1121 replies to this topic

[Robert E]

I'd suggest a Topfield. The 7160 version is anything but 'lite' (more than basically fully featured) cost under $500. Reliable timer recording is a starting point IMO. After that its extras.  

Regards

Robert

[murrayjohn]

diesel, on Jun 13 2010, 09:24 AM, said:

Hi Andy and welcome to the forum.

The way devices receive/decode/handle the DVB streams differs different pieces of kit and different brands. Having too strong of a signal can be just as bad as having too weak of a signal.

What suggest doing is disconnecting the flylead between TV and PVR, and just only have the PVR hooked up to your aerial and try a rescan.
If that doesn't work, try different flyleads, and ensure they are all connected correctly and pushed in as far as they go.
Try hooking the PVR up to another antenna connection in another room if you have one, just to scan and see if it works...
With the above suggestions try a full rescan (auto) and a manual scan for the particular frequency SBS is in your area - if you are not sure, let us know what suburb you are in and someone can assist.
Also, ensure you clear out previous channel scans before doing a new one.

If that still doesn't work you could try a signal booster from DSE (do they still have a 14 day money back return policy?).

I'm new to this specific thread - but not to the Forum, where I'm constantly amazed at the help provided by the contributors. Your blood deserves bottling!

Now to my question: I will be spending roughly half of each week in two different homes, one in central Melbourne, and the other in Central Victoria. I have a Foxtel IQ2, which will logically be connected in the city apartment. What I'd like to do is to record on the IQ2 all the programs I want to see when I'm in Castlemaine. Is it technically possible to dump HD material onto, say, a portable hard drive, and physically take it to the country and replay it via HDMI direct into a plasma screen? My suspicion is that I can't, but I don't see the sense of having Austar as well as Foxtel to get pay TV.

Any alternative suggestions would be more than welcome!

Many thanks

John

[pgdownload]

Short answer is no. You can't just dump to a drive and somehow play it elsewhere.

Can you just unplug the IQ box and take it with you? Do you need a Foxtel signal to play old recordings? You'd pressumably miss making recordings though while you were away. Not sure if Foxtel would let you buy/rent a second IQ2 box so you could swap them over?

Longer answer is you'd need to send the image to an external recorder. A full twin tuner FTA PVR like the BeyonWiz or Topfield can do this but costs about $600. You could also send it to a PC (you'd need a TV card to record the signal $100). You could also then by a media player (like the Western Digital media Player ($150). And an external USB drive.

In this setup you'd record shows on the IQ2. You plug the IQ2 into the PC TV card. You hit PLAY on the IQ2 and REC on the PC. Leave it to be transferred. Then save the files on the PC to the USB drive. Take the drive and WD Media player to the country to play.

You could also be able to find a media player that does the transcoding itself (meaning no need for a PC)

Its all a bit fiddly though. Might be easier just to download the shows from the internet already for playing on any media player.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[swordfish805]

If the content you want to take with you is from FTA TV (and not from Foxtel itself) get a PVR that exports files to a PC or USB drive, copy stuff across and take the content with you.  A beyonwiz in both places would allow you to record FTA in both locations and move content between them using a USB drive (and as Peter says in the previous post, you can also connect the iQ to the beyonwiz and create a copy of foxtel content to take with you as well).

Of course, this solution is pretty expensive (you need 2 PVRs) but you could cut the cost by using a PC or cheaper media player in the second location.

[Wayne.]

Nice thread, a bit mind boggling trying to even scan the first post.  But, is there anywhere with a list of PVR's/pricing/features I could look up?

[pgdownload]

Wayne., on Sep 20 2010, 12:53 PM, said:

Nice thread, a bit mind boggling trying to even scan the first post.  But, is there anywhere with a list of PVR's/pricing/features I could look up?

Its a bit dated but might have what you want.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Wayne.]

Thanks.  Yes, I wonder about all the other brands from Asia though.

