It lists the digital channels first and then the analogue channels are in the 900's, so BBC1 analogue is 901. It works as if it has just the one tuner from a user point of view and so you can only use it to watch one channel at a time. It's not possible to watch a digital channel on it and record an analogue channel for example.

As a whole the machine works as if it is a seperate recorder and tuner in the same way as you would have if you had bought seperate freeview box and DVD recorder.

Though I would add that compared with my previous separate recorder and Freeview box setup (Panasonic E55 and Sony VTX-D800U respectively) it is much more convenient, especially on timer recording, and automatically names the Freeview recordings, which the separates couldn't, even with Smartlink and Qlink enabled. (There were various issues with the separates setup, such as the fact that if I put the Sony box in charge of controlling recordings from its EPG, the automatic 5 minute "padding" it made at the end of each programme's recording period meant that it it "forgot" to activate the recorder if the next event to be recorded was straight after the first - presumably the command to the recorder to begin recording is sent for less than 5 minutes!).

I find the EH60D very smooth and convenient to use - and since it's connected to a 16:9 TV, I've been spared the widescreen switching problems you've mentioned.

I would agree it's easier to use from a programming point of view - I was just using it to explain that even though it effectively has two tuners (1 digital and 1 analogue) it isn't a twin tuner in the sense that we know. Using the timer will tie up the Freeview regardless of wether you record from the analogue or digital channels.

I've now set mine to the 16:9 and had no problems at all with that setting - it's just slightly inconvienient because it involves more button presses. I'm still convinced it's a software bug. I doubt if many of these machines are connected to 4:3 sets and so unlikely to cause problems. It may even be a bug that is transmitter specific or triggered by interference etc.

Panasonic basically sent me a standard e-mail reply - if it's faulty take it back for repair/replacement - and I doubt that anybody who may work on the software even saw my e-mail.

That's a very disappointing response.

It is annoyiing when you know that an issue you have carefully raised is not even being addressed.

Panasonic are usually quite helpful and communicative IF you can get to the right person ...Unfortunately I don't know who that would be.

In case anyone is interested I just bought, over the counter, the EHD60 (which I was told was multi-region) for £399.95 at Richer sounds (weblink http://ws2.richersounds.com/showprod...d=PANA-DMREH60 )

Hi there,
The advert you quote is for a DMREH60 (not a D or an MR) that's the one I am thinking of getting from Richer. Are you sure it is multi region and has a DV in (4 pin firewire) on the front.
Cheers, David

I note that the advert specifically quotes multi-region ... but says it has no DV input.

Hopefullly Zarbi will post again to confirm this.

Hi Pyecrust.

Further to my earlier posting about this , I should mention that Video plus codes only work for the Analogue channels.

Regards
Gavin

Yeah that's a slight niggle. With the E55 I have if you put in a code for a digital channel it allows you to select an input where it can record that from and then remembers it so you don't have to tell it again next time it sees a code for that channel.

You can still use the codes with this machine but you will have to manually alter the channel in the programme check after you enter the code. But it's a pity that this machine can't remember which digital channel a code refers to as it's far quicker to set programmes that way than using the guide.

Another quirk here with mine is that it doesn't know what channel to set when you give it a code for Channel 4. It puts all the times and dates in correctly but leaves the channel blank and asks you to check that the number is correct.

Hi Comicsansserif

Was this maybe the first time you had used videoplus to programme a channel 4 programme?
I have never used the Videoplus yet.
I just went to my machine to try to duplicate what you did, and indeed got the same result: Absence of channel 4 in the channel section. I cancelled the programme and tried again, This time C4 was remembered and appeared in the Channel column.
I then tried an ITV and a BBC 1 Videoplus input. On both those the channels appeared first time ... Odd.

Gavin

Anybody else getting this:

About one in every two times when I first switch on the machine in the day, I get a message thrown up .. which is inconvenient because it locks the machine until I have responded to it.
[ Cannot remove disks for example. Annoying because I am often not monitoring the screeen or even on the correct channel at this point , so I stab at the open / close button pointlessly! ]

The message will say words to the effect that a new DVB service has been detected and asking if I wish it to be added to the channel list ...If I affirm, it then does a channel scan ... [Inconvenient ...takes about three minutes]
Unfortunately the four or five times I have done this , the message is always eventually returned that no new channels have been detected.

No it does it every time, but then I've always set it to record the digital version of channel 4 rather than the analogue and so that is probably why it doesn't remember it. I'll try setting it to analogue next time.


I've not seen this personally. It could be a transmitter specific problem - I've seen similar postings about freeview boxes doing this sort of thing before - or perhaps its picking up a signal from another transmitter which is boardline for reception and so keeps coming into and out of "view".

Indeed that may be possible. I have a very good aerial and distribution system, such that signal strength is very high, so much so that I have to attenuate it slightly. It could be pulling in fringe stations.

As a workaround I've had a dig in the menus and turned this auto-feature off.
It can be found under the functions menu in: Others / Setup / Display / New Service Message.

If required a manual check for new DVB service can be invoked at : Others / Setup / Tuning / Add new DVB Service.

Regards
Gavin

Apologies for delay - have been busy playing with my new toy!

To confirm:
[list][*]The model I purchased is numbered DMREH60D[*]It has a DV input under the flap on the front panel[/list]

Why don't you use the Guide button for digital recordings???

Quickest way is: enter channel number followed by enter, press guide, use right arrow to highlight program, press enter twice, then timer. If you want to adjust the start/stop time do so before you press the enter button for the second time.

Panasonic Specialist
Mat

Simply because for me personally I find that using the guide and scrollihng through to the programme you want much slower than using a Videoplus code and particularly if you have a TV guide with the code already in front of you.

I discover what the problem was with the Channel 4 codes. It was becasue the machine had not picked up Channel 4 in it's channel scan. I hadn't noticed this since I haven't used the analogue channels at all. A rescan has since cured the problem. However I'm now considering deleting all the analogue channels so that when you enter a code the cursor falls onto the channel select of the progamme check instead of the media select. This means you don't have to scroll back to the channel select to alter it to the digital version and so saves even more time on programming.

Is it possible to have an automatic "padding" when using the EPG to set-up the recording time ? the Sony HXD710 seems to require a bit of manual manipulations to achieve that...

Alas I do not think so. I have found no mention of it in the manual and nothing in the menus to suggest it is possible.

Regards
Gavin

I can't find an automatic padding function either, however it's very simple to add manually.

Is it a simple process recording from a video tape with this model?

VHS I presume you mean ... Yes it is. All that is required is to link the source machine to the DMRE60D via one of its 4 AV analogue inputs.
Using an S Video connection would give the best quality if you have that option.

Then it is simply a matter of selecting the appropriate input and pressing record.

Does that answer your question adequately?

Regards
Gavin

Yes, thank you!

I've been researching this machine and the Sony HXD710. I was put off the Sony because the only way to pad the out time of an EPG recording seemed to be a bit of a bodge.

Can anyone confirm that the Panasonic software allows easy padding of the out time when one records using the EPG (or Videoplus)? If so I think Panasonic have won me over!

PS I'm not worried about lack of automatic padding - not even TiVo does that.

After entering a Videoplus code or selecting a programme to record from the EPG you are then presented with a check screen that gives you the channel / times / and media to record onto / programme title etc. To pad the time you just add the desired amount to the end time and press enter to confirm the settings.

Thankyou. That's perfect!