102 replies to this topic

[Ken Partridge]

Kabe,

for Australian analogue tv, subtitles are transmitted on page 800 via teletext. While only 7 network supports full teletext, other networks support closed caption subtitles.

My digital HD STB is still away for repair under warranty, however I believe that for digital tv, subtitles are also transmitted on page 800.

Suggest you give it a try.

regards
Ken

[Kabe]

Thank you Ken,

You hit the nail right on the head. Dialed in 800 and nothing happened then for some unknown reason went up a page and suddenly there it was on page 801. First time I ever had equipment to display teletext and was not aware of its benefits.

Kabe

[Greg C]

Hi

just installed my 5000i and it seems to be working fine. The display is not, a Sony KVHR32, and I am sitting waiting for a replacement to come out by courier.

I set up the 5000i on my trusty Philips Town and Country 34cm now entering its 21st year of service and all seems well, with a few queries.

1. the unit runs warm with only a 20mm gap at the top after running on the 9 HD loop for the last 4hours so it passes there.

2. signal strength and quality are both 100% with a SNR of 20 or 24dB. If I had that low a SNR on the wireless network at work I would worry. What do other people get. Unplugging the flylead from the wall socket sees signal and quality drop to zero and SNR to 18dB, the STB manfully trying to give a picture but failing. This doesn't mean we are 6dB above the cliff edge necessarily but the STB had a bit of trouble locking Ch 9, fast scan found it. Analogue reception was perfect with the normal mild ghosting on Channel 2

3. Details are HW version BCM 7020RC0 1.3, SW version AUDG0053T8 DT1r1t1f2F, Release date Dec 8 2003

4. What is digital TV like on an old Philips 34cm? This was and still is a very good set. Picture looks a bit better than analogue but no ghosting which is a big bonus. Skin texture looks very natural, one thing that kept me away from Digital was the very smooth skin texture you see on some digital sets. Nobody has skin that smooth so it is not a fault with DTV just some displays.

Will let you know how the 5000i pertforms with a few more hours under its belt

Greg

[stephen2602]

I have no problems with the 5000i hardware but I think the user manual is verging on pathetic.  It looks like a bunch of eight years old did it as school project.

One important thing that is missing is how the types of audio are used.

The on screen display (OSD) says whether the audio is MPEG or Dolby.  The audio setup offers a menu on what to use.  I live in Canberra so I only have Dolby on ABC which currently works ok.  All others seem to be MPEG (is that PCM?). WIN has a test channel for HD and the OSD says Dolby but it appears to be MPEG.  the sound does not work until I manually change it to MPEG.

The ABC Dolby lights up the Dolby Digital light on my Sony Receiver but the WIN HD Dobly does not which makes me wonder what the audio really is.

To cut a long rant short, will the DGTEC 5000i automatically output (to my reciever) the correct audio type or do I have to keep changing between MPEG and Dolby in the menu?

The technical support staff at DGTEC have as much knowledge of this particular problem as the eight year olds who wrote the manual.

Also, the WIN HD channel appeared one day without a scan.  Is that normal for the new channel(s) to just appear?

Cheers

Stephen

[kenneth]

captainatomic, on May 3 2004, 11:27 PM, said:

Re your questions about WINHD.  WINHD isnt a new channel, its on the same frequency as WINSD (219500).  Its simply another VPID and APID that your STB can decode from the TS (Transport Stream).  Infact your 5000i has been slightly intelligent and scaned that frequeny again and picked up the new PIDs.

At current WINHD is a test broadcast and hasnt been touched since it was launced (lazy WIN).  There is an AC3 PID but there is NO sound information in it - they are only broadcasting MPEG 1 L2 sound at the moment - and going by WIN's effort thats not going to change for a long time.

Win HD is a seperate channel.

Technically, channels are on each network. They are also known as sub-channels.

And Win HD was touched sometime in the past few weeks to chance the useless N&N information. Sometimes I don't know why Win bother.

[kenneth]

captainatomic, on May 3 2004, 11:41 PM, said:

No - I've had NAN text on WINHD from the day it was announced they were broadcasting

I am saying they changed it from Win HD TV Channel (or similar) to the current title for the N&N informaiton.

I meant to say change not chance

[tosca]

I recently upgraded to a DGTEC 5000i and a Sony KVHR 32. I've been very impressed with this setup, and I've had none of the STB problems mentioned in this forum.
However, I'm now thinking of replacing my old VCR with a Pioneer DVR 310s. The plan is to feed the S-video output of the DGTEC to the DVD recorder. I've read elsewhere that there may be a problem with the DVR seeing the signal as "copyright protected" and therefore unrecordable.
Can anyone please throw some light on this subject before I rush out and buy a 310??

