Cyberhome DVD/RW nightmare

OK, Cyberhome Nightmare people! Good News! I installed the latest updates from the Cyberhome website, and they do indeed seem to fix the problem of the disk drive lock-up. After installing the update, my drive was working like a charm--not locking up. I had read good reports of this from others, and my experience bears it out. Just thought you'd all like to know. Since so many people seem to be giving up or searching for alternate power sources, it is great news that this has been fixed via the update available on the Cyberhome website. My unit is operating nearly trouble-free currently. The lock-up issue was a big one. Another big one for me was the fact that the unit was getting too hot--I addressed this by unscrewing the top cover and keeping it propped open slightly. This got rid of problems from overheating (buttons not responsive, etc.). So I can recommend these two steps to anyone who is frustrated with their Cyberhome. For now, I am making beautiful discs, and the unit is behaving very well. Others have installed fans, etc., but I didn't want the extra noise and vibration--just keeping the cover propped open seems to solve the problem for me (not recommended in homes with children). There are probably other ways of improving the ventilation for those who are experiencing such problems. Some owners have reported never having the heat issues at all. Whatever works. I believe that the majority of problems with the Cyberhome can be solved, however, by installing the most recent updates from the Cyberhome site (Thank God the lock-up issue seems to be solved!) and finding a way to increase ventilation to the unit. Just my suggestion. (These updates are addressing disc compatibility, too, so this may be improving--I haven't checked yet since I stick mostly with the dvd+rw which works for me. Then I transfer recordings on my computer to dvd-r which cost me 80 cents each (when purchased in a package of 50. The most recent discs have yielded no coasters at all for me) at Comp-USA.

Jeremy

 

Two points:

1. How do you install the update if you can't get the "blankety-blank" dvd tray open?

2. Do you really think that "unscrewing the top cover and keeping it propped open slightly" is something that the consumer should have to put up with as a solution?

Suffice it to say, this is a BAD product that should not have been release (unleashed?) on the public.

 

I've downloaded the Servo and BIOS updates but can't for the life of me get the tray to open. Took off the top cover and front panel but can't find a manual release. Anyone know how to get the darn tray to open? Called Cyberhome but get a "call back later" message and eventually when I called back only get a busy signal. Wonder why they are so busy. I'd love to install the updates as jeremy5 has done but can't get the tray to open.

 

It is utterly ridiculous the amount of modifying that has to be done to these Cyberhome units. You might as well build your own recorder from scratch! Maybe it's me...
BUT THE DAMN THING SHOULD WORK PROPERLY RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX! I suppose it's fine for the folks who like to tinker.
I'm not a tinkerer or a glutton for punishment, that's why I returned it. For the time and effort expended on getting these heaps to operate properly, you could have bought a good funtioning recorder.

C'mon replacing resistors, installing cooling fans & new power supplies!? Maybe a class action suit would go a long way in forcing Cyberhome to get their act together!

That's my 2 cents worth.

Peace-out!

k_dvd_k

 

Hey k_DVD_k,

Amen.....

Sure, I can do the fan and power supply number, no sweat. but I agree with you. Obviously from the posts, the power supply is definetly of marginal performance, or why would guys have to use their power supplies from there computers to operate the drive? Why must we screw with blown capacitors and stuff? Ridiculous! Take the damn thing back, get refund, and by the Philips DVDR75..Never a coaster, and not fussy about media. Its dvd+r discs play in EVERYTHING I've tried!

For the guy who can't open the tray....remove the drive if necessary, and/or pick up the power from a tail in your computer. That WILL open the tray. If you apply the updates and the problem remains, then most likely the power supply in the 1500 is bad....yes, try the above, and apply the new patch. This will address the lockup issue, as some have said that it works....

Good luck!

Renderman

 

I can't get the cyberhome dvd/rw disks to play in my Samsung dvd player. It plays the dvd /r disks that I bought. I have all the updates and im using the make compatible fuction. Is it just the Cyberhome disks?
Should I try some other DVD /rw brand?
Has anyone had this problem.?

