|
|
|
Panasonic DMR-E85H error U99
|
|
|
daughn
Junior Member
|
8. October 2005 @ 12:52 |
Link to this message
|
|
Mossler, thanks for catching my error. It is indeed page 7. I've already corrected my post to show the page 7. Just a while ago, I emailed the screen captures to Cheryl, though she probably won't see them until Monday, when she returns to work.
|
|
Advertisement
|
 |
|
|
|
sparc21
Newbie
|
8. October 2005 @ 12:54 |
Link to this message
|
|
Hi Coyote24,
I'm in North Massachusetts on the NH border and I have Comcast digital via Motorola DC2000 cable box. The unit is connected to cable box via L3 input. My E500HS was solid for first 3 months until beginning of September when I got first U99. Right now I'm getting my channel lineup and ads from TV Guide but no listing. I reset the unit on 10/6 and had it on standby most of the time during nights without U99 until today around 9AM it showed up again. Oh well, I guess I'm running out of the options. :-(
sparc21
|
|
DavieDave
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
8. October 2005 @ 14:09 |
Link to this message
|
|
A quick thought, If I disconnect my E-85 from my cable service and reset it, as long as it doesn't update from TVGOS the U99's should be gone right? And if I then record clean video and make new divides, chapters, erase stuff, turn the system on and off and NOT get a U99s that should rule out any type of hardwear problems right, leaving just the TVGOS as the trouble maker, right?
|
|
sparc21
Newbie
|
8. October 2005 @ 14:41 |
Link to this message
|
Hi StevenNP,
I can only say that I only had two products from Panasonic and I had problems with both after few month. Every piece of equipment from Sony or JVC I bought in last 20 years is still working and I never had a need to call their supports. Unfortunately, I bought my E500HS after about 6month of reading reviews about E1000HS and E80HS and I was hoping that the E500HS with the 400GB and network connection will be a dream machine. Huh, what a disappointment. The unit may work with-out TV Guide but since they design it around it?s function that whole unit loosing its appeal. It?s like buying sport car which can?t go faster than 50 Mph!
I would say that DMR are getting more and more popular and you should see more choices from other vendors which are professionally designed and QA'ed which works as advertised from company which stays behind their products.
I hope Sony will introduce this unit soon in USA :
http://www.i4u.com/article4324.html
sparc21
|
|
Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
|
8. October 2005 @ 15:35 |
Link to this message
|
|
Mossler, daughn, etc: Thanks for your locations and cable serive providers. Just wanted to establish that this U99 problem is NATIONWIDE and across MULTIPLE cable service providers. Hats of to Cheryl--I'll be bugging her as well if I get the U99 again, and have my video cam on time-lapse so I can give her the EXACT time it happens. Feel silly with a tripod in front of the unit videotaping it, but hey, it may help solve this.
Mossler: Thanks for peeking *laughs* That you DID get some listings is encouraging. I'm not looking until tomorrow at noon. From what I can tell of the download times from my old Guide+ system (if they even use the same data), the downloads are mostly in the evening and early AM, like 5:45PM, then again at 11PM, then in the early AM hours (at least on Saturday). Time and channel lineup are broadcast more or less continually/more frequently.
|
|
Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
|
8. October 2005 @ 15:37 |
Link to this message
|
|
DavieDave: Yes, it's probably NOT a hardware U99, but related to the TV Guide On Screen. If your timeline of when the U99 started (late Aug or in Sept) also jives with everyone else, I'd say you're in the same TVGOS boat with the rest of us.
Sparc21: It's disheartening that you still have a VERY RECENT U99. If you haven't done the channel up/down reset after your last U99, take screen shots as detaled above (go into TV Guide, scroll to messages, hit enter. With the remote type in 753159852, you won't see these numbers as you enter them) and call Cheryl (1-800-386-7380) option 2, then select her from the list. If she gets enough calls and data, this SHOULD be resolved.
AKNewbie: MANY MANY thanks for posting the connection to "our Cheryl." If she solves the problem, we should all send her something...
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. October 2005 @ 15:56
|
|
bns70
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
8. October 2005 @ 15:55 |
Link to this message
|
|
Sparc21:
Wow! That Sony is something else.
