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Panasonic DMR-E85H error U99
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AKNewbie
Newbie
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7. October 2005 @ 14:03 |
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So DavieDave, did you input the serial number of your knitting machine?
Just kidding!
I think I read somewhere that the firmware from Japan won't work. Wrong region code and language. The E85 shows "unsupported" or somesuch.
On the other hand, if your point was this error indicated a hard disk issue with editing. Point taken. I think in this thread (or maybe another) that was discussed and the 970 firmware was supposed to correct it.
This thread has now become the TVGOS U99 error thread. I have considered that maybe we should start a new thread for that reason, but have not for fear of losing all the input from everyone. And as Kossello said, everyone should go to the current firmware just to fix the known editing problems.
That's not to say a firmware update from Panasonic couldn't make the unit more robust with TVGOS issues.
But this all started a couple of weeks ago for most of us, so...
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AKNewbie
Newbie
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7. October 2005 @ 14:39 |
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Just got home.
U99.
Will be sending the digital camera pictures to Cheryl at tvguide.
later all.
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RX7Fan
Member
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7. October 2005 @ 15:42 |
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Vulcan : I think the number is a generic ID sent to your box, I've seen it before on a GE bigscreen I've got (don't use it any more, will be hooking it up tomorrow to look at the data on it) a number shows up there, I'm pretty sure it's a 1 way deal.
Side note, like AK might have mentioned, that was not one of the numbers Cheryl asked for.
RX7 Fan
... but then again, she may already know what the number is!! (just pulling you chain) I really don't believe it is anything other than an I.D. sent to the box.
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vulcanusa
Member
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7. October 2005 @ 16:31 |
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RX7 Fan,
I wasn't implying that the ID identified the DVR owner personally, but to me that is not relevant. I don't wish my viewing habits to be reported - even anonymously.
Does anyone have concrete input on the purpose of the ID number?
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E85H
Junior Member
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7. October 2005 @ 17:43 |
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The only possible feedback mechanism for panasonic to learn anything about your viewing habits is to cause the machine to lock up requiring you to call them for support... :)
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Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
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7. October 2005 @ 17:58 |
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Warning: Long post
RX7Fan: I actually DID set up my video cam on time-lapse so I will be taping the damn unit for 12-hour stretches to "catch" the U99 at the EXACT time it happens, even if it takes a week or 2. Hopefully I can get several. I'm in Pittsburgh, PA, zip 15207, so my times are Eastern (daylight savings until the end of the month).
To clarify to anyone looking at these posts (kossello and others), there are TWO separate issues with U99, one is a board failure (total lockup/divide issue fixed(?) with the firmware update), and the other is the TV Guide On Screen U99, which goes away when the power button is hit. There is no firmware/hardware fix for this one. Rx7Fan: I did start another thread here earlier this week, but think we should just contiunue here (as you said, we'd have to x-ref all the info)
RX7Fan: I have an older RCA TV (mfd July '99) with TV Guide+. I had it turned off, but since it lists the time of the updates (much like the service screen), I turned it on this morning. You asked if the "codes" for the RCA were the same, do you mean the troubleshooting 753159852? No, that doesn't work with this TV Guide+. Seems like the downloads DO NOT happen in the late morning/early afternoon, as from 11AM to 1PM, the RCA kept saying "update failed. Please check your connection" but as of 9PM, the TV downloaded the channels but no listings, asked for the correct channel lineup for my area, and said the next download would be at 11PM (eastern--not a troubleshooting screen, but the actual "listings" screen). The camera's going and I'm off to work, so I'll report back in the morning. Keep in mind that I'm going by Eastern time, and TVGOS troubleshooting pages are UTC (thanks, RX7Fan). The Panny didn't receive any station listings, just the correct time, from 11AM to 1PM. I have left it OFF since 1PM, so don't know what's going on with the Panny download yet, but no U99 YET.
bns70: Can you or anyone else verify if the PBS broadcasts for TV Guide Onscreen are LOCAL or wide-area? Wide-area makes sense, similar to a like a network feed?, as you have to type in your ZIP code. Where are these broadcasters located? To re-state, my 85H was produced April 04 and I NEVER had this U99 problem until everyone else did in Aug/Sept 05, TVGOS was OK all this time until then.
AKNewbie: Thank you SO much for your input--I'll be bugging poor Cheryl too if this continues into next week (which I expect it to)
Mossler: Thanks for your continuing posts here and on other sites. I think the when the U99 hits, all downloads are stopped, so you won't get any additional listings until you hit the power button and another download happens in the evening/early AM.
