JVC DR-M10S "loading" message

[samijubal]

I called JVC about it. One person said it was normal and as long as it didn't stay in the loading mode for a long time there was nothing wrong with it. I called a second time after it kept doing it and talked to a different person who just said there was something wrong with it, but he didn't specify what. I think they need to be renamed Junk Video Crap.

[CEF]

Wow. I was practically ridden out on a rail in this forum as a trouble maker for complaining about the "loading" problem that I and my collegues who rushed out to buy one encountered within the first month of use. I'm sorry to see this is now an epidemic.

My guess is from witnessing line impulse noise that preceeds each "loading" message, that power unit (RC network and FETs for voltage regulation and rectifying) are the source of the problem. They may be damaged by impure power source.

Perhaps the single Govideo model with the LSI encoder chip is currently the only non-flawed unit by now.

[lordsmurf]

See, I run AVR UPS units all the time, so I feed mine clean power too.

[gshelley61]

Wow. I was practically ridden out on a rail in this forum as a trouble maker for complaining about the "loading" problem that I and my collegues who rushed out to buy one encountered within the first month of use. I'm sorry to see this is now an epidemic.

My guess is from witnessing line impulse noise that preceeds each "loading" message, that power unit (RC network and FETs for voltage regulation and rectifying) are the source of the problem. They may be damaged by impure power source.

Perhaps the single Govideo model with the LSI encoder chip is currently the only non-flawed unit by now.

I don't think you were run out on a rail here. I think we were just saying none of us would knowingly suggest unreliable or crappy quality machines to anyone. If it turns out that the DR-M10 has some widespread issue that causes it to go through the "loading" sequence frequently, that still does not detract from the original opinions that it makes a very nice MPEG2 recording.

Mine is still working fine after much use, but that doesn't mean some are not having problems. On the contrary... it looks like reliability may be an issue for this unit.

Sorry if it felt like you were getting your head bitten off.

[samijubal]

Anyone having troubles with this machine between 3 and 6 months old, if you used a credit card to purchase it a lot of card companies double the original warranty up to one year. If your card supports this you are covered for six months, not three. I always use my credit card on electronics purchases for this reason.

[DGinnetty]

Here is the update I promised.

I mailed the unit to the JVC service center on a Thursday, and I got the unit back the next Wednesday! Pretty good turnaround time, IMO.

I plugged it in and it booted up fine. So far so good.

The only problem I have now is that the remote (which I sent along with the unit) is now dead. They mailed me a new remote, which I should have Monday or Tuesday. Then I will know for certain if this works or not.

On the workorder, it states that 2 carbon resistors were replaced.
I haven't seen the schematic for this thing, so I can't comment on what function those resistors serve.

The M10 has been powered up for 4 days straight now with no locking up or "loading" messages yet, which is a good sign I hope. Once I can burn a few DVDs on it, I will feel more confident that they fixed the problem.

I wonder if the resistors aren't the correct rating or something. Possibly a design flaw...

Dan Ginnetty

[samijubal]

That's pretty odd, resistors are usually very reliable. Are you sure the code on the remote or recorder didn't get changed? There are 4 different codes, if both the remote and unit aren't set on the same code the remote won't work.

[broadway]

Here is the update I promised.

I mailed the unit to the JVC service center on a Thursday, and I got the unit back the next Wednesday! Pretty good turnaround time, IMO.

I plugged it in and it booted up fine. So far so good.

The only problem I have now is that the remote (which I sent along with the unit) is now dead. They mailed me a new remote, which I should have Monday or Tuesday. Then I will know for certain if this works or not.

On the workorder, it states that 2 carbon resistors were replaced.
I haven't seen the schematic for this thing, so I can't comment on what function those resistors serve.

The M10 has been powered up for 4 days straight now with no locking up or "loading" messages yet, which is a good sign I hope. Once I can burn a few DVDs on it, I will feel more confident that they fixed the problem.

I wonder if the resistors aren't the correct rating or something. Possibly a design flaw...

Dan Ginnetty

What is the process for going about getting a unit repaired?
Did you have to call the service center to get a repair number similar to a RMA?

Was yours still under warranty?
If not, how much did it cost?

Thanks.

[Jraf]

I've got a new "Loading" message. It's my second in six mounths of instensive use.

