Manual recording on the Panasonic DVD Recorder DMR-XW380

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BS

70 posts

Master Geek

#100962 21-Apr-2012 15:50

I see on a previous post that the recorder does miss some recordings and can mess things up, which is what I found even though the signal strength is 100% so I thought I would over ride the EPG and do some manual recordings to overcome the problems that seem to plague this machine. but no such luck, last week it missed Friday nights Coronation Street completely, this week it came up with 2 Coronation Street recordings, the first with 1 min recorded at 19.27 and the second recorded at 20.32 with nothing of the program recoded at all. and to think I complained about the Ultra Plus PVR which since I replaced the firmware has recoded with only 1 hiccup in 6 months not like the Panasonic that manages to screw thing up on a weekly basis.
So has anyone found a fix for the problem, just wondering.

Bryan

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#612862 21-Apr-2012 16:51

Bryan, there's a couple of threads here about the 380. We have one and had exactly the trouble you report. We needed a better aerial. Although the picture looked fine the 'quality' was insufficient to trigger the EPG.

No doubt there's a more correct, technical description... but you'll get the picture (LOL).

There has been one or two odd things still, but we no longer have to watch it like a hawk to see if it records

Cheers - Kirk

BS

70 posts

Master Geek

#612885 21-Apr-2012 17:56

Thanks for the quick reply, I thought by doing a manual program setup it might fix my problem, I have fitted a new arial and it gives 10 for quality and 10 for strength, it is however a Dick Smith 50 dollar one but the one it replaced was a more directional one, maybe go back to the other and see what happens, we pick our signal up from Mt Campbell and live near Richmond in sight of the transmitter.

Bryan

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#612900 21-Apr-2012 18:39

Panasonic support also emphasised the need to filter out the unwanted VHF (or UHF?? I can never remember) component and to use their better screened HDMI cable. I did, but without any change until the new aerial was up.
I remember the guy who put up our aerial saying its just as bad to have too much signal as too little. Maybe someone else can confirm that, doesn't make sense to me... but if true...

Good luck.

Cheers - Kirk

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#613070 22-Apr-2012 09:10

Sounds to me like you have a faulty unit.
I have the BW880 model and have never experienced any recording problems (other than finger trouble).
If you use the EPG then it should record at the correct time regardless even if there is no signal to record (or broken signal) at the time as the timer will still be set.
When setting manually the only way it will miss recording or get the wrong program is if it has been inadvertantly set to the wrong time or channel. I know because I've done it a few times myself. I always double check the settings now before leaving it to record.
I'd be inclined to try a replacement unit.

injuised

256 posts

Ultimate Geek

#613084 22-Apr-2012 09:51

yes you can suffer from too much signal and this usually affect the MHEG5 or EPG . Too much VHF is usually not a problem in Richmond, but it appears this is a different story with the Panasonic

BS

70 posts

Master Geek

#613092 22-Apr-2012 10:46

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I will try one of the local aerial suppliers and see what they suggest as a replacement aerial and if a filter might help.

I have only got the uhf antenna I removed the other aerials when we got terrestrial free view, when I checked the program list it puts a red X on the programs that failed to record.

My wife said it seems to drop the recording at a time she is changing stations on the TV but how that could upset the recoding on the Panasonic beats me as the signal goes to the recorder before it gets to the TV so it must be just a coincidence.

Bryan

BS

70 posts

Master Geek

#613143 22-Apr-2012 13:37

PS

One of our neighbors has the same aeriel as we do but they have theirs horizontal so I have now changed mine this has reduced the signal strength from 10 to 5.5 to 6, the quality has stayed at 10, the signal bars are also green showing a good signal, at least I will be able to tell if it was too powerful a signal.

Just in case I have the ultra plus satellite receiver backing up my recordings, beginning to think I should have stayed with the satellite, thought I would only need it for the SBS channels once terrestrial came in.

Bryan