Panasonic DMR-PWT540

No longer plays blu rays – Worked great at first but now that it is out of warranty it no longer plays blu rays only normal dvds. Given we mainly own blu rays this player is now totally useless. Would suggest steering clear don’t waste your money you would be better off buying something else.

Poor support panasonic – The Panasonic PVR worked fine as a player. However, when the hard drive failed it can't be replaced with any simplicity. It is a simple 500GB SATA HDD which could be purchased on the open market for $60-$70. Yet Panasonic puts proprietary files and procedures into the drives so it must be bought from a Panasonic service centre, at a cost of $270.… Read more

Very poor form Panasonic, locking repair out of a device and making the service repair almost the same price as a new unit adds to the throw away society. You need to rethink your business practices. Have now replaced it with another unit and it isn't a Panasonic.

very disappointed – I bought this with a panasonic tv. The PVR remote sort of works with the tv but the functional logic is different when browsing and selecting programs. The PVR wont let you pre-select programs to watch (I miss the topfield) only to record. I was told by panasonic that I could not delete individual channels once they are aquired (since then I… Read more

can, maybe it was an update).

It has a USB port but it really doesnt work with MP4s. It keeps freezing the video while the sound rolls on.

The unit is region locked.

once a program has started recording it is impossible to stop it.

It does not have an App for Stan.

I really regret purchasing this unit and only did so to try and uncomplicate the multiple remote problem.

Doug

Panasonic does all it should – I had no probs setting up or operating. I don't know why others have complained. Also, its a 'twin tuner' - that means it can record two things at once or record one whilst watching another. How is this confusing? If you want to record 2 simultaneous programs and watch a third one, you can set the 2 to record, then switch from HDM1 to DTV to watch, but not record, the 3rd. Overall works well.  Show details

Disappointed – A little disappointed with the Panasonic machine as it is not as convenient to use as my old machine, a Beyonwiz. As I have an LG TV, it seems I should have bought an LG PVR, but I did not know enough about these machines and took the advice of a friend.

A mistake – If you are recording 2 programs it won't let you watch any other channel! My old Topfield was much better. Also I can't find any mute button on it so have to use my other remote. Thought I was buying a good product but alas, it is also difficult to use.

so easy, great performance – My Panasonic DMR-XW300 died after 7 years of huge work, so bought my DMR-PWT500 (3 yrs old) up from the other TV, and took 5 mins to swap over and set it up. A few days later bought new PWT540 from Dick Smith at a great price. Put PWT500 back in other room, plugged in the new PWT540 and watched it set itself up in a few minutes. So easy. After… Read more

owning 2 other PVR brands, I've now had 7 great years with Panasonic, across the 3 models. I only use Panasonic TV's which are great too, so they all talk to each other, and set up is a snack. I think it's critical to use the same brand TV and PVR. I could be wrong, but disasters when I didn't and easy ever since. I've moved interstate and back, swapped them from one TV to another and never had a problem (touch wood). We record almost everything, even the news, so the main one works really hard, and we couldn't be happier with each of them. We often record 2 shows at once, and can still watch either one of the 2 shows being recorded, or more likely something we recorded previously. So easy.

Catchup programs...that can't catchup – I purchased this unit (DMR-PWT540) as my HTiB bluray player's drive keeps flaking out (also a Panasonic) and my old TopField PVR was also due for retirement. The unit's tuners and sound quality seem to really hit the mark. I haven't used the USB side of things, so can't comment there. Freeview Plus feature is good...now I can catchup on shows… Read more

I've missed on commercial channels, not just ABC and SBS.

The problem with the catchup service is the number of programs that are completely missing. Vikings on SBS, for example is not listed even though I can see it through the same SBS OnDemand App on my LG SmartTV, Panasonic HTiB, Xbox, Android Phone... Then there's shows missing several episodes. For example, Channel 9 jump-in showed some episodes for Forever, Gallipoli, and 2 Broke Girls (possibly more but these were ones I was looking for), however, more recent episodes never appeared even after waiting for over a week.

I have contacted Panasonic and been dismissed with a "this is just the way the device works" rhetoric. It seems the product team have no idea how a catch up service is supposed to work.

I agree with other posts about the flakyness of the software. Obviously java based, it is very slow and often hangs/crashes.

