Sorry, I meant that they're right that you need to talk to the local broadcast stations--not necessarily that they've stopped sending. They may have switched the setup, and not gotten it right yet--and sometimes they don't know it's not right until a user squawks.
TVG is owned by Macrovision. Refer to: http://www.macrovision.com/dtv/10053.htm Awesome site, about DTV & TVG.
OK... Here's new problem (at least for me). Everyone thankfully helped me with my burnt out capacitors before (saved THREE machines)! I just moved over to AT&T U-Verse. I hooked up my (2) Panasonic DMR E85H machines so I could record shows from the U-Verse DVR to the Panasonics or directly to a DVD-R disc. I have been able to record ALL the U-Verse DVR recorded programs from the U-Verse DVR to the Panasonics-- EXCEPT all the MAJOR NETWORK shows (ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC) show up on the Panasonics with a RED "X" beside the program. The program records to the Panasonic but I am UNABLE to then record the program to a DVD-R because the Panasonic is treating it as "Copyrighted Material". The Panasonic does NOT treat any of the cable shows (FX, SCI-FI, Comedy Central) like this-- just the major network shows-- and I am able to transfer the cable shows to DVD discs. Is there any way around this problem I am having with network content? I never had this problem while on "regular" Time Warner cable. I am recording these shows for personal watching at a later date... and if I cannot transfer them to DVDs... then my U-Verse DVR and my Panasonics are going to get FULL of material-- long before I can watch all the shows. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
The saga continues, first I get this Then I get this from tvgos: And I actually had guide data that Monday!! But it was only 3 days worth and there's been no more data. My host channel has returned to 0, so I'm guessing the feed was cut again.
Frustrating. I got mine back outside Boston, just this week. It was the managing engineer at the host station who kept on it for me until Comcast found the problem and fixed it.
Hello, Lcoop. Could you kindly show me how to remove the power-supply board ? (There is a zigzag-shaped connection between this board and the main board, I couldn't figure out how to break this connection so that I can bring the power-board to the repair shop. -- boon
Anyone know if Panasonic plans to make a DVD recorder with a hard drive again? I keep looking and hoping.
My e85H has the "Please wait" problem. Following the instructions on this thread, I opened the case and found the bulging C1270 and C1271. I replaced them but the problem persists. My questions: 1. Hard-drive has no problem because I was able to low-level-formated it. Can I assume the problem is still on the PSB (power-supply board) ? 2. I measured the voltage of connector to hard-drive: pin 4 (yellow) is constantly at 5V but reading of pin 1 (red) is 11.57V. This is a problem ? 3. Someone mentioned replacing C1260 and C1261, but mine look clean, should replace then as well ? If these are not the problem wherr should I look ? 4. I read that you can remove the PSB from the main board by unplug the zig-zag shaped connector. How exactly you do this ? Please help !!!!!
Actually a voltage of 11.57 is not bad, but make sure you are measuring it when the machine is completely on, not in standby mode. When I had bad caps, I would see 12 volts in standby but it would drop to 9 volts when the drives spun up.
boonkang, did you check correctly all capacitors? I had similar problem (please wait on display) more than a year ago. After replacing capacitors on C1620 and C1621, dvd recorder worked flawlessly for over a year. Than, after a year (this January), the same problem appeared. I found 4 "blown" capacitors. There were on different places than a year ago. Look for anything that can have brown substance on top or capacitors that might look OK (no bulging brown or any similar color substance on top), but the top of capacitors might be little bit blown. As I said, last time I replaced 4 capacitors, and only two of them were clearly "blown" with brown substance on top, but two of them were just slightly "rised" on top. And my unit works again as a new.
soju, I was looking for the same, but without any positive news. I do not think that Panasonic is going to bring to US market any new dvd recorder with HDD very soon. Especially, due to many TiVo law suits, mandatory requirement of ASTC tuner in new dvd recorder on the US market, etc. I found solution for me. I bought Pioneer DVR-550H with NTSC/PAL?SECAM analog tuner at 220depot.com - the website that specialize to 110/220V units. I laready read review of people who bought and used them and were happy. They also have Panasonic models, but those do not have NTSC tuner (only PAL.) I have cable, so I like to have TV channels on dvd recorder as well for recording kids shows for my child. I should receive my unit next Wednesday, and I am anxious to see editing options and support for all DVD media (including DVD-RAM, dual layer media, etc.) If you would be interested, I can post message about features of the unit later.
