PVR Reliability

radioman2 · 09-10-2011, 08:29

A friend currently has a Panasonic DMR EX75 which has died yet again,last time it was the loss of DTT reception,this time he tells me it's the infamous U81 error.Two questions now ensue,do I bother repairing the wretched thing again or abandon it and move on.If I move on<or he chooses to>which is the most reliable make at the moment,I'm guessing he'll want a PVR with a DVD drive so that he can archive material,I'm not keen on buying a Panasonic given that I've now been lumbered with 3 of the same model all failing through poor design and another one waiting i the wings, and a lack of support from the manufacturer I don't want to be in the same boat in a few years time.

David (2) · 09-10-2011, 10:14

i think the chances are you will have to settle for a seperate pvr and dvd, if you want twin tuner in the pvr box. I think panasonic are the only company at the moment to make a twin (HD) tuner pvr for freeview with DVD or BluRay built in (they also make the same thing for Freesat too).

Aside from this, in the HD era the industry is moving to locked down technology for PVRs, so that people cant make HD quality copy on disc and share them with other people.

radioman2 · 09-10-2011, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by David (2)

i think the chances are you will have to settle for a seperate pvr and dvd, if you want twin tuner in the pvr box. I think panasonic are the only company at the moment to make a twin (HD) tuner pvr for freeview with DVD or BluRay built in (they also make the same thing for Freesat too).

Aside from this, in the HD era the industry is moving to locked down technology for PVRs, so that people cant make HD quality copy on disc and share them with other people.

I've just spoken to my friend who's decided that he wants a shiny new toy rather than getting his existing one repaired,he's not interested in archiving now so that's one less thing to go wrong.Sadly he's seen recorders with 1TB hard drive which is a problem as he seems to simply record loads of material and doesn't watch it thinking he'll get round to watching it someday but never does.His current machine had a hard drive full of stuff and despite me warning him to archive stuff he wanted to keep he didn't so now he's lost it all and is heading the same way again.I quite like the Humax machines but some people have problems with software and as he's in his 80's it'll be muggins that has to solve any problems.

Chris Frost · 09-10-2011, 16:26

Take him to a store selling Humax and let his see and try the GUI for himself

Nigel Goodwin · 09-10-2011, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman2

A friend currently has a Panasonic DMR EX75 which has died yet again,last time it was the loss of DTT reception,this time he tells me it's the infamous U81 error.Two questions now ensue,do I bother repairing the wretched thing again or abandon it and move on.If I move on<or he chooses to>which is the most reliable make at the moment,I'm guessing he'll want a PVR with a DVD drive so that he can archive material,I'm not keen on buying a Panasonic given that I've now been lumbered with 3 of the same model all failing through poor design and another one waiting i the wings, and a lack of support from the manufacturer I don't want to be in the same boat in a few years time.

PVR's with DVD are pretty rare devices, only Panasonic seem to make them? - it's really a very expensive and unpopular option.

Unfortunately Panasonic seem to have made a LOT of models with power supplies that aren't good enough, it's a disappointment for a top make like Panasonic. It would be nice to think they have their act together now, but as they continued knowingly making sub-standard recorders for many years I'm fairly doubtful.

radioman2 · 09-10-2011, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

PVR's with DVD are pretty rare devices, only Panasonic seem to make them? - it's really a very expensive and unpopular option.

Unfortunately Panasonic seem to have made a LOT of models with power supplies that aren't good enough, it's a disappointment for a top make like Panasonic. It would be nice to think they have their act together now, but as they continued knowingly making sub-standard recorders for many years I'm fairly doubtful.

Nigel,my post above shows that my friend has had a change of heart so he's given up on wanting a DVD writer,just as well as he didn't use the drive in the Panasonic despite my constant advice that Hard Drives are clearly stated to only be a temporary storage facility and as a result he'll lose anything that he wanted to save,so a bit of reeducation will be required.I agree that Panasonic seem to have lost the plot over the past few years and not learnt from their mistakes and won't admit they've got it wrong when you try and rectify their poor manufacturing standards.A Humax looks favourite but I'll try and get him to see one in action although he's more or less immobile trips to the busy out of town places like Curry's are a bit hard.

bobcar · 09-10-2011, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman2

A Humax looks favourite but I'll try and get him to see one in action although he's more or less immobile trips to the busy out of town places like Curry's are a bit hard.

