Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by SCLee

I already thanked you on the other thread but I'll repeat it here. Thanks for your help Geoff, I really appreciate it. I never thought to download the update to an SD card and plug it in using a USB stick. I would have been doing it the very hard way - of taking a small TV downstairs and using an Ethernet cable. Thanks again! Have a good day

Well, SCLee the cavalry really answered the call for you and it appears that this mystery has likely been solved.

I still think that you will benefit from having your 4K disc player connected with a premium certified high speed HDMI cable; so the little bit of money was well spent.

[SCLee]

Unfortunately it didn't work. I added the latest firmware and according to the UB391 player it has updated but the bitrate is still low.

It was odd how the player updated the firmware. It switched itself off, started flashing red on and off very fast and then flashed red three times, stopping and repeating to indicate that it was done.

However, according to the instructions on the link Geoff provided, it should switch itself off, restart and then install the firmware, before switching itself off and flashing as above. It didn't do this yet the player says it has the recent version.

Regardless, sadly it made no difference. If I try the SD card again now it reads it as a USB stick, photos etc... and not a firmware update.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by SCLee

Unfortunately it didn't work. I added the latest firmware and according to the UB391 player it has updated but the bitrate is still low.

It was odd how the player updated the firmware. It switched itself off, started flashing red on and off very fast and then flashed red three times, stopping and repeating to indicate that it was done.

However, according to the instructions on the link Geoff provided, it should switch itself off, restart and then install the firmware, before switching itself off and flashing as above. It didn't do this yet the player says it has the recent version.

Regardless, sadly it made no difference. If I try the SD card again now it reads it as a USB stick, photos etc... and not a firmware update.

The Panasonic thread where you have been discussing this is a great resource as the people there are mostly all Panasonic owners. Someone there will probably be able to resolve this; we have already made much progress in just identifying the cause.

We now know that inaccurate bitrate readouts were a known issue with Panasonic 4K disc players and that firmware updates resolved the problem in most cases. Perhaps there is a way to revert back to an older firmware version and then reattempt to install the latest version? It does sound like something unusual occurred with your update attempt.

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by Vilya

The Panasonic thread where you have been discussing this is a great resource as the people there are mostly all Panasonic owners. Someone there will probably be able to resolve this; we have already made much progress in just identifying the cause.

We now know that inaccurate bitrate readouts were a known issue with Panasonic 4K disc players and that firmware updates resolved the problem in most cases. Perhaps there is a way to revert back to an older firmware version and then reattempt to install the latest version? It does sound like something unusual occurred with your update attempt.

As far as the UB300 is concerned. I think the update might have knackered the player. It has a red light flashing constantly and it won't turn on. What a pile of rubbish Panasonic 4K players are. I'll be buying Sony or LG in future.

I don't think I'll be attempting any new firmware updates on the other players, too risky. As Geoff said, the picture is correct, it's just the bitrates readings that aren't.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by SCLee

As far as the UB300 is concerned. I think the update might have knackered the player. It has a red light flashing constantly and it won't turn on. What a pile of rubbish Panasonic 4K players are. I'll be buying Sony or LG in future.

I am sorry to hear that you are having this much trouble!

Have you tried doing a hard restart? Unplug the player, wait a minute, plug it back in and then try to restart it.

Firmware updates usually go smoothly in my experience.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Watched Episode 4 of Seven Worlds One Planet on UHD BD last night. Did a few spot checks and the video data rates were hovering around 65 to 70 Mbps. On a couple occasions it hit 110 Mbps.

File size is 27.45 GB, length about 50 minutes for a an average of 73.2 Mbps (audio + video). I am looking at the disc contents with a Windows 10 PC with a Pioneer UHD BD Burner BDR-211UBK.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Watched Episode 4 of Seven Worlds One Planet on UHD BD last night. Did a few spot checks and the video data rates were hovering around 65 to 70 Mbps. On a couple occasions it hit 110 Mbps.

File size is 27.45 GB, length about 50 minutes for a an average of 73.2 Mbps (audio + video). I am looking at the disc contents with a Windows 10 PC with a Pioneer UHD BD Burner BDR-211UBK.

On my list to get; I likes purty nature documentaries in 4K especially.

I did get my Alita Battle Angel 4K disc watched last night; it was fun! I hope they make another installment as they ended this movie with much to be resolved. I'll have to watch it in 3D next.

[sapiendut]

Originally Posted by SCLee

As far as the UB300 is concerned. I think the update might have knackered the player. It has a red light flashing constantly and it won't turn on. What a pile of rubbish Panasonic 4K players are. I'll be buying Sony or LG in future.

I don't think I'll be attempting any new firmware updates on the other players, too risky. As Geoff said, the picture is correct, it's just the bitrates readings that aren't.

LOL. Firmware update failed and Panasonic suddenly is “garbage”. LOL LOL LOL. It can happen to any item of any brand. I’ve had a Sony TV bricked by its automatic firmware update too. It doesn’t mean Sony is garbage. LOL

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I am sorry to hear that you are having this much trouble!

Have you tried doing a hard restart? Unplug the player, wait a minute, plug it back in and then try to restart it.

Firmware updates usually go smoothly in my experience.

I've unplugged it and put the HDMI cable back in, switched it on, no luck.

