124 replies to this topic

[Ed.]

Eraser, on Jun 23 2006, 08:56 AM, said:

Hi,
    As a newbe I have just discovered 'forum' and wouldn't know where to send this to.Was in HN today and was offered a Strong PVR (SRT5390) for $449. any comments on this Strong?
Thanks for the great post. I'm looking at getting a twin tuner HD PVR, with a USB connection, and one that will link upto either component or HDMI. From my reading, the HUMAX SMART looks like a great little product, but unfortunately the manual says it only does RGB/CVBS/S-Vid out of it's SCART I went to check the Topfield web site, and the 7000PVR has been waiting for..... 2 years! Now, I'm willing to wait another 3 months (which makes it September), which is pretty much when I'm going to buy my new LCD screen (unless something else comes and grabs me by the goolies and says MUST BUY! Anyway, cut a long rant short, but how certain, or otherwise are you of the Toppy coming out in August/September? Is there another solution, as the LG and Sony don't have USB out (I obviously want to... "archive").

Thanks for your help.

[pgdownload]

Hi ed, what's your post?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Surlyrich]

The Mediastar DW820PVR can record from Austar and SelecTV

[Ed.]

pgdownload, on Jul 28 2006, 10:16 PM, said:

Hi ed, what's your post?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

What's a 'post' Pete ?

[betje]

Thanks for the information that on sets under 86cm there is hardly any difference between SD and HD. I was considering buying a 80cm HD set but I think I will go for the best quality SD I can get. I was also thinking of getting a DVD with hard drive but am now thinking I will go for a PVR. Thanks for your information.

betje

[GrayPerth]

As basejump said "however, can you pls expand on the comment "TVs smaller than 36" (86cm) have limited benefits from being HD" - having just ordered a 32" R series samung LCD I am clearly interested - my main motivation for not getting a monitor and a PVR was avioding the need for extra cabling - i am wall mounting and therefore was keen for an integrated tuner and figured it may as well be HD - however, perhaps i needed have bothered. FYI i will be viewing the tele at various distances from 1 to 3 metres."

I am also very interested as i am considering buying a 26" or should i go for SD?

Gray

[wrangler]

I asked a similar question:

Owen, on Oct 16 2006, 10:59 PM, said:

I struggle to imagine a room that is too small for a screen bigger then 32”, but anyway the main issue is how close you will sit relative to the screen.
If it’s over 2 meters, HD is of little or no value on a 32” screen, simple as that.

My second TV is an HD 86cm, viewed from 2 meters or a little less. There is very little perceived difference between SD and HD.
I also have a 57” 1080 display, viewed from 2.8 meters, and there is a VERY noticeable difference between SD and 1080 on that set. Even the difference between 720p and 1080 are easily seen.

Good luck.

[Bradley]

Should I buy SD or HD?
Even if people don't have a display to take advantage of a HD picture people should consider:
+ improved sound, DD 2.0 or DD 5.1 when it's broadcast.
+ multichannel - with the end of forced SD and HD simulcast networks may choose to broadcast different programs on SD and HD channels.

[pgdownload]

Definately factors to consider Bradley.

Quote

+ improved sound, DD 2.0 or DD 5.1 when it's broadcast.

As you say, its broadcast about 1% of the time.

Quote

+ multichannel - with the end of forced SD and HD simulcast networks may choose to broadcast different programs on SD and HD channels.

This is a wild card but for a number of reasons I don't imagine much coming of it. The networks have had this ability for 5 years (for live events that over run and they have always been allowed to multichannel the scheduled event - hasn't happened though)Much more likely is that the ABC will multichannel SD channels and the networks will wait until SD multichannelling is available to them in a few years. Till then its just a costly headache I don't see them wanting a bar of.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Brent130560]

tonymy01, on Jun 6 2006, 12:10 PM, said:

Peter, this line can be a bit confusing to newbs.   You can watch live TV while recording, but it is the same channel as the one recording (or same mux... so if you are recording ABC, you can watch ABC2).

Regards

OK I'm a newb and now I'm confused - it's most likely I would want to watch one channel while recording another (from a different mux) so does that mean a 1.0 type PVR is of no use to me?

