JVC HM DH30000U D-VHS Recorder at DVinfo.net

Evan Malter · January 13th, 2004, 04:04 PM

I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the other thread, but I figured it made more sense here.

I just bought this recorder from B&H - does anyone else have it? Mine came without the "fix" - I'm a little annoyed that they now expect me to ship it off to their service center (on my dime) and wait for their "backed-up" service center to get to it to fix and ship back to me.

My questions are this:
1) Does anyone even know what the "fix" fixes? - they said it had to do with playback.
2) What if I don't fix it and wait until I notice the problem (hoping to use it now to at least see how well it works with my HD1) - do you think that would have a negative effect on the player?
3) If any of you have gone thru the process - can you tell me how much it cost you to ship and what kind of packaging you put it in and how long it took them?
4) Finally - and this is just a frustrated question for random discussion - wouldn't JVC have saved time, money and most importantly, reputation by recalling all of the units from the retailers - fixing them and sending them back? - I bought this from a reputable dealer (B&H) this week (months after the fix was available) and wasn't even notified that there would be a problem (I just happened to find something on the internet about the serial numbers that were effected and a JVC customer support guy to contact).

Answers, thoughts?

Gints Klimanis · January 13th, 2004, 04:16 PM

Hmmm. I also bought this unit from B&H . I thought the "U" was the fix, but now I'm thinking I'm naive. How do you know you don't have the fix?

If I had a wishlist for fixes, the top item would be the menu.
Why must the menu exit the picture and appear on a grey background? It's really hard to decide which picture refinements are worth it if you can't see your adjustments until you exit the menu.

Also, get the demo DVHS tapes that are shipped to you when you register your unit. Both the Yes and Motley Crue concerts are pretty good at showing detail. The Crue concert is way too visually repetitive to be interesting even as a demo.

Evan Malter · January 13th, 2004, 04:25 PM

I emailed the serial numer to JVC customer support and they said that I need the fix.

Heath McKnight · January 14th, 2004, 05:46 AM

Evan,

Keep us up to date on what this "fix" is all about!

heath

Evan Malter · January 14th, 2004, 03:29 PM

No response to a few messages left at the JVC Service center - i will report back when I get more info.

David Kennett · January 17th, 2004, 02:10 PM

I bought JVC 30K form Sears a month ago - good price - thought it would be good to show HD10 stuff. Worked great for a few days, then blocks - freezing - and intermittent audio. I sent it to JVC, and just got it back - BUMMER. Same thing - started out OK - then started getting worse. Twice, I pulled the AC plug, and everything reset OK. Just sitting there plugged in (not turned on) seems to degrade things. Now, that doesn't help anymore. I,m letting it sit unplugged over the weekend - see if that helps. Monday I'm contacting JVC. To be continued...

Heath McKnight · January 17th, 2004, 11:30 PM

I still think it's weird that all major outlets like Best Buy, etc., don't carry the deck.

heath

David Kennett · January 18th, 2004, 06:05 PM

Heath,
They do have a "floor sample" machine in out area, but they're selling them off cheap as it's sure to be discontinued soon. .the 40/k's out y'know!

Heath McKnight · January 18th, 2004, 09:32 PM

Hmmm...The girlfriend DOES want to go shopping, so maybe I'll check it out.

heath

Gints Klimanis · January 19th, 2004, 02:51 PM

I checked out a 30000U at Circuit City before buying at B&H photo.

Gints Klimanis · January 19th, 2004, 02:54 PM

I would be seriously wary of these DVHS floor models. All of the TV stores show off their HD displays with high definition video piped from a common source. These HD programs are run all day,
and I'm sure that the "floor models" are probably the heavily employed HD units in the back room.

Heath McKnight · January 19th, 2004, 03:33 PM

$400 at Sears.

heath

Evan Malter · January 19th, 2004, 03:46 PM

I have no real update on the "fix" - I decided to just trust the customer service guy who was very helpful - and I shipped it off to the servoce center. I'll let you know if and when I hear anything more or get it back.

Just as a side note - I got a new one (the 30k) from B&H for $459 - I think the 40k is $629. I think it is probably worth the extra $60 to not get the floor model - Gints makes a good point about the floor model usage.

David Kennett · January 19th, 2004, 04:17 PM

I have never seen any of the sample units even hooked up. It's just that it's an old unit. Come to think of it, a unit that proved its mettle through heavy usage MIGHT be better...

I think all the major stores get their demo stuff over satellite.

