Cyberhome DVD/RW nightmare

I got a response from Cyberhome support this week regarding the hang after upgrading the 1500 to the latest firmware.

They said they haven't seen this before. Not sure I believe them, but wondering if anyone else has had their 1500 hang with the following scenario:
- upgrade to latest firmware
- put in a DVD+RW recorded with the previous firmware level
- put unit in standby
- powerup... system will hang

I don't recommend anyone do this just to test it, because if it does hang, you may not be able to ever recover. But I am curious if folks have already done this and have it work. I haven't heard of anyone who's done this scenario without it hanging.

 

I had the EXACT same thing happen to me, as I reported in a previous post. I absolutley emailed Cyberhome customer support and reported the problem to them, twice. I used an alternate email address the second time. I NEVER heard from them. Don't let them tell you they never heard this before. That is just not true.

 

Here are some things I have definitely learned from making over 75 DVD's on Cyberhome 1500, so listen up:
1) Do NOT use the firmware upgrade. It will make your previously-recorded DVD's act crazy and cause new bugs. My advice: stick with the old bugs.
2) Do NOT leave a DVD in your recorder overnight. Everytime I have, the DVD has had problems viewing, playing, and/or finalizing. Take out the DVD when you are not using the recorder!
3) If a DVD gets stuck, power off, then turn the power back on while holding down the STOP button on the RECORDER (I don't know why it works, it just DOES).
4) IF you get an ERROR message after recording which will not let you play or finalize, press EJECT, then EJECT and EJECT AGAIN BEFORE the tray can close. Works most of the time for me.
5) Do NOT use DVD's that are 2.4X! Use 4X or better. COME ON, it's worth a few more cents to get it to work right! Brands don't matter in my particular unit. I've used Maxell, Memorex, and generic-- all seem the same in quality and consistency. I've had 5 DVD's out of 80 not work at all..them's the breaks with digital media. It's NOT ANALOG TAPE!
6) If you try to record extremely wobbly video where the tracking won't work, the DVD will likely either stop recording or else give you an error message when you try to view it. So, use good source material!
7) Proper wiring hookup will give you proper volume level
8) E-mail cyberhome at sales@cyberhome.com. The sales department writes to you very quickly. Service NEVER responds.

I hope this helps some people. Please respond so I know you care. I'm sensitive!

 

Hey dmelgar,

With regard to firmware and recorded disc compatability, CyberHome warns that all previously recorded discs be made compatible (+RW) and finalized (+R)with the previously used firmware BEFORE applying the new firmware update! Perhaps this is causing your problem?

Cheers!

 

Hey tommyzax,

Thanks for the EXCELLENT post. I will purposely leave a recorded disc in overnite and test your extraction method. Tray lockup is my biggest issue.

With regard to generic discs, I found that the ones I've tried, that I got from e-bay (+R), always produce coasters if I let them record to the end of the disc unattended. What generic are you using, where did you purchase, etc.? I have heard that discs with purple dye on the recording side work the best...? Right now, am haveing 100% success with Maxell +R. I will be producing videos on multiple +R format for distribution to my clients. VERY interested in good, reliable generics that work well....please advise.

Cheers!

 

I have been following this thread for awhile now. Its time to tell my story. I bought my 1st cyberhome dvr1500 around oct 03 at wallyworld for 399.99 maybe even a little over 400 i cant remember back that far lol, never had any real problems other than locking up from time to time, and ofcoarse the HEAT issue, they run real hot. I took it back i wasnt ready to pay 400.00 for a dvr yet. Then they dropped to 349.99 I picked up another one at wallyworld, same thing it would lock up from time to time and the heat issue was still there, buyers remorse got me and I took it back. Then they dropped to 299.99 once again I headed off to wallyworld, this one would lock up but RARELY, Still the heat issue, but i figured it was time to keep it. Well i did a firmware upgrade and it started acting STRANGE, I took it back for an exchange, I got a new unit PLUS money back because the price had dropped to 248.00. Well the latest firmware came out and i applied it and BAM i got the STANDBY LOCK-UP problem, I said forget it im done, too many problems when the firmware is upgraded, some units work well some dont. All in all it was an OK unit. I made over 100 copies with the last one. BuT just way to many problems for a unit with a 90 day waranty. I started searching the web for a replacement, I got the best one for the MONEY and it works FLAWLESSLY its a PHILIPS DVDR75/17 I love this machine. It does everything it says it will, most all reveiws say the people love everything about it but the menu's and manual. I will say the menu's were strange but with an hour or so of playing with the remote i was jammin thru the set-up and menu's with ease, I actually think the menu system they have is nice, the manual was also strange but once you wade'ed thru the crap, it made sense. And THIS thing runs alot cooler, ALL dvdr's on the market today produce abit more heat than we are use too. Also I caught it in an open box at circuit city for 295.00 they wanted 330.00 but they are easy to talk down in price and full 1 year parts and labor waranty. This is a solid unit, altho manufactured in mar 2003 the unit was in BRAND NEW condition all components present, the guy said it was returned because it was too hard to operate...LOL... trust me they arent, im sure most of you are TOY nuts like me. I will say i learned alot about dvr's since i picked up the 1st cyberhome, and i now have the bug, ill always need (have) one lol. So if you get tired of messing with the cyberhome and still are able to return it go with the PHILIPS.

