a panasonic dvd freeview hd recorder in argos

swoofer

a friend wants to buy this item from argos at 359 euro, i cant find model number not prepared to wait any longer. I believe it will work with saorview but.... and is there anything better or more suitable. it has to have a dvd recording facility.

happy new year

Kristopherus

Only 1 tuner in that model. Panasonic have another similar with 2 tuners. Try amazon uk for it.

swoofer

thank you and its very dear at argos, problem is the person wants the dvd record facility and hire dvd's, the twin tuner i found is hdd only but very good value.

is there a twin tuner version with dvd as well?

I slow today

gbc

watty

Better to avoid Panasonic and their crazy approach to standards. You are better with a separate DVD player or BD player and wait for a Saorview PVR. Or at worst buy a Humax "Freeview HD" PVR.

The other option is a PC (with 50FPS 1080p HDMI graphics) with dual tuner USB stick and Windows 7, XP (or Windows 7) and DVBviewer and MHEG5 plugin. You can add a DVD or BD reader/Writer to play discs or author recordings to DVD.

You'll find the Panasonic "freeview HD" DVD recorder very awkward to put RTE2 programs on DVD (and they have to be downscaled after recording as DVD doesn't do HD, only PC files on a DVD).

bridster007

There is a very good review of these Panasonic models here at this link.
Presuming you record RTE HD to the HDD first and only want the DVD recording facility for archiving reasons then it seems to be a seamless process.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-ray-dvd-recorders-media/1353902-panasonic-hd-bluray-recorders-concept-use.html

watty

However there is no assurance it will work properly on Saorview with Saorview MHEG applications or Series Link. In the past Panasonic have interpreted Freeview specs so narrowly that some DVB-T features didn't work.

You would really want to wait till either Panasonic do a version that is Saorview approved or until the "Series Link" feature is being transmitted on Saorview and see a demo or read a report of it working.

I think it's quite a risk.

It's a pity the BD (Blu Ray) version is so much more expensive, it should be less than €40 more as it will still play DVDs but allow proper HD too.

bridster007

I don't think anyone will do a Saorview approved DVD recorder so I guess users just have to take some small risk with the Panasonic if they want the DVD facility. Even Sony have gone the HDD only route.

It certainly records Saorview ok as other posters have confirmed this. Whether MHEG5 works properly for digital teletext is not clear but some people may have this facility on their TV anyway so it may not be an issue.

watty

Perhaps by next year no-one will be doing any kind of DVD Recorder. The differentiation in price suggests current models are being "dumped" on the market.

bridster007 wrote: »

It certainly records Saorview ok as other posters have confirmed this.

No, it's not completely confirmed as there has been no transmission yet of "Series Link". Also RTENL previously tested an MHEG5 EPG application. At best you can say that it has appeared to work.

There may be Saorview approved HDD + Blu Ray this year (which may make DVDs and will play them). But I'd not hold my breath.

Note that some Saorview TVs do output SD on the SCART even when you are on an HD channel, in which case a simple analogue VHS or DVD recorder will work with timer recordings (you can select SCART/AVin on ALL VHS and DVD recorders on Timer Recording).

swoofer

thanks all, i cant find the model no of this argos item anywhere and if i did i could comapre with amazon. I suggested the blu ray version but they would not budge from 359 euro!!!

shovel

I did a small review of the panasonic hdd/dvd recorder that i bought on page

11 of the "saorview has joined boards.ie " thread.

Have a look at that.

Similar machine except for the twin tuner and bluray drive.

I am a non techie

I find it very handy

Quick list

Pros

1) All saorview channels

2)7 day epg

3) Pause live tv.

4) Timer record from epg with thumbnails

5) Easy to use

cons

1) No programme synopsis

2) 2-3 second delay between button press on remote control and change on screen.

3) Cannot record from pause tv buffer

4) No working series link. may or may not work when saorview add this feature

In short this is my third hdd/dvd recorder.

I bought a targa one in lidl for €299 in 2007.had to wait for an hour in the cold to get it.160 gb hdd, still going strong

Then a panasonic with analogue tuner dmr-eh58 for €149 in 2009.am sure it was mispriced.250 gb hdd

i am giving the prices for reference

watty

shovel wrote: »

I did a small review of the panasonic hdd/dvd recorder that i bought on page

11 of the "saorview has joined boards.ie " thread.

Have a look at that.

Similar machine except for the twin tuner and bluray drive.

I am a non techie

Not the same machine at all then. If you are non-technical how can you evaluate the compatibility? How do you know what to check?

