Panasonic DMR-XW 380

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › Panasonic DMR-XW 380

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#91395 12-Oct-2011 17:49

Has anyone else got one of these and experience it recording TV3+1 instead of TV3 ?

This happens to us about one day in three when trying to record the news, and the EPG timer seems to be confused, often putting both in - or removing both when trying to delete one.

Panasonic support were initially helpful, but are off the radar now. They suggested all the 'digital data' wasn't being received regardless of whether picture/sound was OK and to buy a VHF/UHF splitter. This made no difference.

Also, when deleting a recording the Confirm Delete dialog box has 3 blue rectangles areas that look like they should contain text. Ours don't, they're blank. This again, we were told, indicates a poor signal.

Location here is Mosgiel. We've a yagi type outdoor aerial and a masthead amplifier.

Cheers - Kirk

Purupuss

12 posts

Geek

#533503 14-Oct-2011 21:07

We've just had the same problem start with TV3 news on Friday. Every other day of the week it records at 6.00pm, but Friday it records the TV3+1. Friday's Campbell Live it didn't bother to record at all. I went into the Guide to tell it to stop recording the series, and then told it to record the series again, and there's no difference.

I've also found the DMR-XW380 to be sluggish. There's a 30 second start up and shut down, which is almost slower than my Windows PC. There is also a definite time lag when moving between pre-recorded programmes to choose the one we want to watch. Other functions that I would expect an almost instantaneous response can take a full second to kick into life.

When we sit down to watch the news and the DMR-XW380 is already recording, I have to push the Guide button (or some other function) before the Navigator button will do anything and we can view something pre-recorded.

Is this normal or do I have a faulty unit? I emailed Panasonic about a month ago and have never had a response, which is a shame as we have always bought Panasonic electronics

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#533514 14-Oct-2011 21:46

Well, well.... isn't that interesting! You're describing EXACTLY the same sorts of problems as us. Tonight we watched to see if it would record the 'X factor'. Even checked Prog/Check list to confirm it was set just beforehand, and it was (with "S" for Series as well). Come 7:30 and not a sausage.

We haven't noticed a slow responce from the Navigator, but everything else you mention we're having the same trouble with. We're very unhappy with the unit overall. It hasn't even got an open door button on the remote! And it uses region encoding, so no disks bought overseas will play. I thought all reputable maunfacturers got rid of that years ago ?? Pioneer certainly did.

Would you please tell me if your Delete Program screen has three empty blue rectangles? Panasonic say they should have text in them and lack of indicates a poor signal.

However - and I could be wrong - part of the problem may be their reliance on the EPG. This could be giving wrong info to the machine, either by a dodgy EPG or bcause of a bad signal. That's purely an asumption though, and doesn't explain all the things that should work much better.

We've also noticed it updating firmware live, and without a warning or request.

Cheers - Kirk

Purupuss

12 posts

Geek

#533520 14-Oct-2011 22:02

I don't remember seeing blue rectangles on the delete screen. Just one blue and one yellow asking me to confirm or cancel the deletion. I'll check it out tomorrow.

I've found the lack of the ability to play overseas discs a pain. I bought several from England last year and have to use my old Panasonic to play them. Fortunately I still had it hooked up so I could copy home made DVDs.

We're in Thames and have been told that we should get a good signal, but what we do get is terrible rain fade. I can't blame the DMR-XW380 for that though. Although I have noticed recordings (hard drive and DVD) when there's been a brief moments with the same effect. This does make me wonder if there is a fault in my unit.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#533527 14-Oct-2011 22:25

Two things.
You can get any Panasonic DVD unit multi-regioned for free by taking it into a Panasonic service agent within 11 months of buying it (you'll need to show them your receipt). So that's easy enough.
In regards to ADKM, the lack of an -eject- button on the remote doesn't strike me as an issue...
You'll need to wonder over to your unit to change / put in a disc, so what's the issue? There's an eject button on the unit after all...

Purupuss

12 posts

Geek

#533534 14-Oct-2011 22:47

You can get any Panasonic DVD unit multi-regioned for free by taking it into a Panasonic service agent within 11 months of buying it (you'll need to show them your receipt). So that's easy enough.

