Posted by GaryP on 10/31/51 11:29

In what way does the TV Guide screw up the machine? I've had numerous
problems with the DMR-EH50 where the scheduled recording timer, used either
by selecting a program off of the TV Guide On Screen (TVGOS) system or
simply manually programming a date/time/channel, often fails to work and
does not cause the unit to record. If I turn the unit on sometime in the
middle of the time it's suppose to be recording, it records from that point
on. I've seen a handful of posts where others have had this problems, but
not many. I went for several weeks without a problem until one point where
I had to unplug the unit for a short time and it hasn't been working
reliable since. Just wondering if this was the problem you experienced.

Also, how did you shut off TVGOS completely? I'm experimenting with that
option right now, by 1.) entering all zeros in for the TVGOS zip code and
2.) turning off the auto startup option under Setup > Review options under
the TVGOS menus to have it not always nag about needing to be set up. Just
wondering if this is the best and only way to disable it.

I've spend a lot of time and energy trying to get answers from Panasonic
customer support on this. I've been told three times recently that I'd get
a call back the next day from individuals that never followed through, and
was told twice that firmware to fix this would be sent to me in the mail,
which never showed up. One person told me that newer firmware doesn't exist
for this model and that the previous customer service people were mistaken
on which model I had. I now tend to believe this is true ... I called
several authorized repair centers and they weren't aware of any updates for
this model yet. One person was good enough to check with Panasonic on this
(not sure if they use the same customer service people I have access to or
not). I'll probably send it in to one of them, but have little confidence
in getting a unit back that works any better (assuming a firmware bug).

Because there are some but not a lot of people that have posted this timer
issue, it seems like the problem may be under unique circumstances only.
Perhaps it has something to do with the TVGOS feed being received from local
PBS stations that is corrupt some how. I'm in Cedar Rapids Iowa and
presumably receiving it through KIIN/channel 12/Iowa City.

The DMR-EH50 is a pretty good unit overall, with the exception of the
frustrating problem I'm having with the timer. I've bought a lot of
Panasonic gear over the years and am now appalled at how Panasonic's
customer service has handled this issue with me. The people and
conversations have been professional but I've received completely different
responses over the numerous calls I've placed, and am absolutely no closer
to understanding the problem with them than I was many long weeks ago. It's
unbelievable the different things I heard!


"kaboom" <kaboomicus@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:5e80l1tmv8989r2f8uaufmmeqtbjn0t3t1@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:05:24 +0100, Steve59

>
> On the flip side, I don't use the TVGuide that came with it because it
> made the machine screw up terribly. It's worked fine ever since I
> managed to shut it off completely, so I love it again :)
>

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