I have adjusted screenshots to various functions. See also -. Especially regarding the rules for the 2014er-Generation criticism concerning the copying restrictions -. My review for 2013er-generation (eg BCT 730).
I. Information on the purchase decision
1. For whom the device is not about and for whom?
a) The benefits of equipment are eg
- Relatively easy to use the basic functions (if the special functions to be used, it is however quite complicated, see manual)
- Play DVD, Blu-Rays (also in 3D), music, photos, videos, (in AVCHD and directly from the SD card on the camcorder / camera 'through built-in SD card reader)
- The ability to burn videos to DVDs or Blu-Rays (also AVCHD DVDs)
- The ability to schedule recordings via app from afar,
- The possibility of television programs and recordings on smartphones or tablets to stream (via the Internet),
- The possibility of TV programs at home on DLNA-enabled devices to stream (for example to another TV in a room without TV connection; works great with Panasonic devices, see below)
- Retrofitting of smart TV functions, HbbTV and DLNA media streaming for its own TV (if the TV is not yet able)
- Very good picture and sound quality in SD and HD.
b) What the unit can not / what is not good:
- The ease of use is achieved through a number of restrictions, for example, the device holds (unlike many Linux Receiver, but like any brand devices) are all DRM restrictions,
- Retrofitting of functions there (unlike Linux receivers) not, updates are only for error correction, but new functions via Web Apps (network services) can possibly to come,
- The EPG is improved, but still lags behind the state of the art back,
- Continue to quirks in the Android app and poor app support (see below)
c) Conclusion
- Who wants a in the basic functions easy to use HDD recorder that can also burn DVDs and Blu-Rays, has little alternative.
- Those who want to burn DVDs or Blu-Rays, is possibly better served with a modern HDD receiver.
- Who does not like DMR restrictions and is willing to join hineinzufuchsen in the complex operation of these devices, will be a Linux Receiver (Dreambox, VU + etc.) happier.
TIP: The manual can be downloaded as PDF files from the Panasonic website. There is a new version of August 2014th
2. Model differences of the current generation of devices (740/745/845/940)
- BST = SAT tuner, BCT = DVB-C / DVB-T tuner (1 connection, either DVB-C or DVB-T); an analog cable tuner has not the BCT!
- 940/740 black, silver 845/745
- 940 = 2TB, 1TB = 845, 740/745 = 500 GB (500 GB = 212 hours SD or 76 hours of HD uncompressed DR-quality)
- 740/745/845: twin tuner (two programs simultaneously), 940 triple tuner (three programs). A "triple tuner" the SAT, cable and DVB-T can, none of the three devices.
Supplied feet under the unit, two HDMI Augänge, at 940 BST splitter for single-cable multi-switch function: only 940 -
- Only 845/940: keyword Recording
- Otherwise all functions of all devices are the same.
3. Differences with the previous generation (730/735/835)
a) The amendments to the previous generation are manageable, but nice:
- Better EPG: optionally vertical display
- Keyword Search Recording (only for 845 and 940), which means you can access the EPG by keyword (in detail below)
- TV Anywhere: While the previous generation streamed only in the wireless network to which it is connected, the new generation also allows you to stream recordings or TV broadcasts on the Internet. There is a new app (which supports only the 2014er)
- Multiroom streaming: The device is streaming TV and recordings (as before) via DLNA in Wi-Fi network, but now also to multiple clients simultaneously, each client can retrieve a different content
- No Skype button on the remote control more
b) Is it worth the new purchase for owners of older recorder?
- For owners of the 2013er-Generation: ME rather no. The relevant changes are improved EPG and streaming. The most significant change (keyword Recording) have anyway only 845 and 940, and there appears the feature is not really mature / thought. The new streaming over the Internet does more bad than good. By quirks of the "Diga Player" app frustrated Android users will continue to be frustrated because the new app "Media Access" is in the Android version, unfortunately, when it comes to streaming, flawed and "Diga Player" app Panasonic has not been updated, despite its shortcomings since one year, so I would not count on that which is better for the "Media Access" app.
- For owners of the 2012 generation: Even more, because this generation has no streaming capabilities and are very convenient (especially if you have a DLNA-enabled receivers or iOS device.
TIP: The new features will remain exclusive. Firmware Updates for earlier generations, upgrade the features, it has never happened before at Panasonic. And brings even the apps for mobile devices Panasonic (for whatever reason) with every device generation a new app out, which then only works with the new devices.
4. Do I need another smart card / another CI + module?
Basically no.
- For Free-TV channels (ARD, ZDF, RTL, SAT1, etc.) in SD, with ARD / ZDF / arte and so also in HD you need for some time (at least in the cable) neither CI card still smartcard.
