through which the cable passes through to the E85H. I have not had a problem with the TV Guide since I installed the firmware upgrade in March. I have used the TV Guide to record daily shows, some of which record 5 days a week and some 7 days - all works ok so far. I have noticed that sometimes programs several days in the future haven't loaded on the TV Guide, but if I've scheduled a daily recording, it always seems to record. I've only had one lockup since the firmware upgrade, and that was solved by disconnecting power to the E85H for a half minute. The cable I have is a regional service called Knology. |
|
New member Username: Daffy_dougPost Number: 1 Registered: May-05 | I purchased a Panasonic DMR-E85H a couple of months ago. It worked great right out of the box although I did do the ROM update. Got the TV Guide and everything was running great. Then I rearranged the order of some of the channels on the "TV Guide", suddenly the "TV Guide" update stopped working. I did all the resets etc. and still no TV Guide updating. Then I read the FAQ in the TV Guide On Screen system User's Manual that I got with my recorder, and I found a question called "How do I restore the unit to the factory settings" Here is what they say: Turn the Unit "ON" and allow about 30 seconds for the unit to boot up. If the Channel Guide screen then appears, press the "TV Guide" Button on the remote control so that you are viewing a TV broadcast. Simultaneously press and hold the channel Up and Channel Down (little round buttons) on the main unit for about 5 seconds. When the unit is re-powered, the channel lineup and program data will be deleted and you can start the setup up again. Did the above and I have my "TV Guide" back again. With the default channel listing. So I can only conclude that when you start re-arranging channels you probably will have problems. I am going to write to Panasonic and ask what for there response. |
|
New member Username: Bhumi44Ahmedabad, Gujarat India Post Number: 10 Registered: May-05 | Dear sir, We have this service manual in stock. kindly contect us on info@bhumitapes.com or bhumi44@rediffmail.com thanking you kirit shah |
|
Bronze Member Username: CountryguyAstorville, ON Canada Post Number: 20 Registered: Nov-04 | Doug, I have rearranged all my channels also and have no problems with downloading the TV Guide. The only problem I do have is that it refuses to record on channel 5 between 1 pm and 2 pm. Gary |
|
LouZ Unregistered guest | I have been attempting to download the firmware from All that I get is a 8K file not the 6 meg zip file. Has anyone else encountered this problem? |
|
New member Username: Daffy_dougPost Number: 2 Registered: May-05 | LouZ You must be doing something wrong. I just downloaded the zip file and got the 6mb file. There is only one file in the zip, which is 6mb. |
|
LouZ Unregistered guest | For some reason, it would not download on my laptop. I then tried on the desktop, and got it! The DVD is now updated. While I was searching, I found the "official" Panasonic download site: I used it and it reported "UNSUPPORT" which PANA states is the current version NOT TRUE! Stick with "dxcc" Thanks. |
|
csm Unregistered guest | I've read the posts, and it wasn't clear to me. Will the Panasonic DVD TV guide work directly with Comcast analog cable (ie no box, just regular analog programming). Carl |
|
Fehr Unregistered guest | I've read some comments about different brands of DVD-R on this forum. Does anyone know how Sony's work in these machines? |
Main Forums
Today's Posts- Home Audio Forum
- Home Video Forum
- Home Theater Forum
- Car Audio Forum
- Accessories Forum
- All Forum Topics