Panasonic DMR-E50 Firmware Update

[emphaze]

Hi all. I own a DMR-E50 model, which is currently reading/writing only DVD-RAM discs (i'm using Panasonic media) and CDs. It is unable to read any other dvd discs - i've tried Verbatim,TDK,Sony,Emtec,Princo etc with no success. And here come the weird part. I've downloaded the latest firmware update from Panasonic website released on 4/21/2005. The first thing i've noticed was the update size, which, as they state is 11851kb. The actual size of the unpacked DMR-E50.exe is 5.45Mb. This is probably a description mistake.

MR-E50P DVD Recorder Firmware Update
[DMR-E50.EXE], 11851kb

Version D8-066
Last Updated 4/21/2005
Description Updates RAM / DVD drive and improves compatibility with the most recent 8X and 16X DVD media.

I've followed the instructions precisely (yes i've extracted the PANA_DVD.FRM), but when i've inserted the cd in the recorder, the INCOMPATIBLE message appears on the display. I've tried a couple more times, but i didn't saw the INCOMPATIBLE message again. Instead of it i get UNSUPPORT. According to the instructions, that's the case when recorder firmware is either the same or newer version than yi'm trying to upgrade. I bought the recorder in 2003 and i'm SURE, that firmware was NEVER upgraded before.

PS1. I've burned Sony CDR (blank)media like DATA CD, Disc-at-once method, 8x writing speed,finalized on nero.

PS2. I have found a topic on http://forum.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=164024 and as far as i understood the workaround is to record firmware on DVD-RAM. It seems very illogical to me, but I'll test it tomorrow.

PS3. I found this https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=220673&highlight=dmre50 topic here in which one user states "The E-50 has poor firmware, which can't even be updated, so there is a limited number of disks out there that it can even see." What does it mean can't be updated since there is firmware on Panasonic site?!?

PS4. Is there a difference between E50, E50P, E-50EB models or "P" "EB" are just some region/color codes?

PS5. Several users reported a drastic quality drop (including "no watchable EP mode") after firmware update due to the "code recycle", but can anybody confirm the "improved compatibility"?

PS6. Can anyone suggest a media to try to use with this one, excluding the brands i've mentioned above.

PS7. I've red that DMR-E55 has same production/software/design flaws. Anybody experienced problems with next models from E series?

If anyone has info on this problem or suggestion how to solve it, please share it. Thank you.

[CrayonEater]

DO NOT UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE TILL YOU READ THIS!

Ok, first things first:

I've found that genuine Taiyo-Yuden 8x DVD-R (TYG02 media code, Premium Line) work flawlessly with the latest firmware. In fact, they are the only non-RAM discs I've tried which my E50 likes. Get them from Rima.com.

As you've probably already discovered if you did update it, the video quality went down the toilet with that new firmware update. Others have reported it here as well. In hindsight, I wish I had not upgraded, and, instead, used DVD-RAM and done transfers to my computer. But the old firmware would not reliably work with any 8x, let alone 16x, DVD-R discs. If it's at all possible, try to roll back to the old firmware. I have yet to find the older firmware available, but if I do, I'll announce it here on Videohelp and Afterdawn.com. Likewise, if you find it first, please let me know.

PS1 - Burning the firmware onto a CD did the job for me. Unfortunately.

PS2 - This is of little surprise. Panasonic is the key force behind the DVD-RAM disc and tends to regard compatibility with other formats almost as an afterthought; it wasn't until the last year or two their more recent products would even recognize DVD+R!

PS3 - It can be updated. The question is whether you should even try.

PS4 - you're right, the suffixes refer to colors or regions.

PS5 - Again, even the XP/SP quality went down the toilet. The old firmware produced incredible quality - it even improved so-so sources. The new one produces washed out colors. EP mode is totally unusable. AFAIK, the only compatibility benefit is that you can now use a still-available DVD-R, the aforementioned Taiyo-Yudens. However, there ARE genuine 4x Taiyo-Yudens (MID: TYG01) were still available as of a few months ago and may still be available somwhere. Check supermediastore.com and perhaps from Rima or Meritline. They are sold as Valueline. These should work even with the old firmware. 4x Verbatims and some others are also still available, though I have not tried those.

PS6 - See previous.

PS7 - Probably. Code is heavily recycled to reduce development costs, and likely ALL Panasonics produced after 2004 have the same problems, especially the same mediocre video quality. The MPEG-2 decompressor is a complex piece of code and is the most obvious candidate for reused code in other machines. User complaints about other Panasonic recorders seem to bear out video quality on newer models is not that great.

[emphaze]

First of all THANK YOU for the fast and complete reply !

I guess i just got lucky that you saw my post here. After reading your reply i gave up the idea of updating firmware. This is a such a SHAME for the company like Panasonic, although they aren't the only one using such a policy towards the users. They even don't warn you about the consequences! Code recycle? These greedy corporate bas tards (i'm not talking about Panasonic only) will do anything to save some money.

Unfortunately the old firmware is impossible to find i think. Many people are looking for it, some of them wrote to Panasonic and received the response to bring their recorders to the authorized service provider. Even you get it somehow, are you sure you can perform a downgrade?

Taiyo-Yuden is a hard to find media in my region, but i'll order it from online stores you suggested. Except their own brand, I know that they are a manufacturer of Panasonic media also. Until that i'll try with some other 4x dvd's.


Anyway, once again thank you for the valuable information.

[ntscuser]

A friend in the UK had good results with Sony 8x until both his DMR-E50EB's eventually refused to finalize DVD-Rs at all. He has since purchased a pair of DMR-EZ25EB's to use instead and given one of the DMR-E50EB's to me although it now only works with DVD-RAM.