If he has the internet then something like this may help him decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkBi5YzYGYs (a quick search of youtube brings up more).

radioman2 · 09-10-2011, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

If he has the internet then something like this may help him decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkBi5YzYGYs (a quick search of youtube brings up more).

That's a good idea,don't need a video on the 9300 or 9200 as I own one of each of these but the newer ones would be a better idea.

mike1948 · 12-10-2011, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman2

A friend currently has a Panasonic DMR EX75 which has died yet again,last time it was the loss of DTT reception,this time he tells me it's the infamous U81 error.Two questions now ensue,do I bother repairing the wretched thing again or abandon it and move on.If I move on<or he chooses to>which is the most reliable make at the moment,I'm guessing he'll want a PVR with a DVD drive so that he can archive material,I'm not keen on buying a Panasonic given that I've now been lumbered with 3 of the same model all failing through poor design and another one waiting i the wings, and a lack of support from the manufacturer I don't want to be in the same boat in a few years time.

Why don't you write to Panasonic to express your frustration? My experience of Panasonic is that they are a good brand generally, although there are obvious exceptions.

Don't email Panasonic but write a letter because the latter get read but emails often do not get passed on.

call100 · 12-10-2011, 10:34

Panasonic make good TV's but their PVR IMO is dire........In fact I think all Panasonic offerings are spoilt by the execution of an abysmal EPG
My father in his 80's has the Humax I bought him and has no problem with it. Archiving is possible via USB and a memory stick with no hassle.

mike1948 · 12-10-2011, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by call100

Panasonic make good TV's but their PVR IMO is dire........In fact I think all Panasonic offerings are spoilt by the execution of an abysmal EPG
My father in his 80's has the Humax I bought him and has no problem with it. Archiving is possible via USB and a memory stick with no hassle.

I do not have a great deal of experience of other EPGs but I have two Panasonic PVRs. I have found them to be reliable and easy to use, even if the manuals are difficult to understand in places. My oldest PVR is five years.

radioman2 · 12-10-2011, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike1948

Why don't you write to Panasonic to express your frustration? My experience of Panasonic is that they are a good brand generally, although there are obvious exceptions.

Don't email Panasonic but write a letter because the latter get read but emails often do not get passed on.

Might try that,trying the telephone route was a waste of time.Really don't know what to do since I'm not the owner of these devices so will they hide behind some "Data protection"melarkey and refuse to discuss.My friend has also got the Viera TV set that was bundled with the PVR.That's on it's way out as well due to defective PSU.If he tries to switch the set on from "Cold"it's very much touch and go whether it'll fire up.
I've discussed it and he's going for the HUMAX HD PVR with the 1TB hard drive,ordered from John Lewis so he'll call me when it arrives and I'll go and set it up.

mike1948 · 12-10-2011, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioman2

Might try that,trying the telephone route was a waste of time.Really don't know what to do since I'm not the owner of these devices so will they hide behind some "Data protection"melarkey and refuse to discuss.My friend has also got the Viera TV set that was bundled with the PVR.That's on it's way out as well due to defective PSU.If he tries to switch the set on from "Cold"it's very much touch and go whether it'll fire up.
I've discussed it and he's going for the HUMAX HD PVR with the 1TB hard drive,ordered from John Lewis so he'll call me when it arrives and I'll go and set it up.

The name of Panasonic's UK CEO is Keith Evans. Suggest you write to him giving model numbers and dates of purchase etc. The letter will get passed down the line but you may as well go to the top since you seem to have a reasonable complaint.

http://www.ceoemail.com/

call100 · 13-10-2011, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike1948

I do not have a great deal of experience of other EPGs but I have two Panasonic PVRs. I have found them to be reliable and easy to use, even if the manuals are difficult to understand in places. My oldest PVR is five years.

I didn't say they were unreliable....Just (IMO) dire in their execution of the task.....If we didn't all have a different opinion then there would only be one make of PVR...

