My Panasonic TZ-DCH500 & I-O DATA HVR-HD250R combo

A couple of years ago (2008), I obtained a Japanese combo containing a Panasonic 'TZ-DCH500' CATV Digital Set Top Box,
along with an I-O DATA 'HVR-HD250R' recording device.
Both came without manuals.These devices were not distributed officially in Belgium, and I obtained these through the company where I work.

They originate from our Panasonic provider.I had already found the Japanese Panasonic manual soon after I obtained the combo:
http://www.jcom.co.jp/support/tv/tz-dch500.html and printed it out for keepsake.

When I obtained the combo, I tried hooking it up with all provided cables, but nothing much happened.
I got a signal on TV, but couldn't get the HDR to show up on any of the channels. However, it DID work in the showroom downstairs of our company...The person in charge handed it over to me after checking if Panasonic needed it back...

I could always send a mail to Panasonic, but they're not really helpfull with those kind of questions.
(Last week I asked them again about a possible "Service Disk 2" for the DVD-RV31/Pana Q series and got handed a list of authorised repair centers.)

There's not that much info on either of the devices...

http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/...lcd-etc/44391-high-definition-television.html

Apparently some Germans got it too and can't figure it out either:
http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-226-64.html

I also already know that CATV is from S-CAT Sayama...
http://www.s-cat.ne.jp/



The combo:


Card slot for the DC500:


Top of the HDR with a list of Panasonic commercials for promotion:


Combo backside:


A mode-switch with D-VHS and HDD option. Not really sure which port I should use. Guessing the right one...
(Why are there two? Is D-VHS a connector for a camera input?)


RF in & out ports. Internet port. Again, two firewire ports.


Two analogue outputs, 1 digital video and optic fiber audio:


Phone connector:


Both remotes: the Pana is completely in Japanese.


Aw crap, I wish I knew a bit more kanji...
browser/data/a Net-something button/navigation/clear...ffs.:shrug:




Just before I wanted to make this thread here, I found another two user manuals in Japanese here: http://www.iodata.jp/lib/product/h/3677.htm
I also contacted the Singapore an Taiwan divisions by mail, inquiring about a possible English version for completion and usability purposes.
(Is that really 60.000 Sen? http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/01352010043/)



If there's anyone willing to maybe check what's exactly written on the Pana remote and translate to English, then I'd probably hook this combo back up to see if anything happens.
(this is what I wanted to ask Yakumo some weeks back :nod

I had this packed up for the last two years for relocation... and didn't have any internet back then, so maybe something will happen when I hook it up now...?
I hope this is of use to some here.

 

From what it sounds like the HDR was probably is connected to the set top box which was just used as a decoder to convert the digital transmission to component so it can display what ever it has to the screen probably via the D Terminal connector to component cables (or even D Terminal...).

However given that Japan uses ISDB for all digital transmissions and europe uses DVB it is probably not going to be any use, you are not going to be able to use it in europe. It's only going to be of any use in Japan and South America (which also uses ISDB).

You have a nice paperweight and conversation piece though, you'll be able to watch the adverts on the HDR to your hearts content.

 

LOL, thanks, well... as you can see, there's a time limit on the adverts, dunno if the HDR was programmed that way.

I can understand if I won't be able to record anything on the machine, but it can assure you it DID work in the store downstairs (playback)
... problem is that the guy in charge left long ago and I can't seem to even find the channel to display :/

Going from the link I posted in the OP, I can see that these combo's are pretty expensive...
I even remember seeing a DCH500 go without HDR (which was stated to ALSO come from a display unit) on Ebay 3 years back for about $350 because it was incomplete.


At first I thought there might be a small possibility that I could maybe use the HDD to connect to PC and from there on use it as a MediaCenter hehe... nevermind that.

I like the Panasonic brand and I had to go ask several times what they were gonna do with the unit as the programmed timer was out of date...
It matches nicely with both my Panasonic Q and superslim SA-XR10 tuner/amplifier with mirror fronts...

I'll keep an eye on demand for this on the net, dunno what I'll do with it...

 

Just got a reply from IO-DATA:

 

http://panasonic.biz/broad/catv-support/manual/pdf/dch500_manual.pdf

There is the manual for the unit, as you can see there is one laughable page in English. However the iLink pages from 84 to 87 and 90 to 91 are the ones that you will need. You can highlight the Japanese text and translate it in Google translator. The HDR should be controllable via the iLink so all you need to do is make sure it is switched on.