Do you have your EH500s set up as part of a home network? If so, has the U99 made it unworkable or are you able to comment on the networking functions?
Coyote24:
I will ask the engineers at the local public station about the local v. wide-area broadcasts of the data.
For the record:
Two u99 messages today but full listings through Thursday. Charter Cable in Madison, Wi. Will call Cheryl on Monday.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. October 2005 @ 15:59
|
|
Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
|
8. October 2005 @ 16:00 |
Link to this message
|
|
bns70: Thanks, that info might be helpful, or at least useful to know "how things work" in any case. Also, if you haven't reset since YOUR U99s, take screen shots or write down the info and call Cheryl on Monday (or Tuesday if they observe the holiday)
|
|
rekoj
Junior Member
|
8. October 2005 @ 17:11 |
Link to this message
|
|
I have Panasonic SC-HT1500 Home Theater System with 80GB HDD and TV Guide OnScreen - bought on 10/04/2005. I have U99 error code on the unit's display every time when I turn off the unit. Usually, when I turned off the unit, channels begin to switch, then approx. after 2-3 hours when the cable box reaches channel 99, cable box returns back to channel 02 or 10, and U99 appears on the unit's displays. I have to "wake up" the unit every time in the morning (sometimes even during the night when I wake up and go by DVD recorder). It is really inconvenient, because none of my timer recordings (set up manually, because I have still ?No Listing? in TV Guide after 4 days) works. I have this problem since the first time I turned off the unit (on 10/04/2005 night) in order to wait for initial installation of TV Guide program list.
|
|
sparc21
Newbie
|
8. October 2005 @ 19:13 |
Link to this message
|
|
Coyote24, bns70
Yes, I have my E500H setup on my local network. The way I think network was designed in E500H is to connect two or more E500HS to each other. This way you can record on one E500HS and then you can watch the program from different location on other E500HS over the network. To access the unit over network you have to put it in standby mode which will put the unit in Server mode while you accessing it. This practically disables all functions of the unit, which means you will not be able to record or view shows while unit is in server mode. This was the biggest disappointment for me, since I wanted to watch some earlier recorded show using my laptop while my wife/kids were watching or recording their shows on TV.
When I got my first U99 I wanted to catch the time of the U99 probing the unit using ping, but from what I remember the device was still ping able even with U99. I will check this again maybe I have to write small Perl script which will actually try to pull the log-in page from the unit.
I didn't reset the unit after last U99 and I will try to make some pictures of the screens. I made some picture which I use for my post yesterday but I notice my digital camera has problem with focusing on TV screen. Any tips how to make a good picture of the TV screen without getting black streaks across the screen?
sparc21
|
|
bns70
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
8. October 2005 @ 20:01 |
Link to this message
|
sparc21:
Regarding the black streaks, I'm guessing you are getting only one of the two interlaced fields. You probably know this, but I'll try to summarize (and all of you out there in tech land correct me if I'm wrong). Video is 30 (actually 29.97)"frames" per second, but these "frames" are actually two fields -- one made up of the odd scan lines and the other of the even. Since the image is a "still" of data, I would imagine that you can get rid of the black streaks with a shutter speed slower than 1/30 of a second. That is, the shutter needs to be open longer than 1/30 of a second so both fields can be exposed. With the shutter open longer you should also be able to close down the iris which should give you better depth of field and make it easier to focus.
I can't tell you how bummed I am to hear that you can't record and watch in server mode.
|
|
daughn
Junior Member
|
8. October 2005 @ 20:22 |
Link to this message
|
|
Well, I finally SAW the display on the E85H change to U99. About 1010pm, I had decided to take a peek at the dignostic pages of TVGOS, since I had seen earlier the progression of numbers on the associated cable box. To start with I had to choose between lineups (no problem) and the TV GUide displayed all the channels, with NO listings however. On dignostic page one I saw a Download scheduled at 0400 on October 9 (still late 8 Oct here). So I calculated that the download would start at 1100pm, so I stood by and started watching a few minutes before 11pm. At almost precisely 1100pm, my cable box was sent channel 05 (our local PBS station), and within a few seconds, the display on the E85H went from normal standby to U99. I cleared the U99 with the power button, then went back and looked at page one of the TVGOS and the scheduled download said N/A as did the other 3 lines in that area of the screen. So there you are. Any ideas?
