Panasonic DMR-HWT260GN
VerifiedMPNs: 36376101 and 750653 reviews
The unit constantly misses series recording that have been set and changes the shows that have been set to record ( if we set it for Thursday/Friday night NRL game it will change itself to record the Post Match show), as well as not showing the record icon on programs that it does record. We have to constantly check what the unit is going to record on a daily basis.
Positive reviews
Generally happy – I’m satisfied with the Panasonic PVR, I now have three running in different rooms to ensure we capture the programs we want. The only thing I find annoying is when the recording memory suddenly fills up with no warning, not allowing me to keep on top of deleting programs to free up space. Question for Panasonic. Is there a function on the menu to show how much of the 1TB memory is currently in use? Show details · 1
Panasonic DMR-HWT260GN – There were several PVRs in the Australian market; but the Panasonic 260GN seems to be the only one now available. I have bought a few of these over the years. You can record 2 TV channels simultaneously while watching a 3rd on your TV. It has a large storage capacity. I think you can also use the USB function for movies, photos & music. It is handy now in this Christmas period when there isn't much on FTA TV. I can play all my recorded programs. Show details · 1
Great product – Easy to use, fantastic editing options. I own two of these units, can't rate it highly enough. Is it possible to buy a lead to plug into a 12 volt connection on my camper trailer? Show details · 1
Negative reviews
Annoying problem with the Guide function – I experience one very annoying glitch with my Panasonic HWT260 video recorder. Every time I click on the Guide button, the screen goes black briefly, then the Guide appears briefly, then the screen goes black again, then the Guide comes back and stays on ie the process happens twice. Panasonic were disappointing; their help desk, after extended… Read more
interaction, could not explain it, a reset did not work, they didn't accept it was a glitch. They referred to me to their independent repairer who weren't prepared to acknowledge by phone that it was a fault and would have charged me if they determined in workshop it was not a fault. The retailer Good Guys were helpful; they agreed to provide a replacement unit, but that too has the same problem. I also noticed some issues mentioned by others: a dim display (improved only by leaving the front flap down), the delete button being awkwardly located, and the channel sometimes changing without my input when a recording starts. I can live with those, but the Guide double flash-on is bad. It's unfortunate as the recorder otherwise has many improved settings over my previous Panasonic recorder.
Hi Emby, sorry to hear about your experience. We are… Read more (+2 replies)
a step backward – My 10 yr old Panasonic DVD recorder has just died so I hastily purchased a new one it was easily installed very similar to the previous model set up was easy however when I tried to play a movie disc to my horror no disc capability as I am an avid disc watcher it is very dissapointing I will have to purchase a separate disc player. Show details
Could have been great but? – Just bought the Panasonic 1TB twin tuner smart PVR DMR-HWT260GN. Picture quality on HD stations are really nice but other stations are quite poor. Now the rest I feel like I’ve gone back in time to the 80’s. Didn’t anyone think to update the design? The program guide is so old fashioned and poorly set up I was astonished considering it is 2023. … Read more
Now I’m pretty good at setting things up but boy this is plain ridiculous. Took me and hour to work out how to hide channels. Tv guide should be able to skip daily to pick what recordings you want to make. Everything is just a plain mess and very outdated. Limited ability to adjust settings how you like it. Good luck trying to find anything and then it’s not worth it anyway. For some unknown reason every channel I click on the entire show is being saved on my LG TV? Apps what Apps? Rubbish. Not user friendly whatsoever. Poor design which needs a total overhaul. For $429 I expected something much better. It is just so underwhelming to say the least. I will be returning it promptly.
