I haven't been getting TV listing updates for about 2 weeks now. I'm using Comcast in Mountain View CA. Anyone else having problems lately? I seem to recall this happened this time last year.
I'm very close to Mountain View, CA and subscribe to Comcast analog. The TVG is working fine for me. Something odd did happen last week where I turned on the E85 and a message popped up asking to choose a cable lineup. You've seen this before, pick 1 if WGNSAT is on channel 33, pick 2 if WGNSAT is unavailable, etc. What seemed really odd is it re-mapped channel 9 to channel 96, so something changed. Anyway, what I did was reset the machine and had it pull in all new TVG data. Sometimes just doing that clears up a lot of problems, like failing to come out of standby for a scheduled recording. It takes about a day for the E85 to pull in all new channels and perhaps another day to get some schedule info. But then it's all back to normal and all works well. It still was having channel 9 as channel 96, so manually changed channel 96 to 9, as only that channel was receiving TVGuide data. Comcast is making a lot of changes to the analog cable. They turned off 3 channels in October, including the TVGuide channel. The only way to view them now is to subscribe to digital cable, which I'm not ready to do. They're also getting ready to turn off the Hallmark Channel in November. It's really just a matter of time before the TVGuide data is pulled as well.
I have Time Warner in Ohio and I haven't received TVG listings in about two weeks also. I've reset the machine a couple times and still "no listings". If it ain't one thing it's another with these machines!!
katchoo: True, but in light of the non-TVGuide Onscreen recorders available today, I'd rate my E85H very highly compared to them. Specifically, I recently bought a Sony RDR-VXD655 VCR/DVD recorder combo, and it was defective right out of the box. Sent it for repair October 1, and they opted for replacement. Due to a "national backorder," I won't receive my replacement until November sometime. Sony, which used to be a VERY reliable brand, is now TERRIBLE. I'd be SOL if that was my only DVD recorder. I also bought the Panasonic combo DMR-EZ47V. Granted, it doesn't have a hard drive or TVGOS, but the functions of the DVD recorder are similar to the E85. This said, it's MUCH slower to read an inserted disc, and apparently waits until you hit "stop" to record chapter marks, etc. on a DVD-RAM instead of creating them on-the-fly as apparently the E85 does. I also had to install a heat sink on the LSI video chip so it didn't fry the chip/video board with its heat (same issue as the Xbox 360 has had with this chip. The older Xboxes HAVE a heatsink on this chip, though undersized). Compared to this new Panny DVD recorder, I still think my old E85 wins. IMHO, electronics are getting cheaper, and as a consequence, many are not as well-made as in the past. Apologies for the off-topic post.
----- I did the two capacitor fix today after getting the please wait message (I "waited" like six months for the time to getting around to fixing it) and the thing works fine again. I would like to thank Attila for the pictures but I must say it is a lot easier to fix than the way Attila went about it, specifically: 1) if you use Radio Shack capacitors Catalog # 272-1032 instead, these are radial lead capacitors rather than axial lead caps, you can get them right away without waiting for shipping and they drop right in in place of the originals. They should be a lot less prone to failure as they are rated at 35V rather than 16V like the originals, Panasonic was crazy to use 16V caps in what I think someone said is a 12V circuit, that's just not enough margin for cheapo electrolytic capacitors, especially in a place that gets warm. But since the voltage rating is higher they are somewhat larger, to avoid their being in the way of the disk drive make sure you press them right up against the board as you solder them in like I did and they will not be in the way. Put them both into the board before soldering either one, press and hold them both against the board and then solder them both. These are also 1000 uF caps, since the originals are only 680 UF the circuit would probably work just fine with only one 1000 uF capacitor because both caps are connected in parallel, that is for a total of 1360 uF for the two original caps and 2000 for two replacements or 1000 uF for just one; the value is not real critical here, these kind of capacitors are rated plus or minus 20% of the rated value to begin with. 2) You don't have to do all the disassembly Attila pictures, all you have to do is remove the cover, then the disk drive, then the bracket under it, then the power supply board underneath, leave everything else alone. The ribbon cable to the hard drive pulls right out with a gentle pull or you can just unplug the thing the ribbon plugs into from the disk drive, that thing is just a right angle adapter. And it's not hard to unplug the connector between the power supply board and the main board either, you have to spread it slightly to unlatch that one. This repair is so simple any fat fingered person with average intelligence and coordination can repair it even if this is the first time they touch a soldering iron if they spend five minutes learning how to use one, no need for anyone to spend $130 or whatever to pay someone else. Anyone whose hard drive does not spin up should replace these caps whether they look bad or not they're likely the culprit since so many of these units have exhibited the same problem. Oh yeah, in case anyone doesn't know it, electrolytic caps are polarized, you have to put them in the right way, just like batteries but don't worry if you already took them out and didn't note the way the originals were, the polarity is marked on the board. Radial lead electrolytic caps are marked with a stripe down one side, that is the negative (-) lead. Radial lead just means both leads come out the same end of the capacitor. Also Bannlad Martin Gorman that said that replacing the caps didn't help should check to make sure the disk drive is getting the correct power supply voltage, any cheapo dc voltmeter to the wires on the big plug to the disk drive, (while plugged into the drive)that will tell you if there is a power supply problem. I don't know what the voltages should be on that plug but I'd just compare them with the voltages on the same plug in any computer, should be the same. (not high voltage, don't worry) Alternatively you could just extend the power supply plug from a computer to this disk drive while installed in the DMR, turn on the computer to provide power to the drive in the DMR then turn on the DMR to test the DMR. The only high voltage in this unit you have to stay away from is on the other end of the power supply, indeed it is designated by hatched lines, stay away from there and nothing else will get you. Peter
Hello, My DMR-E85H is stuck on summer time! I tried to change the time on it but the time set options seem to be greyed out. At one point I had it set up for TVGOS but have since gone to a system that doesn't stream the information so I haven't had a guide for some time. How can I set the clock? I tried to initialize it but all that did was turn the display on when the unit is off. It didn't "unlock" the time set option. Hopefully I can do it without erasing all of the content I have recorded on my hard drive. Thanks in advance!
