Any opinions on the Sharp DV-HR300?

2. Also, I find that High speed dubbing is impossible for timer record programs but it can if I select a direct recording program. Anyone has same experience?

I think this has always been the case. I cannot do high speed dubbing from timer recordings though I don't know why this should be.

 

Hi! In principle, Sharp DV-HR 300/350s are multilingual. On www.sharp.de il says that this firmware it improves the stability. I had previous upgrade 1.18. I did not sense any difference. Conditions for upgrade are:
- the model must be 350S! No other model is supported.
- the serial number should be above this one: 404716359
- should the serial number is below the one mentioned above, a red dot should be on the right side of the serial number.
- the drive should be 1.35. To check this, press on the DVD Recorder, channel up and rec stop for more than 2 sec. To exit that screen press again the same combination of buttons.

If any of the above conditions is not met, go to a service unit to perform the update.

Here is the update procedure.
1.Store the Download file on your computer.
2. The file is unpacking and you should see two files and a listing.
3. Burn the two files and the listing on a CD-R or CD-RW.
4. Switch your DVHR350S on.
5. Open DVD drawer with the help of open/CLOSE key. 6. Put the prepared CD into the DVD subject an close it with the button open/CLOSE
7. The display of the Recorder indicates the number sequence to "000200", the picture monitor however "test mode/Don't power off!!!".
- The DATA processing-HR can also indicate with this step "00020E" to and with the nachsten step "000207".
8. After approximately 30 seconds the number sequence "000208" appears, the DVD drawer opens itself and in the TV shows now a half OK on the top right.
9. Take the Disc.
10.-switch off from (regardless the message Don't power off ' The DVD powers off and the first part of the update is ended.
Power on.
11-wait to none of the keys "HDD" and "DVD" more flash.
12.Press and hold the keys [ Channel^ ] & [ REC STOP ] for approx.. 2 sec.. Now you see the following on your picture monitor.
13. The firmware "should say : 00000120".
14.Press the key with number [ 9 ] on your remote control. This will end the update. The DV-HR350S switches itself off now automatically. If the "Standby" LED to turn out shines, the installation is final.
Make shure that durinf the update the power is not cut off. Else you will distroy the unit!

It does not activate DV out.

I noticed also that the direct rec function does not work. Also that timer recording does not support hi-speed dubbing. I do not have any explanation.

Hope that my answer will help you. The firmware can be found on www.sharp.de. Click on home page "sevices" then "sofwareupdates" on the drop box, choose your model and left-click. On the following page under point 2 left click "hier". On the next page left click "weiter zum Firmwareupdate". On the next page click "exe". This will start the download. Then follw the above steps.

Good luck!

Majorusa

 

When I said the model should be 350S I ment 300/350 with the letter S after the number. Not F, not U, not H.

Please choose the right firmware for your model.

Majorusa

 

Pressing Channel up and Rec Stop is not mentioned in the manual, so any magic key to reset the machine to manufactory default? The reset on the panel only can reset the date & time. Million thanks.

 

Hi all..

I have a 350S. Last week I was recording to HDD and I got the error : "RECORDING WAS STOPPED BECAUSE OF AN ERROR" I think that was the text. The last part was definitely just because of an ERROR and not HDD error or anything else..
I cannot find this error message in the manual. Has anyone else seen this error message. The HDD seems ok though, there are no problems.

One thing I notice is that when I start the device or start a recording then the HDD makes a single click sound. Is that normal?

Also, what do we do in 5 years when the HDD crashes? I saw some messages in this group about HDD replacement but nothing which seems trustworthy.
Has anyone swapped his HDD already?

MM

 

Hi! It says in the manual that pressing channel up and DVD for more than 2 sec. on the front of the recorder it will allow you to make auto install again. For me this is a hard reset. It will not erase the HDD.

Majorusa

 

Thanks majorusa. Is it for 300 model? I just see the maunal telling to pressing the RESET button on the front panel, at the troubleshooting page. Where does it mention about pressing channel up & DVD button? Is this equivalent to the "Auto Installation" in the manual?

 

Hi MakMoer; and anyone else who has experienced "recording has stopped due to an error" or "disc can not be played back" when trying to finalize. I have burned loads of discs, with tons of edits to boot, and yes at times experienced errors when trying to finalize discs. Drove me nuts until I remembered to "initialize" the hard drive. I say if you're a frequent user of your Sharp, then initialize your hard drive every couple of months or even every month. Yes it wipes out the hard drive so be sure to record everything first to disc. After initializing you will find your hard drive running smoother and possibly quicker, just like it came out of the box. Only takes a few minutes and the rewards are plentiful. This past weekend I was burning like a madman and when trying to finalize, I must have tossed 1 out of 4 discs in the garbage. I had 75+ items in my hard drive and available space so I can't pinpoint where/how the errors started. After initializing, not a error to be found. Just like with computers, you/we need to defrag once in a while, depending on our usage. G'day all. Don

 

Yes JLee88. It is Auto Installation in the manual. I know that the manual does not show the command channel up and Rec stop for more than 2 sec. It is mentioned only on www.sharp.de at the firmware upgrade instructions. My model is 350s but the 300 is the same only with a different HDD.

Majorusa

 

Thanks majorusa. I bought the recorder in Hong Kong but it was imported from overseas by shops, not the designated agent, where did you bought your recorder? Do you have the Shape contact phone no. at your country?