Recent reviews
Short life span of Panasonic PVR & outcome – I’ve had two of the Panasonic Recorders (PWT560 & BWT750) both worked well & complimented by Panasonic TV. But, both have “died” after about a maximum of 5 years of service life. I put the first down to just a bit of bad luck, but the second one lasting the same time! I’m not going to spend another $600 or so for another one. Both suffered the U61… Read more · 3
fate & I tried to reset them many times but to no avail. Unfortunately there’s not too many alternatives in the market place. I’m really annoyed as Panasonic is one of the top tier brands & I think an average life span of 5 years is just not good enough. FWIW I’m gunna try & find someone to have a look at it (them) & see if they can be repaired at a reasonable price, otherwise I’m up that creek
Further to my previous post on Panasonic Recorders… I was contacted by Panasonic (Australia) regarding taking the recorders to one of their authorised repairers…which I (eventually) did. The repairer said that usually these recorders “see you out” so I’m guessing it was just a bit of bad luck.
The repair only cost me $120 Aussie dollars each recorder & now they’re working fine.
I’m happy about this as I hate throwing things out if they can be repaired.
Let’s hope they don’t fail again & if one does fail I’ll be going back to the same repairer to see if it can be repaired…
So finally if you do have a Panasonic Recorder or TV etc, I’d suggest getting it looked at as it may well be repairable for a small cost
Panasonic DWR 260gn dvd tv recorder – I set this recorder up today and so easy it took me longer to connect the leads from dvd to TV. I guess it doesn't have all the bells and whistle. I only wanted it to record free to air channels Honestly if I can set this unit up anyone can.You can only record one channel at a time if you want to watch another channel. Show details · 2
Panasonic DMR-HWT260GN - Cannot reconnect ext drive USB HDD – I really need help with this as I need to access my two external drives (USB HDD) via my Panasonic DMR-HWT260GN unit. I followed the disconnection process, as per the directions, to safely remove a registered external drive (USB HDD). However, I have tried numerous times to reconnect the USB HDD without success. I turned off the unit at the… Read more
power outlet, plugged in the USB HDD to the unit, then turned the power back on. The unit is not recognising the external drive and I can't see any help on how to reconnect.
I'd tried this previously with another USB HDD and same issue. Now I have 2 USB HDD registered but cannot reconnect and access either of them.
All I need are directions on how to reconnect my external drive and for the unit to recognise it so I can access the recorded programs.
If Panasonic have a disconnection process then they should have a reconnection process, right?
Panasonic did come back to me, however after a number of weeks I still don't have a resolution. The info they gave me has not helped. All I want is for them to provide the reconnection steps to follow. I should not have to call them to get that info.
Where in the user manual or recorder does it provide the steps to follow for reconnection of external usbs i.e. USB-HDD?
SECOND ONE NO BETTER – There's not alot choice when it comes to DVR machines and whilst our first one had annoying features it wasn't terrible, so we bought another one. In some respects this one is actually worse because I didn't do enough research and this model actually has no DVD player. Anyway the 2 things that really ticked me off about the original were the TV… Read more
guide and the remote. The remote only works if you point it directly at the unit from 2 metres away and as with the original one, the most used buttons, play, pause, stop and FF Rewind all become harder to use over time. The remote looks new on the outside but obviously the innards are poor quality and not built to last so you have to press the button alot harder than you should have to. The second problem is the TV guide, usually missing 20% of the programmes for whatever channel it randomly pleases, this is a Panasonic issue as the TV guide always has all the programming, so congrats Panasonic, 10 years and zero improvements
Good PVR simple setup – Can't see what problem the bad reviewers have, Everything you need to set up is in the box. The online setup went flawlessly, was able to record within 5 minutes. The PVR is very capable and you need to read the supplied manual to see what else it can do, most users probably don't need the extra features. Show details · 1
Gone From Good to Dreadful. Should've looked on Product Review first – I had to replace my 11 yo Beyonwiz as it was seizing up after recording and not turning off. Plus some programs missed being recorded. On the whole, this was a more intelligent and user-friendly unit compared to the DMR-HWT260GN Problems with DMR-HWT260GN: 1) Can't see what's on the front panel of the unit unless I stand in front of it 2)… Read more
Won't extend the viewing time by more than four minutes and some shows go well over 15 minutes.
3) If there's two episodes showing back to back it will delete and record over the first episode. I'm recording the show because I can't watch it at that time; so deleting the first episode doesn't make sense and ruins the continuity of the serial.