- Who, other channels (. Ie pay-TV channels including private HD channels) will take, but has only a CI module with smartcard in the TV, put the module into the recorder. The recorder can then record everything. The TV can then without the recorder only free TV, but one can use the tuner of the recorder for the other stations.
- The two (or three) of the recorder tuner sharing a CI module and a smartcard. The second CI slot is available only in the event that you want to use two different smart cards from different vendors simultaneously (eg cable Germany and Sky).
- Who has been indeed a smart card, but not a CI module, the latter must acquire to do so if he wants to use the smart card in the Panasonic.
- Only those who have a different recorder, receiver or TV, with which it wants to regardless of the Panasonic recorder receive all channels, needs a mandatory additional smart card and possibly another CI module and must reposition the map.
5. Which media should I buy this?
It function, among other things
- BD-RE (25): 2x TDK, Verbatim 2x
- BD-R (25): TDK 4x; Panasonic 4x, 6x;
- BD-R (50): Panasonic 4x
- DVD-RW Verbatim (2x, 4x, 6x)
- DVD-RAM Panasonic 2-3x
Please note: AVCHD DVD set the DVD-R format ahead (with DVD + R is not).
6. What accessories do I need (except DVD / BD)?
a) The device comes with an HDMI cable. So be sure to order, if not available.
b) Another useful feature is a USB extension cable (eg AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable (1 meter)), because the rear USB socket is difficult to reach.
c) for BCT: In interference possibly helps a coaxial cable with sheath current filter for about 5 euros.
d) for BST: Who has only one satellite cable, need possibly a single cable multi-switch (to be supplied only at 940).
II. Installation
1. The device is surprisingly small.
2. There are FB, batteries, printed manual (no longer a matter of course) and the antenna and power cord for (no HDMI cable)
3. The device installs itself essentially even (tuning etc.).
4. On the Internet transmits it to both 2.4 and 5 GHz at (IEEE802.11a / b / g / n). WPA2 is supported. The connection can be made via key input or WPS.
5. The current firmware 1.11 (Sept. 2014). If the device is online, you can update via the Internet relating to the extent necessary.
6. Who stream TV channel on the mobile device or want to control the recorder via App, wants it can download for free the app Panasonic Media Access (iOS / Android). The old app "Diga Player" does not work with the new equipment (and vice versa). Be activated for the use of Remote Recording has this feature during setup of the device. You also have to set up an account with Panasonic, what you can do from the app. Accounts that have been set for a recorder of the previous generation, not function. You can set up the new account but with the same email address and same password. In the e-mail address upper / lower case is relevant to detection during registration.
7. Who has another Panasonic device whose remote control is in conflict, must choose both the device in the settings menu as well as on the FB a different code. How to do this in the instructions.
8. If necessary, a CI module must be plugged with smartcard.
9. If the clock is visible permanently display under the display must warden changed from Automatic to Hell.
10. When the recorder time has massive malfunctions or can not find it the App, it will help if necessary to separate it from the power (so to speak, a cold reset).
III. Functional description, test, review
1. media playback
a) the picture and sound are excellent at Panasonic. 3D BD run a 4D upscaling. The drive is in my opinion very quiet (both HDD and DVD / BD). All major formats can be played back from an SD card or via USB (flash drive / HDD). When encoded for Apple Devices Video Files (MP4, M4V) it is somewhat picky and plays and some some files (unlike for example the PS3) not.
TIP: Especially fine of hearing people can turn off the HDD via the menu function with the strange name sound enhancement mode. But beware: Unless one turns the back, no more timer recordings are possible.
b) media can also be played from USB hard drives (must be smaller than 160 GB). When the hard drives, the device distinguishes between two types:
- Hard drives, one of which reflect externally positioned played contents can (USB device). These plates can not be used to move files (see below 5b). They can be formatted in FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS.
- Hard drives to move data (USB HDD). These have to be registered (and thus deleted) and can only be used to offload data (see below 5b).
2. Streaming media / apps
a) A highlight of the device is the ability to stream not only photos from the hard drive, but also TV shows. This function has been further improved.
The following generally applies to:
- Multiroom Streaming: The streaming is done (as in the previous generation) in the wireless network via DLNA (the recorder appears on the network as a DLNA Media Server). Another new feature is the ability to stream to multiple devices at the same time (even different contents) (that does not work, if necessary, or only to a device when the recorder makes recordings, copied or otherwise encumbered). The app allows optional 2 Mbps or as 6Mbps data rate.
- TV Anywhere: Unlike the previous generation is now streamed over the Internet. The app allows for this optional 400 Kbps, 1.5 Mbps, or 3.5 Mbps.
- The stream is a delay of a few seconds. So do not be surprised if your football streams and all other cheering been a few seconds before you when a goal is scored ...
- DVD or Bluray content will not be streamed.
