GRCompton , Don't get me wrong, I love this thing (Panny E85H), better qualify that statement. .... I love it when it works, I'm pretty frustrated with the U99, but overall, it's great. Now, I could take my computer, and perform all the funtions available with the recorder, but why not have it all in one (not have to load several programs on the computer to do waht the Panny does naturally) ... anyway, ANNCOATES, what version firmware do you have, how may channels do you normally have in your TV guide, are you connected via cable, or through a tuner? RX7 Fan
I updated my firmware a couple months ago and in the last 2 days I have the U99 error on my E85 each morning. It works fine after turning back on. It missed a timed recording. I wish I could have bought another E80 as I have never had a problem with that machine. Hope this thing can be figured out.
Hi RX7, The firmware on my Panny E85 is version 0970DL, I upgraded it myself months back with the download that's been available. I have cable connected to it, but i don't have a cable box connected, so it's just connected via my incoming cable. My TV guide shows all channels in the lineup for my area but without using a cable box it only allows me to actually view channels up to 95 on my Panasonic.
anncoates, Great, sounds about like what I've done so far, ...I'm hoping that the factory reset will get me to the place you're at. Mine is also direct through the tuner (no cable box) The best I can figure is they had a "format" change in the TV guide data, if that is the case, the factory reset should load all fresh data, ... I'm thinking the "old" data, and "new" data may conflict with eachother in the Panny. If that is the case, I should be back in business tomorrow. Days become sooooo long when you're waiting for something that is supposed to happen at about midnight. (I feel like a kid at Christmas) RX7 Fan
RX7 and others: My experience has been that neither the factory reset or an upgrade in firmware will solve the U99 error message that appears to be associated with the TV Guide download. The only thing that worked was changing to automatic channel selection, thus giving up the TV Guide functionality. I of course would love to hear otherwise. I'd like to try a drive format, but have way too much stuff to go through and burn first. I'm also considering unplugging the unit for an extended period of time - anyone think that might help?
I called the number a few times and then I pressed number 1 and it rang forever. (Maybe they are getting lots of calls about this? I hope so.) I left my number but no one called back. Maybe if we all put pressure on them, like Roger said, we will see results. I just left them another message. I'll let you know if I get a call back.
GRCompton, ... hmmm, more insight I have. (yoda's voice) Here's what I've tried so far, Reformatted the hard drive : No Fix Installed New Firmware : No Fix Factory Reset : Awaiting results Next will be, (If Factory reset doesn't work) Unplug, let sit for a few days Automatic Channel Selection (Question on this option, ... Does Auto Channel Selection take away the option of TV Guide, or do you Auto Channel Select, then turn off the TV Guide? RX7 Fan
Mossler, I left them an E-mail on the issue via there support web site, ... it said "we'll get back to you shortly" did that about 5 or 6 hours ago, ... we'll see.
Good luck, RX7 Fan. I hope it works out for you, let us know. Strange that I'm using the guide daily and haven't received a single U99 error. Since reading this thread I keep expecting to receive one now. Hopefully that won't be the case.
Thanks for the info RX7fan, the more pressure we put on them the better. If they don't call me back I will try that also.
Hey I got a call from TV Guide Onscreen this evening. It was from a very nice lady and she said that they had been getting lots of calls about it and that Panasonic said that it is caused by a bad hard drive. (Yeah right that sounds familiar) I told her that I reset it and it works perfect and I haven't had anymore U99's and she said that Panasonic said that sometimes resetting it would fix it. I said resetting it couldn't fix a bad hard drive and we both laughed. She said herself that it didn't make any sense but that is what Panasonic said. So I doubt if we are going to be getting much help on this problem. She said that it didn't have anything to do with TVGOS. I find that hard to believe though. Maybe if everyone keeps calling them they will have to do something about it.
Sounds like the typical Panasonic response: Duh, U99 = Bad Hard Drive. I don't think they even consider anything else you tell them.
RX7fan, When you select the Auto Channel Scan and hit Enter, you'll be warned that continuing with the Auto Channel Scan disables download of the TV Guide from that point forward. It re-enables if you lose power to the machine or if you manually restore to factory defaults. Like Roger A., I have my DVR's powered through a UPS because I don't want the darn TV Guide function being re-enabled after a primary power loss (which happens all too often in San Antonio - must be the cheapest power grid in the country for any major city). I never tried to negotiate the menus to re-enable the TV Guide function, but the manual might address it. P.S. Check out the Night Stalker premiere tonight. One of the principals is from San Antonio (i.e. Eric Jungmann).
Interesting thread on the AVS board about how to get into the TVGOS debugging screens. It lists how to do it on the Panasonics later in the thread. For technically inclined people it may be of interest: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=581845
Ok, the new firmware did NOT fix the U99, nor did the reinitialization of the TV guide. I disabled it now and will watch if the U99 comes back... *sigh* VERY DISAPPOINTED in Panasonic...