|
|
cat_01
Newbie
|
8. October 2005 @ 21:21 |
Link to this message
|
|
I've been following the thread from the beginning - divide U99 - Things were looking good for a while. We have started to get the TV Guide U99 cronically as with everyone else. (Amherst MA Comcast analog) just updating the U99 timing we get one in the middle of the night (sometime between 12:30am and 1:10am today and early in the afternoon. We are fully updated as of friday early eve. I haven't been watching too closely for patterns as I only hear complaints as GF clears the U99 or misses a show - her schedule corresponds better with the error timing- will keep better track and will be calling Cheryl soon to give her information to hopefully fix it.
|
|
psujmatt
Newbie
|
8. October 2005 @ 21:45 |
Link to this message
|
|
I tried turning off the Guide updating using the instructions starting in post 22. September 2005 @ 10:41" on page 7. Is it normal that it still asks you to put in your zip code, etc. information in order to even use manual timer recording?
Unfortunately, got home tonight to discover the U99 error again, meaning no recording of the PSU-OSU game. Now I'm really pissed, b/c have also missed two episodes of Lost (actually got the one on a VCR I borrowed tonight for the repeat)! Anyway, checked the thing out, and Guide still seems to be off and has no data.
Does this problem only occur when the machine is turned completely off, rather just in HDD Sleep mode? Is it possible to just let the thing on all the time by increasing the delay before shut off, and thus get aroudn the problem?
Will it help us all if I call that poor woman at TVGuide?
What should I tell Panasonic if I call them? Had this just under 11 months, so still some warranty left.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
--
My problem also started within the last ~month. I once got a message that something had updated when I turned on the device, probably 2 months ago.
I'm in Atlanta and have Comcast.
|
|
bns70
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
8. October 2005 @ 23:00 |
Link to this message
|
|
psujmatt:
Sorry you missed the game. Your guys looked good during the parts I saw. Handled OSU more competently than Texas did, in my burnt orange opinion.
I'm currently using manual timer record and just making sure the DMR is on a bit before primetime, but of course that won't work with a lot of people's schedules.
I'm under the impression that (a) the TVGOS u99 error only occurs when the machine is in standby (but this is just because I haven't seen a u99 when I knew the machine was just in HD sleep mode) and (b)leaving it on all the time would decrease the product lifespan. Again these are just impressions and I would be glad to hear a more authoritative statement as well.
|
|
GRCompton
Newbie
|
8. October 2005 @ 23:15 |
Link to this message
|
|
Hi Everyone!
Been gone a week and this thread has gone from 7 to 15 pages! Nearly everyone reporting the same problem, which in summary is the U99 error which causes recordings to fail and which is not solved for by firmware upgrades or resets - we've all tried it, don't waste your time if you're coming late to the party.
Seems the news is that someone named Cheryl at TVGuide OnScreen is trying to address the problem - I've seen a phone number listed for her, but no e-mail address. I would expect that if we had that posted and everyone e-mailed her it might help her collect more information quicker.
By the way, I'm on Astound Cable in Walnut Creek, Ca and the problem started for me in early September. I never had the divide error that started this thread.
P.S. The problem with leaving the unit in sleep mode is that it doesn't download any channel information unless it is off.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. October 2005 @ 23:17
|
|
Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
|
8. October 2005 @ 23:58 |
Link to this message
|
|
I apologize for any re-statement of things already covered in prior posts in this one.
