Panasonic E55 and Ram Discs

[chole]

I just bought a panasonic dvd e55, it's my first dvd, what name brand blank ram discs & dvd-R should I use, can this machine read or record to DVD-RW discs.

I use comcast digital cable, can I do timer recordings, I don't see how the e55 would go to the proper channel?

thanks for your advise.

[KTH]

1a) What name brand blank ram discs & dvd-R should I use? Stick with brands like Maxell, & Panasonic for DVD-RAM. Stay away from brands like Memorex, KHypermedia, etc. I've tried both the Memorex & KHypermidia and they both come either DOA or stop being playable/recordable very quickly. So it seems that DVD-RAM disc's are either very good or very bad with no middle ground. As for DVD-R disc's I've used Ritek, Princo, Optodisc, Prodisc with great success (No coaster yet on the DMR-E55), but these are considered B Grade or lower by most people. If you don't want to take a chance with lower grade media stick with Maxell (Made in Japan), or Taiyo Yuden. One more thing to note Do Not Use Media with a rated recording speed of 8x or more Panasonic rates this unit for use with 1 to 4x media only. I once tried to use some 8x media in the unit and it made some really spooky sounds (Like something was about to break) so I immediately ejected the disc.

1b) Can this machine read or record to DVD-RW discs? No it cannot.

2) I use comcast digital cable, can I do timer recordings, I don't see how the e55 would go to the proper channel? Yes you can record from your digital cable box to the DMR-E55, but the cable box would have to be pre-set to that channel that you want to record and you are correct in your conclusion that the DMR-E55 cannot change the Cable box channels.


The link listed below will lead to a forum thread that tells you how to setup your Panasonic DVD Recorder for it's optimal recording settings. Even though the model listed is different than yours the settings mentioned should work for you as well.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251884

[Captain Satellite]

Optodisc DVD-RAM discs are 5.00 a pop for a 9.4 GB disc and they work great. I have about 300 in my collection and access them regularly - they've all held up well. Any DVD player/recorder can read a DVD-RW disc.

[handyguy]

When you ask for Name stuff, why don't you use Panasonic disks?

I been using the same dvdram disk from Imation for 2 years, works great.

I use Accus, great stuff.

[akagi]

I personally use RiDiscs by the Ritek corporation. At £1.50 per head for a 4.7GB disk I do not think you could reeally lose. Granted I have not got extensive experience of these but I trust the company name.

http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/acatalog/FOR_DVD_RAM___CLICK_HERE.html

[oldfart13]

Hmmm...what kind of 8X were you using? I'd imagine that the FW in the unit might not recognize the brand as there are so many of them these days. I'm going to be buying some Maxell 8X as they are the only ones available at a reasonable price this week. We'll see what happens when I use them in the machine (E80H).

[oldfart13]

Tried the Maxell 8X "Made In Japan" in my E80H earler this evening and they burned fine. No funny noises from my drive. It was dead silent. Nice to know these Japanese discs work. I had bought some of the Taiwanese 4X ones a few months back but the E80H refused to accept them...