Panasonic DMR-ES18 operating instructions Troubleshooting guide

Troubleshooting guide

Before requesting service, make the following checks. If you are in doubt about some of the check points, or if the remedies indicated in the chart do not solve the problem, consult your dealer for instructions.

The following do not indicate a problem with this unit:

• Regular disc rotating sounds.						• The unit freezes due to one of its safety devices being activated.
• Poor reception due to atmospheric conditions.						(Press and hold [8] on the main unit for 10 seconds.)
• Image disturbance during search.						• When the unit is turned on or off, there may be an unexpected sound.
• Interruptions in reception due to periodic satellite broadcasting						This does not indicate a problem with this unit.
breaks.
• Operations are slow to respond in power save mode.
• Operations do not work due to a poor-quality disc. (Try again using
a Panasonic disc.)
Power							Page
No power.	• Insert the AC mains lead securely into a known active household mains socket.						10, 11
The unit does not turn on
pressing [^ DVD].
The unit switches to the	• One of the unit’s safety devices is activated. Press [8] on the main unit to turn the unit on.						—
standby mode.
TV screen and video
Television reception	• This can occur because the signals are being divided between the unit and other equipment. It can						—
worsens after connecting	be solved by using a signal booster, available from audio-visual suppliers. If it is not solved by
the unit.	using a signal booster, consult the dealer.
Status messages do not	• Select “Automatic” in “On-Screen Messages” in the Setup menu.						39
appear.
The grey background does	• Select “On” in “Grey Background” in the Setup menu.						39
not appear.
Picture does not appear	• Timer recordings work regardless whether the unit is on or off. To confirm the timer recording is						—
during timer recording.	going to work properly, turn the unit on.
The 4:3 aspect ratio picture	• Use the television to change the aspect. If your television does not have that function, set						27
expands left and right.	“Progressive” in the Picture menu to “Off”.						39
Screen size is wrong.	• Check the settings for “TV Aspect” in the Setup menu.
	• By setting “Aspect for Recording” to “Automatic”, there is a chance that the recording will be made						38
	using the wrong aspect. Match the aspect settings to the broadcast when recording.
	It may be possible to adjust the display mode on the TV. Refer to your television’s operating
	instructions.
The screen changes	• The display may turn to the screen saver mode automatically if there is no operation for 5 minutes						—
automatically.	or more. Press [OK] to return to the previous screen.
The recorded title is	• 16:9 aspect programmes are recorded in 4:3 aspect in the following cases.
stretched vertically.	–	-R	-R DL	-RW(V)	If you recorded using “EP” or “FR (recordings 5 hours or longer)” recording		—
	mode.						—
	– If you recorded to a +R, +R DL or +RW.
	– If you recorded with the “Aspect for Recording” set to “4:3” in the Setup menu.						38
	When you want to record 16:9 programme in the same aspect, set the “Aspect for Recording” to
	“16:9”.						38
	– By setting “Aspect for Recording” to “Automatic”, there is a chance that the recording will be
	made using the wrong aspect. Match the aspect settings to the broadcast when recording.
	It may be possible to adjust the display mode on the TV. Refer to your television’s operating
	instructions.
There is a lot of after-image	• Set “Playback NR” in the Picture menu to “Off”.						27
when playing video.
When playing DVD-Video	• Set “Progressive” in the Picture menu to “Off”. This problem is caused by the editing method or						27
using progressive output,	material used on DVD-Video, but should be corrected if you use interlace output.
one part of the picture
momentarily appears to be
doubled up.
There is no apparent	• The effect is less perceivable with some types of video.						—
change in picture quality
when adjusted with the
Picture menu in the on-
screen menus.
The images from this unit	• Make sure that the television is connected to the VIDEO OUT terminal, S VIDEO OUT terminal or						10–12
do not appear on the	COMPONENT VIDEO OUT terminals on this unit.						—
television.	• Make sure that the television’s input setting (e.g., AV1) is correct.
Picture is distorted.	• Make sure that the television’s input setting (e.g., AV 1) is correct.						—
	• Progressive output is set to on but the connected television is not progressive compatible.						—
	Press and hold [g] and [q/x1.3] on the main unit at the same time for about 5 seconds. The setting
	will change to interlace.						39
	• The unit’s “TV System” setting differs from the TV system used by the disc now playing. While
	stopped, press and hold [g] and [; OPEN/CLOSE] on the main unit for 5 or more seconds. The
	system switches from PAL to NTSC or vice versa.
The picture is distorted	• You may be playing a TV programme recorded with poor reception or unfavorable weather						—
during play, or video will	conditions.						—
not play correctly.	• The picture may be distorted or a black screen may appear briefly between recorded titles in the
	following situations:
	– between titles recorded with different recording modes.
	– between scenes recorded with different aspect ratios.
	– between scenes recorded with different resolutions.
	– between playlist chapters.

RQT9053

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