I have given up on these machines. I do Have 2 Philips HDD + DVD-rw w/ digital tuners and they are ok, but I have decided to go to the HTPC using a low powered dual core Athlon cpu, 4 gigs of RAM on an Asus mATX board. I am waiting for a Siliconedust HDhomerun tuner and will soon add dual-boot (Mythububntu) to the WinXP. LG has a BluRay+HD-DVD+DVDRW for around $100 and it does DVD-RAM and it was about the same price as the Pioneer. I guess that's why these machines are not available like they were. Sam's had a new Philips unit for $180, but I had to pass.
sorry boon can't help with that at the moment - the machines are all buttoned up and don't have time to dismantle them at the moment and don't remember the details - but assume it can be done since I did do it -
yes that's clearly the future for me too at the moment when these give out - computer with USB or built-in tuner and recording and editing software.
thanks to rekoj, pulltech1 and LCoop for hte info re new DVD recorders with HD. I figured these were a dead animal already. I also bought and then returned a Philips model (with a HD) from Sam's Club. I never took it out of the box and really should have. I am sorry I did not keep it now. I am not a techie repair person like so many of you so I just keep my 2 Pannys under warranty and get them repaired that way. In Hawaii, the local dealer who was repairing these Pannys closed shop so in Nov. I had to send my (newer) EH75V all the way to Illinois to repair. There were a MULTITUDE of problems. Process took one month to go and come back repaired but it was worth it!
soju, I repaired one of my Panasonic dvd recorder with HDD already twice - those burned capacitors are usually the major problem there. I usually unassembly the unit only partially, and support the board with capacitors with anything on hand (thick flashlight, etc.) while di-soldering and soldering capacitors. And last time, it was pain on neck, because capacitors were in four different places, some of them little bit hard to reach from my partial unassembly. But I made it. For some reason, the model made in Malaysia, keep getting me troubles. Maybe you did a good thing returning Philips to the store. I actually tested the first model available on the market (I think it was in 2002,) and it was keep turning off on me while recording to DVD+R (it was a model without HDD.) And with prices of DVD+R media that time, it drove me crazy to have so many ruined DVDs. I returned it to the store within 30 days. No wonder that eBay is full of Philips dvd recorders even with home theater system. I really like Panasonic dvd recorders with HDD, and I have two of hhtem. However, I am getting more to editing, visual look of dvd menu screen after finalizing of DVD medias, and based on my reading of manual for Pioneer DVR-550H (sold at www.200depot.com and similar websites), the unit seems better than Panasonic. Especially with support for all dvd medias, possiblity to enter titles using regular USB keyboard (instead of remote control,) possibility to connect PC and transfer mp3 or wma files for "Jukebox" feature, etc. I am still awaiting my new "toy," so I hope that information provided in the manual I found online would be correct. And the good thing is that SquareTrade offers extended warranty for any item purchased online for approx. $34.99 for price of this unit for 3 years (to be repaired in 5 days or your purchase price will be refunded in full.) So, after testing the new Pioneer, I plan to add aditional warranty to have piece of mind as well. I can exchange capacitors, reconnect loose connections, but I do not think I would be able to solve HDD failure and its replacement. Especially, if I am not sure whehter is possible fo lay person without service manual and data disk, etc.
The zig-zag connector unplugs from the PCB. I removed it by pulling UP on the power supply board side. I've tried to include a picture here. If it is attached, you can see the main PCB with the power supply board removed on the right side with the connector dangling. yankee10