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

LOL. Firmware update failed and Panasonic suddenly is “garbage”. LOL LOL LOL. It can happen to any item of any brand. I’ve had a Sony TV bricked by its automatic firmware update too. It doesn’t mean Sony is garbage. LOL

It's not just that player, it's the other two! They all have dodgy bitrate readings, which I've never heard about from Sony or LG. And I'm not in the mood.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

LOL. Firmware update failed and Panasonic suddenly is “garbage”. LOL LOL LOL. It can happen to any item of any brand. I’ve had a Sony TV bricked by its automatic firmware update too. It doesn’t mean Sony is garbage. LOL

He's just frustrated right now. Tech products can be infuriating when they misbehave.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by SCLee

It's not just that player, it's the other two! They all have dodgy bitrate readings, which I've never heard about from Sony or LG. And I'm not in the mood.

Both players are giving you nothing but a flashing red power indicator?

Hang in there, some more digging may lead to a solution. Contacting Panasonic might be in order or at least checking out their support pages/forums. Someone in that Panasonic thread may have some ideas, too.

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Both players are giving you nothing but a flashing red power indicator?

Hang in there, some more digging may lead to a solution. Contacting Panasonic might be in order or at least checking out their support pages/forums. Someone in that Panasonic thread may have some ideas, too.

No, not both of them, just the UB300. It's the bitrate display problem I was talking about. Which is why it's pointless buying another Panasonic 4K player as the firmware update didn't fix it (391.) And the other player (300) is now broken. It means any future firmware updates are too risky for me, as the players work without them.

You never have this issue with streaming, just saying.

I think I'll buy an LG or Sony to replace the broken one. The two Pansonics I have now, one of them is up to date firmware wise (391) and still has the bitrate reading issue. The other is the 450 and has no playback info button (which might be for the best! Panasonic no doubt removed it because they are aware of the bitrate reading issue and can't fix it.)

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by SCLee

As far as the UB300 is concerned. I think the update might have knackered the player.

Suggest you do as Vilya said. It is a good idea to plug into a UPS when doing an update. You have to make sure you follow the update process exactly as listed (type of thumb drive, formatting, contents, etc.). If you problem persist then I would contact Panasonic Service to see if your machine can be repaired/serviced.

Several weeks ago I was updating the GPS software in my mini van and it was taking several minutes, afraid that the ACC was going to timeout I hit the start button which interrupted the ACC for just a flash. That bricked my GPS. After much research I found a button combination to use to get into an emergency OS install and found the file to install. That process restored my GPS and I have done the updates while traveling (passenger doing the button pushing).

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Suggest you do as Vilya said. It is a good idea to plug into a UPS when doing an update. You have to make sure you follow the update process exactly as listed (type of thumb drive, formatting, contents, etc.). If you problem persist then I would contact Panasonic Service to see if your machine can be repaired/serviced.

Several weeks ago I was updating the GPS software in my mini van and it was taking several minutes, afraid that the ACC was going to timeout I hit the start button which interrupted the ACC for just a flash. That bricked my GPS. After much research I found a button combination to use to get into an emergency OS install and found the file to install. That process restored my GPS and I have done the updates while traveling (passenger doing the button pushing).

Thanks, but there's no point in getting that player repaired as it is very old and one of the first models. I'll likely buy an LG or Sony instead. I did the update correctly and the player read the USB stick / SD card, it did exactly the same as the 391, indicated it was done by flashing red three times, on and off. But when I switched it on, it started flashing red constantly.

I'm glad you were able to fix your GPS

[SCLee]

The MOST frustrating thing is I can't see if the firmware update fixed the UB300 of it's bitrate reading problem. FML.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by SCLee

Thanks, but there's no point in getting that player repaired as it is very old and one of the first models. I'll likely buy an LG or Sony instead. I did the update correctly and the player read the USB stick / SD card, it did exactly the same as the 391, indicated it was done by flashing red three times, on and off. But when I switched it on, it started flashing red constantly.

I'm glad you were able to fix your GPS

I was looking at pages 18 and 39 of the UB300's manual and it says that you should get three flashes when the firmware update is complete.

Page 18 says that after you see a repeating pattern of three flashes that you should "turn off and on the unit." Presumably with the player's power button as it is not more specific.

Page 39 lists other error indicators as well.

https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/bd/...300_EB_eng.pdf

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by SCLee

You never have this issue with streaming, just saying.

What rock have you been under? I have a Roku Ultra 2019 and Nvidia Shield Pro 2019. Roku thread here and Shield thread here. Both of these things have been a royal PITA.

NONE of these show info about the streams being viewed except Netflix which shows the data rate and resolution.

Don’t have a Apple 4K TV but a thread here.

Have saw some screen shots for the Apple and it does show more details about the stream being viewed.

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I was looking at pages 18 and 39 of the UB300's manual and it says that you should get three flashes when the firmware update is complete.

Page 18 says that after you see a repeating pattern of three flashes that you should "turn off and on the unit." Presumably with the player's power button as it is not more specific.

Page 39 lists other error indicators as well.

https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/bd/...300_EB_eng.pdf

Thanks Vilya, I appreciate you helping me. It did that but when I turned it back on, it flashed red repeatedly and is still doing that. It won't switch on now. The 300 is knackered.

How do we know that the bitrates are correct, ever, without a playback button? Panasonic has now removed the info button from their newer models. I'm not sure if Sony and LG have?

So, if that's the case, you have to rely on your own two eyes and not any readings from the player. Which kinda sucks! Because it could be faulty and you'd never know...

[SCLee]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

What rock have you been under? I have a Roku Ultra 2019 and Nvidia Shield Pro 2019. Roku thread here and Shield thread here. Both of these things have been a royal PITA. Don’t have a Apple 4K TV but a thread here.

NONE of these show info about the streams being viewed except Netflix which shows the data rate and resolution.

Have saw some screen shots for the Apple and it does show more details about the stream being viewed.

I was referring to the firmware update knackering the player, but thanks. You won't get that on Netflix!