An off-topic aside about RCA to RX7Fan: my ex insists on RCA TV's for the Guide+ feature, but if you read newsgroups, TV repair people refer to them as "three year TVs" as they are JUNK. We went through two in the past 5 years, BOTH had the same problem (one within 3 mos. of purchase) with the brighness--screen going dim with brightness/contrast all the way up. This can be tweaked (fixed) with the brightness control at the back of the set, but still should not happen. Had one fixed within warranty, then within a month, it started to be TOO bright (so you could see the raster(?) lines), so I tweaked it DOWN that time. DO NOT BUY RCA.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 7. October 2005 @ 18:29
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timdf
Newbie
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7. October 2005 @ 18:20 |
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U99 - update...
Since I reflashed with the latest FW I have had no U99's to date. The TV guide is not populated but at least it now shows adverts and an ID number so clearly it's getting some data.
I'll leave it running and see how it goes.
FYI until I re-flashed the FW yesterday I was getting U99 every morning without fail.
Tim
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beckmen
Newbie
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7. October 2005 @ 18:28 |
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OK, I am having the U99 problem. Hasn't happened when I am dividing a title, though. Only when the unit is turned off. Which is worse, since if that happens I could miss a timer recording as happened with an episode of Lost.
I got the unit about two weeks ago. Should I still update the firmware? Where can I find the latest firmware?
If updating the firmware will kill TVGuide, I'd rather not go there. My TVGuide works for now (other than the occasional No Listing during an update phase).
I can check the firmware version if somebody gives me a step-by-step guide on doing it. I am not an experianced tech guy so I kind of need to be treated like a layman...
Thanks.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 7. October 2005 @ 18:30
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Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
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7. October 2005 @ 18:31 |
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beckmen: No solution for this yet, to avoid missed recordings, TURN OFF your TV Guide Onscreen (see prior posts or user maunal) and use VCR+ codes or use your trusty VCR (if you still have it) like I'm doing for now. Updating the firmware won't help this particular problem. Btw, Lost is one of my favorite shows, too.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 7. October 2005 @ 18:33
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mtlove
Newbie
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7. October 2005 @ 20:20 |
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according to what TV Guide OS told me today.. this is what should fix the U99 problem. (supposedly it has worked for some other people)
1. Turn on your player. (But not in the TV Guide menu.)
2. Press & Hold the channel Up AND the channel Down button on the machine.
3. Wait until the unit says "BYE" and turns off.
4. Unplug the player, wait 30seconds.
5. Plug the player back in, turn on & re-enter setup.
really freakin' simple, huh?
there are two types of film students:
those who make bad movies and
those who don't make any
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Mossler
Junior Member
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7. October 2005 @ 20:24 |
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Quote:
Mossler: Thanks for your continuing posts here and on other sites. I think the when the U99 hits, all downloads are stopped, so you won't get any additional listings until you hit the power button and another download happens in the evening/early AM.
Thanks for all the help you've contributed on this topic as well Coyote24. It seemed like this last round of U99's prevented me from getting any new programming data, or maybe it was getting the data and the U99 caused it to lose it. At any rate it didn't repopulate the guide at all this week. I reset it and it seems to be getting the data back now.
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sparc21
Newbie
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7. October 2005 @ 20:31 |
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Doesn't work... it may eliminate U99 but you still will not get any channel listing! I posted yesterday instruction how to reset using |<< + TimeSlip + OPENCLOSE which will also reset the unit to the factory and I'm not getting U99 but I'm still not getting any listing, too. You will get channel line-up and ads only.
Sparc21
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Mossler
Junior Member
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7. October 2005 @ 20:31 |
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Quote:
according to what TV Guide OS told me today.. this is what should fix the U99 problem. (supposedly it has worked for some other people)
mtlove, I was one of the ones that told them that it worked for me but it only lasted about two weeks. I just reset it again, hopefully I'll get another 2 weeks out of it.
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StevenNP
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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7. October 2005 @ 21:47 |
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Greetings,
This may be a long post, but hopefully I can get the group to give me a general thumbs up or down on whether I should return my DMR-e85h. I just bought one as an open box deal at Crcuit City. This unit was manufactured in March of 2004 so it must have been one of the early models. It had been on the shelf as a clearance item for 14 months, but not plugged in. I think someone bought it and returned it due to not being able to get it set up.