Hi...I'm having the same problem with my E-95H. Both the Auto and Manual clock buttons are greyed out. This is just one of several mysteries with this machine.
Page 43 of the manual describes how to reset the machine and set the time and channels for when the TVGuide system isn't used. You reset the E85 when it's on and stopped, not off. Don't worry, you won't lose any data on the hard drive by doing a reset. Only if the disk is very fragmented will the disk format. If the data on the disk is really important to you, start dubbing stuff off to a DVD-R or DVD-RAM.
Hmmmm. No TVG in Monterey, California either. Happened about a week back. MIght try another zip code & see if that works.
Wow, what a blast to the past. I was one of the first posters on this forum back in 2005 when we were upgrading firmware for the first time and what not. Now when my DMR-E85H says "Please Wait" I turn to my trusted source of information about a flaky machine. But of course right away I find exactly what I need to fix my machine, including detailed pictures and Radio Shack part numbers! Thanks to Attila and Peter for posting super awesome instructions for fixing this problem. My two capacitors looked exactly like yours. Like Peter I found you can remove just the power supply board. You just have to pry the top of the power cable up with your fingernail to remove it. A quick desoldering of both capacitors and installation of the new ones (Thanks again Peter!) from Radio Shack and I'm up and running again. Although it pitched a fit when I turned the power back on complaining about a phantom disc in the DVD. Ultimately I had to do a factory reset and all appears normal again. Thanks again guys for posting the pictures, instructions and the part numbers. It was easy to fix and you guys saved me a bunch of time and effort. So I wonder in 2 years what the next problem with this machine will be......
Peter, I appreciate the simplicity of the information you provided. I had already tried your suggestions and some before I found this site and had no futher avenues to pursue short of having another unit to compare values to or a circuit diagram which some people on this site (see threads) have purchased. I wish somone was able to answer one of my original questions about the sequence of operations which would have lead me to some other options, but since no one did have that answer I chose to send to Panasonic for repair. They have called me and asked for my credit card for the flat rate payment but that was only customer service and they said 7-10 business days. Three weeks ago and still no return unit. I will report the repair, if they provide me with such detail. I also marked all applicable components to check to see what exactly they did replace when I receive my unit back. Thanks for your great feedback. Best of luck. Martin Gorman.
What's the chance that we don't get TVG data now because Comcast took off that TVG channel? Perhaps that is where it came from?
It is now going on 5 weeks since I sent my device back (shipped on 9/29). I still haven't gotten it back. I had gotten a call from them about a week after I shipped it to say it was a flat fee of $136 (with tax). I called them back and gave them my credit card info and they told me that I should get it in 1 to 2 weeks. I just called them today and after getting transferred 3-4 times, they said it still hasn't shipped yet, with no other info. I had originally really liked Panasonic products, but have been very disappointed by their customer service.