 

It's been a few weeks since I returned my 1500 to Walmart. In previous posts I described how damn hot the unit gets and how I started getting 'no disc' messages after 3 weeks of ownership. This week I purchased the Liteon LVW-5005. This thing is like night and day to the Cyberhome 1500. It's lighter, runs quieter and cooler and burns to just about all types of media (DVD R/RW/+/- and even CD R/RW). Burns VCD/SVCD on CD's and even records audio CD format. Operation on screen menu is intuitive and easy to use....you barely need a manual with this thing. They put a small fan in the rear of this new model and that really keeps the unit at a normal temperature while using the unit....ejected discs are just slightly warm, not burning hot like my old Cyberhome. On other forums there are numerous posts about heat in the prior Liteon model (Lvw-5001) but a simple exhaust fan in the new one seems to have cured that up. So far I love this unit. Presently this model is about $100 more than the Cyberhome, but feels well worth the extra money. I also like that Liteon backs up the product with a full one year parts and labor warranty vs. 90 days Labor and one year parts on Cyberhome.

 

More info. The story gets more complex.

Summary: I re-upgraded to the latest firmware levels
and no problems are now occuring.
On the way there, I did have trouble upgrading.
Apparently, the 1500 doesn't complain if it has
trouble reading firmware.

In case your interested, sequence of steps I went
through,
- Created a CD-RW with both firmware updates and
verified data files matched the files from Cyberhome.
- Applied the Uxxx.upd.
- Factory reset
- tested standby and powerup. No problems
- Applied the 128a.b00 update.
- 1500 would often (but not always) hang on powerup
from standby. System seemed extremely unstable.
- Created a CD-RW using ISO_D042128A, reapplied the
servo firmware update.
- Hang would not happen
- However, in system setup, went to select Cable
instead of Antenna. System hung. Could not leave menu.
- I created another CD-RW with only the Uxxx.upd file,
verified the data.
- Reapplied that firmware update
- I haven't noted any problems with the unit.

Seems like the 1500 is sensitive to data errors, or
read errors, or format problems on the firmware CDs.
Too bad it can't verify the files with an md5 checksum
or something similar.

 

No sooner than I make that last append...
I scheduled a mess of recordings, put in a brand new DVD+RW, it formatted it, put it in standby. Wouldnt power up. Hung again. Backed off the servo firmware to 126a and it seems work work again, at least for the moment.
This is really flakey!

 

Hey renderman..thanks for the compliment. About DVD generics, I bought from Meritline on eBay...they have the same rate of failure as others if you take care to avoid letting bugs take over (like leaving DVD in overnight). Purple dye may or may not matter...I've heard that color means nothing in a DVD. About letting a DVD run to the end unattended, I NEVER do this because when I have, I nearly always get the ERROR message. Apparently, the machine needs at least a minute of free space left in order to add digital signature of some kind. I hope all that helps.

 

My Cyberhome locks up if I try to play DVD’s recorded on a computer. When it locks, none of the buttons on the unit or remote function.
For those who are willing to open the unit and out of warrantee, here is a method for removing a disc from a Cyberhome 1500 when it will not eject. The method requires a PC with Windows and a CD or DVD drive or spare cable set. I you have ever installed a computer drive, you should not have any problems with this operation.

1 Remove the cover and you will find a DVD drive surrounded by some the circuit boards.
(It is a nice and neat package.)
2 Unplug the ribbon cable and the power supply cable from the drive.
3 Open your computer and unplug the ribbon and power supply cables from the CD drive if there isn’t another set of unused cables available.
4 Plug the computer cables into the 1500’s DVD drive.
5 Now turn your computer on. When Windows is ready, go to My Computer. My Computer will list all your drives, including the Cyberhome DVD drive.
6 Click the right mouse button then select eject from the menu and the drive door will open and you can remove the disc.
7 Turn your computer off and reconnect everything.
When you turn on the 1500 recorder, the draw will close and the system is ready.

