Problem with Panasonic DMR-E20 Shuts off when recording!!

[darkhunter]

Hi all, i'm having major trouble with this machine.

I am using Verbatim 2X DVDR media.

I was trying to record and about a minute into it the machine shut down!!
I power back up and it's like I never recorded anything, no tracks.

So I try recording again and it works.

But now I am trying to add more to that disc and when I go to record about a minute in, SHUTS DOWN!

I tried again, keeps shutting down. I cannot get it to record at all!!!??

Am I just stupid and doing something wrong or do I need to be returning this unit ASAP!?

thanks,
J.Hileman@prodigy.net

[darkhunter]

Also I wanted to ask about this new pansaonic recorder I am reading about that will have a hard drive???
Should I just return my unit (even if I do get it working) and get this??
My question is will I be able to simply record to the hard drive, like say TV shows, store them there, then edit them on the machine and then burn all at once to DVD!? That would be very cool because the editing is something I am looking for, can't do it on the 20 unless you use ram but ram is compatible with like nothing

[tom28]

Return it and get the E30, I heard that some of the E20 MBF rate is bad. I don't believe the E30 has a hard drive, it is just cheaper than the E20 and it is progressive scan unit, has almost the same features as the E20 plus more.

[darkhunter]

Ok, I hate to return it because I got a really, I mean really good deal on this as the last one the store had.

But if it's bad, it's bad. No one else has heard of this problem or had this happen??

[thxkid]

My DMR-E20 works great and have no problems with the bitrate, now I have experinced this exact same problem, believe it or its how the media is setting in the tray, when you put it in, make sure to slightly push it back against the spring loaded pins that stick up from the bottom of the tray its like thats something to notify the unit that a DVD-R is in or just making sure its setting in the tray correctly. Now why you get a minute be for it shuts down is because these units do not write on the fly to DVD-R they use Ram thats built on the motherboard, I know, I have taken mine apart and seen whats inside, too long to go into why I did so, but it buffers about a minutes worth of Video source before burning onto the writer, hince the minute delay when it shuts down, your getting a minutes worth of buffered video before it trys to write on the DVD-R and if it does not set in the tray perfectly it shuts down, a flaw in the design? maybe or maybe its a safe guard also.
FYI, never turn off the unit with a DVD-R unfinalized, if you do it becomes a instant Coaster.

[darkhunter]

thxkid thank you for the advice, I tried adjusting the disc and pushing it close to the pins (the 2 furthest out from the machine correct?)
but it is still not working. Also I have noticed that it is burning a little sliver of information on the disc so now they are ruined!
So I have wasted several expensive verbatim disc now

Any other suggestions? Like brand of media?

I have tried white top princo's but they are not recognized. I get the U11 error.

Verbatim is the only other brand I have, any other suggestions before I give up and am forced to return it?

[houtx67]

I have the DMR-E30. I have found that the copy protection software bulit into this unit can be tempermental. It automatically will not allow any copying of commercial DVDs. I use my macrovision descrambler and it usually works fine, but I have to use the composite inputs (not S-video). The exception is that some of the newer DVDs (Count of Monte Cristo) will not work even with the descrambler.

I have found that if a DVD-R locks up, the unit will stop and recognize it if I disconnect the other DVD source's video from the unit and then hit return. I'm not sure if this is a bug, or part of the copy protection program. I have found (from earlier experience) that if I unplug the unit when it is locked up, it will "recover" the disc and still be usable before finalizing.

[obiwan176]

I have the 20 and it works good except with some media it locks up. with mine it was with great quality from frys. with the extent that yours is doing it it is a bad machine. there were a handful of the early shipments that had some serious problems doing this. I have used over 80 discs from princo white like you and all have worked flawlessly. I would get the one with the hard drive or get a new 20. don't go crazy the e-20 is a great machine you just got a lemon.

[darkhunter]

thanks obiwan176 appreciate the help. Because I tried several of the white top princo's and it just will not recognize it at all.