Digifriendly

Would be interested to know if this recorder allows timer recording from both Saorview and Freeview as the Sony HDT PVR I have allows manual recording from both and timer recording from 2 Freeview channels or from 2 Saorview but not a mix of both. Problem seems to lie with recording from epg as timer seems to get confused between both systems.

Kristopherus

Watty, why denigrate the poster. He's only trying to help and his opinion is as valid as yours.:(

Kristopherus

GBCULLEN wrote: »

thanks all, i cant find the model no of this argos item anywhere and if i did i could comapre with amazon. I suggested the blu ray version but they would not budge from 359 euro!!!

The Model no. is DMR-EX 773

shovel

watty wrote: »

Not the same machine at all then. If you are non-technical how can you evaluate the compatibility? How do you know what to check?

It DISPLAYS and RECORDS the saorview channels with the LIMITATIONS that i outlined.

shovel

Sorry for the above post

Watty,if and i mean if, this saorview pvr does arrive well and good

I think i have given a good review of the freeview+ recorder that i have

The one the op is looking at uses the same software to the same standard

watty

Kristopherus wrote: »

Watty, why denigrate the poster. He's only trying to help and his opinion is as valid as yours.:(

No his opinion isn't as valid, because I'm a qualified Communications Engineer with professional experience testing DVB-T equipment and he is comparing a DIFFERENT MODEL and says he isn't a Technical person. Also Panasonic has the the worst reputation for interoperability of "freeview" certified equipment.

How is experience of a different model valid?
e.g.
LG 42LD450 "Freeview" set isn't Saorview Certified and I can't find any issues. It seems fine.
LG 42LD490 "Freeview HD" set has extra HDMI, I think a WiFi option. It's a slightly later model. Should be better? It's very similar. Actually it has multiple problems on Saorview!

Why? The LG 42LD450 "Freeview" set is also for multiple European countries. The LG 42LD490 at first seems fine (It does give a good picture on all channels). But it's a UK only model and has multiple incompatibilities.

The LG 42LD490 and 42LD450 are very similar to a newer model which is Saorview certified, the LG 42LK450U
I suspect all 3 are same basic design with variations, same backlight and same LCD panel.

MUCH less difference than the two Panasonic recorders.

shovel wrote: »

The one the op is looking at uses the same software to the same standard

I'd not at all assume it's the same software. Likely similar.

No need to apologise. You are trying to help and your review is useful.

shovel

I have only researched and "tested" the equipment that i own and use every day.

I have no problems with them given their limitations

To the op

That product is excluded from the argos 30 day return policy

Caveat emptor

Mine was too

Did my research and am very happy with it.

Keep a copy of the argos page with the details,any issue with what it says it is supposed to do,take it straight back

If as watty suggests,that there may never be a saorview hdd/dvd recorder,i am even happier

watty

However even if after 1 year or 2 years it fails, you may be covered under sale of goods act.
Argos, Lidl, Aldi and Tesco tend to claim that ONLY their period applies, but that is only for changing your mind. You have protection if the equipment is faulty without being misused. Repair or replacement 1 to 3 years depending on what it is and the retailer is liable for "Damages" claims up to 6 years.

Items must be "as described" and also "fit for purpose". So the 30days is ONLY about not liking the colour etc, nothing to do with bringing back due to a problem.
So keep ALL receipts!

swoofer

thanks all, that model is a lot cheaper in amazon, I checked argos today and got full model details, DMR-EX773EBK BUT will it actually record RTE2 in HD? When I look at spec in amazon I get

Tuner
Tuner System: DVB-T
Channel Coverage: [DVB-T] UK UHF: CH 21-68

and for the twin tuner model I get

TUNER
Tuner System: DVB-T, DVB-T2

Which is our ie saorview standard??? dvb t or dvb t2???

gbc-

championc

Question GBCULLEN - if you record to a DVD, do you plan to watch the recorded material from the same unit ? It's possible that DVD's recorded in this way may not be viewable on a PC or Laptop.