[panfan]

Hi all. I may have posted in the wrong place, so here goes again. When my Panasonic DMR-EX85 was connected to my 6+ year old Sony plasma, [by component] I had no aspect ratio problems. Now that I have replaced it with a Panasonic TH-P65S20A plasma if find that whether connected by HDMI or component some recordings are rendered in 16/9 which is fine, and others, even on the same tv channel are 14/9. I can adjust it out by selecting 14/9 and zoom 1 on the tv, but would rather all programs displayed at 16/9  every time. I have no other equipment connected between the 2 units, except optical out from both to my Surround Sound. There may well be some blindingly obvious solution, but I have reset the DMR85 to shipping conditions and worked through all settings on both machines and I can't solve the problem. Thanks for any advice.

[diesel]

Make sure the EX85 is set to output 16:9
Try setting the HDMI setting on the TV to 16:9 or Auto
Check your EDID info on EX85 to see what's being negotiated between the devices through the HDMI connection
Make sure the HDMI output is set to 16:9
Are these the same shows all the time or a variety of shows?
If you switch to the same show using the TV's tuner do you still have the same aspect ratio problem?

[panfan]

Thanks very much for your helpful suggestions Mike, all of which which I had actually checked initially. For some unknown [to me!] reason, something I have done has worked as the problem appears to be resolved, time will tell.
What a terrific informative site this is. Congrats to all involved.

[mcfwap]

pgdownload, on Jan 12 2006, 04:06 PM, said:

Have a read of All Questions Answered (PINNED) for info on the Toppy. It has links and info on TAPs as well. There are probably 50+ in existance that do everything from Auto capitalising of filenames, provide 7 day EPG (unique to a Toppy), Skip ads, automatically resume shows when interupted, etc.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Actually this forum. Answered most of my questions.

[riscaa]

Hello.

I just bought my parents a Teac HDR 3500T. I have gone to install it for them and I am having a problem. I have all the cables plugged into the tv and unit correctly. I power the unit on. It has a loading bar that goes to 100% then it black screens. It locks itself to channel 9001 and the remote and buttons on the unit becomes unresponsive. Is this unit DOA?

[DM Dave]

Quite possibly.

Triple check all antenna leads.

Unplug from power socket........wait.........replug.Turn on.

Think that model automatically scans.

Reckon you have already done the above.

[Barry63]

Hi, Its my first time here and need some advice.

I have a DGTEC 500 and we were having real problems with the time settings changing all the time. We live in Qld and by the end of last week we were 13 hrs ahead of GMT where I should have been 10 hrs. the Minutes were out by 15mins as well but I wasnt worried about this as when I wanted to Record I would set half an hour early.
Then 2 days ago the Date changed back to 1/1/2000. This was the last straw. I decided to do a FACTORY RESET to try and get oit back to normal.

Did the FACTORY RESET. Did a AUTO SCAN. got nothing. Tried again nothing. Then on the screen there is now no Date or Time.

The manual gives me no help, so i am begging for one of you lovely Tech savy people to help me as my wife is desperate for the recording of Bargin Hunt while she is at work. HAHA

Thanks in Advance

[pgdownload]

I'd suggest DGTECH is a ultra cheap brand and its not working well. Chalk it up to experience and do some posts on a recommended STB to buy.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[wizkid68]

I've just purchased a TEAC HDR3500T - having hooked it all up, I have sound but no picture. Have checked that all cables are in correctly - am using the CVBS & audio (yellow, red & white) cables to connect to my Palsonic TV (model 6820PF).
Any suggestions?
Thanks  

Edited by wizkid68, 28 December 2010 - 02:13 PM.

[pgdownload]

wizkid68, on Dec 28 2010, 03:11 PM, said:

Any suggestions?
Thanks  

I'd suggest that all your cables are not in correctly. Yellow is the video one. Make sure you're plugged into the output area and not the input area (having sound suggests you are) The output section has six plugs (colour coded.)
Note the cable could be faulty. Any other CVBS cable lying around to test?
Confirm the yellow cable is plugged into the same area on both the TV and TEAC as the red and white ones are.
Note you could be on a HD channel. Try a SD channel (like 2, 7, etc.)
Note the unit has a 'radio mode' - you can switch to TV mode? Are you hearing commercial channels or music?