 

ANYONE!

I would like to know if I just try the second disk of the region free hack would it work?
I have the US model and I don't want it to go to PAL again and loose my NTSC tuner.

Thanks

 

Jlee88 I bought my recorder in Romania but was bought by a friend of mine from Holland. I have the contact numbers of the local Sharp dealer but I will not help u a lot. I called them by example concerning the firmware upgrade and I discovered that I know much more about the subject than the guys from the service. So I translated the instructions from www.sharp.de and I performed myself the upgrade. What problems do you have with your machine?

 

majorusa I experianced that I can't record Nicam when direct recording or time shift (the bilingual function changed to stereo and only the default voice ch, e.g. L can be played), but it works in timer recording (ch L and ch R can be seleted during playback). When I first purchased, it worked but I don't know why it doesn't now. I'm quite worry about upgrade as Sharp HK never import this machine and they can't support me. Also I don't know the language at www.sharp.de. What language does you machine display? English or others? By the way, I think that the original firmware should be no problem because I could use it when I first purchased. I try to reset the machine by pressing the 'reset' button as the manual said, but it is useless, just the clock setting and TV ch preset erased. I've not yet tried your method to hold the ch up and DVD together, maybe I try later. So far it is ok because I seldom use direct recording.

 

Just bought a new Sharp DVD Recorder. Everytime I switch on the DVD Recorder, it shows the default time, and asks to reset the system clock. Is there a battery sowewhere that needs to be replaced or inserted for the first time?

Please help.

Regards,
Vinai
vinaip@gmail.com

 

Hi Lehe,
I suspect the second disk may actually be doing the flashing, but that's only a wild guess. My bet: Won't work.
If you live in the US why would you want region free? You should have the widest choice, earliest releases and lowest prices?
The only other thing I can suggest is to try and weasel just NTSC converter software (or maybe it's only a handset hack) out of Sharp support, as you want to use your PAL machine on NTSC.

 

Hi EA5E,
My wife has a handfull of Region 3 discs that are in PAL.

When you apply the hack on any other model do you have the option of choosing CABLE TV as a tuner choice?

If so then I can just get a $30 PAL to NTSC convertor.

I CAN'T send the unit back to sharp, it took way to much work to get it sent back let alone shipping costs.

Thanks!

 

Hi Vinai. Are you switching off the DVD Recorder from the operate button on its front or remote and put it in stand-by or are you unplugging the device? From what you say it looks that the device is disconected from the power. If it is not the power then here is another fix. Set manually the clock, not using the vps sistem. For this go to other settings 2/ clock settings and take off the AUTO mark.

 

New DVD-Drive firmware available for Sharp 300/350S. This will upgrade the DVD-Drive to version 1.43 and improve compatibility with different media.

How to update:
1. First check to see what version do you have. This update is only for the 300/350 S model. Not for other U, F, H models. To see if you have an older version of the drive press Channel up and Rec Stop for more than 2 sec. To exit this screen press again channel up and rec stop for more than 2 sec. Should on the right uder the name DRIVE you see 1.43 you do not need any update.
2. Download the update from this page. http://www.sharp.de/softwareupdates/dvhrxxs/dvhrxxs_2.html
3. Unpack the files on your hard disk.
4. Copy the files DRIVE.VER and RWS1_HR350_143.DRW on a CD-R or CD-RW.
5. Turn on the Recorder.
6. Open the DVD drawer by pressing the open/close on the front pannel.
7. Place the CD-R/RW with the firmware on the tray and close it.
8. the display of the Reciorder will show 300 and in about 1 min. will change to 307. The tray will open.
9. Remove the disk from the tray and turn off the recorder. Do not attempt to close the tray.
10. Turn on the recorder. It will initialize and the tray will close by itself.
Update is completed.
WARNING! Do not attempt to upgrade should you not have an [bold]S[/bold]model!
I hope that you will find this useful.

 

Thanks Majorusa. I tried, but it did not help.

I have connected the TV, Cable set-top box and the DVD recorder into a multi plug power adapter. So when I power on, all three come alive. after pressing the TV remote to the a/v channel, I see a blue screen, while the recorder is still booting up. The Standby red light, and the Blue lights on the HDD and DVD are blinking. Note that I have not even pressed the "Operate" button yet. So after about 30 blinks, it says - "Disk is not inserted", and then immediately after this, it says, "powering off. Please wait.", and the unit goes to standby.

Then, when i press the Operate button, the lights blink for another 9 times, and now I can watch the TV.

Is this the normal behaviour of the Sharp DV-HR300A ?

I have pressed the Reset button a couple of times too. Similarly, the time also needs to be reset every evening after I switch on the TV, and the recorder.

Please advice. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Vinai

 

Vinai. The answer is in your message: I have connected the TV, Cable set-top box and the DVD recorder into a multi plug power adapter. So when I power on, all three come alive. For me this means that you are powering off your devices by cutting completly the power. The signs that you describe are like the DVD Recorder was powered off before it could do the whole turning off procedure. The DVD Recorder is a small computer. It has to initialize when swiched on and perform a close down procedure when turned off. When the power is cut the close down procedure cannot be completed and the Recorder is doing what you are saying. The solution is to leave the DVD Recorder connected to power all the time. It will enter in stand-by. Hope that this will fix your problem.