Panasonic DMR-PWT550GZ for FreeviewPlus Recording

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frednz

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#179374 6-Sep-2015 09:49

Hi, I wondered if anyone has purchased the Panasonic DMR-PWT550GZ for FreeviewPlus recording etc. and if you could give your views on this device. It allows you to simultaneously record two programs with two tuners.

It seems to be a good option if you want a bit more than just FreeviewPLus recording as it is also a 3D Blu-ray disc / DVD player and it gives you 4K video playback and it supports Netflix.

However, this model does not allow you to copy from its hard drive to external media, such as DVDs, USB drives, SD cards etc.

Although it only has a 500GB hard drive, it does allow you to "register" up to 8 additional external HDDs, but these can't be used on any other devices.

It's now available for about $499 - $599, depending on where you buy it.

Thanks for your comments.

Fred

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1961 posts

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#1380514 6-Sep-2015 10:04

How do you figure you can't copy to external media?
I have the BWT720 and using Windows 8.1 it's visible on the network and a simple drag and drop operation just like any other HDD to transfer files. Files can also be burnt to Blu Ray disc in HD or SD to view on a PC with a Blu Ray Drive or another Blu Ray Player.
Windows 7 and 10 are a bit different in that a Media Server is necessary to transfer files. I use "Twonky Server"which does the job just fine. I can transfer any files from the recorder and then use an editing program to edit out the Ads.
New function in Win10 is the option in File Explorer to "Cast" files to other media devices on the network.

Jase2985

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#1380516 6-Sep-2015 10:16

i dont believe they have freeview plus on them just yet

frednz

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#1380520 6-Sep-2015 10:39

B1GGLZ: How do you figure you can't copy to external media?
I have the BWT720 and using Windows 8.1 it's visible on the network and a simple drag and drop operation just like any other HDD to transfer files. Files can also be burnt to Blu Ray disc in HD or SD to view on a PC with a Blu Ray Drive or another Blu Ray Player.
Windows 7 and 10 are a bit different in that a Media Server is necessary to transfer files. I use "Twonky Server"which does the job just fine. I can transfer any files from the recorder and then use an editing program to edit out the Ads.
New function in Win10 is the option in File Explorer to "Cast" files to other media devices on the network.

Thanks very much for your reply. When discussing this recorder with a salesperson he said that the Panasonic DMR-BWT840GZ can copy to external media such as DVDs, but this is not possible with the 550GZ. Apparently, the 840GZ has a DVD burner, but the 550GZ does not, so this might be what the salesperson was referring to.

My computer has a Blu Ray recorder, so it would be really good if TV programs on the 550GZ hard drive can be transferred to a blu ray DVD (and other external media) on my computer as you say above.

Incidentally, the manual for the 550GZ (p.53) says that ".Xvid and MKV: copying from the HDD to the SD card is not possible".

I was also told that the 550GZ is designed to be FreeviewPlus compatible, but the more expensive 840GZ is not currently compatible.

Regards
Fred

ADKM

860 posts

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#1380523 6-Sep-2015 10:53

Bigglz, what do you do so Win 8.1 can 'see' the BWT720?
I've a Acer laptop with that OS and a Panasonic 440 and wouldn't mind doing the same thing and edit
out ads etc.

Does the 720 need to be on, or does Windows 'wake' it up? If the programme is HD, does the HD component
copy over, or is it downsampled?

frednz

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#1380525 6-Sep-2015 11:02

Jase2985: i dont believe they have freeview plus on them just yet

Thanks Jase, on the web page linked to below, it says that the DMR-PWT550GZ is "Freeview Plus certified" (and also Neflix compatible).

Apparently, the more expensive 840GZ is not currently Freeview Plus compatible, but no doubt an updated 840GZ will be available in due course.

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/tv-and-audio/freeview-and-digital-tv/digital-tv-receivers/panasonic-3d-blu-ray-player-500gb-hard-drive-recorder.html

Regards
Fred

Jase2985

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#1380535 6-Sep-2015 11:23

its suppose to have it mid this month but i cant find anything that says its currently avaliable

B1GGLZ

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#1380572 6-Sep-2015 14:16

ADKM: Bigglz, what do you do so Win 8.1 can 'see' the BWT720?
I've a Acer laptop with that OS and a Panasonic 440 and wouldn't mind doing the same thing and edit
out ads etc.

Does the 720 need to be on, or does Windows 'wake' it up? If the programme is HD, does the HD component
copy over, or is it downsampled?