[brent]

I got my dgtec 5000i free with the KVHR36M31 and whilst I don't really like the box (freezes up on HD channels and is generally unrealiable), I want to get the best out of it, however, it came with no instructions. Didn't really notice until recently when I wanted to upgrade the firmware. Can anyway tell me how I can go about updating the firmware? Where to download the latest version and how to update the box.
      Thanks............... brent

[JDHDTV]

Brent seeing as you got the unit for free, ditch it now while you can. the 5000i is a crap box at best, the service from dgtec is just as bad. When it works it's fine, but the unit has so many things go wrong with it, I still do not comprehend how a company can put something like this on the market.
As for the firmware you will need to send it back to dgtec for that.

Buyer Beware!

[widemouth]

brad57, on Jan 1 2004, 07:05 PM, said:

Does anyone using the 5000i have it intermittently lock up when changing on to 9 HD (in Brissie, at least)? Mine just stops - I still get picture (very good picture, in fact ), but no sound, the info panel gets stuck on the screen and none of the remote or front panel buttons work. Unplugging from power fixes it, but that's at best a pain ) Changing to anyone else's HD channel doesn't do it, just 9's - and it doesn't seem to matter if they're playing the loop or a real program - same thing happens intermittently.

You unit is FAULTY! and dont let them blame the broadcasters! If you have just bought it, take it back to retailer otherwise you will probably have to run the gauntlet of DGTEC warranty repair.

Nothing to do with firmware revisions etc. I had a Sept 03 unit doing that exact problem from new (in Perth though.) Replaced by the retailer with a new one with the same firmware and that problems gone.

Apart from being able to almost light cigarettes from the temperature of the casing, I am not having any other problems now.

[Craig]

2 Questions,

1.  How do you scroll to more text/information on the EPG of a program, when the blue page runs out of space?  I've tried the arrow buttons on the remote, but none get me to the next page where the rest of the program info text is.

On my old DGTEC200A, you could use the arrows on the remote to get to the next page of text info.

2.  Also, how do you read signal strength on this unit.  The coloured segmented bar that comes up at bottom of screen when you press 'info' always seems to be fully "coloured in" to the right.

Craig.

[peterd1]

We have a DGTEC 5000I, unable to do much with it until this week, when our building was upgraded for Digital. We evidently point at North Head in Sydney for reception. DBA website advertises current operational UHF frequencies for all broadcasters, however we cannot tune to any of these. DGTEC seem unable to provide an answer and in fact seemed unaware that things have changed since the publication of their 2001 user guide with the VHF frequencies. The latter can be received by us but signal is weak with frequent dropout. UHF 34 SBS freezes the box, requiring hard shut down. DGTEC again seemed unaware of the problem or of a possible resolution - have suggested we send the box to them for s/w upgrade, but again seem unable to explain the purpose of the upgrade. Any answers ?

We have the DGTEC plugged to the RF OUT of the Foxtel box, the latter is chained first, to the wall outlet. Theoretically should be ok .... ?

[widemouth]

peterd1, on May 27 2004, 02:18 PM, said:

We have a DGTEC 5000I, unable to do much with it until this week, when our building was upgraded for Digital. We evidently point at North Head in Sydney for reception. DBA website advertises current operational UHF frequencies for all broadcasters, however we cannot tune to any of these. DGTEC seem unable to provide an answer and in fact seemed unaware that things have changed since the publication of their 2001 user guide with the VHF frequencies. The latter can be received by us but signal is weak with frequent dropout. UHF 34 SBS freezes the box, requiring hard shut down. DGTEC again seemed unaware of the problem or of a possible resolution - have suggested we send the box to them for s/w upgrade, but again seem unable to explain the purpose of the upgrade. Any answers ?

We have the DGTEC plugged to the RF OUT of the Foxtel box, the latter is chained first, to the wall outlet. Theoretically should be ok .... ?

Theoretically??????  Theoretically, communism works!!

Remove the Foxtel box and connect the DGTEC up directly to the wall. Its the only way to rule it out as the problem.

[taggartc]

Just wondering is there a way to get rid of unwanted channels.

Basically I live in Newcastle and pickup all the local stations fine, although for some reason just recently my STB has "decided" to show ABC Sydney in the TV guide section.  Although if i try and watch these channels i get weak signal, (what i really would expect!!).

Anyway is there a way for me to remove these stations?

