18 replies to this topic

[simdi]

I have a Panasonic TV (model TH42PV500A) about 7 years old.  It is HD but does not have a digital tuner.  So I have a digital set top box.  First question is... does a PVR with twin tuners replace my digital set top  box?
I have looked at the T-box (simple) but not sure I want to be tied to Telstra.  Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced PVR, which need only have twin tuners, replace my digital set top box, and have features like time shift, hdd storage, ability to pre-schedule regular shows.

I'd appreciate any help.  When I say reasonably priced, preferably no more than $300.

Thanks if you can give me some much needed advice.

[nbound]

Yes, it does replace your set top box.

Just so you are aware, your television's resolution is only 1024*768 pixels. The only "HD" resolution it can show can show truely is 576p. 720p (1280*720) and 1080i/p (1920*1080) are both beyond what the screen can show. Your TV can still accept these HD signals but downscales them to fit on your screen.

Pretty much all PVRs have the capabilities listed. If in doubt, ask the salesperson.

[pgdownload]

Hi Simdi,

Its a bit dated now but if you haven't already have a read of this PVR sticky.

If you're willing to consider a factory second, then a BeyonWiz Lite (from the official returns site) costs only $240

You could also do some research on the Crazystu website for PVRs in your price range. The Strong brand is reasonable.

nbound is correct that the number of pixels on your TV means it can't display the full effect of a full HD broadcast, but there's plenty enough to get a good HD experience.

As mentioned most PVRs can do what you want (and they also pause live TV and can skip ads with a button press or two) however "ability to pre-schedule regular shows" has several variations. If you mean "series record" this is the ability of the PVR to read the EPG (or download data) to automatically set timers for upcoming shows. Only a few PVRs can do this and they generally cost >$300. More common, you can set weekly recurring timers. Shows rarely change timeslots, and each week a quick review of the TV Guide allows you to tweak your timers as needed. Not that some PVRs like the BW above have automatic padding so you can set a timer and it wil grab some time before and after the timer to handle overruns etc.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Edited by pgdownload, 12 July 2012 - 09:05 AM.

[simdi]

Thank you Peter and nbound for your advice.  I will now have a good look at the Beyonwiz Lite, which a quick look seems to indicate...can be networked to my PC which I like.

I actually have a Panasonic DVD Recorder (Model DMR-EH50 and same age as my Panasonic TV) which gives me good enough quality on the TV to enjoy.  The only trouble with it is it is not a twin tuner, so it is very problematic whien it comes to recording one channel and watching another (which I then have to do in analogue...altogether quite unsatisfactory).  That's why I'd like to move to a twin tuner PVR.
I wonder if you can tell me if I can connect my DVD Recorder to the Beyonwiz so as to have the opportunity to still record/send content to the DVD Recorder should I want to make a DVD (still do such a thing in order to play content in another part of the house).

Thank you so much for your help.  I really appreciate your responsiveness.

[pgdownload]

Yes the BW can be networked (and either transfer files between a PC and the PVR or stream them from a PC etc.)

Yes you can connect the AV inputs on the DVDR (usually composite but maybe Svideo) and 'transfer' a movie across (Press play on the PVR and REC on the DVDR and make a copy)

However, I'd suggest a better way moving forward would be to just transfer your files from the BW to the PC where you can edit them with powerful software (VideoRedo is good).

You can also offload recordings via an external USB drive I believe.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[prl]

simdi, on 12 July 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

...
I wonder if you can tell me if I can connect my DVD Recorder to the Beyonwiz so as to have the opportunity to still record/send content to the DVD Recorder should I want to make a DVD (still do such a thing in order to play content in another part of the house).
...

Beyonwizes can be set to output to component, composite and S-Video at once, but only for SD (576i) output. If you normally output 1080i or 720p from the Beyonwiz (which allow the TV to make most use of the available resolution for HD material). you'll need to change the output resolution if you want to record from the Beyonwiz to the DVDR. And of course, while you're doing that, you won't be able to watch anything else on the Beyonwiz. There's no way to set up a timer to change the output resolution on the Beyonwiz, so the resolution changing would need to be done manually (or you could leave the Beyonwiz output on 576i).

If you have suitable software on your PC, you could copy Beyonwiz recordings onto the PC and make DVDs there instead.

Edited by prl, 12 July 2012 - 04:56 PM.

[Paul55]

Note that with the DP-Lite you can send from the PVR to the DVDR but not vice versa. The DP-P2  allows transfer both ways - not that you would probably use it.
If you have multiple networked  BWs, you can watch content on any of them.

[simdi]

Thanks everyone.  I need to take some time tonight to research the Beyonwiz Lite and the best place to buy it.  I think I'll opt for a new rather than 'refurbished'. Being a novice I feel I need that extra tech support a decent warranty can give.
But thanks for all your support.  Interesting about the DVDR hookup.  PVR to DVDR is fine with me...I'm sure I don't want to go the other way.  And, I will be eagerly looking at how I hook up the PVR to the Cat5 wiring in the house that goes to every room.  I've never really used it.
What goes from the PVR to the Cat5 wall socket to get the network working?.  Do I need any special network software on my PC?  I run Window 7 Pro.  Thanks again - what a super support team you are!.