(I have found a way of solving Problems 2 and 3 by creating a new program and manually inserting the channel, date, times and name of the program. I shouldn't have to do this though.)
Doesn't allow for a simple Fast Forward through the ads.
The remote control is badly designed: the arrow buttons are closely surrounded by three other buttons and it's difficult to accurately press the correct buttons.
Delays in response when buttons are pressed and a basic lack of commonsense with the interfacing.
The wording in the Instruction Booklet is like a foreign language and difficult to understand.
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I dont recommend this Panasonic PVR – -Weak reception. (our main channel works fine through the tv tuner, but not via the Panasonic, keeps looseing reception. - Confusing remote and interface. - The main remote buttons are surrounded by similar shaped buttons, making it hard to press the internal ones. - Overpriced for what you get. - The LCD display is pathetic, small, hard to read and displays limited/usless information. Very dissapointed. Show details
This machine takes a lot of figuring out how to use – It took me ages to figure out the interface - but main gripe is the inability to view the digital display on the machine unless standing within half metre of it - its unbelievably dim and cannot be made brighter. I cannot watch a live program through it or even on TV alone when two programs are being recorded. It took me a year to realise I could… Read more
just turn the machine to 'off' and watch live via the TV alone. I don't have any problems with volume as some have said, so apart from the interface being rather user-unfriendly and the display too dark and unadjustable it does the job.....Recently the App banner has begun showing across the lower part of the screen when the unit is turned on, covering the lower part of the screen, preventing channel changing and will not go away unless "Back" is selected. A strange machine, created by tech-geeks, not for most folk and age pensioners like me: It's just "OK" and functions oddly -when one finds out how to use it!!! My neighbour has one and has never - ever learned how to use it and just watches live TV :-(
Absolute rubbish – Designed by clever geeks on an ego trip without any consideration in respect of end-user requirements. Does have lots of complicated functions/facilities but performs none of them very well. Important functions such as playing usb recordings whilst recording tv not permitted. Design and layout of remote buttons a disaster! Definitely not… Read more
user-friendly and a very regrettable purchase! Panasonic should pay more attention to consumer requirements and not what they are prepared to provide !!!
Telephone Customer Service – In response to my review of the abovementioned product, Panasonic Australia invited me to contact them to see if they could help me with my issue. The issue being that sometimes when I attempt to set a timer recording for a program (usually on a HD channel) a second timer is also assigned to an another channel on the same network in the same or… Read more
approximate timeslot. Because the device can only record 2 channels at the same time, I cannot set a timer for another program on a different network. I explained to the support person that the timer assignment manufacturing is flawed as why would I want to record the same program twice in the same timeslot....it just doesn't make sense. Also I noticed that after a recent software update when a timer recording begins the device changes the channel to the channel you have set a timer recording for. Bad luck if you were watching a crucial scene on another network.
Frustrated you bet! – This pvr is quite simply awful, how it pasted the criteria of what it should be is beyond me. 1) cant record when timeshifting, have to STOP and deal with. 2) cant check guide when timeshifting have to STOP and deal with. 3) basically cant do anything when timeshifting 4) tv guide shows program's but cant see detail about it. 5) Trouble playing… Read more
back some media formats. 6) plenty more niggles I am far from a hardcore user of these things, but have had a few over the years and cant remember being this frustrated, if you are a newbie rest assure there are better options available. Imagine paying for a 2021 car and delivered an EH holden.
