Major problems with DMR-E20

[jazzman67]

Back in July 2002 I bought a new Panasonic DMR-E20 for £600.00, I know the equivalent models are a lot cheaper now but that was the best price I could find at the time.

It has now developed major faults in that I am unable to use it for recording purposes at all, it still plays stuff O.K. but as its primary use is as a recorder it is now useless.

The first problems I had were that discs I had burned multisessions on wouldn't finalise. I then started to get U11's on previously reliable discs.

Finally, I was getting "disc protection" messages when I tried to erase the DVD-RAM discs, I even bought some new Panasonic ram discs and the same thing was happening with them.

It is not a media problem because the problems I am getting are with the good quality discs that have previously been O.K. and I was getting the problems with the new ram discs straightaway.

I have not used the machine excessively and have periodically used a good quality lens cleaner.

Having been referred to Panasonic Customecare by the retailer I bought it from, I was told that I would have to pay nearly £60.00 to have it collected and inspected and they would then give me an estimate for repairs.

My feelings are that a machine of this quality should have lasted longer than 18 months. I know it is out of guarantee by 6 months but even though Panasonic agreed that it was unusual for one to fail after only 18 months, they still want me to pay for the inspection & subsequent repairs.

They will give me no indication of likely repair costs e.g. if the drive needs replacing. If the repair costs are £100.00 or so it means that the cost to me may be around £150.00, I could get a new E55 for about another £100.00, which would make the repairs non cost effective.

Do you think that Panasonic are being unreasonable in this instance? Any suggestions (polite) would be gratefully received.

Regards

Jazzman67

[FulciLives]

I got a DMR-E20 USA model from a friend for free because he upgraded to a newer model.

I haven't been able to use it either. It records but I think there is a problem with the built-in TBC in that I get this strange purpleish/blueish "haze" across the very top of the image.

I've seen this before on multi-generations VHS copies. But this happens even with high quality source materials such as LaserDisc (which is a format free of copy protection).

I've tried all the inputs with no luck.

It's now basically a paperweight. I just can't bring myself to throwing it away hehehe

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[nezza_42]

Where did you buy the machine from? Manufacturers waranties are in addition to, not in place of your statuatory rights. The store you bought the machine from is responsible for providing goods that are of acceptable quality and fit for purpose.

You may be able to claim a repair against the store you bought from, as the goods have failed within what (by what appears to be by the manufacturers own admission) what would be deamed a reasonable period. Most stores will imedaitely cry that it's not their problem - if it's out of waranty, then tough.....this is BOLLOX! They have the legal contract with you, the buyer - not the manufacturer.

Many people have succesffully "persuaded" the store to pay such a repair, some have had to threaten Trading Standard & the courts.

You could try to ask the store, but they will say no....try persistanece/insistance & they may back down. Your last option may be legal action, which may/may not be successfull.

Hope this helps......BTW, I'm no legal expert....just read a few similar cases in "Which?" magazine - but it can work!

Good Luck!

Nezza

[jazzman67]

Thank you for the replies, sorry I can't help with your "haze" problem John, the picture was one thing that I never had problems with when it was working.

I contacted my local Trading Standards office earlier today and their advice was almost word for word the same as yours Nezza.

I bought my machine from Moss of Bath, who are a highly thought of local Panasonic and Technics retailer. I will be off shortly to have a discussion with one the owners.

I will keep you posted (pardon the pun) as to the outcome.

Regards

Jazzman67

[jazzman67]

Update on my E20 problems:-

I spoke to one of the owners of the retailer where I bought it and was reassured when he agreed that it should have gone for more than 18 months without giving major problems, in fact he reckoned 6 years.

He asked me to let him have all the details of the problem and said he would be seeing someone from panasonic at a trade fair the following week, so I put it all in writing enclosing the emails I had received from panasonic.

Sure enough, last week the person in charge of the UK service centre rang me, he used to be an engineer so it was good to talk to someone with a bit of technical knowledge. It didn't get me much farther though apart from him telling me the likely cost of repairs, £80.00 + for a ram drive and £150+ for a PCB, there was no offer to look at the thing for nothing.

I dropped another letter into Moss of Bath on Friday a.m. and had a 'phone call about an hour later offering to look at it or get it looked at with no cost to me, if I delivered it into them.

This is the first hurdle passed, the next thing will be to see what the problem is and who is liable for the cost of repairs.

Still, it is a start.

Regards

Jazzman67

[pluche]

just for yr info: I have a DMR E20 since october 2001 and use it daily
it still works perfect

[jazzman67]

Yes, before I bought mine I looked at comments from people that had already got them and since I have had mine I have heard nothing bad about them apart from them being a bit selective with the media that will work, this was why I went for it.

Maybe I have a bad one !!

Thanks for the reply


Jazzman67

[pluche]

jazman: I noticed that you used a "good quality lens cleaner" on regular basis: maybe that is the source of your troubles; the opinions about these devices are rather mixed and some pretend even that these may damage the laser
since oct 2001 I have never used that on my DMR E20, and I will only try it whenever the machine goes into trouble
another detail: I noticed that these recorders really need te remain "free standing" for cooling; whenever you put someting on top of it, it gets very hot and that is a slow killer; the DMR E20 is still a large machine, those smaller recorders might even be more sensitive

[jazzman67]

Thanks for the reply Pluche

I actually only started to use the lens cleaner when I started to get small U11 problems with the machine not reading some of the media, I probably ran it O.K. for about a year before I used the cleaner.

By picking up tips on this forum and others, I realised that overheating could be a potential problem so for that reason the DMR-E20 has always been on the top outside of my stack unit so that it had good airflow all round it and over the top.

Since my last posting, I have sorted through all the discs that I have had problems with, DVD-RAMs & DVD-Rs, most of the DVD-Rs won't finalise and I am unable to edit or erase the DVD-RAMs, getting a screen message that says the discs are protected, I have never put protection on and it won't allow me to remove it. Nearly all of the discs will play in the recorder so I can see what is on there. It may be that the machine has put protection on for some reason and that is what is causing all my problems.

I will have access to a DMR-E55 shortly and I am going to try my discs in that before taking the E20 back, that may reinforce my opinion that it is the E20 that is at fault.

Regards

Jazzman67

[jazzman67]

Update on my E20 problems:-

I have just been able to try my discs in a brand new DMR-E55.

The Panasonic Ram Disc that I was getting a U11 with on the E20 is recognised by the E55 and is recording at the moment.

One of my multisession DVD-Rs that the E20 wouldn't finalise has just been finalised O.K. on the E55 and plays O.K. in my other players.

I will be trying some more discs later but it certainly seems to point towards the E20 being faulty rather than the media.

Regards

Jazzman67