[pgdownload]

Just a standard CAT5 cable from the PVR to the wall.

You'll need WizFX to download and collate files from the PVR. Quite straight forward to use.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[sub3R]

Hi simdi,

I recently purchased a superseded refurbished Beyonwiz PVR to add to my almost 5 year old Beyonwiz collection & was very happy with this latest purchase. The standard 3mths warranty for refurbished Beyonwiz PVRs can be increased to 12mths for an additional $49.

The Beyonwiz forum http://www.beyonwiz....pbb2/index.php? is a good place to get information about Beyonwiz products. Some of the forum regulars have posted helpful instructions & suggestions in the various sub-forums & are willing to help if one is still stuck after carrying out some research.

In addition to WizFX suggested by Peter, I find YARDWiz (written by one of the Beyonwiz forum regulars, using prl’s getWizPnP) a very good alternative for downloading from the wiz to PC in Beyonwiz native format or converting to .ts format. Both products work quite well.

[simdi]

Well...having decided that I'd like to purchase the Beyonwiz Lite i, I tried to do so with an online supplier (am I allowed to mention who?).  As I mentioned I feel more comfortable getting a new rather than refurbished model not being highly technical and looking for good support.
However, this supplier called me and said the Beyonwiz Lite i was no longer being sold and was a discontinued model.  So back to the drawing board.
They highly recommended the Mediastar HD8200 (MS/Vantage 1TB $316 one yr warranty; or MS Powers HD8200 with Linux $369).  .
I did a bit of research on them, and many of the posts were older and I wonder how much has been fixed with new software by now.

I am told by this supplier that it has all of the features of the Beyonwiz and more!  (I'm not so naive as to know some of that enthusiasm might come from sales talk).

Has anyone had personal experience with these lately?
Again, thank you so much for your help on this.  I thought the decision was all done and dusted yesterday...until the call from the unnamed supplier.  .

[prl]

I can't think why you shouldn't say who the supplier was. Dealspace is currently showing the DP-Lite i as out of stock. The Beyonwiz product page for the Lite i doesn't show it as discontinued (Availability shows "Current model"). The DP-Lite (no i) is a discontinued model which the Lite i replaced.

That's not to say that the supplier was incorrect, but I can't find anything that confirms that the Lite i is discontinued. It would be a pity if it were.

Dealspace is also showing 1TB DP-P2s as out of stock, but 2TB DP-P2s as in stock.

You could contact Beyonwiz Australia to confirm whether the DP-Lite i has been discontinued.

[pgdownload]

The dealspace link I provided above is in stock. $290 gets a refurbished BW with 12 months warranty. However its up to you if that's out of the comfort zone.

The Mediastar 8200 does do much that the BW will. Can't speak for reliability, although haven't had lots of posts complaining about it here. Not sure if its possible to offload the recordings to edit on a PC, however you can send it to a DVDR.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[simdi]

FYI, I wrote to the link support@digitaltrading.com.au and they have confirmed that the Beyonwiz Lite i is a 'discontinued' model, although you can still find new and reconditioned on Dealspace.

[prl]

simdi, on 16 July 2012 - 01:09 PM, said:

FYI, I wrote to the link support@digitaltrading.com.au and they have confirmed that the Beyonwiz Lite i is a 'discontinued' model, although you can still find new and reconditioned on Dealspace.

Thanks for following up and reporting on that. It's a great pity, unless it's a harbinger of new models.

[mayon]

simdi, on 14 July 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

Well...having decided that I'd like to purchase the Beyonwiz Lite i, I tried to do so with an online supplier (am I allowed to mention who?).  As I mentioned I feel more comfortable getting a new rather than refurbished model not being highly technical and looking for good support.
However, this supplier called me and said the Beyonwiz Lite i was no longer being sold and was a discontinued model.  So back to the drawing board.
They highly recommended the Mediastar HD8200 (MS/Vantage 1TB $316 one yr warranty; or MS Powers HD8200 with Linux $369).  .
I did a bit of research on them, and many of the posts were older and I wonder how much has been fixed with new software by now.

I am told by this supplier that it has all of the features of the Beyonwiz and more!  (I'm not so naive as to know some of that enthusiasm might come from sales talk).

Has anyone had personal experience with these lately?
Again, thank you so much for your help on this.  I thought the decision was all done and dusted yesterday...until the call from the unnamed supplier.  .

[mayon]

Hi,
Just purchased a Topfield 7160 for $328 to supplment an 8 year old Topfield 5000. Happy with it so far plus it has
quad recording, which I like.

[swordfish805]

pgdownload, on 13 July 2012 - 09:58 AM, said:

You'll need WizFX to download and collate files from the PVR. Quite straight forward to use.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

This statement is untrue.  You do not need WizFX to download/transfer material to a PC.  You can use WizFx but you can also (and more easily) simply transfer from the wiz itself.

[pgdownload]

swordfish805, on 18 July 2012 - 08:52 AM, said:

You can use WizFx but you can also (and more easily) simply transfer from the wiz itself.

Didn't realise this. Thanks for the correction.

Regards

Peter Gillespie