 

ray,
when i had my cyberhome, (less than 3 months) all the discs played on other dvd players, if it is a dvd+R you need to finalize it, and if its a dvd+rw you need to "make it compatible" both options are explained in the owner's manual.
FINALLY my local walmart quit carrying these clunkers! way to go walmart!

 

i have a ch-dvr2500 for a while now i bought thru hsn
i followed the instuctions used dvd+r blanks i was trying to transfer from vhs tape to dvd when i do after a few minutes the audio drops out and i know it's not the vhs tapes i play them back and there fine i finish recording and when i play the dvd back in that part of the dvd there is no sound never recorded some people here say there 2500 are hot when in use mine is also
i downloaded the patchs is for the try to open better and the servo patch still have the problem anyone have this happen to them? or know a fix ????

 

Rainmanva,
These cyberhome DVD+rw were formatted under the old
firmware. You think that may be the problem?
I'm going to buy some new DVD+rw and try again ,
with the latest firmware.
Thanks for your help
Ray

 

To answer some of the responses to my post: No, I don't feel that consumers should have to tinker with their products to get them to work--they should work out of the box. However, I bought my Cyberhome for a very low price on eBay. Since it was "working" some of the time, I did not wish to consider returning it for the price I paid. I saw issues which came from the unit being too hot which is why I propped open the top cover a bit--a fan would work, too. Propping the cover up seems to resolve all the heat issues I saw--adding extra vents would probably work, too--there are a number of ways to address this.

For people who cannot open the drawer. . . I found I could open mine by flipping the button in the back on and off many times--sometimes the unit would power up on the 3rd or 4th flip--most times, however, it would not power up until the 40th or 50th flip. It was a real pain. You could see it was finally responding when the display on the unit showed ME (and some numbers--forgot which). This is not at all an ideal solution, but it has helped some people with power-up problems. If your unit is not totally blown, it may help you to power up this way--usually this stuck drawer thing happens when there is a disc inside. When you do finally get the drawer to open, install the updates on the Cyberhome website immediately!!! Then you'll never have this problem again. (Read the instructions and make sure you install them properly.)

No, I don't think we should have to go through all this--but I do know that my Cyberhome is performing perfectly now with these adjustments. I am making many, many beautiful discs--and that was the point of buying it in the first place.

Jeremy

 

ray,
yes, the newer the firmware, the more compatible your discs will be with other players, try buying some more dvd's and upgrading the firmware. keep me posted!

 

Hello CH thread, I am new, I have only had one CH 2500 recorder since November, I have only recorded one video and I have only played two dvd movies on it. It broke. After getting updates it was impossible to implement them since the face of the recorder was non responsive. I sent it to CH along with the 89.95 one time labor fee since I have owned it over 3 months. I never did any research on this product until now. Hopefully I wll get a new model. I read the thread and had some revelations. I liked a lot of the creative fixes people were coming up with. My faviorite was the way to get the disk out of the tray by powering down with the switch in the back and pressing and holding the stop button on the face of the player while powering on again. Once the player drawer locked up I knew there was a problem. I hardly ever use it. I always thought I would use it more. I kept it on standby all the time thinking the power was off. I also left my daughters favorite dvd in there for about 2 months or more and no problems. It was one day when she managed to get the drawer out and then she pressed the drawer in and forced a closure. after that it never came back. I was wondering if that was the beginning to anyone elses problem. After dismanteling the product i realized that the cylindrical black things on the left were blistered and bubbled and also red hot. I think I must have never shut it off in all the time I owned it. I didn't want to reset the time and I couldn't get the signal to cross through the two way splitter that the CH model has in it if it was off.
Anybody get the same? Has anyone sent theirs to CH and got a good fix from them recently which hasen't acted up within two months? It seems to be a matter of time not a matter of use that these things break. It is kinda like having a time bomb installed in my living room. I think it would be a hazzard to keep it near paper or wood since it gets really hot.

