Panasonic DMR-ES10: Picture breaking up

[bmwracer]

Guys, I contacted Panasonic's tech support and they told my to install the latest firmware (dated 10/2005)... Worth a try, I suppose.

[mikefox]

The next stage in this saga ...

I sent the unit to Panasonic for repair.

They said there was no fault with the unit but it was
due to the condition of the disc, viz "the disc is full
of thumb prints and marks".

Now as far as I am concerned I always pick up the disc
around the edge (though I am not the only one using the
machine).

HOWEVER regarding 'marks' could this be a clue ...

I do label discs by writing a letter on the uppermost
side using a fibre tip pen. The instructions suggest an
oil based felt pen

Could that be an explanation ?

Mike

[gnasher328]

I am now on my third DMR-ES10, which is working well on the original discs so the standard Panasonic excuse is BS. I suspect the macines have a weakness, but Panasonic will not admit it. Here is a copy of correspondance with them. (Also posted elsewhere)

[To Panasonic]
Last year I bought a DMR-ES10, which I found to be an usefull and versatile
machine.
Unfortunately it soon started to play up. When playing back a recording it would
break up with blocks and stripes of previous recordings showing through,
usually accompanied by sound interference and juddering. This was worse at the
beginning of a recording and then would subside, but got generally worse until
the machine would recognise discs at all. There were also numerous error
messages like "An error has occurred please press enter". The dealer replaced
the machine under warranty but now the replacement has started showing the same
symptoms.
Is this a common problem, I would like to keep to DVD-RAM but I am worried a
replacement will do the same thing again, possibly ehen out of warranty.

[Panasonic Reply]
Thank you for your email enquiry.
Please ensure that the disks you are using are clean and free from any scratches, dust, fingerprints or other marks, as this will cause malfunction.

[To Panasonic]
I tried a new Panasonic disc, at first it worked, but
then it would not read that either. The fault is worse
at the beginning of a recording, then improves and if
I leave the machine on for ten mins or so, sometimes
it will then read the disc. The last machine failed
like this and got progressively worse untill it would
not work at all. It is as if the laser is failing.
I will have to return the unit under warranty, but if
this is a common fault and cannot be explained I do
not see the point of replacing it with a similar
machine.
I have seen a similar report on "CD Freaks" website.

[Panasonic Reply]
Thank you for your further mail.
Unfortunately without sight of the unit it is not possible for us to diagnose the cause of the fault. However we have not been made aware of any common faults with these units.

I have also had a Phillips fail during the warranty period but although I returned it to the dealer within the year, Phillips would not honour it because the dealer did not get it back to them in time. The dealer refunded me but I am wondering wehether the DVD recorder technology is not ready yet.

Gnasher.