I guess I will return and hold out for the hard drive machine, it sounds very cool!

As far as the copy protection I was only trying to copy TV programs not DVD's so I don't think that has anything to do with it.

I just had a question though i'm hearing that the copy protection does not allow recording of some digital broadcasts (I have digital cable could that be my trouble?) like PPV's and such.

Does anyone know, if I order the next WWE Wrestling PPV will I be able to record it with the DMR20?? or hard drive unit?

I mean that would be crazy if not, I pay $35 for these things I damn well better be able to tape them.

I'm starting to wonder what's the use for this machine sadly. If you can't copy DVD's, VHS, or even TV now, my god what am I paying hundreds of dollars for?

[obiwan176]

I have not actually tried to record ppv but according to panasonic you can use ram discs to record these type of features. Ram is actaully really cool but who knowa if it will be available an adopted format in the future. as far a recording dvd you should try to do some research and find a player that has macrovision hack on it to record those type of discs. I have had my recorder for a while and have been extremely pleased with it. There is nothing better out there and won't be for a long time. Stick with it hopefullt it will work out for you but just get a better one.

[obiwan176]

You can record vhs that has copy protection with a box that can be purchased called the copy master. But anything you record at home can be transferred with no problems at all.

[darkhunter]

thanks obiwan176
I 'll probably look into the macrovision removal device but honestly i'm more worried about doing TV/PPV stuff and just want to make sure digital broadcasts are not blocked??? If so will a macrovision removal box fix that as well??

[obiwan176]

I would go ahead and try recording using the dmr but have a backup recording like vhs so that in case id does not work you still have something to copy from. Again I have heard that ppv is blocked but panasonic said to record those types of programs with protection to use ram discs. The manual says to use ram it is a large manual but it talks about it in there somewhere. Again, just try it once and see what happens. If you have any further questions do not hesitate to e-mail me.

[darkhunter]

Just to update people and if anyone is having same trouble as me, I tried using tape to tape the "tabs" down and it worked, I recorded 4 hours worth. However today I was recording and like hour and a half in it shut off, I opened it up the tape had come loose

I'm thinking of trying super glue though I think I have just had enough of this unit and am ready to return and wait for the DMR-HS2.
Can anyone tell me if they have fixed this tempermental problem though?
I mean this is totally insane, it should read the friggin disc's, i'm using expensive verbatims for crying out loud.

Did they fix this problem in the 30 model and I would hope the HS2??

[obiwan176]

you have one messed up machine. Just wait for the hs2 or get a newer manufactured dmr. You shpuld not be having any of those problems.

[darkhunter]

Ok, thanks for all your help obiwan176

[thxkid]

theses and all future DVD recorders will not record any digital siginal with the SGMS encodes like commerical DVD or Digital Sat or Digital cable if they are flagged, sad to say but all digital cable and sats have these flags and can be turned on any time they want to prevent you from recording, I do get around the DVD problem cause I bought a Sampo 631CF then updated the bios to take out all anti copy protection, I have not found a DVD yet that I can not make a backup of. I also been using Prime disc for $1.60 each and threy work perfect.

[SergeantD]

FYI, never turn off the unit with a DVD-R unfinalized, if you do it becomes a instant Coaster.

This is a FALSE statement. I have MANY times left a DVD-R that has been 1/2 recorded and I have always been able to continue recording after being shut down. Do you really believe that someone would put out such a machine that would not be able to continue an unfinished recording project? thxkid must be doing something else wrong.

[Eug]

FYI, never turn off the unit with a DVD-R unfinalized, if you do it becomes a instant Coaster.

This is a FALSE statement. I have MANY times left a DVD-R that has been 1/2 recorded and I have always been able to continue recording after being shut down. Do you really believe that someone would put out such a machine that would not be able to continue an unfinished recording project? thxkid must be doing something else wrong.

I agree. I have done this too with no problems.

I do note that people seem to have problems with the cheap discs though.