Hello. I am having trouble with my dmr-e85. If I turn it on, it says please wait, then it says system check, then some bars show it is operating it's check, I think the bars run through about seven times, then it indicates channel 11, then it goes to the U99 code. In this site I see suggestions about changing two capacitors. I could pull that off, but I think those capacitors are linked to a problem where the system locks up in the please wait mode rather than a u99. Do I need to change the capacitors? Everything looks clean on the board itself. Also, what is the number for Panasonic's service center where these repairs are made for $130? I have seen references to a fellow named Kord who does the work? Where would I call? Also, if I have to do the capacitors, do I go with the 16 volts or the 35 volt size? Thanks in advance. Kevin. kingkassel@aol.com
Question for those who replaced the capacitors: I had the problem with the system locking up (not the U99 this time). Took it apart, and the capacitors were bad. I've soldered before (very very little), but I've never de-soldered. I read several websites about it, and they make it sound very complicated, or at least something that needs to be done very very carefully. Most of the complication involved wicking away all of the old solder. How important is this in this particular application? The sites I read talked about wrecking the entire board if a mistake is made in not getting out all the old solder. Also, two sites talked about resoldering before desoldering in order to better loosen the old, aged and hardened solder. Any problems with this hardening on this system? Many thanks! On another note, I've at least temporarily gotten a DVR from Time Warner. Its the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HDC. So far I've been pretty impressed--obviously lacks the DVD burner and some other features, but the 2-tuner and always-on replay of live TV is nice. Plus, its HD ready in case I see a nice sale on an HDTV leading up to the holidays! It also has features like only keeping the last x number of episodes of something...great if you like to always have on hand a few Colbert Reports, Friends reruns, Simpsons, etc. but don't don't to fill up the hard drive too much. Biggest downside is not having control over quality of recording. Capacity is 90 hours SD, 20 hours HD. I hate given Time Warner more money, but I also hate the thought of giving Panasonic more money for this machine that causes such headaches every 10 months or so!
I actually wound up going the TIVO route with the fiasco with Panasonic. I found a TIVO Series with a lifetime subscription for $200 on craigslist. With their TIVO2Go software, I am able to download the stuff that is stored on the TIVO onto my computer and then burn it on a DVD. Not as easy as the panasonic, but I can watch my TIVO shows while I am downloading/burning as well as a host of other features. It had been a toss up between TIVO and Panasonic back when I bought my DVR. Guess I made a mistake.... I am still waiting for my Panasonic back from its $130 repair - it is now week 7......
psujmatt I used to work in an electronics manufacturing job, and electronics repair in the millitary. Removing all the old solder is not the important part, solder is just metal, when it is soldered the first time, it melts and creates a bond between the board, and component (capacitor leads). when hardened, it holds the component in place, but more importantly creates an electrical path. Any solder left after removing the old caps should "mix" with the new solder when you solder in the new caps. Your should try to get as much of the old out of the picture, so the new caps will fit in the holes of the board, but it doesn't have to be perfect.
gchu, Tivo is used to monitor your viewing habits in a very detailed manner. Tivo claims that your viewing habits are only housed in their databases anonymously - meaning by a code not personally correlated with you. Yeah, right. If you trust them or simply don't care if you're viewing habits are recorded in a very detailed manner, then that's your choice as long as you are aware of it. It is not a coincidence that when Tivo first made "the scene" that you began to hear reports, say after the Superbowl, of how often viewers watched and "re-watched" certain commercials. This was based on telemetry reported back to Tivo when the units dialed over a viewer's phone line during the night to download listing information. That is a major reason why I chose the Panasonic DMR-E85H over a Replay unit or Tivo unit.
Yeah I had been paranoid about that conspiracy theory as well - but after I gave it a little more thought, figured what can that data be used for? 99% of the TV time using TIVO is viewing Pokemon, Yu Gi Oh & Teen Titans shows that had been recorded. I actually don't use TIVO to watch my own shows.
gchu, Based on how you've described your use, then Tivo can certainly record information about what shows the adult(s) in your household prefer to record and perhaps even when (time-of-day) and what shows you download from the device. So, you have at least one child. Hmmmm... I wonder which Pokemon, Yu Gi Oh & Teen Titans character your child(ren) prefer?? Does (he/she/they) ever replay certain commercials in certain cartoons? What time do they watch their cartoons? ....etc, ...etc. Is that information valuable? Do you, as a parent, permit your kids to watch their cartoons at all hours of the day or only between 4:00 and 5:00 pm? A signature can be developed over time to distinguish your children, if you have more than one, based on what shows they watch and how they manipulate the remote. Don't get me wrong, obviously everyone (me included) who owns a computer connected to the Internet is exposing themselves to possible information gathering about the computer's user, either by their ISP or websites they visit. It's no secret that most websites (certainly in the .com domain) and parties affiliated with those sites (e.g. Doubleclick) gather information. And ISP's could. I've never read that my ISP records my Internet activities by even an anonymous ID to sell to "partner" companies or on the open market (as bulk statistical information or tied to some anonymous demographic ID). However, that doesn't mean absolutely that my ISP isn't gathering personally identifiable information about my surfing habits for other than purely network diagnostic and capacity planning purposes. In any case, if I have a choice in websites and ISP's (and DVR's), and if I am able to find out what data they collect and how they use it, I am more than likely going to choose the service that records the least information about me. This is a clear discriminator between Tivo and a Panasonic DMR-E85H. Admittedly, this thread is quite off-topic and might be boring to others in this forum. It seems you made an informed decision to use Tivo.