So if you only planned to watch the content on this same machine, I would suggest getting a separate DVD or BlueRay player (as previously suggested) and then get a Hard Disk based recorder. Check out the Ferguson Ariva 120 with a Hard disk attached via the USB. That baby (and many other similar units) will allow viewing and recording of both Terrestrial and, if connected, Satellite channels.

watty

PCs or Laptops can view any kind of DVD recording (with suitable codec installed), the issue is "normal" DVD video players that don't play data discs.

watty

GBCULLEN wrote: »

thanks all, that model is a lot cheaper in amazon, I checked argos today and got full model details, DMR-EX773EBK BUT will it actually record RTE2 in HD? When I look at spec in amazon I get

Tuner
Tuner System: DVB-T
Channel Coverage: [DVB-T] UK UHF: CH 21-68

and for the twin tuner model I get

TUNER
Tuner System: DVB-T, DVB-T2

Which is our ie saorview standard??? dvb t or dvb t2???

gbc-

We use DVB-T, but only with the codec that is only used in the UK on DVB-T2
UK Freeview = DVB-T + MPEG2 (only)
UK Freeview HD = DVB-T2 + MPEG4 (All TVs/Boxes are able to receive DVB-T and also decode MPEG2 too)
ALL Saorview (HD or not) = DVB-T + MPEG4. Usually no DVB-T2

all explained on www.saortv.info

So a UK model DVB-T set-box/recorder likely will not work here other than for Radio. A DVB-T2 model will usually (but not always correctly) "work", even though we use DVB-T and not DVB-T2

DVB-T and DVB-T2 are modulation systems. No DVB-T tuner does DVB-T2, but all DVB-T2 tuners will receive DVB-T

The MPEG2, MPEG4, SD and HD are NOTHING to do with the Tuner. They are the "codecs" to turn received and error corrected serial data from ANY Tuner (DVB-T, DVB-C, DVB-S, DVB-T2, DVB-S2, and at least four other incompatible Terrestrial Digital Tuners) into video for the SCART and/or HDMI connectors.

Data is recorded from the Tuner direct to Hard Drive without going through any MPEG codecs. Then on Playback the MPEG codecs (decoders) get the data from the HDD as if it was from the tuner.

So recording space used = exactly the amount of serial data transmitted and playback quality from HDD is IDENTICAL to live TV as it's exactly the same data and only "decoded" on Playback.

Quite a lot of complicated processing and potentially re-encoding (which ALWAYS reduces quality) is needed to "copy" to DVD. A data DVD for PC can have a file version of the HDD content that isn't re-encoded, and can even be HD.
Broadcast (DVB) has resolutions and bitrates not permitted on Video DVD format, even SD (non HD) can be resolutions not part of DVD video specification (though many players will play them anyway!). DVD data discs only play on some DVD players, and only some encodings/resolutions. Any video format (resolution, codec) of DVD data disk will play on a PC, though you may sometimes need to add a codec.

swoofer

so ARGOS know it will not pick up SAORVIEW hence the caveat, not rerturnable!!

I now believe I am right in concluding that this model is suiatble for UK only and the only UK spec that will work here is a DVB T2 one ie it will state FREEVIEW HD.

The person buying wants to use it in a bedroom where space is a premium. They currently have a walker 26" saorview tv. I have explained the better options, separates.

thanks all. I am going to advise they do not buy this model as I dont think it will work here with SAORVIEW.

GBC

msbrobe

I need to start by saying I'm not sure if this is the right thread or forum....

I just bought a Panasonic Blue Ray DVD player (DMP-B075). It's a basic model I know but only want it for viewing dvd's. When I opened the box I found that the player did not come with any cables for connection to tv so I am just wondering if someone can recommend what is best for me. My old dvd player connected via scart cable but the panasonic one does not have scart socket. Is it HDMI cable I need and which one....there seem to be many available

Any help appreciated:)

swoofer

its called hijacking a thread but i dont mind, can you quote the exact model no?

and there is only one hdmi cable but about a million versions costting from 6 euro to thousands, the 6 euro one is fine but say correct model just in case.

did you buy it secondhand?
gbc

championc

Of course, your TV will need a HDMI socket to plug the other end in to. You can't do HDMI to Scart

watty

Any HDMI cable. They start at €1.50

They are much cheaper and simpler inside than SCART.

I'm told BD players (Blu Ray) with SCART exist, but I have never seen one. No TV does HD via SCART, though a proper SCART cable is capable of higher analogue resolution than HDTV. VGA cables are essentially miniaturised SCART without audio and do far higher resolution (via Analogue) than HDTV.

You do need a TV with an HDMI socket on it.

msbrobe

Thanks guys:o
My tv is Hitachi P42T01U (about 4-5 yrs old hdi ready as far as I remember) and it does have HDMI ports as far as I can see.....I am just such a technophobic gadget person. So if I understand right all I need is a hdmi cable - are they standard sizes? I have the player hooked up now but just with those red white and yellow thingys I found stashed in the "might come in useful sometime" drawer. It works but to get best quality I should have the other cable I guess...

ps: sorry about the hijack.....

msbrobe

msbrobe wrote: »

I need to start by saying I'm not sure if this is the right thread or forum....