[boric]

Brent130560, on Jan 11 2007, 12:49 PM, said:

OK I'm a newb and now I'm confused - it's most likely I would want to watch one channel while recording another (from a different mux) so does that mean a 1.0 type PVR is of no use to me?

Yes. A 1 tuner PVR will only let you record one channel and view an existing recording at the same time, you cannot view another channel while recording a different one (ignoring the ABC/ABC2 thing because most people will never record ABC and watch ABC2 at the same time).

However, you can record one channel on your 1 tuner PVR and watch another analogue channel (i.e. through your VCR or TV) if you want.

[pgdownload]

Quote

OK I'm a newb and now I'm confused - it's most likely I would want to watch one channel while recording another (from a different mux) so does that mean a 1.0 type PVR is of no use to me?

As boric (and you) say, a single tuner machine might be not quite what you want.

In the past most people had a TV and a VCR, both of which had a tuner in them. So you could effectively 'record one thing while watching another'. If you go digital (with a PVR or STB) then most likely you'll still be able to switch to the analogue frequencies (while they're still broadcast for another few years) and watch/record  a different channel on that. However in this instance you tend to immeadiately notice you're back on analogue and the PQ looks much poorer for it (esp on newer big widescreen TV screens).

Most PVRs will let you watch a previously recorded show while another is being recorded live (but you can't watch another live station while another is being recorded live). Single tuner PVRs are a great little introduction and until recently we're very good value for money - a twin tuner cost $900 while a little Wintal cost only $250. Unless you watch/record very little TV, then I would suggest a twin tuner is something most people will quickly realise they really want. Generally better features are found on a proper twin tuner. At $400-$600 they're now very affordable buy many.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[madmax]

Brent130560, on Jan 11 2007, 12:49 PM, said:

OK I'm a newb and now I'm confused - it's most likely I would want to watch one channel while recording another (from a different mux) so does that mean a 1.0 type PVR is of no use to me?

One thing the other guys didn't really mention is that a 1.0 PVR will do you just fine so long as you buy (or already have?) a tv with built-in digital tuner. You can then use this to watch tv whilst recording on your PVR.

[Brent130560]

boric<Yes. A 1 tuner PVR will only let you record one channel and view an existing recording at the same time, you cannot view another channel while recording a different one (ignoring the ABC/ABC2 thing because most people will never record ABC and watch ABC2 at the same time).

However, you can record one channel on your 1 tuner PVR and watch another analogue channel (i.e. through your VCR or TV) if you want.>


Thanks all - I think this is actually all I'm likely to want to do. If I can:
1) Record one channel and view an existing recording
2) Record one channel and watch an analogue channel (and live with the drop in PQ!)
I think I'd be happy.

Strathfield have a cheap digicrystal in their latest catalogue... hmmm

Brent,

[pgdownload]

A good solution then. Just make sure the unit can do this:

Record one channel and view an existing recording.

Regards

Peter Gillepsie

[Brent130560]

pgdownload, on Jan 11 2007, 04:55 PM, said:

A good solution then. Just make sure the unit can do this:

Record one channel and view an existing recording.

Regards

Peter Gillepsie

Thanks - all this good advice has me thinking I'd be better off spending some more money on a better unit....

[RX68]

pgdownload, on Jun 6 2006, 10:40 AM, said:

Pete's PVR Post
Note that Composite cables are red, white & yellow. Component are red, green, blue, white and yellow. In both the white and yellow are audio connections.

Maybe Im the only one to actually read a FAQ here?  

But in Composite cables the audio is always red and white, video being yellow.

Cheers,
Jake

[pgdownload]

RX68, on Feb 4 2007, 08:25 AM, said:

Maybe Im the only one to actually read a FAQ here?   But in Composite cables the audio is always red and white, video being yellow.Cheers,
Jake

Oops. That was edited 3 days ago so no you're probably just the first with keen eye Thanks

Peter Gillespie

[RX68]

pgdownload, on Feb 4 2007, 08:50 AM, said:

Oops. That was edited 3 days ago so no you're probably just the first with keen eye Thanks

Peter Gillespie

Peter,
You should delete my post...keep the FAQ clean I reckon.
Cheers,
Jake

[pgdownload]

RX68, on Feb 5 2007, 01:18 PM, said:

Peter,You should delete my post...keep the FAQ clean I reckon.Cheers,Jake

Thanks for the thought, and wish that I could, but only admins have that ability. I've asked them to wipe all of this thread (as with AQA) but so far no response.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Dasha]

]Dont Know if this is in the right Forum but I hope it helps, after reading all the above and many others we Purchased a TCL, SDT for 90.00 fromg Retra Vision, this gives us Digital on our Current Sony4 year old 26 " I then bought a LG RBH197 ($650.00) which is a PVR 1 channel digital Recorder to the HDD, and if I want I can still record another program Direct to a DVD Disc, and watch it as well at a later date, this means that until I can afford my LCD 42" with a Built in Hard drive in about 1 years time I have a pretty good digital  Picture etc In a Reginal Area (16 K's Sth Hervey Bay QLD and by the time I buy the LCD it will have proberly dropped in price by at least $500 I will then have effectivly a 3 Channel setup withe 2 hard drive's + recorder etc. hope this helps and thanks to all that wrote and helped me make this decision Dasha   

[Knox]

Dasha, on Feb 13 2007, 08:30 AM, said:

]Dont Know if this is in the right Forum but I hope it helps, after reading all the above and many others we Purchased a TCL, SDT for 90.00 fromg Retra Vision, this gives us Digital on our Current Sony4 year old 26 " I then bought a LG RBH197 ($650.00) which is a PVR 1 channel digital Recorder to the HDD, and if I want I can still record another program Direct to a DVD Disc, and watch it as well at a later date, this means that until I can afford my LCD 42" with a Built in Hard drive in about 1 years time I have a pretty good digital  Picture etc In a Reginal Area (16 K's Sth Hervey Bay QLD and by the time I buy the LCD it will have proberly dropped in price by at least $500 I will then have effectivly a 3 Channel setup withe 2 hard drive's + recorder etc. hope this helps and thanks to all that wrote and helped me make this decision Dasha   

Hi Dasha,
               When you eventually buy your nice new 42 inch LCD television I would suggest that you don’t get one with built in anything !

If anything goes wrong with it you have to send the whole screen away to be fixed
Apart from the complication and risk of sending an LCD thru the post you will also be without it for four to six weeks

I highly recommend keeping each section separate so if one part in the chain fails you can change things around so as to still have reception while replacing/repairing the faulty part

Knox

[pgdownload]

Thanks for the post Dasha.

Do agree with Knox however that it is generally a good idea to get a separate PVR and TV. As mentioned faults knock out your entire system. Also you tend to pay a bit of a price premium for the 'integration'. You will also tend to find that an integrated PVR is much less capable than an external one. You might also find that while you keep the TV for 10+ years, you may well upgrade the PVR a few times in its life.

Not saying don't do it. Simply that I would investigate a separate setup as well.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[Dondomains]

I just get the ideal that if im going to buy a samsung Q91   50' plasma  and a new dvd recorder that will aloud me to record shows from all FTA channels onto a disc i would get the HD dvd recorder if there is such thing and defently dont take SD.

The cost of buying that samsung plasma is heaps for me so supose i do take the aportunity to get the latest atherwise your using HD plasma and a dvd recorder that is SD. so both dont seem to match right. Who knows.. Is it that really hard to work this one out?

And why go SD for when SD is the past surely.  Does HD makes things worse?

i was reading a mag it shows a image of SD and same image on HD the person runing on the screen apears fuzzy fiewing on SD while the same person runing on screen viewing shows HD with no fuzzy mvoements of the person apearing on tv. Atherwise your stuck at viewing all fuzzy viewing with no aportunity of taking the best out of your plasma atherwise.

But yet this is new for me. I jsut want the best and that jsut dont want old technology with the new.

regards
Linda
xox

[nigella]

have mtv 2080 pvr ok but for following problem. sometimes when recording off free to air ditigital thru stb to hdd macrovision notice appears on finalising hdd entryand program can not be stored . have wintel dvd on which macrovision has been switched off via secret factory code entry. any solution for 2080 ?? has anyone had similar problem?? further searching reveals klurpa had same problem and it sounds like it is down to the stb. we are using a little ctdv100 . will check out settings and possible software upgrade.