FWIW, once you get sorted you should get a component cable (red,white, green, blue, red) as you'll get a much better image to your TV using this connection)

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[wizkid68]

Thanks for your advice Peter. I have tried several CVBS cables - same result
Have tried every channel - SD & HD - all have sound but no picture.
I have a cable that has the red, green & blue (no extra red or white) - but my TV doesn't have any of those inputs - only 3 lots of the red, white, yellow AV inputs. Have tried all 3 AV inputs - still no picture, just sound.
Was thinking I might try it on a different TV? At least then I can rule in/out whether it's a problem with my TV???
Cheers
Louise

[harold25z]

BUSH STB DFTA45R
Has anyone bought one of these new HD STB's with PVR functionality?
The DFTA45R is a very new model and can't find much on it.
Within less of 10 days I'm on my second unit. Returned the first mainly due to the fact that it goes into standby mode repeatedly and then turns itself back on until it warms up.
Now the second unit is also doing it also.
Both units suffer from freezes and full coloured screens in the initial 5 minutes of coming out of standby.
Also there are problems with the EPG and the time. In SA we are on 10.5 GMT but soon as you go over 10 from GMT then stange things start to happen with the EPG and daily recordings. The EPG jumps ahead about 10 hours and you can't go backwards. This probably could be solved a software update.

Only thing is, when is, once the unit is warmed up I really liked it.

Rang up Bush for my second unit and she said that I probably had a power problem. I don' have any power problem. I used their SD STB in the exactly same place and that worked fine. TV and other items are plugged into the same power and they work fine. I think they have a very poor product here. I've unplugged my USB device from it and it still suffers from restarts.
I wanted to know if they had a bad batch at Big W where I purchased it but all I could do is return it again to Big W or do a warranty claim.
Looks like I have to return it and hunt for another STB with PVR all over again.
Stay away from this model. It could be good once they get all the bugs out of it.
I think Bush Australia have big returns on their hands with this model but they don't seem to care
Thanks,
Brenton

[riscaa]

wizkid68, on Dec 28 2010, 02:11 PM, said:

I've just purchased a TEAC HDR3500T - having hooked it all up, I have sound but no picture. Have checked that all cables are in correctly - am using the CVBS & audio (yellow, red & white) cables to connect to my Palsonic TV (model 6820PF).
Any suggestions?
Thanks  

I just went through this experience as well. The units are shipped out with PIP turned on which does not work with the yellow, red white cables. I hooked mine up via hdmi, switched off PIP, power cycled the unit and it worked. We waited a few hours with teac working it out. There techs have had very little exposure to the device

Holding in the PIP button on the remote for 10 seconds is supposed to disable PIP as well but I didnt have much luck with that method. It is essential you power cycle the unit once you have disabled PIP though otherwise you will get no image and only sound

Edited by riscaa, 06 January 2011 - 02:41 PM.

[sid&gladys]

The year posted was 06.  Have just read it now in jan 11.  Have already bought online from bigw lg dvd rec hdd&stb recorder which finally realised and discovered does not record hd channel ... which my only reason for buying it.  Occasionally, very occasionally, i want to record a prog on one of the digital channels.  Why is it all so difficult?  I love my tape recorders and yes I time shift (new phrase new everything) watch it when i'm ready and then tape over...simple as.  How many people in my age bracket are being duped because of ignorance.  Even my granddaughter couldn't fix it but said she knew someone who knows 'everything'.  Still waiting. Just tell me which recorder actually records digital.  If i have read article correctly, none of them!  Other than i think foxtel austar etc which you hire and pay dearly for.  So the picture is clearer, bigger etc etc but analogue was ok too thank you.
Dorothea lomavell@hotmail.com
jan 7 2011recorders digital?

[ELENA]

Hi

I've just joined as I am finding the process of finding a DVD recorder with twin tuners frustrating. My mum normally uses a VCR & a dvd recorder to tape lots of movies. Then she edits them and puts them on a disc.  

Recently we purchased a Panasonic DMR-XW380GLK but when we got home we realised the tuners were extremely weak. We could only receive SBS & 7. The Nine channels came and went and ABC & 10 didn't exist.  So I hit the net and read that Panasonic's tuners are well known to be weak. For $600 you'd think you'd get a quality product. Our Soniq STB produces excellent transmission and that was only $200! We live in inner Melb so reception is not a problem.