Absolutely disappointed with this - a complete waste of money – I find this system does not provide basic usefulness and the interface is way too difficult to navigate intuitively. Still cannot find how to set a time WATCH another program not RECORD but it does not seem to exist. Twice the system has lost all DTV station settings for no reason and I have to reset the entire system to get them re-tuned. Not… Read more
what I would expect and have never had this issue with previous system. Bought it to replace a 13yo Beyonwiz for a plasma TV but will be on selling to buy another new Beyonwiz as it is too hard to navigate It does not match the standards I have come to expect from other Panasonic systems I own and I will start replacing older Panasonic equipment with other suppliers as they become outdated.
not what I expected – Expected to be able to watch Optus, Kayo etc. Only crap apps of no interest. Should have bought a cheap recorder and a Firestick.and saved $300.00 Why make a product with such limited facilities. Show details
OK but volume problem – Sd volume much lower than HD ones I can not fix it! What to do? I have tried going through menu but nothing solves this fault Nb¦ my connected tcl tv volumes are fine! Show details
not a useful PVR – this is not a useful machine. you can either have continuous tuned channel recording up to 1.5 hours but without rewind or only up to six hours of operation with rewind. this means that unless you remember to turn it on in the late afternoon you are unable to rewind. the whole idea of a PVR is to allow catch up TV when arriving home late for a program at any time of the day. Panasonic help was not useful. buy a Beyondwiz instead. Show details
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Great product - recently have problems with no sound – Have been very satisified with this product, but last few months have been through 5 HDMI cables thinking they were faulty - but have tested on the same TV but with a different PVR and they are all in good condition. So it is this PVR that has an issue with the sound. On start up there is no sound but good picture. Has anyone else had same problem and is there a fix? Unit was purchased on 5/2/2019.
Panasonic quality is not what it was – The user interface is soooo sloow and clunky which might have been forgivable if it worked properly, but its getting worse and worse in its operation. It has occasionally decided not to record set programmes. I reset the machine to factory state but things are worse. The unit has now gone completely mad. It records programmes that have not been… Read more
set, won't record when it should, and when it does, it doesn't switch off but just carries on and on recording. The EPG can often take ages and ages to come up, and as I have a Panasonic TV its now 'infected' that as well - it behaves the same, though it never used to before it was connected to the this pvr! Its now just 3 months after the warranty expired! Perfect! No more Panasonic for me.
Would not buy again – You cannot add apps it comes preloaded with SBS on demand, ABC live You Tube and Netflix and does not allow you to add apps. It is not as user friendly as other models Show details
Hi Bert, sorry to hear you were not satisfied with the purchase of your Panasonic recorder.
Should be 5 Star but – I have had 4 Panasonic recorders now and love them. Great products that are easy and practical to use, except the previous 3 and I suspect the latest will be no different. The don't last. My first 18 months Second 13 months Third 14 months Current 6 Months All with Hard drive failure and two remotes were failing too. Like some many thing these days built to have a finite life. Show 2 replies
BEWARE! of what you only discover after setup! – The box of the Panasonic DMR-HWT260 HDD Recorder (as did the salesman) trumpets it can record 2 TV programs simultaneously ... you need to read the fine print in the middle of the instruction book to find it is not possible to watch another channel at the same time!! The Key word option sounds good, but complicated to delete. Instructions to… Read more
record a program convoluted and not user friendly.. Wish I had my Optus Fetch back. One click recording, 2 click series tag and easy to delete. No "go here; select this; press that"!! Rubbish. Not happy ... incase you didn't notice!
Hi Karen, sorry to hear about your experience with your… Read more (+1 reply)
Some good features but frustrating to use~ – I still have an LG HR598D PVR which is annoying because it takes too long to boot up as part of it's sequence is to look for CD first, and it has no smart TV features, but it does get the latest TV channels I also bought this DMR-HWT260 which I thought was great at first with it's smart features, aaccessing streaming services like iView & SBS … Read more
On-DEmand, and other DLNA servers on my home network. Then I found I couldn't watch content from my DLNA server when it recorded, which I can to in the LG, and it's apps for SBS On-Demand and iView were so clunky as to be unuseabler. Finally, the remote is really frustrating and annoying. Panasonic have a sort of common remote layout, but they all differ to some extent so that with a Pana TV remote and the remnote for this unit, I continually get confused, with the Guide button on each being in different places arounf the navigation dial, PLUS MOST ANNOYING OF ALL is that the navigation dial is too small and overpowered by the large and close feature buttons that circle around it on this remote that I keep hitting a feature button accidently while trying to press a navigation button, which terminates the whole selection procedure I was half way through and I have to start it all over again! GGGRRRRR Mr Panasonic, but how much user testing and feedback do you input into your design process, and if you're going to have a standard remore design, STICK TO IT WITH ALL DEVICES!!