Well I've upgraded to Win10 now but from memory, the 720 needs to be turned on and then under File Explorer the 720 appears as another HDD under This PC. I thought it would have been under Network but no, under This PC.
Will try my Laptop and see if I can post a screen shot.
And yes, it copies HD files OK. The files are .tts

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B1GGLZ

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#1380578 6-Sep-2015 14:32

ADKM: Bigglz, what do you do so Win 8.1 can 'see' the BWT720?
I've a Acer laptop with that OS and a Panasonic 440 and wouldn't mind doing the same thing and edit
out ads etc.

Does the 720 need to be on, or does Windows 'wake' it up? If the programme is HD, does the HD component
copy over, or is it downsampled?

Laptop image - Note DMR-BWT720 under This PC

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#1380589 6-Sep-2015 14:47

And I just got Win10 to recognise my BWT720 as a HDD too. So simple. Right click on DMR-BWT720 in Network Locations and Pin it to Easy Access. No need for Twonky Server now to transfer files.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#1380591 6-Sep-2015 14:51

frednz: Hi, I wondered if anyone has purchased the Panasonic DMR-PWT550GZ for FreeviewPlus recording etc. and if you could give your views on this device. It allows you to simultaneously record two programs with two tuners.

Fred

IMO the PWT models are useless due to their lack of functionality and lack of connections on the back panel. The BWT models are far superior and worth the extra cost.

frednz

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#1380702 6-Sep-2015 17:46

B1GGLZ:
frednz: Hi, I wondered if anyone has purchased the Panasonic DMR-PWT550GZ for FreeviewPlus recording etc. and if you could give your views on this device. It allows you to simultaneously record two programs with two tuners.

Fred

IMO the PWT models are useless due to their lack of functionality and lack of connections on the back panel. The BWT models are far superior and worth the extra cost.

Yes, if the BWT840GZ was available now and was FreeviewPlus compatible, I think I would be prepared to pay the extra cost to get it. I'm a bit surprised that Panasonic has made the PWT550GZ available as FreeviewPlus compatible ahead of doing this for a more expensive BWT model.

I doubt whether the PWT models are "useless" for my needs, but can you tell us what particular functions you use a lot on your BWT720 that are not available on the PWT550GZ?

The other FreeviewPlus compatible option is of course the Dish TV T2200, which seems to be very well supported on this forum. How do you think the T2200 compares with the PWT550GZ?

Regards
Fred

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

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#1380798 6-Sep-2015 21:53

frednz:
I doubt whether the PWT models are "useless" for my needs, but can you tell us what particular functions you use a lot on your BWT720 that are not available on the PWT550GZ?

Regards
Fred

Where to start?
No inputs for recording from external devices. I don't have MySky so I record Sky programs from my Basic Sky Decoder using external input on the 720.
Not overly important but no Component Video, Composite Video, Analogue Audio and Optical outputs.
Can't burn from HDD to DVD or Blu Ray disc.

It's basically just a Blu Ray Player with a HDD and 2 Tuners built in.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1380837 6-Sep-2015 22:46

Bigglz, Just found my laptop will see the Panasonic 440 and show the titles there.
But it doesn't seem possible to do anything with them. If I d-click there's a message "No Apps are installed to open this kind of link"

Dragging the icon into VLC does nothing. Attempting to copy the file brings up the copy screen like it's going to start but then the
msg " An unexpected error is keeping you from copying this file. If you continue to receive this error , you can use the error code to
help with this problem".

"Error 0x8000000A: The data necessary to complete this operation is not yet available"

Googling this opens a can of worms. Worth following any of them, do you think? I did try a repair tool here http://www.wiki-errors.com/wiki-errors.php?wiki=0X8000000A

but bailed out when it became obvious it was having me on (and wanted money!)

Smithy47

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#1380881 7-Sep-2015 07:23

Hi,

from Panasonic the only recorder that is going to be able to use Freeview Plus is the PWT550. The firmware to turn this on is due out late this month. I have the Unit and find it great, did not want to record to disks. Can stream recorded TV over DLNA. It also up scales Blu-ray's to 4K.

Smithy

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1380904 7-Sep-2015 08:48

ADKM: Bigglz, Just found my laptop will see the Panasonic 440 and show the titles there.
But it doesn't seem possible to do anything with them. If I d-click there's a message "No Apps are installed to open this kind of link"

Dragging the icon into VLC does nothing. Attempting to copy the file brings up the copy screen like it's going to start but then the
msg " An unexpected error is keeping you from copying this file. If you continue to receive this error , you can use the error code to
help with this problem".

OK. Well on mine I just right click on the Panasonic file, copy, then paste on another drive. Haven't tried playing any in VLC but from memory when I did try it takes ages to start as it seemed to copy the file across or something before playing. Just tried double click and default Win 10 player says it's unsupported format but right click and open with VLC starts copying to a temp folder prior to playing.

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