 

i have sent my 2500 model back to ch havn't herd back
things a peace of crap if they throw it out i don't care anymore no more problems that way

 

Just as a thought, my son ( a Lawyer ) suggests calling an investigative team at a Buffalo TV station, and letting them do a story on the need for some action to help us with this problem... He also suggested thar we all contact the F T C in Washington.. Then there is always the method of a class-action suit,, I will be watching this column for comments..... TOM

 

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if TV coverage of Cyberhome would help sales. Not what you're trying for.

I would think it would be better to go after the retailers, Walmart, Radio Shack. Make it sound like they're selling shoddy products. Putting the heat on them will make them drop Cyberhome. The recorder isn't the only Cyberhome product the major retailers sell. They'd be encouraged to fix the situation if they thought they'd run the risk of having major retails drop their product line.

 

Hi all

I need some help on the installation procedures. I have been successful recording from a DVD to a DVD+R (using the Video 2 source) and also been successfull recording from a VCR to a DVD+RW (using the channel 3 source) . But I just CAN´T record from the VCR to a DVD+R . I know I have some kind of mistake on the installation. Please can anyone describe how you´ve been successful – the step by step installation?

One more thing – How long does it take to finish a DVD+R – on the average?

Hey, my track got stuck and I was successfull on pressing the stop button while turning the on button. It worked for me!

 

Carol--
If I understand your question correctly, there should be no difference in the hookups, whether you are recording to DVD+R or DVD+RW. It's all the same signal source. Do be aware that you can't record over a DVD+R disk, if it is already full. The hookup is pretty straight forward, DVD cable out to VCR cable in and put the VCR on channel 3 or 4 depending on its setting. VCR cable out to TV. Set TV to chan 3 or 4 depending of the VCR setting.

If you say you are already successfully recording to DVD+RW, all you should have to do is use the DVD+R disk, with all the settings the same, and you should have the same result. Hope I'm not missing something in your question.

As for recording times, you have increments of 1hr, 2hr, 2+ hr, 3rh, or 4hr, depending on your recorder setting.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I finally "convinced" Cyberhome that their warranty stated that I was entitled to get a replacement power board for my 1500 since the old one had blown capacitors on it. At first they said they didn't stock them or do exchanges and that they wanted 90 bucks to perform the work themselves. A nice email from myself threatening legal action changed their mind.

I installed the new (or probably refurbed) power board today, and my unit is now working fine again. After reading all the messages on this group, and messages from the Cyberhome group on Yahoo Groups, I am convinced that 95%+ of all the problems that everyone is having is related the overheating issue causing
capacitors to weaken, bulge, and explode. From now on, I'm turning the unit off in the back when not in use. Yeah, the blue light around the "Standby" button looks cool, but until I can find a box of these power boards to keep close by........

 

I received the 2500 as a gift last Xmas, otherwise I'd never have bought one.

It works fine, the few times I've used it.

Recently I applied the latest firmware upgrades, a big mistake !!!!

The main firmware upgrade went fine, but I received a failure on the servo upgrade.

Does anyone know how to blank the flash so that the firmware upgrades will apply ?.

What is the best firmware versions combo to run on the 2500 ?.


As it stands now, it is a paperweight. When I try to record it simply says error. Presumably due to the servo firmware upgarde.

Any help would be appreciated, Cyberhome is not responding to my support emails.

 

If its still able to read CD/DVDs at all, try reburning the servo firmware. Be extra careful. The Cyberhome doesnt detect read errors when reading firmware, which can lead to horrible problems.

Make sure you use the required settings for the media, use a new CD, write at 1x if possible. Try to upgrade the firwmare again. I tried 4 times once, with different wierd results each time. Finally used a newer CD adhearing to their requirements exactly before I got a successful upgrade.