Need Help - configuration of Freeview HD (Zinwell receiver), Panasonic LCD TV and Panasonic 160GB HDD DVD recorder!!!

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CarterMackenzie

18 posts

Geek

#25638 27-Aug-2008 18:50

I'm desperate!!!   I've had no luck from other avenues, and so am putting a post in here, hoping someone can help me.

I have just got hold of a Freeview receiver - the Zinwell HD Digital Terrestrial Receiver (ZMT-620HD).   I had some initial problems with a faulty box, but have just got the replacement, and now there's no problems with it cutting out on me.

But the big problem - how do I get my DVD recorder set up into the mix, so I can record the stuff coming thru the Freeview HD box????   I specifically bought this model of receiver because I have been told that it can record the subtitles (I'm hearing impaired and have deaf relatives, so this is important)...

I'm usually pretty good at setting up electronic stuff, and have never had any problems before really... but with this one - ugh, I'm lost!   I've tried several different configurations... but still no luck.   So at the moment I have them working independently - so at least I can still record stuff - but just the old bad reception.

So if someone could detail how this should be set up, then I'd really appreciate it.   I'm desperate!

I have asked other people, but they've not really been able to help much.   So please - help me!

Smiles,

CarterMackenzie (self-confessed TV addict)

pacificsurfer51

55 posts

Master Geek

#160287 27-Aug-2008 21:45

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=34&TopicId=23669

safboy

62 posts

Master Geek

#160301 27-Aug-2008 22:43

I have Freeview to my LCD via HDMI (Freeview HDMI-out to TV HDMI-in)
I also have Freeview to my DVD Recorder via AVI (Freeview AV-out to DVD Recorder AV-in)
From there, I just set my recorder to that specific AV channel within itself.
The only downside to this is you can only record whatever the Freeview decoder is set to...
Hope this helps

CarterMackenzie

18 posts

Geek

#160471 28-Aug-2008 14:57

Thanks for the advice. Will try and see what works. Am not impressed with the output options on the Zinwell box though. And yeah, could be a problem if I can't record other stuff (ie not Freeview), since I often record stuff on Prime.

But thanks for the help.

Smiles,
CarterMackenzie

wellygary

4521 posts

Uber Geek

#160509 28-Aug-2008 16:33

The bugger is that you cannot "book programmes" ala Sky with the zinwell box AFAIK, so to record anything you have to manually switch it to the channel you want,

IF you have issues with not being able to get your HDD recorder to switch between inputs one solution maybe to get a cheap VHS deck.

Plug the Zinwell into it and leave that input permanently selected, run the roof antenna lead into the VHS unit, and take the RF output into the Panasonic ( this will allow the standard TV channels (inc Prime) to pass through the VHS, + you will then need to tune the HDD to the additional output channel being "broadcast" by the VHS box which is whatever the Zinwell is tuned to..

hope this makes sense,if it doesn't ask.

CarterMackenzie

18 posts

Geek

#160777 29-Aug-2008 17:26

Thanks again...

In the end I got a response from Panasonic's customer service people - I'd contacted them as a last ditch effort too. And thankfully they have a good customer service ethic, and were very helpful, sending me an attachment with the e-mail reply that had a clear diagram of what I needed to do to connect up the Freeview HD to my Panasonic TV and DVD recorder. Very impressed with their service so far. The diagram and notes made it incredibly easy to do.

And when it comes to recording - don't see much problem there, as my brother in law has had no problem... and if I do have a problem then I can always fall back on recording the standard free-to-air stuff, since I have to do that for Prime anyway.

Thanks again. Appreciate the advice and suggestions. It frustrated me that I needed help, as usually I'm the person people go to for this kind of help - but for some reason I had a bit of a brain freeze on this one!

Smiles,
Beth

Mycenius

97 posts

Master Geek

#161004 31-Aug-2008 10:57

CarterMackenzie: In the end I got a response from Panasonic's customer service people - I'd contacted them as a last ditch effort too. And thankfully they have a good customer service ethic, and were very helpful, sending me an attachment with the e-mail reply that had a clear diagram of what I needed to do to connect up the Freeview HD to my Panasonic TV and DVD recorder. Very impressed with their service so far. The diagram and notes made it incredibly easy to do...

Yeah - Panasonic are very good in that regard, both the customer enquiry support and the after sales service/repairs/warranty stuff - leave people like SONY and Philips for dead (service support from both of them is woeful and other than the PS3 I try and avoid going near any of their products as a result)! Good to hear you got a happy outcome...

CarterMackenzie

18 posts

Geek

#161107 31-Aug-2008 22:18

Good to hear your feedback about Sony and Phillips... I have a small cheap Phillips DVD player - but it was only $45 so am not worried if I have any problems. But the Panasonic DVD HDD recorder wasn't that cheap, so am pleased the support is good.

Thanks for the note.

Smiles,
CarterMackenzie