I was recording and looking at the screen at the same time. I noticed that the picture began to be stroboscopic. I switched to the original satellite picture, it was correct. Finally the picture froze and the "loading" message came.

Eject, "loading" message disappeared, insert again, play : the recording was correct until it reached the the stroboscopic zone wich was not recorded.

Meaning ?

[ejai]

I was probably one of the first people who actually had to send my JVC M10 in for service, since then I purchased one more. The one I sent in for service has now been sold to a family member and the newest hasn't given me a problems since. It has been several months and I haven't seen the Loading message yet. I'm still waiting.

[samijubal]

I haven't seen it on the replacement one yet either. I did have it lock up a couple of times, which was what the defective one did right before it went into loading, it never went into loading though. I did have to unplug it one of the 2 times to get it to do anything.

[mlaviolette]

I saw the "loading" message soon after I purchased the unit. There was no disc in the unit, no program set, it was just sitting there in standby mode. All of a sudden it powered itself on and gave the "loading" message. A month after I had the unit I sent it in to have the known time display error fixed and they upgraded the microcode. I have not noticed any problems since, but then again I have not used it. The microcode upgrade may have fixed the "loading" problem. In any event I'll be selling it soon (as well as my Philips DVDR80).

[Funkstu42]

I have a JVC DR-M10S and have been happy up until now. Some part in the machine is failing as i get green horizontal lines across the screen. It is the worst when opening and closing the drive and when the "loading" message is running.

[DGinnetty]

That's pretty odd, resistors are usually very reliable. Are you sure the code on the remote or recorder didn't get changed? There are 4 different codes, if both the remote and unit aren't set on the same code the remote won't work.

Thanks for the tip. I switched codes on my old remote and I got control of the unit! The next day the replacement remote arrived, of course.

Since that time, the JVC has been recording non-stop for 5 days now, with no end in sight.

If I get loading errors again, I will let everyone here know.

I haven't searched the forums yet, but has anyone heard of a unit that was serviced for the loading error failing after it was repaired.

Just wondering

Dan Ginnetty

[lordsmurf]

Still fine.

[trock]

So, I'm officially in the LOADING message club now.

Me too. It's done it twice while in the middle of recording. I assume it's basically a spontaneous reboot of the operating system?

I'll call JVC on Monday and see what they say and whether they have a firmware fix yet.

[lordsmurf]

Where does one find this said "Vidicraft Vidimate"? Is it available in the US? How expensive?

eBay. That company long ago went under (bought out). SignVideo is the current version of what's left of the company (in the USA, based in Portland OR).

[samijubal]

No loading here yet. That sound you hear is me knocking wood.

[broadway]

Dan,

When you get a chance, it would be very appreciated if you could answer the questions I posted for you above.

I'd like to know about what you had to do to get your unit repaired and the cost.

Thanks.

[trock]

I'd like to know about what you had to do to get your unit repaired and the cost.

Me too!

[markatisu]

MWA HA HA I beat the JVC, take that :P

After getting that loading message even after I redid everything (cables, power, everything) I tried an experiment that has taken 2 weeks

I tried one whole day with it plugged in but each time I was down using the remote to power off and the power button on the machine, well that would work fine then about 4-5 hours in it would go to loading for no reason and have problems recording, even not responding to the remote as if it was stuck on

well so then I decided to unplug it after each us

when I am done recording I physically unplug it and then when I need it again plug it back in and it does the usual bootup that takes about 2mins, since I work 11p-7am everyday but the weekends this works nicely because I plug it when I get home and take what I have saved on the DVR from mediacom (that thing is sweet) and record the shows it recorded overnight and in the am and then unplug it while I sleep and plug it back in 8 hours later when I get up to record some more stuff

Been doing that for 2 weeks and no loading message, no messed up cable (green lines), no odd behavior, all perfect records, all perfect discs, no loading message and no errors

I seriously think the units main problem is the power function, I had power save turned off as LS suggested but it seemed that no matter what I did the unit sooner or later would go crazy when using the normal power button (which we all know does not actually turn off the unit just puts it kinda in temp off), when I physcially remove the power and plug it in to turn it on it has not failed or acted stupid once

I am betting JVC just adjusts or fixes whatever controls the power function, whether it be hardware or firmware flash. I can see no other thing during my tests

[lordsmurf]

Use a cheap surge protector as your "on/off" switch. Just flick that button. I have a printer I do that with, because the on/off on the actual printer is a pain to get too.

