Panasonic Dmr-xw350 & Xw450 Dvd Recorders, Twin HD Tuner DVD Recorders, DivX, Vieracast Options

[diesel]

CNET review

If you have a lot of DivX movies, you can now watch these via the on-board USB slot or when burnt onto a DVD.

[ambrose46]

After digging through the online shops, and seeing Powerbuys price, I went to Myer Canberra and asked if they'd meet the price. Not only did they meet it, they beat it without even being asked. The guy just went even lower. I picked up the XW350 for a total price of $766 (their list price is $999). He was also willing to do the XW450 for $895.

JB have them in stock at $996, Goodguys said another 2-3 weeks and Bing Lee was not willing to talk $$.

Good luck.

Good price! Was that Civic, Belconnen or Tuggeranong?

[dixie]

I picked up the XW-450 yesterday from Harvey Norman for $990. Seems to be a good recorder,if not a little complicated for this old fella, however I am starting to suss it out, but there is one problem I am having.

How do you timer record an Austar channel? I have been able to program two simultaneous recordings with the digital channels, but wifey mainly likes to tape satellite TV (Austar) and I just can't work out how to do this.

My older analogue DVD recorder, allowed me to select an AV from my tuner ie Channels 2,7,9,10 etc and then AV4, which I could program for timer recordings. All I had to do, was then make sure my Austar, was on the correct channel to record and the DVD recorder would do the rest.

With this Digital tuner, I can't select the AV channel to program (does this make sense)? All I seem to get, is the digital channels 2,3,5,6,8 etc..............how do I select a satellite channel to timer program.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks and Regards...........Dixie.

[Galan]

With this Digital tuner, I can't select the AV channel to program (does this make sense)? All I seem to get, is the digital channels 2,3,5,6,8 etc..............how do I select a satellite channel to timer program.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks and Regards...........Dixie.

I haven't got the XW450 but I do have a Panasonic DVD Recorder. On mine there is a button called Input Select with which you can select AV1, AV2, AV3 etc or a digital channel. Yours probably has a button with a similar name.

[diesel]

As galan says, you need to select the input (eg you could use AV4 again). It doesn't appear in your channel list like it does on analogue systems. You need to select it from the various inputs you now have

[dixie]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies, I think I have worked it out by trial and error. When programming a timer recording, I have discovered, that pressing the red button on the remote, turns of the "All DVB Channels" on the screen, thereby allowing you access to the AV inputs, where you can select your Satellite input, mine being AV1.

I don't know if this is the correct method, but it now works for me.

Thanks and Regards...............Dixie. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wheelz]

Dixie when setting up a timer recording for one of the "AV' channels when your in the timer menu ,where it says "favourites" highlight that and skip thru it (like you do for ch 7,9,10) ,it will bring up AV input,and then go down to the "service name" and all the AV1,2,3,4 will be there to scroll thru set the timer as you do for normal tv.

This post has been edited by wheelz: Jun 4 2009, 01:38 PM

[dixie]

Dixie when setting up a timer recording for one of the "AV' channels when your in the timer menu ,where it says "favourites" highlight that and skip thru it (like you do for ch 7,9,10) ,it will bring up AV input,and then go down to the "service name" and all the AV1,2,3,4 will be there to scroll thru set the timer as you do for normal tv.

O'k thank you for that. I'll give it a try.

Regards.........Dixie.

[ACT_Mike]

Good price! Was that Civic, Belconnen or Tuggeranong?

It was in the Civic store, and my mate got the XW450 today for $890 also Myer Civic...

[aqr]

G'day guys, what are the main differences between the Xw450 & the DMR-BW850. I was wanting to get the 850 but now I see the 450 seems to do it all but at a much cheaper price.

Thanks, Geoff.

[wheelz]

G'day guys, what are the main differences between the Xw450 & the DMR-BW850. I was wanting to get the 850 but now I see the 450 seems to do it all but at a much cheaper price.

Thanks, Geoff.

The main difference is the 850 is a Bluray recorder/player where as the 450 is only for standard dvd.So as well as being able to play blu ray movies you can record your HD recording onto a blank blu ray disc and not lose any quality.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

After digging through the online shops, and seeing Powerbuys price, I went to Myer Canberra and asked if they'd meet the price. Not only did they meet it, they beat it without even being asked. The guy just went even lower. I picked up the XW350 for a total price of $766 (their list price is $999). He was also willing to do the XW450 for $895.

JB have them in stock at $996, Goodguys said another 2-3 weeks and Bing Lee was not willing to talk $$.

Good luck.

Would you be able to scan the receipt for us?

That would be much appreciate if you can (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

If not, that's fine as well

Cheers!

[IanD]

The Cnet review indicates that these recorders have a new H.264 encoder. Does this mean that you can still record the original DTV broadcast, unmodified, or encode to H.264 or various qualities of mpeg2? Or have they dropped any mpeg2 encoding in favour of only H.264?

[garbonzo]

Would be great to get a good concise report on how these new Panasonic machines go....I'm in the market for an HD DVD-R with a decent hard drive....my SD Samsung bit the dust three months out of warranty....been more agro than it's worth.

[wheelz]

Would be great to get a good concise report on how these new Panasonic machines go....I'm in the market for an HD DVD-R with a decent hard drive....my SD Samsung bit the dust three months out of warranty....been more agro than it's worth.

Have a read here they are pretty much the same machine,great machines imo.

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=72820

[tumblewood]

Hi everyone,
I've just bought a Panasonic DVD recorder DMR-XW450. Can anyone please tell me how to make it region-free as we have a lot of DVDs which are region 1.
I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks, Cheers.

[diesel]

Hi everyone,
I've just bought a Panasonic DVD recorder DMR-XW450. Can anyone please tell me how to make it region-free as we have a lot of DVDs which are region 1.
I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks, Cheers.

Panasonic Australia makes them Region Free out of the box, so you don't have to. I believe they place a little sticker over the back panel saying it's been "Quality Checked" by Pana Oz.

[wheelz]

Panasonic Australia makes them Region Free out of the box, so you don't have to. I believe they place a little sticker over the back panel saying it's been "Quality Checked" by Pana Oz.

Just a little correction diesel the sticker is on the top of the box across where you open the flaps,just picked a xw-350 up for my brother.

This post has been edited by wheelz: Jun 6 2009, 05:26 PM

[diesel]

Just a little correction diesel the sticker is on the top of the box across where you open the flaps,just picked a xw-350 up for my brother.

Ah, OK. I thought they actually stuck it on the DVD unit, not the carton it comes in.

[tumblewood]

Ah, OK. I thought they actually stuck it on the DVD unit, not the carton it comes in.

You're right, it's region-free, just tried it. Many thanks . Is that just a Panasonic thing as I believe other brands need to have their region codes unlocked by the purchaser?