18 replies to this topic

[hustler]

I want to get high definition PVR but for me the overiding feature it must have is the ability to play Divx (Mpeg4) movies right off a USB stick.

Do any of the current units do it and if so how well?  

thanks in advance!

[tonymy01]

Beyonwiz DP-P1/P2/S1 full dual tuner PVRs.  The cheaper H1 if you add an external HDD to it as a recording HDD (this is a single tuner HD STB with PVR capabilities when you register the drive to it as a recording drive).
It does this reasonably well, assuming your MPEG4 movies are encoded well (not dodgy with errors thru them etc).
Regards

[hustler]

Thanks Tony.

So Beyonwiz is the only one that does?

[Serpeant]

hustler, on Sep 10 2008, 10:51 PM, said:

Thanks Tony.

So Beyonwiz is the only one that does?

Of the top brands, Tivo, BW, Topfield, BW is the only one. BW market their item as a media centre.

[fRuItCaKe.]

My Beyonwiz H1 is superb.  It has played all AVI's I've thrown at it so far.

Don't use the new firmware though (yet)

[50MXE20]

!fRuItCaKe!, on Sep 11 2008, 08:31 AM, said:

My Beyonwiz H1 is superb.  It has played all AVI's I've thrown at it so far.

Don't use the new firmware though (yet)

How about .mkv files?

[ozdoc]

Lyle, on Sep 11 2008, 09:45 AM, said:

How about .mkv files?

Yes.  S1/P1/H1 has .mkv support.

[50MXE20]

ozdoc, on Sep 11 2008, 10:45 AM, said:

Yes.  S1/P1/H1 has .mkv support.

Excellent.  One of these days maybe I'll get one. Maybe when we get the 2nd plasma.

[diesel]

ozdoc, on Sep 11 2008, 12:45 PM, said:

Yes.  S1/P1/H1 has .mkv support.

...and P2

[hustler]

Thanks guys,

I went in this morning to have a look at the Beyonwiz .

Only thing I didnt like was the little rubber cover on the USB port on the front which would make inserting/removing USB sticks fiddly.

I asked the salesman if I could try to see if it comes off completely (to store away) and he got all defensive so I didnt bother  

[tonymy01]

I guess this wasn't the S1 or P1 or P2?   I have an S1 and it has a little plastic pop down cover/door that covers the USB/SD/CF/etc slot.

[hustler]

It was a P1.

[diesel]

hustler, on Sep 12 2008, 12:39 PM, said:

Only thing I didnt like was the little rubber cover on the USB port on the front which would make inserting/removing USB sticks fiddly.

hustler, on Sep 12 2008, 01:31 PM, said:

It was a P1.

Have they changed the P1?

Mine has a hard platic door which hinges down to reveal the card readers/usb port. the description above seems to relate more to the S1 model?

[swordfish805]

diesel, on Sep 12 2008, 01:40 PM, said:

Have they changed the P1?

Mine has a hard platic door which hinges down to reveal the card readers/usb port. the description above seems to relate more to the S1 model?

No the S1 has a plastic door as well behind which live one of the usb ports and the various card readers.

[50MXE20]

Lyle, on Sep 11 2008, 10:55 AM, said:

Excellent.  One of these days maybe I'll get one. Maybe when we get the 2nd plasma.

Actually I'm going to give the Popcorn Hour A-110 a shot!

[hustler]

Lyle, on Sep 12 2008, 02:02 PM, said:

Actually I'm going to give the Popcorn Hour A-110 a shot!

I'm out of inputs on my TV.

Maybe I should update my DVD player to one that plays DivX off USB sticks. Anyone know of one that works well?

[Sabbath]

hustler, on Sep 14 2008, 08:59 AM, said:

I'm out of inputs on my TV.

Maybe I should update my DVD player to one that plays DivX off USB sticks. Anyone know of one that works well?

My Pioneer dv-400v does a good job. Have no issues with it, 12 months in.

[ozdoc]

Lyle, on Sep 12 2008, 12:02 PM, said:

Actually I'm going to give the Popcorn Hour A-110 a shot!

Good choice Lyle.  You've already got a Toppy for PVR duties, and the PH will be nice and portable. I take my (now getting old) Mediagate on holidays, all loaded up ready to go.
Make sure you go for a cool and quiet hard drive.  I'm a bit fussy about that sort of thing, and ended up with a Samsung laptop drive..  I didn't need a big capacity drive as it's mainly used as a network player.
Stay away from Hitachi deskstar and travelstar though.

[hustler]

tonymy01, on Sep 12 2008, 01:12 PM, said:

I guess this wasn't the S1 or P1 or P2?   I have an S1 and it has a little plastic pop down cover/door that covers the USB/SD/CF/etc slot.

Big oops        I went back yesterday and had another look, it was actually a Topfield I was looking at!