- The stream is grds. problems at all stations that can be received without the CI module and CAM card (also in HD).
- For encrypted (pay-TV) channels, it is necessary, more complicated: this can be even streamed, but only as long as the recorder the CI module for other tasks need (about shooting).
b) There is a new app for iOS and iOS (Media Access). The old app Diga player does not work (not with the old and new) with the new devices. The streaming works reliably in iOS, it's times and times at Android. Since Panasonic has not already done in the previous app Diga Player to deliver an Android version, to which the device can actually stream reliably (despite hunderer User complaint, the app has been since October 2013 no longer updated as well), would I am not confident that Panasonic will repair the flaws of the new Android App. Therefore, a tip for Android users: With the combination of the Apps BubbleUPnP and VLC to stream goes in the WLAN via DLNA already reliably. Both apps can be downloaded free of charge. Can stream over the Internet to order but unfortunately not.
c) Also, in the device itself are network services several APPS preinstalled (eg YouTube, Netflix, ZDF media library, Web browser, etc.). More apps can (installed in the device) on the Panasonic MarketPlace partly free, partly in exchange for money to be recharged. A German Amazon Instant Video app there is not (yet?). In the US, there has long been a such app for Panasonic. Why Panasonic withholds the European users, is a mystery.
3. EPG
a) The EPG of the previous generation was totally outdated, leaving only a horizontal representation to. The new one can switch to vertical (consignment list for a transmitter).
b) And above all: The New Generation (only 845/940, not 700) finally allows a search by keyword, category (unreliable), etc. This way you can find all the scene sequences and can take up automatically!. The unit will automatically search every day for new episodes whose titles contain the keyword. In this way, you missed (if it works) even series episodes no longer when the air times change at short notice. Overall, one can define 16 keywords and also set priority.
That's the theory. In practice, the EPG is unfortunately still not as mature / thought, such as the HD recorder of cable Germany in the year 2010. I was rather disappointed. Maybe a really contemporary EPG comes then as a killer feature of the 2015er generation ...
Criticism:
(1) The recording does unfortunately not confined to individual stations (because the stands immediately as part of solution of the following problems in the eye and in other EPG is customary surprise much that one has the Panasonic not seen / not implemented). Because this setting is omitted, the scene is always the same tens of times (also recorded in SD and HD of the ARD as well as by all third parties, EinsPlus etc., and of course all the repetitions old crime scenes), for example, also all consignments which are the word "scene" in the title occur, for example, also "suspected cases special - Germany Tatort"), and even broadcasts entitled keyword on channels that are encrypted (and you therefore can not play).
Tip: After all, you can set that only station to your Favorites list to be searched. In this way, after all, useless (because not playable) inhibited record scrambled, unsubscribed channels, which only unnecessarily vollmüllen disk.
(2) The lack of flexibility in the recording can easily cause overcrowding of the plate. The solution from Panasonic for this problem: keyword recordings are automatically deleted after 10 days. However, this can cause recording were deleted before you could look at them at all (eg during holidays of more than 10 days). This problem was but now partially addressed. The deletion can be switched off, see. Manual August 2014, p 47. But then you return to the overcrowding problem ...
(3) The app (remote programming) do not support keyword Recording and also does not show which programs are already marked for it. One can therefore not prevent my app receiving duplicate shipments, but only delete it afterwards.
(4) is rather marginal that keyword recording programming and normal timer recording in the Timer menu and the playback menu of the device are displayed even separated. This is confusing.
4. AVCHD processing
You can take the device also AVCHD recordings, which have been made even on the camcorder "edit (actually only rearrange, delete individual recordings and the rest burn to DVD or BD). If you plug in the SD card directly from your camcorder , you can see the files of the copy (only if one simply has only the streams on the SD card, the recorder does not accept it). The recorder accepts the various files grds. as a movie on. The individual files are to chapters . At the beginning of each chapter is briefly displayed when it was taken. Unfortunately, there are many unnecessary restrictions (see. in detail my review with the previous generation, about BCT 730) ..
5. Copy / Move
a) Move (USB external HDD)
- Up to eight external hard drives can be registered. The Log-in Registration includes formatting in a special format. WARNING: All data will be deleted; after all, does it not by mistake, but only on a (by necessity a button for several seconds to press against children and reckless protected) Menu.
- The plates have a capacity of between 160 GB and 2 TB have (under 160 GB disks will not be recognized).
- The sockets deliver 500 mA voltage, which is sufficient for most USB 2.0, 2.5-inch disks.
- One can only drive to offload at once connect (at front or rear USB 2.0 port).
- Pour into the plates 2.0 TV recordings can then be moved using USB. Mind you: You can only move pictures. You will then be (like it or not) will be deleted from the internal HDD. Conversely, the same game: You can move files from the external to the internal HDD, but not copy, because the original is deleted forcibly.