Hey Anncoates this is really interesting. Thanks for posting the link, and thanks to the posters on the other forum. There is alot of information there that should be helpful. I copied the section that tells how to get into the panasonic debug screen but there is alot more useful information at the other forum. Check it out everybody. I tried this and it did get me into the debug screen on my unit. Wish I knew what it all means. I'm to tired to keep reading tonight I'll look at it some more tomorrow. I've been reading quite a bit about all the problems the pioneers are having with the disappearing TV Guide Onscreen. Makes our U99 not sound so bad. 1. Bring the TV Guide On Screen up on your TV 2. Press the 'up arrow' once to get to the top menu and then scroll to the right until you get to the "Messages" tab 3. Press Enter on the remote 4. Enter 753159852 To exit the debug screens, just press the TV Guide button. It will also exit automatically if you do nothing for a few minutes.
Long one (lots of rambling, and ranting) O.K., back again, .. anyway, I'll start with my results, then I'll address the new posts. Reformatted the hard drive : No Fix Installed New Firmware : No Fix Factory Reset : Awaiting results (Results have arived, ..... Sort of ....) Turned on the Panny this morning, ..[bold]NO U99[/bold] hit the Guide button (I disabled the "go to TV guide when you turn me on" feature, alas, no data in the guide screen, .... wait a minute, not exactly correct, there is data, .... the ads (commercials) on the left side, they are populated, got to the top of the screen, select teh "offers" (I think that's what it's called, and I get several screens of offers, .... but, alas, no channel line up, .... nada. Guees I'll wait another 24 hours for the next download. It does however say on the screen, there might be a loose or missing cable *(cause of the no data) hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, loose cable , that's it, hey, wait a minute, then where did the "offers' come from, .... I'm thinking those black helicopters swapped cables just long enough to feed me the offers, but don't want me to watch tv, so they interruptded the channel line-up, then re-connected the cable so I couldn't tell. (yeah, I know, they would just leave it disconnected usually, but this time they didn't want me to know) ... huh ... oh, o.k., just a second guys, .... thank you nurse for the shot of thorazene, where was I , oh, yes, then the big white rabbit went through the remote control and erased everything on the screen with, oh, heck, never mind. Next will be, (If Factory reset doesn't work) Unplug, let sit for a few days Automatic Channel Selection annoates : Great stuff from the AVS forum, ... I guess I have a project tonight (look at the data, if any) see what I can figure out (I'm a computer geek (I wear the badge proudly) from way back in the days of punch cards. vulcanusa : O.K., never noticed the option there before, ... If I get to that step, I'll hate it, but do it, .. worst case, I'll have to spend an hour or so a week programming with the aid of the old hard copy tv guide. Night Stalker (Jack Kolchak)??, nah, couldn't be, probably the new one, ... plus I missed your message. And, yeah, my power is pretty unstable too (OKC) we,ve got OG&E up here, and they seem to like to remind us on a daily basis that the power can sometimes be interrupted for a minute or so. (I have a clock that is always flashing 12:00) Oh well, guess that's it for today, next update tomorrow morning sometime, recap: no U99, but no TV guide data, other than the "offers" RX7 Fan
annoates : Great stuff from the AVS forum, ... I guess I have a project tonight (look at the data, if any) see what I can figure out (I'm a computer geek (I wear the badge proudly) from way back in the days of punch cards." I was hoping someone of computer geek status would check out the link. I took a look and it was all greek to me. Hopefully someone can decipher it and figure this out somehow. I can't see anyone getting help from Panasonic, they're likely to continue with their lame "it's a bad hard drive" spiel. Unless they get bombarded by everyone about it, that is. Btw, they've started talking about this problem on the videohelp forum as well. You guys may want to keep an eye on that thread too in case anyone sorts it. It's here: http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=280478
O.K., just got home, latest update, read my previous posts for my plan of attack, .... last thing I did was a factory reset, trying to cause it to re-download the whole shooting match on the TVGuide. This morning, I had adds (commercials on the left side, and in the menu at the top, it showed as fully populated with commercials, ... tonight (1 hour ago) got home, ..... U99 on the display, turn it on, got to guide, channel line-up is populated, but everything says "No Listing" .... it does have the channels though, ... go to the commercials , nothing in there but the generic stuff that was there new out of the box. Must have done a download while I was at work or something like that. as to the debug data, following "ChrisC47"s diretions, not exactly, this is what I used : 1. Bring the TV Guide On Screen up on your TV 2. Press the 'up arrow' once to get to the top menu and then scroll to the right until you get to the "Messages" tab 3. Press Enter on the remote 4. Enter 753159852 To exit the debug screens, just press the TV Guide button. It will also exit automatically if you do nothing for a few minutes. worked, .... looks like most of the data is in Hex (Hexadecimal).. not quite sure yet, but I've gotta look at it a little more, ... took pics with my digital camera, gonna run them through an OCR, if I can get a table laid out for what is what, I'll post it, .... don't expect it too soon, it'll take quite a while, ... I'm hoping that leaving it alone for another day will load the data. enough for now, I'm beat, this is sapping my strength, and will to live, .... not really, just have errands to run, and they'll do the sapping part on there own. RX7 Fan