January 13th, 2004, 04:04 PM	#1
Evan Malter New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 22	JVC HM DH30000U D-VHS Recorder I'm not sure if this belongs here or in the other thread, but I figured it made more sense here. I just bought this recorder from B&H - does anyone else have it? Mine came without the "fix" - I'm a little annoyed that they now expect me to ship it off to their service center (on my dime) and wait for their "backed-up" service center to get to it to fix and ship back to me. My questions are this: 1) Does anyone even know what the "fix" fixes? - they said it had to do with playback. 2) What if I don't fix it and wait until I notice the problem (hoping to use it now to at least see how well it works with my HD1) - do you think that would have a negative effect on the player? 3) If any of you have gone thru the process - can you tell me how much it cost you to ship and what kind of packaging you put it in and how long it took them? 4) Finally - and this is just a frustrated question for random discussion - wouldn't JVC have saved time, money and most importantly, reputation by recalling all of the units from the retailers - fixing them and sending them back? - I bought this from a reputable dealer (B&H) this week (months after the fix was available) and wasn't even notified that there would be a problem (I just happened to find something on the internet about the serial numbers that were effected and a JVC customer support guy to contact). Answers, thoughts?

January 14th, 2004, 05:46 AM	#4
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Evan, Keep us up to date on what this "fix" is all about! heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 17th, 2004, 02:10 PM	#6
David Kennett Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 407	I bought JVC 30K form Sears a month ago - good price - thought it would be good to show HD10 stuff. Worked great for a few days, then blocks - freezing - and intermittent audio. I sent it to JVC, and just got it back - BUMMER. Same thing - started out OK - then started getting worse. Twice, I pulled the AC plug, and everything reset OK. Just sitting there plugged in (not turned on) seems to degrade things. Now, that doesn't help anymore. I,m letting it sit unplugged over the weekend - see if that helps. Monday I'm contacting JVC. To be continued... __________________ Dave

January 17th, 2004, 11:30 PM	#7
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	I still think it's weird that all major outlets like Best Buy, etc., don't carry the deck. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 18th, 2004, 06:05 PM	#8
David Kennett Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 407	Heath, They do have a "floor sample" machine in out area, but they're selling them off cheap as it's sure to be discontinued soon. .the 40/k's out y'know! __________________ Dave

January 13th, 2004, 04:16 PM	#2
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Hmmm. I also bought this unit from B&H . I thought the "U" was the fix, but now I'm thinking I'm naive. How do you know you don't have the fix? If I had a wishlist for fixes, the top item would be the menu. Why must the menu exit the picture and appear on a grey background? It's really hard to decide which picture refinements are worth it if you can't see your adjustments until you exit the menu. Also, get the demo DVHS tapes that are shipped to you when you register your unit. Both the Yes and Motley Crue concerts are pretty good at showing detail. The Crue concert is way too visually repetitive to be interesting even as a demo.

January 13th, 2004, 04:25 PM	#3
Evan Malter New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 22	I emailed the serial numer to JVC customer support and they said that I need the fix.

January 14th, 2004, 03:29 PM	#5
Evan Malter New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 22	No response to a few messages left at the JVC Service center - i will report back when I get more info.

January 18th, 2004, 09:32 PM	#9
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Hmmm...The girlfriend DOES want to go shopping, so maybe I'll check it out. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 19th, 2004, 02:51 PM	#10
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	I checked out a 30000U at Circuit City before buying at B&H photo.

January 19th, 2004, 02:54 PM	#11
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	I would be seriously wary of these DVHS floor models. All of the TV stores show off their HD displays with high definition video piped from a common source. These HD programs are run all day, and I'm sure that the "floor models" are probably the heavily employed HD units in the back room.

January 19th, 2004, 03:33 PM	#12
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	$400 at Sears. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 19th, 2004, 03:46 PM	#13
Evan Malter New Boot Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 22	I have no real update on the "fix" - I decided to just trust the customer service guy who was very helpful - and I shipped it off to the servoce center. I'll let you know if and when I hear anything more or get it back. Just as a side note - I got a new one (the 30k) from B&H for $459 - I think the 40k is $629. I think it is probably worth the extra $60 to not get the floor model - Gints makes a good point about the floor model usage.

January 19th, 2004, 04:17 PM	#14
David Kennett Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 407	I have never seen any of the sample units even hooked up. It's just that it's an old unit. Come to think of it, a unit that proved its mettle through heavy usage MIGHT be better... I think all the major stores get their demo stuff over satellite. __________________ Dave