Hi

I'm new to the board and apologies if my requests have already been asked and answered.

I bought the TEAC DVB420 recently based on feedback and price, and since then have spent hours and $$$ trying to get a couple of (supposed) simple things to work;-

I may just be an idiot, but I've connected the the STB to my tv (a Sony) but just cannot record on my VCR (another Sony) when it is connected. I've checked the TEAC website and (rather skimpy) manual - and it was suggested I get another RF cable. Well, the staff at Myer Megamart and Dick Smith didn't know what that was - luckily Harvey Norman helped out - but got home and still couldn't figure it out.

Also, I have tried to download the upgrades - read the informative messages on this forum - went back out to buy some more cables (don't get me started on Dick Smith and Myer Megamart again) and tried and tried and tried - to no avail.

After I run the "launcher.exe", I select "DOWN", and then I just keep getting the following messages;- "Set Port", "Port already open", "fail port initialization". Nothing and i repeat nothing happens and I just exit in disgust.

I have a brand new HP Pavilion ZV5203AP, Windows XP, Intel Pentium 4, 512KB Cache, 245MB RAM, 40 GB HD.

I know some members recommend just taking it to TEAC to get it sorted - but I believe a product advertised as "easy to use" should be just that. Sorry to whine but I am ready to chuck this in the bin or sell it cheap on EBAY.

Any assistance to the above (and in plain english cos i am obviously IT illiterate) would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance

Recording to your VCR is very easy...

Use a set of RCA leads from the video and audio outputs on the set-top box and connect to the AV INPUT on your VCR. Make sure you select the AV input on your video recorder (i.e. the input source).

(You cannot tune in the set-top box as their is no RF modulator!)


With upgrading any set-top box, I had a problem whereby I needed to disable the RS232 port on Activesync (I have a PocketPC). You could have a similar problem.

JA

I had 2 Teac 420's, ended up returning them recently after having them for a couple months.

I wouldn't be surprised if upgrading the software was difficult, you could always take it to Teac to get it upgraded. As for recording to VCR, it should be possible by doing what JosephA says, although I would warn you that using the audio outs from your STB and the audio outs from the SCART at the same time will reduce the sound quality quite a bit. Not sure why it does this (might be poor wiring) but you should notice plugging in the extra cables will make the sound distorted and a bit fuzzy sounding.

Upgrading the software is easy and do-able, but serial and usb connections can be unreliable if the bios is setup wrong, or just some software proggram installed on your machine which can cause problems with the update etc, if you are not sure about updating it or it didn't work the first time - I would recommend bringing the unit to teac to get a firmware update.

I'd also like to mention that my DVB420 is working like a charm and have had no problems.

Bettestreep

Plug your STB into the "lineIn" of your VCR - you will wach your stb/record programs on the VCR via the "Line1" channel or similar.
There is/was an issue with recording from DVB-420's, Im not sure if Teac has addressed the issue. Quite a few of us on the forum (do yourself a search and have a good read) had problems with recording from the STB with recorded playback only being in black and white. There is a resistor tolerance in the STB that has/had to be modified for compatability with SOME VCR's. I myself had this problem with a SONY VCR, and Teac addressed it post haste for me.

Aaron

hey
ive got the DV-B420 for my mum about 8 months ago and since then we go never get the subtitles to be permanently off. ive tried a factory reset but that doesnt work and the manual just says to push the red button but every time i change the channel it comes back on. if anyone has a clue on what i could do to fix this problem it would be much appreciated.

thanks in advanced

Not seen that problem on my 420 on the spare TV. Maybe updating to the most recent firmware would help.

I'd like to point out that the 420 on my spare TV has been running 24 x 7 (power fails aside) without problems. It never gets turned off (by mains or the remote) and hasn't done anything out of the usual.

It was a long time ago that I had the 420 but I think I may've had a similar problem. It had something to do with teletext being on channel 7, and disabling the subtitles for channel 7 turned it off for all channels permanently. Not sure though. Try disabling subtitles in the menu as well, if possible.




Now that is strange! I was getting brand new 420's and powering them on only to have them lock up within minutes and refuse to power back on.

That is a bit odd. Sounds like they took a severe dislike to something that one of the networks in your area was transmitting.

My box has

SW 1.07 (JUL 13 2005)
WH 1.02
BL 1.09

See also: http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtop...08&hl=altronics

Ah the 350, had two of those bastards! Nothing but trouble! No power supply issues though. Just kept freezing, forgetting channels, receiving wrong commands from the remote, making high pitched squealing noises etc.

I bought a second hand TEAC dv-b420 to connect to an old 34cm analog tv with an attached analog aerial. The picture is fantastic, but I can't get the audio to work. The TV only has the yellow and white sockets, not the red one. I have tried every setting I could think of but can't get any sound to come out of it.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any help

You should just need to plug the yellow in for video, the white in for mono sound and press AV on the tv. Maybe turn the volume up?

Gday, I heard my Teac 420 start to break up yesterday (only use it to listen to ABC DIG) and I woke up this morning to see the red and green led's on..

No change after a long power down and nothing on TV.

Could anyone please advise if there is a master reset available or if a software download might bring it back to life?

Thanks.

Firstly, way to dig up an ancient thread!
Second, wouldn't it be easier to just buy a new STB as they are very cheap ($29)?

My B420 isn't working either, it has both the red and green light on. Pretty good after 6 years of service, but I wish it hung in there a little longer till the HD Twin Tuner PVRs came down to under $300.
Bought a Strong 5405 for $119 so now have HD.

Does anyone know if there is an easy fix for my B420 as I have another TV I could put it on? Have done the basic unplug form the power for 30seconds. But it didn't work.

Chalk up another dead B420!

Green & Red lights on - no response, no image, no audio.

Figured i'd open it up and see if there was anything obvious inside.

1 x chip called U1 on the board that supplys power and does the serial port == scorched circuit board all around.

The power circuit board interestingly has printed on it in a large font 'replace only with same type and ratings of fuse for continued protection against fire' - only there isnt a fuse on the board, or in the chasis anywhere that I could see (and there isnt much to it)

Powersupply seemed to be functioning ok (which is on the same board with the schorched chip). All voltages looked reasonable except for no volts on the 23v or 30v rails (dunno if theyre actually needed).

Capacitors all look fine.

The 'brain' board had some mild discolouration around the soldering on the one set of 3v and ground pins that supply its power, and on the soldering holding the rear shield on the back of its cpu. Took the top shield off to look at the cpu - its heatsink was a few mm's offset (obvious) other than that - nothing obvious.

Warmed up some joints incase they were dry.

The tuner is a LG one (has LG stamped on it).

Pronosis: Dead (and I cant be stuffed spending anymore time on it), some of its screws have been added to the collection as per tradition, the carcass is now on its way to the bin.

If anyone wants the remote control let me know, otherwise its headed for the bin

Cheers,
Bitey

I've also got a B420 but mine is still going, just! It has it's days when you have to unplug it or hit the top of it to get it to clear the weird coloured screen but it's still hanging in there.

My remote control has 2 buttons missing and the clip that keeps the battery flap closed has broken off so it's holding by tape for now but it still works.

My 420 die last week. Red and green lights. Maybe go! killed it. Nothing obviously wrong on the inside. Replaced it with a Strong 5023x SD pvr ready for $72 as it fits better with my setup and it's going with the TV to my inlaws when we decide on new flat panel (search for 5023 for my post). I reckon it has a better picture than the 420.