Everyone: Thanks a bunch for the locations. So far we have the Northeast (PA, Mass and Western Ohio), mdqgus in Florida, and central/southern California. Any other locations?
psujmatt: According to page 43 of my maunual for the E85H, you still have to complete the TVGuide setup if you don't want to use it (doesn't make sense, but that's what it says, perhaps just for the auto clock setting). Just make sure if you already have anything downloaded into it, you do the ch up/ch down reset FIRST. Then, after setting it up, go into setup, channel, "auto channel setting", yes, let it do its thing, then it should go to auto clock setting. If not, do it auto clock setting manually from the setup tab. Apparently using the auto channel setting either disables or just "hides" the TVGOS. I'm wondering if it still downloads anyway, but try this and see if you still get U99. You won't be able to use VCR+ codes, just manual recording entering all info like a VCR. As an aside, I wonder what happens if you put in all zeros for the zip code, or any invalid zip code (all the same number except 2s, 4s, and 5s) I would think that would prevent downloads, and you can just use the "time zone adjust" and manual clock setting.
sparc21: bns70 is on the money with the interlaced video fields. If you have trouble obtaining a good picture, laboriously WRITE DOWN the pertinent info from pages 1 2 7 11 and 30--see AKNewbie's post a few pages back (page 13, 7 Oct 16:42), plus the date/time of the U99 and other info she asked for.
Re: Cheryl: To speed up the process, make sure you have pictures or have written down the pertinent info after a U99 before contacting Cheryl. If anyone talks to her, ask if it's OK to post her e-mail for this if we identify ourselves as "afterdawn" people and send her the data directly. ALSO, LET HER KNOW you will type out "at" and "dot whatever" to disguise her e-mail from spam harvesters.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 9. October 2005 @ 01:05
|
|
Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
|
9. October 2005 @ 04:07 |
Link to this message
|
|
Here is my theory on the U99 errors.
The Pannys get confused when they miss the beginning of a TVGOS download and try to start it right after the beginning, or in the middle, at least since whatever "change" was made in Aug-Sept.
If anyone can refute this theory, please do so. Here's my reasoning:
The last U99 I saw happened SOMETIME after I flashed the firmware at about 10PM on 10/6. I don't know when as I left for work right after, but upon returning home at 8AM, I had a U99, so it COULD have occurred during the FIRST download after the flash (i.e., reset), my timing of the reset could have just happened to have been in the middle of a "download in progress." I reset using ch up/ch down that morning (Friday, 10/7). Since that time, I have scheduled NO programs to record, and only turned the unit on TWICE, for half a minute, once on Saturday 10/8 at 9:12AM, when I had the screen asking for the correct channel lineup, and the lineup appeared with NO listings. I left the unit OFF until this morning, Sunday 10/9 at 5:30AM, and saw population through Tuesday at 11:30PM (midnight Wed through was no listings). I turned it off again, but will schedule recordings starting tonight. Others have had U99s in this time period; I have not. My theory is as follows: since turning the unit on or recording a program CAN cause the unit to either interrupt a download or miss the beginning of one if it happens to be at the "wrong" time, the unit gets confused if it comes in mid-download upon returning to standby since whatever happened in Aug-Sept. Sound plausible?
I wonder if PBS would give out the times of the downloads. I read somewhere that they last 3 hours...BUT (see following). If the old RCA Guide+ uses the same transmission times, these were the download times for Saturday evening (10/8) through this moring (10/9): 5:45PM, 11PM, 1:15AM, 2:20AM, 5:55AM, 7:00AM, 10:05AM. Can anyone find out the mechanics of the download broadcasts? e.g., are they start/stop of different lengths with some lag time between, or can they overlap? (bns70, I'm thinking of this as another question for you to ask the engineers, PLEASE! Thanks!!)
I'm sure as soon as I start scheduling recordings, I'll get the U99 back soon enough as I'll be interrupting/preventing the start of the downloads at some point by doing this (and by watching what I've recorded). Then my video camera can report the precise times, and hopefully we can narrow this down unless Cheryl does first. :)
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 9. October 2005 @ 04:34
|
|
TForce1
Junior Member
|
9. October 2005 @ 04:56 |
Link to this message
|
|
Coyote24, I have the problem in South Central TX w. Time Warner Cable. Unfortunately, I have got the U99 error in the interval between the last time I had the unit on to watch some recorded stuff and the next morning, but I didn't have anything scheduled to record. I have seen it reappear as shortly as 10 minutes after power cycling it out of standby twice to clear the U99. For some reason, I haven't seen the U99 this weekend, which breaks the pattern for me (for now).
|
|
daughn
Junior Member
|
9. October 2005 @ 05:45 |
Link to this message
|
|
This morning I did NOT see a U99 so assumed the "NA for download" on page 1 of the diagnostic pages was why (last night after the U99). However, when I brought up the TV Guide, the next 2 days were populated with program listings - last night before the U99, nothing. So I checked the next download time on "page 1," and it was 8 hours later than the previous scheduled time, which was actually about 30 mintues before I got up this morning and looked at all this.
