Help with Panasonic DMR-E85H recording glitches?

[viktor_haag]

I recently purchased a Panasonic E85H, and on the whole I think it's grand. However, I have noticed one major problem with it -- it sometimes seems to refuse to record shows I've set to record. I have noticed this in two general patterns:

(a) I have tried repeatedly to record the Daily Show, which airs where I live on CKCO TV (CTV affiliate in SW Ontario, Canada) weeknights, Mon-Thu at 0005h - 0040h. I can select this show perfectly fine in the TV Guide listings feature, but the recorder consistently records only a few minutes of footage, on the right channel, but *after* the Daily Show has already ended. (i.e. probably 0041h-0044h or some such).

(b) I have tried repeatedly to record Veronica Mars, which airs where I live on CKCO TV on Thurs nights at 2000h-2100h. I can, again, select the show perfectly fine in the TV Guide listings, but the recorder doesn't seem to start recording at the proper time. Last night, I had the recorder off, wandered past it at 2023h, saw that it didn't seem to be recording, turned it on, and them magically it all of a sudden started recording.

In case (a) above, I have tried setting manual recording instead of through the listings, I have tried bracketing the recording (i.e. recording a full hour from 0000h to 0100h and also from 2330h to 0100h next day), and what usually seems to happen is that the *frist* night after I set this recording, I get what I asked for. On *subsequent* nights, the setting is once again hosed up, and only recording two or three minutes of footage. What the heck is going on here?

Has anyone else noticed these kinds of glitches? I haven't checked my firmware version yet, but since this was only a recent purchase, just as the model was discontinued (so I got it at a discount), I would have thought that it would have been manufactured after last Aug/04, and I thought the patch was for units built before that date.

Can anyone shed any light on this issue, and how I might solve the problem?

Is this a "return to the manufacturer" problem? (I rather hope not.)


--
Viktor Haag

[lordsmurf]

The E80 and E85 units are prone to all kinds of issues, usually hard drive related. If it's new, take it back, get something else. Not a Panasonic.

[oldfart13]

Like I said *again* my E80H is working just fine. I just did a very nice recording from satellite TV. No problems in more than 20 months of straight recording. Still got that anti-Panny bee in your bonnet I see...

[technoid]

The E80 and E85 units are prone to all kinds of issues, usually hard drive related. If it's new, take it back, get something else. Not a Panasonic.

Id take what this guy says with a grain of salt.If you look through his posting history you'll see that he bashes Panasonic all the time

Technoid

[Marvingj]

You need to upgrade your firmware. I believe the new one fixes the E-80-85 recording issues. I believe its on AfterDawn.

[lordsmurf]

The E80 and E85 units are prone to all kinds of issues, usually hard drive related. If it's new, take it back, get something else. Not a Panasonic.

Id take what this guy says with a grain of salt.If you look through his posting history you'll see that he bashes Panasonic all the time
Technoid

Yes, please look at the countless thousands of posts that are always trying to help people with straight-forward advice, with no favoritism to any company, only to products that work.

The fact remains that the E80/E85 series of Panasonic HDD recorders are buggy junk. If you insist on a Panasonic, the E100 and several other models are available. But these two specific models are problem-prone crap, in terms of operation. Though you would likely fair better with another brand altogether.

And oldfart, while it will surely not affect EVERYBODY, it is a large and ever-growing issue with these models. It's super-common with units bought in 2005, and was a growing issues throughout 2004.

[RDS1955]

I've owned the Panasonic E80 model, and I've owned it about 2 years... I just recently had to take it to the repair shop because it ate a DVD-RAM disc without giving it back when I tried formatting the disc.... Thing locked up like a rusty bolt, wouldn't give the disc back, couldn't open the tray no matter what I tried... And I tried everything from what the manual says about opening the tray in the event it locks up to trying to find a access hole for a paperclip try...I spent $600.00 on it when I purchased it, and I spent $120.00 getting it fixed..They told me when I picked it up, the next time it has an issue, it'll probably be a motherboard issue and it would cost me about $400.00 to get it fixed..I've gotten my $600 worth out of it considering how many DVD's I've gotten off Satelitte... It's playing fine now, but I think I'm gonna purchase the E100 model here real soon, and take this one and hook it up to my second TV in the Bedroom..Just my 2 cents

[Synergy]

Is this a "return to the manufacturer" problem? (I rather hope not.)

If I were you, I'd ask the question at the AVS Forum:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=106

The TV Guide on Screen feature itself is still buggy and the Panasonic E85H was the first one using this feature, and all models using this feature have problems. Just do a search on TV Guide at the above link, you'll find plenty discussion. If none fits your problem, then start a new one. Good luck.

[susan_m]

The E80 and E85 units are prone to all kinds of issues, usually hard drive related. If it's new, take it back, get something else. Not a Panasonic.

I've read numerous complaints about the E85 in general and the TV-Guide programming in particular, but I've had my E80 for well over a year, given it extremely heavy use and never had any problems with it. Of course the programming is strictly manual on the E80 (or VCR-Plus which I never bother with). I'm looking to buy a second DVD recorder, and will probably try the DMREH50 and just bypass the TV-Guide and stick to manual programming. (I've had such good luck with the E80 that I'm tempted to try to find a reconditioned one rather than going with a newer model, but faster dubbing times and possibly better recording quality are tempting me to give the newer model a chance.) Just thought I'd throw in my two cents in defense of the E80.