Is the Panasonic DMR-EX87 obsolete?

Windows7forever on 21/07/2025 - 20:15
Last edited 21/07/2025 - 22:56 by 1 other user

I recently acquired this PVR/DVD player combo. It was one of the best PVRs on the market when it came out in 2007.

Unfortunately many of the FTA channels don't seem to work. I just had a look in the manual and it says that it only supports SD channels, not HD. This is a bummer because recently ABC, SBS and possibly many others have discontinued SD broadcasts for many channels. I was able to pick up a few SD channels but not many at all.

Eventually all SD broadcasts will be discontinued. This will render the PVR function useless. Same as how the 3G network was shutdown which rendered old mobiles dead. Can't halt the progress of technology it seems.

It will still make a fantastic DVD player with 1080p upscaling and region free support into the future (I'm hoping).

Electrical & Electronics DVD Player Panasonic

Comments

  • Hybroid on 21/07/2025 - 20:29
    +4

    Sounds like you answered yourself?

    • Windows7forever on 22/07/2025 - 09:13

      Suppose I did. Trying to start a discussion I guess…

      • Hybroid on 22/07/2025 - 09:22
        +1

        I mean as a discussion point, for many people, FTA is obsolete, DVD is obsolete and 1080p is obsolete. We've long past left that behind for everything from mobile phones to security cameras to productivity monitors to gaming. There's no question the DMR-DX87 is obsolete.

  • Protractor on 21/07/2025 - 21:59

    Can you utilise a decent set top box, to keep it viable?

    • Windows7forever on 22/07/2025 - 09:15

      You could probably connect it to a HD STB but then the setup starts becoming too complicated, messy, and cluttered.

  • AustriaBargain on 22/07/2025 - 03:10

    2007 is an antique. HD TV needs to push six times as many pixels as SD TV on some channels, so it needs a processor at least six times as fast. And back then those processors cost a lot of money, today they are virtually free. At a certain point you have to donate these old vintage technology to charity so they can throw it in the trash. Some Indian children will end up stripping the gold traces from it.

    • Windows7forever on 22/07/2025 - 09:13
      +1

      Lol I love owning yesterday's top tech that nobody wants anymore. I think I'll keep it around a while longer and find a use for it 😁

      • Nugs on 22/07/2025 - 13:44
        +2

        Why not WindowsXPforever?
        .

    • Protractor on 22/07/2025 - 14:13

      You can't argue the components were not far superior to the melt-down crap churned out in this space, since 2007,though. Even new off the shelf the electronic stuff smells like it's half fried when brand new. Those old school DVD/HDD player recorders were built to last. And clearly they did.They outlived the the bands, LOL.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join