[markatisu]

Thats a good idea, I have some spare ones since we gave the in laws our old PC, I am just happy to be able to record again, its kinda stupid but whatever works makes me happy

[lordsmurf]

This post is for historic record.
(NOTE! Still fine, this is a reference to my ONE AND ONLY "loading" experience).

Again, this is the only time I have ever gotten "green goo" on my screen.

Four conditions to remember about this:
- It was the day I recorded 24+ hours non-stop.
- This mess is ONLY on my CNN and a few other channels on my cable.
- This only happens during the first 1-2 second of the disc.
- This happened only on the last couple of discs, before it faulted to "loading".

The only two frames with green boogers:





The JVC will misbehave after extended, continous use. Then again, all of my VCRs, including even the expensive $400+ decks, will eat tapes too after about 12 hours of non-stop use. Nothing new to video electronics, not at all.

This is the visual goop you'll likely get before "loading" hits you. It is almost undoubtedly something to do with power management. This is not a common issue, but common enough that a good handful of people have experienced it. Remember, even in clinical trials, somebody usually dies.

Something to watch for.

[markatisu]

YES that is exactly what happens before it craps out and dies, however when unplugging it physically it never happens, not even after I record with it for 4-5 hours

However almost 100% if I leave it plugged in after that even by turning it off with the remote when I power back on that starts to happen, first when it just starts to record I get maybe a few green lines and it will work fine, if I continute a bit later almost constant green lines before the whole screen goes stupid and it goes to loading no matter what channel even on input

I wonder if it just gets pooped and needs the "hard reset" to get back to normal

[pluche]

right from the beginning I used my JVC DR M10 like that: after each use, it is "unplugged" untill I use it again (in reality: I put the surge protector "off); so each time I use it again, I first get the loading message for a minute or 2 and then it works without problems for hours ...
I have it now for 3 months - no problems what so ever;

I believe GSHELLEY61 mentionned the same somewhere at the beginning of this thread
When I leave the JVC plugged when not in use and in "off" or standby mode, it becomes unusually warm; however, when I put it "on", it never gets warm !!!

[CEF]

Unplugging the machine in between uses is an unacceptable rationalization for any consumer product. It should be repaired, and people should stop buying this product in the meanwhile until JVC admits the flaw and fixes the problem permanently.

JVC also need to lower prices since, except for the video encoding quality perhaps, better and less expensive alternatives are now on the market. Compare the Sony GX900 against the MH-30 for example. The average consumer won't conduct a careful comparison of 1/2-D1 quality at 2.5 mbps.

JVC probably spec'd the faulty resistors correctly, but it is likely the mfg. tried to shave costs by substituting cheaper parts that didn't meet tolerance. This is a problem most outsourcers are aware of.

[lordsmurf]

Chinese resistors can do this.

I just touched mine. Turned off, not lights. Plugged in, "power save" disabled. It's cold. I mean ICE CUBE cold. All over. My hands are still chilly. And it's about 73 (F) in the house.

[DGinnetty]

Dan,

When you get a chance, it would be very appreciated if you could answer the questions I posted for you above.

I'd like to know about what you had to do to get your unit repaired and the cost.

Thanks.

Guess I don't visit this site enough!

I had owned my unit for 100 days before sending it in for service, 10 days past their warrantee period. When I spoke with the Service Center, they said they would charge me nothing for the repair.

I boxed it up and mailed it to the service center and they fixed it the day they got it, and sent it right back to me. Total turnaround time was under a week.

There was no cost for the repair, but I did spend $8 shipping it. I guess I could have requested they pay for shipping, but I didn't bother.

As I said on another thread, the work order stated that they replaced 2 carbon resistors.

Since I got it back, uit has been running almost 24/7, with no problems whatsoever.

Sorry for the delay

Dan Ginnetty

[bbieniek]

I've been having the same problems as far as the loading message and called JVC tech support. I was told to reset the unit and it has worked so far. Take any DVD out of the player, unplug from the outlet for an hour.
Plug back in and press the power and stop button for about 5 sec.
Hope this works for you!