I just bought a Panasonic Blue Ray DVD player (DMP-B075)

Sorry GBC...this is the model number, impulse buy in frustration at my old one freezing mid-movie - tried lens cleaners but didnt seem to do the job. €100 - have no idea if thats good or bad!

dubguy45

watty wrote: »

Better to avoid Panasonic and their crazy approach to standards. You are better with a separate DVD player or BD player and wait for a Saorview PVR. Or at worst buy a Humax "Freeview HD" PVR.

The other option is a PC (with 50FPS 1080p HDMI graphics) with dual tuner USB stick and Windows 7, XP (or Windows 7) and DVBviewer and MHEG5 plugin. You can add a DVD or BD reader/Writer to play discs or author recordings to DVD.

You'll find the Panasonic "freeview HD" DVD recorder very awkward to put RTE2 programs on DVD (and they have to be downscaled after recording as DVD doesn't do HD, only PC files on a DVD).

Watty, could you please reccommend a suitable dual dvb-t usb device for windows 7.
Thanks.

watty

No, the one I bought doesn't seem to be available any more.

Any that has a Win7 driver is fine. In theory two separate ones (but not on a Hub, internal or external, on really separate USB ports) should also work.

You only need DVB-T2 for UK transmissions (Welsh or N.I. or IOM reception).

watty

msbrobe wrote: »

Thanks guys:o
My tv is Hitachi P42T01U (about 4-5 yrs old hdi ready as far as I remember) and it does have HDMI ports as far as I can see.....I am just such a technophobic gadget person. So if I understand right all I need is a hdmi cable - are they standard sizes?

Real "HDMI" ports as on Set-boxes, BD players, PS3 and TVs are all the same.

Only phones and some Apple stuff need special adaptors/cables.

dubguy45

watty wrote: »

No, the one I bought doesn't seem to be available any more.

Any that has a Win7 driver is fine. In theory two separate ones (but not on a Hub, internal or external, on really separate USB ports) should also work.

You only need DVB-T2 for UK transmissions (Welsh or N.I. or IOM reception).

Thanks for the reply Watty.

swoofer

i cant find that model!!! where are you, 100 is a lot but they are good, i have panasonic, in fact i like panasonic.

say what it says on the sticker. i'll look on site as well

gbc

msbrobe

GBCULLEN wrote: »

i cant find that model!!! where are you, 100 is a lot but they are good, i have panasonic, in fact i like panasonic.

say what it says on the sticker. i'll look on site as well

gbc

Sticker on box says DMP-BD75EB-K

I had a look on tv & player and hdmi ports look pretty standard (to a tecnophobe!) so I guess I will just invest in one and try it out.

Thanks again for all the help
O

STB

msbrobe wrote: »

Sticker on box says DMP-BD75EB-K

I had a look on tv & player and hdmi ports look pretty standard (to a tecnophobe!) so I guess I will just invest in one and try it out.

Thanks again for all the help
O

Do not spend lots of money on a HDMI cable - they are all the same.

Less than €6/7! No more!

Have a look in tescos etc.

swoofer

DMP-BD75 = the player, that is a top notch player and can be hooked up to the internet etc. enjoy. it will even make old dvd's look good.

have a look at panasonic website, it was the 075 that threw me.

gbc

msbrobe

GBCULLEN wrote: »

DMP-BD75 = the player, that is a top notch player and can be hooked up to the internet etc. enjoy. it will even make old dvd's look good.

have a look at panasonic website, it was the 075 that threw me.

gbc

Thanks gbc...will have a look and do a little experimenting over the weekend

newleaf

Saw this one on Amazon for £369 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMR-BWT700EB-Blu-ray-Recorder-Freeview/dp/B004XBUG9C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I582W2UMQOS91&colid=2YRRTKKTTKF3X - seems to have pretty much everything short of Saorview approval. Anyone got one? Likely to put RTE etc in 800s maybe problem with summertime but could these problems be overcome?

watty

The price is a bit scary. But those were nearly £700 when they first came out.

If it only wasn't a Panasonic

The summertime issue is a problem for series link and automatic timer recordings.

The firmware change to add "Ireland" as a country option and solve the incompatibilities on any Freeview HD box or TV is small. Philips has responded in the past (but are likely to pull out of AV entirely, likely selling the Brand for AV to China and concentrating on Lighting & Health products. They made Light bulbs before Radio). Panasonic in the past has stated that products for UK are for UK, so if you are not in UK, don't annoy us.