Can anyone recommend a good DVD with tuners that can pick up all free to air digital channels? I don't trust the salespeople anymore - especially now as I have learnt that 500GB doesn't mean 500hours!  And that STBs need updates. No one I know has even heard of that but I ended up having to update my box. Simple to do but not everyone has a computer.

We are very much newbies and feel overwhelmed with all the information out there. We don't need to hook up a computer nor transfer files to USB. We just want to continue taping stuff off the TV like before  

[sid&gladys]

The governments response to 'going digital' is inane.  Even I know those simple things.  I don't even understand the myriad of 'shortcuts' describing all sorts of things.  Where do I go to learn about this stuff in SIMPLE terms?  Still no answer really from this site.  Others having same problem as me really.  Wonderful.

Thanks
Dorothea Chevell
lomavell@bigpond.net.au
fri 14 jan 11

[ELENA]

sid&gladys, on Jan 14 2011, 04:23 PM, said:

The governments response to 'going digital' is inane.  Even I know those simple things.  I don't even understand the myriad of 'shortcuts' describing all sorts of things.  Where do I go to learn about this stuff in SIMPLE terms?  Still no answer really from this site.  Others having same problem as me really.  Wonderful.

Thanks
Dorothea Chevell
lomavell@bigpond.net.au
fri 14 jan 11

I'm sorry to hear you're having problems Dorothea. Actually this is the best place I've found so far although there is a lot of technical stuff here which i don't understand, and I'm only 35!  Mum and I didn't realise all this digital stuff is still developing and changing as they go along. We had no choice but to buy a set top box because our analogue transmission was getting really bad.

I find that store assistants don't understand the product, they just spout the features. Which is easy because they just read off the packaging. I've yet to find a store where they care. I think a lot of people just buy the box and tape & delete. But surely there must be people out there who record and keep movies?

Sorry I couldn't help you

[prl]

ELENA, on Jan 14 2011, 04:14 PM, said:

...
Recently we purchased a Panasonic DMR-XW380GLK but when we got home we realised the tuners were extremely weak. We could only receive SBS & 7. The Nine channels came and went and ABC & 10 didn't exist.  So I hit the net and read that Panasonic's tuners are well known to be weak. For $600 you'd think you'd get a quality product. Our Soniq STB produces excellent transmission and that was only $200! We live in inner Melb so reception is not a problem.

Can anyone recommend a good DVD with tuners that can pick up all free to air digital channels? I don't trust the salespeople anymore - especially now as I have learnt that 500GB doesn't mean 500hours!  And that STBs need updates. No one I know has even heard of that but I ended up having to update my box. Simple to do but not everyone has a computer.
...

Have you considered getting an antenna technician to look at the antenna setup, rather than buying a new device? The XW380 is a HD recorder and will be able to handle all the digital services currently being broadcast, provided it has good enough signal from the antenna.

The Panasonic Web site says that the XW380 is 250GB, not 500GB, by the way.

As for how much you can store on the HDD, in DR (Direct Recording) mode, high definition TV is about 4-5GB/hr. Standard definition is about half that, so the (I assume 250GB HDD) will store about 50-60 hours of DR-mode HD (ABC HD, SBS HD, 7Mate, Gem or One HD), or about 100-120 hours of standard definition (everything else). These numbers are a bit variable so treat the numbers as a guide, not as a certainty. The hard limit is that all a broadcaster's services (say Nine Digital, Gem and GO! together) have to add up to no more than about 11GB/hr.

The "amount of time" question is further complicated by the fact that the Panasonics (And, I think, most other DVD recorders) can further compress recordings while they are recording. This reduces the quality somewhat, but uses less space. The Panasonic page says that in HM recording mode, you can store about 175 hours of HD (except that the quality of the recording won't be as good).

One other wrinkle is that I think that on all dual-tuner Panasonic DVDRs, if you make two recordings at once, then one of them must be in DR (unmodified) mode.