So I just turned the E85H and TV off. It immediately started changing channels on the cable box (triggered by the E85H) to channel 34, and doing this every minute of so. Channel 34 is MSNBC for me. Channel 5 is PBS, which is always what I see first after a reset. Not sure what is happening. Possibly I'm getting more listing updates. I'll wait until the "34"s quit flashing later today and check the TVGOS.
|
|
photoman2
Newbie
|
9. October 2005 @ 08:06 |
Link to this message
|
|
Sorry to report same U99 problems with my E85H in Chicago area. Began mid-September, have done the last firmware upgrade with no improvement. Have never used the divide function, but have done lots of editing over the past year, with no problems.
Formatted the drive, with no improvement.
|
|
Coyote24
Junior Member
1 product review
|
9. October 2005 @ 08:46 |
Link to this message
|
|
OK, thanks for the updated areas...we can safely say it is a NATIONWIDE problem, and started within the same month-or-so timeframe (Aug-Sept).
No U99 yet here, but I'll post when I get some. Still uncertain whether it's something specific IN the download that's causing it, or the "interrupted" download. It COULD also be related to the last TVGOS "unplug your unit" update, but I think mine worked fine for several weeks after that update. Keep reporting aprroximate times of U99 sightings, and I'll see if they coincide with mine. Guess that and bugging Cheryl with screenshots are all we can do for now.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 9. October 2005 @ 08:49
|
|
timdf
Newbie
|
9. October 2005 @ 08:49 |
Link to this message
|
|
Still working great, no U99's.
Since I reflashed and reset last Thursday everything has been great, full TV guide and no U99's etc., but when I checked the TV guide on the TWC decoder box - btw this is the guide we use for actually seeing what's on because it's easier to use than the panny OSG - I noticed this guide now has no data !
Previously the TWC guide from the cable box had been 100% solid - I'll see if it sorts itself out later today.
Strange eh ?
Tim
|
|
Mossler
Junior Member
|
9. October 2005 @ 09:02 |
Link to this message
|
|
Had a very bad night (U99 wise that is). I'm in northwestern ohio and I had four U99's in the space of a half hour last night. I couldn't sleep to well last night so around 2:30 AM eastern time I turned the unit on to see if the program guide had repopulated any further. It had not so I turned it back off around 3:30 AM and within five minutes it had gotten the U99. I hit the power button a few times, turned it back off, and it happened again within about 5 minutes. So I kept watching it and it happened twice more about 5 minutes apart. Since it was happpening so much I decided to unhook the cable and see if it would stop it. I watched for about 20 minutes with the cable unhooked and it didn't get anymore U99's. I plugged the cable back in at that point and went back to bed. Checked it this morning and no more U99's but also it is not repopulating the program guide data any further. I checked the TVGOS debugging screen and on page one much of it is back to N/A again so I bet it won't get anymore program data.
Coyote24, I would say that for some reason the machine couldn't deal with the download that was in progress and it kept sending it into U99. So I think you are onto something there. Something was sure driving it crazy last night after I powered it up. I hope the TV guide people can get it worked out.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
kensmith
Newbie
|
9. October 2005 @ 11:18 |
Link to this message
|
|
I live in Michigan, Zip 48040 (Near Port Huron, 1 hr. N of Detroit). Am using E85H, purchased in March, Comcast cable, no cable box.
After a summer of complete and utter happiness with my Panny I started getting U99s / missing updates mid to late September. A couple of days ago my TVGOS changed to the BROADCAST CHANNEL listings for our area! Grrrrrrrrr
Called PSonic, was told to update my OS but found that I already had the newest version.
Performed a reset (ch up/down, turn off, setup TVGOS), switched it off yesterday, today it's back up with the Broadcast Channels again!
|
|
