Panasonic 42GT20 COMPATIBLE HDD?

[def lugs]

I was wishing to move my DVD recorder upstairs but still keep a record function dowstairs. Using a USB HDD with my TV looks like it could work, though I am unsure of which drives are compatible. There web site only lists a Buffalo HD-EU2-UK. But apart from listing that the external USB must be larger than 160GB and smaller than 2TB it gives no further information. I have a 500GB external hard drive formatted for PC which I do not want to reformat and lose the information on it if it will not perform.

Is anybody currently using this feature and if so what HDD are you using and year model TV?

 

[micks_address]

Hi There,

I use this feature on my VT30 also used it on a V20, VT20. Pretty much any USB 2.5" drive should work. I have used Iomega, and Western Digital drives. The tv will format the disc though in its own proprietry format - so you will loose everything. Also the contents of the drive you use can only be played back on the tv you record from. Its an ok solution but lacks the flexibility of a twin tuner pvr. For instance you cant change channels at all when its recording but you can watching something you have pre recorded why recording. You can record from either freesat or freeview tuners but again only one at a time.

Cheers,
Mick

I was wishing to move my DVD recorder upstairs but still keep a record function dowstairs. Using a USB HDD with my TV looks like it could work, though I am unsure of which drives are compatible. There web site only lists a Buffalo HD-EU2-UK. But apart from listing that the external USB must be larger than 160GB and smaller than 2TB it gives no further information. I have a 500GB external hard drive formatted for PC which I do not want to reformat and lose the information on it if it will not perform. Is anybody currently using this feature and if so what HDD are you using and year model TV?

 

[def lugs]

Thanks for the reply, I will search out a cheap portable unit which I can use for data storage if I do not end up using it much for TV recording.

 

[daveloc]

I will search out a cheap portable unit which I can use for data storage if I do not end up using it much for TV recording.

I've used a LaCie USB HDD successfully with a Panny 42V20, but like micks_address found it inflexible. If you go for a portable drive be aware that the manuals imply only mains-powered models will work — "Be sure to connect the USB HDD to the socket outlet" — not bus-powered ones. The standby power consumption may also be significantly higher while scheduled recordings are outstanding, which, in the case of a series, is always...