I've been an advocate of Panasonic for decades, and must admit to being a somewhat disappointed in this product.

Core features of the product are good, however, if you aren't watching or recording live TV then there are unresolved issues.

The most disappointing electronic device I have ever had – I used to trust Panasonic until I bought the DMR-PW540. It is a horrible experience. The good thing is that it actually does the job that it is supposed to do, the bad thing is the way it does it: it feels like this DVR was engineered in an after thought and rushed off to market. The interaction with the device is sloppy and full of flaws. The… Read more

menus are intricate and poorly designed, in some functions (i.e. choosing the input on the device) the remote control doesn't even work properly (i.e. can't change between input device with the arrows, you have to do it by pressing the Input button over and over again to go through the options). If you have a disc inside the device, it will always try to play by default (this is actually common to many devices like this one), the problem here is that it does not give you a chance: if you don't take the disc out you will have a nightmare trying to watch something else.

Very expensive for what it does. Totally regret this purchase and I am totally off from the brand: I will never buy Panasonic again if this is the quality they are bringing out.

A little tricky to use – Overall i am pleased with the performance of this product, That said i have a few gripes. First it is almost impossible to tell which way up the remote control is in the dark, Second the button layout is confusing and counterintuitive. Standard definition tuner does not upscale to high definition with leave the picture jagged on high definition… Read more

screens, Program names are cut short if they do not fit Into the record program boxes. It is a shame that you cannot use the Internet capabilities while recording live tv. On the up side, Using a tablet or phone to control Youtube tv via direct wifi is a plus.(It is also 5G capable) But considering its price point it is a cheap way to get a smart tv, 3d blu ray player,HD set top box and 500 gigabyte hard drive, plus 3d blurays look awesome on my friends 4k television. I would recommend this product to my friends any day. UPDATE, I have had the unit for 20 months now and have had no trouble exept i recomend reformating the HDD every now and then! Happy veiwing.

Brilliant for Timeshifting TV! – I find this machine absolutely fantastic for organizing my TV watching.It has a pair of brilliant tuners in it each of which show an amazing sharp colorful picture.I found it very simple to use. Just a few of the conveniences are these 1. I can rewind or pause live TV at any time. 2. I can replay a recorded program a normal speed or at x1.3… Read more ·  3

times-if I wish to skip view a program it is perfectly watchable at this speed. I can even speed up the viewing further and still clearly understand what is said.

3.It has a very good clear EPG which while I am viewing listing plays in a small picture at the top left of the screen at the last watched channel so I miss nothing.

4.Recording is dead simple by selecting the program on the EPG up to 7 days ahead or I can set the timer up to a month ahead and record up to 32 programs.A repeat progam is listed as only one of these 32.

5.Recording can be a one off,weekly or daily (this is switchable Mon-Fri,Mon-Sat or Mon-Sun)

6. The remote has a back button so I can flick between two shows.

7.The machine allows me to skip ads and after a click or two will start exactly at the new segment of the show.

8. I can begin to watch a show at the start which is part way through a recording and fast forward it.

9.On pressing record on the remote it will automatically record to the end of the program or do a continuous record or just the next 30 mins if you wish.

10.It will play videos on a USB stick.

11.You can by registering a USB of more than 160Gb store any of your recordings off the machine.To protect copyright these recordings will not play on a PC.

12. You can access the internet to watch Youtube,Iview use a browser etc

In addition it has remote recording through and app on your phone

Miracast where if you tablet has the ability it will show media that is on your tablet.

A bluray dvd player which upscales to 4000K

You can stream to other displays in the house which have wifi.

A few of the reviews on this and other Panasonic recorders contain inaccurate information about these machines:

A few examples are these

"It doesn't even offer a daily record option - I have to set a different recording for the same show every day of the week it's on. 5 different recordings a week to record the same show! Strike 3"

This is not correct because the person has not worked out how to do a daily recording.

"you can (record ) only do 7 days in advance though"

This is not correct.

For those who download stuff off the internet or who wish to hand on recordings to others this machine because of its attempts to protect copyright will not play the game. For my purposes though to make TV watching accessible and very convenient and time efficient I find this a great machine and I am very happy with it and recommend it to others wishing to do the same.

i really really like it.