So why blame the media if the machine was faulty?
I dont know if the machine was actually faulty or not, it was bought through a relatives catalogue, she just told them I was having a problem with the machine going into recovery mode, to which they said all they can do is exchange it, Ive havent heard anymore about it. All I know is the machine was working perfectly till I started using cheaper media, had no problems at all with Panasonic DVD-R or Ram, Verbatim (4x and 2x) datalifeplus discs or a few TDKs (4x), once on to cheaper media (loads of VHS tapes to back up, so thought I would save money) then the recovery mode problems started, after reading here, I tried the simple solutions that you have mentioned sometimes it worked, sometimes it didnt, but overall things just got progressively worse, to the stage that even the dearer media, which had work perfectly before, would send the machine into recovery mode. And judging by the different forums, Im not the only one that has had these problems when using certain media on Panasonics.
Was the machine faulty to begin with or at all? Did constantly going into recovery mode affect the machine in some way? Who knows Im not expert on the inside workings of a DVD recorder. Just giving my experience in using cheaper media with a Panasonic machine and what media has worked best for me since on two other Panasonic machines.
If the cheaper media works for yourself and others, and you want to recommend it to other Panasonic users to use then great, but they certainly didnt work for me. The bottom line for me is I want a machine and media that will record at the first attempt, not half a dozen attempts later or never in some cases. It may not be such a hassle if you have a hard drive like the HS2 to record to first, but if you are recording straight from TV to disc then the hassle with missed recordings etc is not worth it for the sake of saving a few pennies.
Like yourself, I havent bought Panasonic media for my replacement at home or the works E50 either, they have only had one make of media (verbatim datalifeplus MCC and TYG coded) near them and after approx 370 discs between them, I have NO coasters, neither machine has been in recovery mode and Ive had NO difficulties with ejecting dud media, as there has been none.
Hammy