09-10-2011, 08:29	#1
radioman2 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,330	PVR Reliability A friend currently has a Panasonic DMR EX75 which has died yet again,last time it was the loss of DTT reception,this time he tells me it's the infamous U81 error.Two questions now ensue,do I bother repairing the wretched thing again or abandon it and move on.If I move on<or he chooses to>which is the most reliable make at the moment,I'm guessing he'll want a PVR with a DVD drive so that he can archive material,I'm not keen on buying a Panasonic given that I've now been lumbered with 3 of the same model all failing through poor design and another one waiting i the wings, and a lack of support from the manufacturer I don't want to be in the same boat in a few years time.

09-10-2011, 10:14	#2
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: S.West England. Posts: 18,037	i think the chances are you will have to settle for a seperate pvr and dvd, if you want twin tuner in the pvr box. I think panasonic are the only company at the moment to make a twin (HD) tuner pvr for freeview with DVD or BluRay built in (they also make the same thing for Freesat too). Aside from this, in the HD era the industry is moving to locked down technology for PVRs, so that people cant make HD quality copy on disc and share them with other people.

09-10-2011, 12:08	#3
radioman2 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,330	Quote: Originally Posted by David (2) i think the chances are you will have to settle for a seperate pvr and dvd, if you want twin tuner in the pvr box. I think panasonic are the only company at the moment to make a twin (HD) tuner pvr for freeview with DVD or BluRay built in (they also make the same thing for Freesat too). Aside from this, in the HD era the industry is moving to locked down technology for PVRs, so that people cant make HD quality copy on disc and share them with other people. I've just spoken to my friend who's decided that he wants a shiny new toy rather than getting his existing one repaired,he's not interested in archiving now so that's one less thing to go wrong.Sadly he's seen recorders with 1TB hard drive which is a problem as he seems to simply record loads of material and doesn't watch it thinking he'll get round to watching it someday but never does.His current machine had a hard drive full of stuff and despite me warning him to archive stuff he wanted to keep he didn't so now he's lost it all and is heading the same way again.I quite like the Humax machines but some people have problems with software and as he's in his 80's it'll be muggins that has to solve any problems.

09-10-2011, 16:26	#4
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Take him to a store selling Humax and let his see and try the GUI for himself

09-10-2011, 17:29	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by radioman2 A friend currently has a Panasonic DMR EX75 which has died yet again,last time it was the loss of DTT reception,this time he tells me it's the infamous U81 error.Two questions now ensue,do I bother repairing the wretched thing again or abandon it and move on.If I move on<or he chooses to>which is the most reliable make at the moment,I'm guessing he'll want a PVR with a DVD drive so that he can archive material,I'm not keen on buying a Panasonic given that I've now been lumbered with 3 of the same model all failing through poor design and another one waiting i the wings, and a lack of support from the manufacturer I don't want to be in the same boat in a few years time. PVR's with DVD are pretty rare devices, only Panasonic seem to make them? - it's really a very expensive and unpopular option. Unfortunately Panasonic seem to have made a LOT of models with power supplies that aren't good enough, it's a disappointment for a top make like Panasonic. It would be nice to think they have their act together now, but as they continued knowingly making sub-standard recorders for many years I'm fairly doubtful.

09-10-2011, 18:49	#6
radioman2 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,330	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin PVR's with DVD are pretty rare devices, only Panasonic seem to make them? - it's really a very expensive and unpopular option. Unfortunately Panasonic seem to have made a LOT of models with power supplies that aren't good enough, it's a disappointment for a top make like Panasonic. It would be nice to think they have their act together now, but as they continued knowingly making sub-standard recorders for many years I'm fairly doubtful. Nigel,my post above shows that my friend has had a change of heart so he's given up on wanting a DVD writer,just as well as he didn't use the drive in the Panasonic despite my constant advice that Hard Drives are clearly stated to only be a temporary storage facility and as a result he'll lose anything that he wanted to save,so a bit of reeducation will be required.I agree that Panasonic seem to have lost the plot over the past few years and not learnt from their mistakes and won't admit they've got it wrong when you try and rectify their poor manufacturing standards.A Humax looks favourite but I'll try and get him to see one in action although he's more or less immobile trips to the busy out of town places like Curry's are a bit hard.

09-10-2011, 18:59	#7
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by radioman2 A Humax looks favourite but I'll try and get him to see one in action although he's more or less immobile trips to the busy out of town places like Curry's are a bit hard. If he has the internet then something like this may help him decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkBi5YzYGYs (a quick search of youtube brings up more).