[Dinks]

Thought I would add my storey to the liteny of unhappy 5000i owners. I purchased the unit in August 03, worked fine for a while then along came summer and a few lockups. Figured out the hard reset and left the door on the cabinet open even though I had installed a 240 volt computer fan to blow across the 5000i. This seemed to fix it. Then the vertical lines started to appear and became worse. So off to the retailer I went as this was early June. They kindly lent me another  (2000A) yuk!

This is when the fun really started. I waited in the store while they rang DGTEC got the repair order number. DGTEC stated they would be a Courier pick it up the next morning and it would take approxiametely two weeks to repair.

Two weeks later I returned to the store, the box was STILL sitting there. (minor euruption ensured) I personally rang DGTEC, expressed my extreme displeasure at the incompatence. Got the feeling I was talking to staff that were accustomed to such talk, one even complemented me on my professional attitude in this matter, given the situation. One buck passer mentioned "isn't yours the one that had been here since february?" My answer to that was for $200 virgin would have had me on there door step dismembering the person responsible long before this. (this is early June, there must be some patient people out there?)

I organised with DGTEC for the box to be picked up the next day, they gave me an order No for McPhee Transport. I rang McPhee, rang the store and that night did some net searching and this is when I found this forum and the other shoe dropped.

Time for a different tack here, as I am not getting stuck with a lemon.  Ten days later I went back to the store and asked them to check on things, DGTEC stated that they had LOST it!!! and (several phone calls later) were unable to locate it.

At this stage I figured I needed to apply more pressure on the store owner, as I had spent 15k with him only ten months ago. (the uniform may have helped here) I expressed my frustration and belief that the box was "not fit for Purpose" and furthermore DGTEC were incompetant in the expreme and I had lost all confidance in their product and the company. (The Store owner agreed, his shoulders had sunk as he admitted he didn't sell too many DGTEC anymore)

DGTEC were true to there word and a brand new 5000i turned up at the store two days later. I asked the store owner what would it cost me to change over to a Toshiba 23a? $100, done, and I am a happy camper.

Robert

[jayson5]

Hey,
      I bought mine off e-bay for 500 bucks and I havent had a prob with it, i have been using it now for nearly a year and it runs like a dream(a weird dream i guess). It does run hot though. And I was havent probs with it losing sound on channel changes, but, it only did that for a week and then fixed itself. The AV yarn is a good idea, bujt if i try to run my xbox thru it, The signal is bad, and barely watchable. I now run a dvd player thru it and it works great.

Anyway thanx for the sounding board.

Jayson

[brent]

Just wondering if anyone has noticed their dgtec 5000i going green?? Every so often (becoming more frequent), the picture becomes predominantely green. It's 9 months old.
  Anyone else experience this?? Should I send it back to Dgtec?

[:)]

brent, on Sep 1 2004, 10:38 PM, said:

Just wondering if anyone has noticed their dgtec 5000i going green?? Every so often (becoming more frequent), the picture becomes predominantely green. It's 9 months old.
  Anyone else experience this?? Should I send it back to Dgtec?

It must be a bit sick!

by the way why is this forum "pinned" ?

[brent]

yeah possibly!
Anyone got any suggestions of what could be wrong??

[Alias]

brent: is it connected by component cable? maybe one is a bit loose. thats what happens to mine. A bit of a jiggle at the back or even thump on the floor fixes it. I just have to get a round to getting another cable. doesnt happen alot for me.

[brent]

Thanks Alias,
                     That fixed it! I've been mucking around the back of my TV too much obviously!
  All better now!

[J_C]

Since the power went out in Sydney last night my 5000i has AUH on the display.
If I power it off and back on again (by yanking the power cord) it comes back with the same thing. The clock has been set since the power has come back on but is 6 minutes slow.

I've searched the web (that's how I found this forum) but have found nothing.
Dgtec support is the next place but that doesn't happen until they open tomorrow morning.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance...

[J_C]

Hmmm, very interesting. The third time I unplugged it then plugged it back in I got the DGTEC screen and I could go back in and perform a new install again.

On the heat question , my 5000i is warm but far from hot.
The right hand side is noticably the warmer side. I've had the box a couple of months and use it every day. I only turn the TV off never bother with the STB or VCR.

--JC

[IPharaoh]

dnie, on Dec 26 2003, 11:59 PM, said:

Please post your questions here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Brad.\I similarly had problems woth the Set Top box. Contacted DGTEC and was advised to reset the box by unplugging - waiting 20 minutes - then plugging back in - which should hard reset the box.

Up shot was it didn't work.

DGTEC advised to return the box which I did. Came back fixed and haven't had any trouble since. That has been 3 months and was still under warranty.

The stated that the tuner was faulty and that was the component that was replaced.

Cheers.