Hi Ken, thank you for your feedback, we will certainly… Read more
Best feature - No more Ads – Bought this machine February 2019 and couldn't be happier. 1TB of space. Records two channels while watching a third. Easy setup, easy to use, good quality record and can skip ads on recorded material. Pays for itself right there!! I think the sound is ok, but husband is a bit deaf and thinks the sound could be better, however I attached a… Read more · 1
wireless Bose 10 beside him and he is very happy. The previous model by Panasonic took a life time to start with the constant 'Please Wait', but this one does not have the same problem. Great product!
Panasonic Netflix problems – Have been using it for a couple of years and have up to date been very happy. Easy controls and lovely picture on my old Sony TV. Recently though, it has started to freeze where I cant turn it off. Now it loads Netflix OK but Netflix is unable to play the title I choose. I am able to use my AppleTV so it's a Panasonic problem. This is sad as it's otherwise a good product. Show details
not a good start ! – Bought it this morning. already confused, needs more cables than the cheap Topfield (which I have to replace because it's not supported update it-grrr!) The remote control is not compatible with TEAC tv; which means I have to use two remotes, very poor ! I notice Hisense is not listed either ! Buyer beware. Technology certainly isn't… Read more
making life simpler ! I haven't even connected it up yet - lets hope it works !
January 30th 2019 Update: getting worse
see previous comments just below
easy to navigate = no ! does it do as much as the cheap Topfield (no longer supported) = no. (for ex - not able to divide programs into various folders - topfield did !
do I regret buying it - yes; because it is so difficult to figure out;
do I have a choice = no; not if I want to record programs ! the Teac one seemed to have poor reviews; the Humax is even more expensive
recording quality is fine - but that is of little comfort !
life has certainly become more complicated - my old cathode tv and vhs tape recorder seemed to work pretty well !
Great unit, well documented and easy to setup – The unit works smoothly and without fuss or complexity. The setup was well guided by the on screen prompts. The Program Guide is excellent and recording is reliable and easy to find and playback. We read the reviews before we bought the unit - the 'No Mute' was at first a concern but the PAUSE LIVE TV actually is better as you don't miss anything while in PAUSE. I would recommend this unit. Show details · 1
great buy – Great reliable product, records 2 programs while watching another, records in good quality, easy to find buttons & the guide is quick & easy to follow for free to air, freeview & any programs for streaming. Have one for the family room & now this one for the lounge room great to have same because we can record on the two products & be able to set… Read more · 1
them up as a homegroup enabling viewing one program from the family room in the lounge room
Would definitely recommend
Does The Job But Opportunities Missed – Video playback reproduction is very good, however audio is somewhat ordinary. EPG is excellent, providing all channels in a single view and both single shows or series recordings can be set from this interface. If manual setting is required, only single or weekly repeat is available - daily, weekday or weekend program settings aren't permitted .… Read more · 2
This is extremely unusual, a situation I've never encountered before.
On the plus side, the unit has been 100% recording reliable to date. Both timer recording and playback menus are easy to navigate, although the former includes features that most people will never use.
USB playback is mixed. While video reproduction is good, again audio is somewhat sub-par. While a wide range of video formats are supported, advanced audio codecs aren't making the experience quite frustrating. It also doesn't support USB playback during a recording - quite ridiculous really, all in the name of Freeview support I'm guessing!
Overall a good unit at a reasonable price, but I can't help thinking it could have been even better with a few relatively minor tweaks. Opportunities missed!
Good product, easy to use. We haven't missed any of our favourite shows since we purchased this. Excellent value, would definitely recommend. Show details · 1
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Hi Disapointed, Thanks for reaching out to us, please… Read more