Consumer Reports just came out with a new DVD recorder review and loved the Panasonics. I got it for a good price ($290) if it will work, but judging from what I've read here and elsewhere since my purchase, that is a shaky proposition. It hasn't downloaded any TV Guide listings in two nights. Actually it was unplugged the first night while I let the unit reset due to it freezing up.
The second day (today) I had the U99 error when I came home from work.
I have the warranty and even three weeks left to return the unit if I want to. I don't think Circuit City would do much other than refund my money if I try to get it worked on, even it I decide to purchase the 3 year $90 extended protection. My wife will never let me off the hook if I keep the unit and turns out to be nothing but problems, especially since I'm already aware of all these problems. Last night I found Seventy-five opinions on this unit posted at Amazon.com. Some absolutely love the unit. Just as many loathed it, and these were all posted before the recent U99 problems.
I can be walked through loading up new firmware and I really wouldn't mind doing without the TV Guide listings if manually programming setting recordings isn't too cumbersome (I've done it on VCRs thousands of times).
To sum up: I really want a hard-drive/DVD recorder, but I'm very averse to adding another maintenance headache to my life. Should I bail out now?
Thanks for any input.
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StevenNP
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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7. October 2005 @ 21:47 |
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Greetings,
This may be a long post, but hopefully I can get the group to give me a general thumbs up or down on whether I should return my DMR-e85h. I just bought one as an open box deal at Crcuit City. This unit was manufactured in March of 2004 so it must have been one of the early models. It had been on the shelf as a clearance item for 14 months, but not plugged in. I think someone bought it and returned it due to not being able to get it set up.
Consumer Reports just came out with a new DVD recorder review and loved the Panasonics. I got it for a good price ($290) if it will work, but judging from what I've read here and elsewhere since my purchase, that is a shaky proposition. It hasn't downloaded any TV Guide listings in two nights. Actually it was unplugged the first night while I let the unit reset due to it freezing up.
The second day (today) I had the U99 error when I came home from work.
I have the warranty and even three weeks left to return the unit if I want to. I don't think Circuit City would do much other than refund my money if I try to get it worked on, even it I decide to purchase the 3 year $90 extended protection. My wife will never let me off the hook if I keep the unit and turns out to be nothing but problems, especially since I'm already aware of all these problems. Last night I found Seventy-five opinions on this unit posted at Amazon.com. Some absolutely love the unit. Just as many loathed it, and these were all posted before the recent U99 problems.
I can be walked through loading up new firmware and I really wouldn't mind doing without the TV Guide listings if manually programming setting recordings isn't too cumbersome (I've done it on VCRs thousands of times).
To sum up: I really want a hard-drive/DVD recorder, but I'm very averse to adding another maintenance headache to my life. Should I bail out now?
Thanks for any input.
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StevenNP
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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7. October 2005 @ 21:50 |
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Sorry about the double post.
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kossello
Junior Member
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8. October 2005 @ 06:28 |
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beckmen,
I would strongly suggest that you do update to the latest version of the firmware.
Although it will not correct the TVGOS U99 problem it fixes other problems that can occur while editing etc. If you get the U99 from dividing for instance it will lock up the unit and possibly lose data.
The TVGOS U99 is more an irritant and could cause you to loose a time recording but so far it has not locked up a unit and no prior data has been lost.
It just causes you to have to power up the unit and go through the self checks and then waits for the next U99 error.
I beleive since we all started getting these on a regular basis with in the last month something with TVGOS has changed and that is our current issue and hopefully in the near (?) future we will have a fix for this.
I do not know for sure but I think all of the latest 85's are from the close outs and the 95 is taking their place.
Keith
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Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
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8. October 2005 @ 06:38 |
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StevenNP: If you're not concerned with using the TV Guide Onscreen function, it's not a bad product, IMHO. Only minor bugs in over a year, with easy fixes, like once having the stuck closed DVD drawer. Earlier models (maybe yours, mine is from April 04) had the "U99 when dividing" problem, but apparently the new firmware fixed this. Since you got a good deal on it, I'd keep it. Otherwise, there are a lot of online sites which have user opinions and ratings on DVD recorders, camcorders, and the like which are very useful.
