Panasonic DMR-EH50S: Bypass TVGuide timer? Worthy purchase?

[dvd-dude]

I've been saving to buy a Panasonic DVD recorder. I used to own the E80H and love it, and I've used the E85H very briefly and felt it too was a good recorder. I've been planning on buying the EH50 simply because I'm copying a lot of my VHS home movies to DVD and it sounds like the EH50 is better at those conversions than previous Panasonic models. I have some old, not-so-hot looking VHS programs that I may never watch again but still want to copy and will probably use LP for - it sounds like the EH50 is much better in LP than the previous models. If I liked my old E80H will I be happy with the EH50? Or should I just try to get my hands on an old E95H (I don't care much about the hard drive size)?

Anyway, I've read the TVGuide causes some serious issues and bugs for people. I'd rather just do it manually. If you don't want to use the TVGuide feature can you just program the old fashioned way? Just tell it manually what channel, time, and speed you want? Also, I've read that some people have issues with the machine turning on and recording their timed programs (i.e. it doesn't record them) - I assume this is only with the TVGuide programmer and not manual timer programming (assuming this option is available). Can somebody please comment on this?

Thanks for the help everyone!

-DVD-Dude

[handyguy]

Why not just download the manual, should be on the net http://www.panasonic.ca/english/customercare/downloads.asp

[dvd-dude]

Sorry... I found it on their web site and manual programming is indeed available.

However, has anyone had any issues with manual programming not kicking on and recording when it should? I know this has been reported with the TV Guide programming... I was just curious if it was only for TVGuide (since I don't plan on using TVGuide it doesn't impact me).

Also... the unit says it can start up to record in 1 second or so... is that including powering the unit on? Just curious. Thanks!

-DVD-Dude

[handyguy]

Did you buy one yet?

You can use tvguide, vcrplus, or the old way to input recording times. The guide should work just fine, who said it doesn't record? That might be because of the way its setup. Like if you have a cable box you have to use an wired IR thing to control it, which I found iffy before. But if you don't have the box the guide controls the machine without that wire.

I got an e500 with 400 gig HD at buy.com. It's $449 if you don't have to pay tx. $499-$50 coupon (email or on the net). If the coupon is 50 off 500, just add a 79 cent music thing to get over $500.

[non-linear]

I have a DMR-E85H, which has the TV Guide software that I never use (as I have satellite). I have never had a problem with timer recordings. I set the timer to record on L1 (one of the line inputs) and it records just fine.