09-10-2011, 19:32	#8
radioman2 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,330	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar If he has the internet then something like this may help him decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkBi5YzYGYs (a quick search of youtube brings up more). That's a good idea,don't need a video on the 9300 or 9200 as I own one of each of these but the newer ones would be a better idea.

12-10-2011, 10:12	#9
mike1948 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,060	Quote: Originally Posted by radioman2 A friend currently has a Panasonic DMR EX75 which has died yet again,last time it was the loss of DTT reception,this time he tells me it's the infamous U81 error.Two questions now ensue,do I bother repairing the wretched thing again or abandon it and move on.If I move on<or he chooses to>which is the most reliable make at the moment,I'm guessing he'll want a PVR with a DVD drive so that he can archive material,I'm not keen on buying a Panasonic given that I've now been lumbered with 3 of the same model all failing through poor design and another one waiting i the wings, and a lack of support from the manufacturer I don't want to be in the same boat in a few years time. Why don't you write to Panasonic to express your frustration? My experience of Panasonic is that they are a good brand generally, although there are obvious exceptions. Don't email Panasonic but write a letter because the latter get read but emails often do not get passed on.

12-10-2011, 10:34	#10
call100 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,572	Panasonic make good TV's but their PVR IMO is dire........In fact I think all Panasonic offerings are spoilt by the execution of an abysmal EPG My father in his 80's has the Humax I bought him and has no problem with it. Archiving is possible via USB and a memory stick with no hassle.

12-10-2011, 10:44	#11
mike1948 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,060	Quote: Originally Posted by call100 Panasonic make good TV's but their PVR IMO is dire........In fact I think all Panasonic offerings are spoilt by the execution of an abysmal EPG My father in his 80's has the Humax I bought him and has no problem with it. Archiving is possible via USB and a memory stick with no hassle. I do not have a great deal of experience of other EPGs but I have two Panasonic PVRs. I have found them to be reliable and easy to use, even if the manuals are difficult to understand in places. My oldest PVR is five years.

12-10-2011, 11:13	#12
radioman2 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,330	Quote: Originally Posted by mike1948 Why don't you write to Panasonic to express your frustration? My experience of Panasonic is that they are a good brand generally, although there are obvious exceptions. Don't email Panasonic but write a letter because the latter get read but emails often do not get passed on. Might try that,trying the telephone route was a waste of time.Really don't know what to do since I'm not the owner of these devices so will they hide behind some "Data protection"melarkey and refuse to discuss.My friend has also got the Viera TV set that was bundled with the PVR.That's on it's way out as well due to defective PSU.If he tries to switch the set on from "Cold"it's very much touch and go whether it'll fire up. I've discussed it and he's going for the HUMAX HD PVR with the 1TB hard drive,ordered from John Lewis so he'll call me when it arrives and I'll go and set it up.

12-10-2011, 11:46	#13
mike1948 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,060	Quote: Originally Posted by radioman2 Might try that,trying the telephone route was a waste of time.Really don't know what to do since I'm not the owner of these devices so will they hide behind some "Data protection"melarkey and refuse to discuss.My friend has also got the Viera TV set that was bundled with the PVR.That's on it's way out as well due to defective PSU.If he tries to switch the set on from "Cold"it's very much touch and go whether it'll fire up. I've discussed it and he's going for the HUMAX HD PVR with the 1TB hard drive,ordered from John Lewis so he'll call me when it arrives and I'll go and set it up. The name of Panasonic's UK CEO is Keith Evans. Suggest you write to him giving model numbers and dates of purchase etc. The letter will get passed down the line but you may as well go to the top since you seem to have a reasonable complaint. http://www.ceoemail.com/

13-10-2011, 17:03	#14
call100 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,572	Quote: Originally Posted by mike1948 I do not have a great deal of experience of other EPGs but I have two Panasonic PVRs. I have found them to be reliable and easy to use, even if the manuals are difficult to understand in places. My oldest PVR is five years. I didn't say they were unreliable....Just (IMO) dire in their execution of the task.....If we didn't all have a different opinion then there would only be one make of PVR...

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PVR Reliability