NOW, BACK TO THE THREAD:
Mossler and Sparc21: Something seems to be going on with TVGOS not populating itself now. I reset the unit yesterday (Friday, 10/7) about 1PM Eastern. I left the unit off until 9AM this morning (Saturday). No U99, but it asked to choose the correct channel lineup, had the channel lineup and NO listings. HOWEVER, I turned on my old RCA TV with Guide+ at the same time I reset the Panny, and THAT is now fully populated (to 11PM Sunday night, the old Guide+ only had 2 days of listings as the max). I'll leave the unit off until tomorrow at noon and see if it populates, but I think I'm seeing the same problem you guys are now--no U99, but no population, either. Just FYI, I think we should state our cable companies and locations to get a handle on how widespread this is. I'm in Pittsburgh, PA with Comcast analog cable.
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TForce1
Junior Member
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8. October 2005 @ 06:46 |
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As I posted earlier, I've been getting U99 errors every Friday and Saturday, multiple times a day, then it will be all right until the next weekend. Well so far this weekend, no U99 errors and my listings data is there until next Friday morning. HOWEVER, I don't seem to have any ads right now on the TV Guide screen, this being the first time that has happened in a long time. HMMMMM.....
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timdf
Newbie
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8. October 2005 @ 07:06 |
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U99 progress ??
To re-cap, Oct 6th re-flashed with new FW. No U99 error morning of 7th, note I had been getting one every morning without fail for the past week or more. TV guide only populated with ads and guide ID number.
This morning 8th, still no U99, but now shows a choice of 5 line ups. Never had a choice of line ups before.
Selected line up #5 as it was the only correct one.
TV guide shows the stations but no data.
Turned the panny off (back to stby) - will see what happens next - U99 or data success?
Will keep you posted.
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Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
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8. October 2005 @ 08:03 |
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timdf: Where are you geographically and who is your cable provider?
Prior to the start of U99s, I used to get the "choice of channel lineup" almost weekly, and it's always the stupid "Outdoor Life Network" (OLN) that's on different channels depending on the area. I'm hoping mine re-populates by tomorrow as it did NOTHING last night. Sounds like we both did the flash at the same time. Let me know if you get some data, as we're both in the same boat. Again, WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? Thanks!
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timdf
Newbie
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8. October 2005 @ 09:31 |
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I'm located in San Diego So Cal zip 92131 and have Time Warner Cable as my provider. Hope this helps.
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Mossler
Junior Member
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8. October 2005 @ 09:32 |
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Coyote24, I'm in Wapakoneta, Ohio (Northwest Ohio) and my cable company is TSC. I doubt if anyone is near me. :-)
Yesterday I reset my machine but I accidentally put in the wrong zip code so I had to do it over last night around midnight. Argh!!! I woke up around 5 AM (eastern time) and everything was fine but then I looked back at it around 6 AM and it had the U99 error. I hit the power button a couple times and it had the channel data back so I thinned it out and just kept the channels that I wanted and turned it back off. I'm waiting now to find out if it has gotten any program data. I'll post the results when I get them.
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daughn
Junior Member
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8. October 2005 @ 10:44 |
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The daily update -- yesterday, after reading that Cheryl of TVGOS needed screen captures of TVGOS pages 1, 2, 7, 11, and 30, I took a digital pix of page 1 just to look for myself. About 30 minutes later the phone rang with callID of TV Guide. It was Cheryl--I had called TV Guide a few days earlier and left a messsage, and it just happened to be Cheryl who called me. She was very helpful and is working hard on this problem. This weekend I am sending her digital screen captures of those 5 diagnostic pages she wants. Hopefully, this will help solve the problem. I hope other people contact her and send her their data pix; she wanted data from around the country.
This morning I had the U99 again. Did a reset (Chan UP/Chan DOWN, etc), and reset the TV Guide info (zip code, etc). I watched the DVR and cable box for about half an hour (boring to say the least). The search began with channel 02 and proceeded up to 05, then restarted with 02 again. Between the 08 and 09 channel searches, the correct time replaced the flashing 12:00 on the E85H. Now, about 2 hours later, the searching in in the high channel 80s. No U99 yet, but it will probably appear sometime, maybe tonight.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. October 2005 @ 12:48
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Mossler
Junior Member
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8. October 2005 @ 12:45 |
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Daughn, I'm sending my screen shots to Cheryl also but I believe she wanted pages 1,2,7,11 and 30. At least that is what it said in an earlier post from Aknewbie. If she told you different please let me know and I will include page 4. Thanks
Coyote24, I couldn't stand it any longer so I peeked to see if I was getting any program data and I was. I've got listings through monday now.
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