I tested this on PC's with Windows 95,98 and XP

I've learned not to try to play DVD's recorded on a computer drive. I guess this is the price you pay for trying new technology. I'm old enough to remember when people were waiting for television to be perfected before thay would by one.

 

sweisbrod
Thanks for your hint on using my computer to open the bay drawer. Although I have not tried this on my cyberhome yet, I am sure it will work just like you state. It is also good to know for my computer bays since at times they would not open and I would have to reboot the computer. I believe this will solve that problem I have had in the past. Sincerely, kcar11705@yahoo.com

 

PLEASE Help from anyone.
I have a cyberhome 1500 purchased from HSN in Nov03. I have had good success with it most of the time. The problem I run into is it hangs up sometimes with a DVD+RW disk in and I can't open the tray up. I hear the drive in their cycling on and off with a ratio of about 4 sec on and 1 sec off. and it is stuck in a loop doing this and it seems no matter what I do including the enter return enter fix doesn't fix the problem. I don't want to open the cover up yet due to warranty. The firmware fix doesn't apply to mine since it is U0818200301x \ 602 S/GB which the instructions say it won't work by using the firmware & Servo upgrades (HSN must have been closing out cyberhomes older models). I suspect it is only with certain DVD+RW's but have the same DVD+RW from the same manufacture work just fine other times. Any pointers on this matter would be appreciated. Sincerely, kcar11705@yahoo.com

 

Have you tried TOMMYZAX' solution?:

"If a DVD gets stuck, power off, then turn the power back on while holding down the STOP button on the RECORDER (I don't know why it works, it just DOES)"

 

KOOLBREW thanks for your reply. I tried this and it still didn't work. Keep trying different things and it didn't work. Left it powered down for 1 hr. When I powered up it went into format mode and then give me error. after more messing around I was finally able to get it to open. Put in another disk and all seems to work OK now.Have lableled disk as $3 coster even origionally it worked fine but just gives error message now even when reformatted. No scratches or dammage visable but now know it has to be some kind of damage disk has had inflicted on it...Go figer.
THANKS foryour input and any other that comes my way.
Sincerely, kcar11705@yahoo.com

 

I recommend unplugging the black cord all the way on the left...It is really hard to unplug, but it resets the entire Cyberhome DVD+R Recorder 1500. I too purchased this on Jan. 25, 2004 @ Wal-Mart for $248.00. I really like the Sony DVD+R's...I have seen these purple 5 packs at Wal-Mart and Target...at one point Wal-Mart was selling a Holiday 6 pack for $9.99...That was a pretty sweet deal...because Sony DVD+R's in the blue/purple cases work awesome on this recorder!...I have found them online, but for a 5 pack directly from Sony they want $26.95...for a dam 5 pack! that is crazy...probably because they work so well....anyway, I have been buying Fujifilm DVD+R's at Bestbuy in a 10-pack for $24.99...I usually put 3 or 4 movies on a DVD+R...so I would say Fujifilm DVD+R's are not my favorite...but I will recommend them 7 times out of 10...I have had only a few disks not work...which is annoying after recording 3 movies...but sometimes I am careful and record for 10 seconds in between movies to do a quick test...I guess that's it...Catherine

 

...also...I don't recommend the Cyberhome DVD+RW's...they are just annoying

 

Well I finally had my recorder to start locking up on me when I did a timed recording.I noticed that I had recorded in SP mode and set the record time for the full 2 hours and when I took it off standby it was locked up.I flicked the manual power switch on the back 2 or 3 times real fast and it unlocked.I then did 2 more timed recordings except this time I set the record time for 1 hour 59 minutes and both times it worked as it was supposed to.Might be something to it

 

try what I said....unplug the big black wire all the way on the left...that's what I do when my Cyberhome Ch1500 locks up...Give it a shot.
Yours,
catherine

 

Catherine, I wish I knew about your solution to the lock-up problem before I took my 1500 back to Wal-mart. I really liked the thing and had no other problems except the locking up. I'm tempted to go back and get another one, but I've heard different solutions to this problem, but no one solution seems to work for everyone. If anyone else has this problem and can recover by unplugging the power cord, please post back. Thanks!