- You can see the videos and other files will also play directly from the disc connected to the recorder.
- Can not record TV on an external drive you. That's too bad.
- The recordings on the disc can (not even with another recorder of the same type) to be played only with the specific recorder. Also PCs no longer recognize the plates
NOTE: If you delete the registration of a board, the content can no longer be played back in your own recorder and when the recorder is broken, all recordings on the external plates are gone. Panasonic recommends therefore to use the boards only for temporary storage of data, and it better to burn on DVD / BD. Before separating a plate from the recorder, you should definitely choose Disconnect on the hard drive disk menu. If you forget this, the recorder does not recognize the drive after reconnecting if necessary and all data are irretrievably gone.
TIP: plates that have been used with the Panasonic recorder, are no longer necessary, recognized by the PC, because Panasonic uses its own format. If that's the case, you can format the master and thus make it usable again for the PC with the freeware EASEUS Partition.
b) Copy
Copying is at Panasonic a science in itself (less friendly: a pain in the ass), because it is complicated by an illogical and arbitrary system of constraints that often do not result from DRM Verbotn the transmitter. The describe here, would the character limit of the review aprengen (see therefore in detail the instructions of Panasonic and my review of the previous devices, eg BCT 730).
Only purely general notes:
- When you copy to DVD a simple menu structure is created. You can set prior to firing if the play is to begin with the menu or the first track.
- When copying on BD can be maintained and the DR-format. This BDs not run then but on all players. If you want to ensure optimum Komptabilität, you have to convert the videos into one of the H formats.
- General have DVD / BD warden finalized to warden alluded to other equipment.
- When you copy to DVD / BD title remains (unlike when copying to a USB HDD on the plate).
- The estimated copy time is regularly too highly valued by the device. That will be corrected immediately at the start of copy.
c) Editing
You can edit video recordings (eg advertising rausschneiden). Select For titles and press the "option". Then incl "Edit" menu appears.. They can also to groups / folders summarized (eg every scene episodes). For this select the desired title and press Options. Groups can dissolve again. One way, the wrong assignment to a particular category such as film (the device performs autmatomatisch) correct, there is still not what makes the categories largely meaningless.
6. record TV
a) recordings one should grds. make in DR mode. This is the optimum quality. There are also all the languages, teletext etc. with recorded at DR. You can also choose a different format, in which is then converted. Can convert one else subsequently, eg before dubbing. Converts one, you have to possibly settle for a language or do without teletext, which is recorded with DR mode.
b) If you want to watch the current program later to end, you can simply press the REC button. The recorder then asks if he should take until the end. You can specify a different time.
c) There are 16 keywords timer and additional 32 manual timer (which can also be placed on a week, which then only a timer used).
d) The unit has digital tuner, which is at 940 three) take two (programs simultaneously or record such as a well and a can represent for viewing. There is not a device to a true triple tuner (SAT, DVB-T, DVB-C). You have to decide between SAT (BST) and DVB-C / T (BCT).
e) If the record PAY-TV or HD channels is not working: This is probably because some stations ban. Panasonic followed extent their specifications.
7. Watch TV
a) When you look TV with the recorder (via HDMI), is permanently recorded. Ie you can the image, even if you have not chosen To stop recording and max. Rewind 90 minutes. Also the picture in SD as HD is very good.
b) The unit not only offers Teletext (which is displayed in most stations in rather modest quality in a slightly scaled-down window), but also HbbTV (currently broadcast by ARD, ZDF, Arte and RTL). That is very nice. You can reach the ZDF media library for example without going through the network services menu.
c) Because the device automatically sets quite reliable chapter markers based on the contents, advertising can be most easily by (possibly multiple) pressure to Skip Forward skip. Automatic chapter mark (on by default) so let hired the best. You can manually set chapter points also while viewing by pressing CHAPTER.
Very nice for watching shooting are also the MANUAL SKIP buttons on the bottom right on the FB. So you can push of a button or jump back 60 seconds before 10 seconds. About the TIME SLIP button you can also set a specific time to be skipped.
If the coil / Skip does not work while viewing HD recording: The reason is that some stations ban. Panasonic followed extent their specifications.
IV. Conclusion
Panasonic has developed the previous generation consistently. Really new are the ability to stream to multiple equipment at the same time and on the Internet and the more contemporary EPG. Unfortunately, the EPG is still not "state of the art" and the Android app still "buggy". Annoying are also still many (often not only the station preset) copying restrictions. Therefore, in the sum I reduce my original review from 5 to 4 stars. At least 4 stars, because the basic functions (TV, recording, playback) are reliable and available in good quality and there is not a device alternative with comparable features.