So long as the store you buy it from tells you this. Thank you for letting me know. I think I'll just make the 11 month time frame. And I think I'll be visiting that store tomorrow morning.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#533558 14-Oct-2011 23:59

You'll need to wonder over to your unit to change / put in a disc, so what's the issue? There's an eject button on the unit after all...

Ahh well, you press it.... and wait. and wait.... press it again.... wait...and wait... and then just when you're about to give up - viola, it opens! Were it on the remote you could least wait on the couch LOL !

Thanks for the tip about the region encoding. That's beaut. I've other players but they won't last for ever...

Purupuss, it's that's same confirm/cancel screen - but above the yellow and blue parts.

Cheers - Kirk

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#533561 15-Oct-2011 00:08

Purupuss: Although I have noticed recordings (hard drive and DVD) when there's been a brief moments with the same effect. This does make me wonder if there is a fault in my unit.

So you could rewind, and the next time played it's perfect? I would be a liitle concerned...

We get ocassional pixelation, and I've always assumed c'est la vie, but must rewind next time and double check.

And - isn't it a co-incidence that the EPG problems all seem to be with TV3 ?

Cheers - Kirk

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Purupuss

12 posts

Geek

#533684 15-Oct-2011 13:53

ADKM:
You'll need to wonder over to your unit to change / put in a disc, so what's the issue? There's an eject button on the unit after all...

Ahh well, you press it.... and wait. and wait.... press it again.... wait...and wait... and then just when you're about to give up - viola, it opens! Were it on the remote you could least wait on the couch LOL !

Thanks for the tip about the region encoding. That's beaut. I've other players but they won't last for ever...

Purupuss, it's that's same confirm/cancel screen - but above the yellow and blue parts.

I've been in to the shop and booked my machine in for extended region encoding this week. I just make it within the warranty period expires by about ten days.

As for the delete screen, at first I was only thinking of the blue and yellow boxes, but I see that above them are boxes that are darker shadings of the background. These contain information like the name of the programme, channel recorded, date and time of recording, and the amount of disc space that will be available once the programme is deleted. To make it easier to see if we're talking about the same boxes, I've attached a photo of the screen... I hope. I haven't done this before.

Sorry, if that didn't work.

ADKM

860 posts

Ultimate Geek

#533703 15-Oct-2011 14:32

Blimey.... we get the dark blue areas but absolutely no writing in them. The Tech Support guy at Panasonic said this would be because we're not getting enough digital data, and advised we get a $30 VHF/UHF splitter and to remove any VHF content as Freeview is UHF only. This made no difference and when I told him he never replied to my email !

The implication is the 'poor' signal (even though picture and sound are fine) is causing the EPG to miss start of programme data to start recording etc. He may have a point, but you have data there and still things aren't right. Who would know for sure...

Thanks very much for posting the picture. We'll also get the region thing done (asuming they will down here) and try TV1 news for a while. At least one good thing, the recordings are spot on and so is the lips sync.

One handy tip from same Techy guy was, if you want a DivX on the hard drive, convert it to the AVCHD camera file format and apparently it'll copy over with no quality loss.

Cheers - Kirk

Spyware

3761 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#533746 15-Oct-2011 16:27

ADKM: Blimey.... we get the dark blue areas but absolutely no writing in them. The Tech Support guy at Panasonic said this would be because we're not getting enough digital data, and advised we get a $30 VHF/UHF splitter and to remove any VHF content as Freeview is UHF only. This made no difference and when I told him he never replied to my email !

The implication is the 'poor' signal (even though picture and sound are fine) is causing the EPG to miss start of programme data to start recording etc. He may have a point, but you have data there and still things aren't right. Who would know for sure...

Thanks very much for posting the picture. We'll also get the region thing done (asuming they will down here) and try TV1 news for a while. At least one good thing, the recordings are spot on and so is the lips sync.

One handy tip from same Techy guy was, if you want a DivX on the hard drive, convert it to the AVCHD camera file format and apparently it'll copy over with no quality loss.

Maybe find an installer and have them measure the bit error rate on TV3 mux and try to improve it, by removing VHF antenna from circuit or otherwise. Mast head amplifiers do under certain circumstances increase BER so circuit would need to be tested with and without a masthead amp. Whether lower bit error rate will help you though I can't answer.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.