Have encountered a number of 420's in my daily schedule, and they are a considerable pain in the proverbial at times. Generating major RFI on ch2 (low freq channel and therefore prone to interference) Also for some obscure reason the stb is amplifying the incoming antenna signal by appx 7dbUv which is then fed to the RF out to the VCR/TV RF in. sometimes causing signal overload on some brands. This situation will also amplify any external interference received from cabling or antenna. Emailed TEAC support to ask why this is occurring... and apparently it isn't...so there. MY METER TELLS ME DIFFERENTLY. and I have confirmed this on at least a half doz of these boxes, but then what would I know?

Don't hold your breath with Teac. I purchased a DVB200 2 years ago and they never did get the software right. Instead of working on it till it was right they moved onto other models. For over 12 months now they have had some trial software version 1.29 which has never made it past trial stage. It continually locks up when changing to channel 10; I have emailed them but no-one seems to care. It looks like a commercial decision to release more set top boxes and make more money is more important to them than looking after the people who invested in their earlier set top boxes. I paid $560 for mine which was a good price back then and would like one day for it to work properly.

So anyway, good luck getting a straight answer as I haven't been able to.

It's interesting to see that the DVB300 seems to be the best Teac STB that was avalible.

The software works well, Teac released an update before the olympics to fix a bug with lower than 704x576 transmissions (eg. SBS EPG), PQ is excellent on S-Video (haven't tried component. Composite I will get to later), tuner is good and doesn't put RFI on any noticable frequency.

The Composite output is the only problem with it as it puts out white levels that are too high.

The teac 420 is a piece of rubbish, emits lots of RF noise destroying your analogue signal, s-video is mis-wired, sound gets distorted if you use SCART + composite connections simultaneously, and sound channels are reversed (easy to fix by swapping your audio cables around, but still unacceptable).

OVerall its a piece of rubbish, as is their 350 model.

When I buy a STB I dont want a piece of problematic crap that requires the user to wait on teac hoping they'll upgrade the software and fix problems, only to have them release more models.

As you can tell I'm quite bitter with teac. Now that I have my beautifully-crafted Toppy 4000 I cant help but look back on teac with scorn. They dont even deserve a capital t!

I disagree, I have no problems with my teac 420, the s-video is normal with the right cable. I'm yet to see any audio problems.

Some people are yet to realise that you need a proper outdoor DTV capable antenna to ensure that any brand stb to run reliably w/o lockups and freezes.

There are 2 versions of the DVB420.

H/W 1.00 has the S-Video Y signal on another pin. According to Teac this was done to provide an additional composite output. This caused some confusion and Teac provided free of charge cables and adaptors to original dvb420 owners.

H/W 1.01 has the S-Video Y signal on pin19 as per my ITVD500. I know this becuase my sister has this unit. Coincidently this unit has no RF interference problems.


I forwarded the forum message from Gollomdood to Teac directly. I received this reply.

- - - - -

Thanks Joseph for the information and I appreciate your concern. It is very difficult to follow all forums and emails with current work load. It is something we will certainly try our best to identify such a unit out in the field so we can therefore help customers that may experience this.

Very interesting Gollumdood. Have you had any noise issues with the TEAC ITV-D500?, because what you describe seems to be causing me no end of grief. When I have isolated the box as much as possible and have no extensions (using 8M S-VIDEO cable from receiver) I still get a very light scrolling diagonal noise pattern. When i change to a set of rabbit ears and finally get a stable picture the noise disappears but obviosly this is not acceptable as:


1. I have no reception stability.

2. STB has to be within 1M of CRT projector hanging off ceiling.

3. Have to run audio back 5M to receiver.

This might be related to the same issue i have when i plug the phone line in to the STB which creates a similar noise pattern but twice as bad.

Hi All,
I also have a DVB420 which, touch wood, currently seems to have none of the problems people have mentioned on this forum. Though I must admit to not having tried to see which pin has the SVideo on it as my TV doesn't have SVideo in, RGB and Composite works fine. I did have one problem when I first got it with the audio dissapearing occaisionally on changing channels, however after sending Teac a mail message they directed me to a firmware upgrade which has fixed even that. I note however that my box is HW version 1.01 and started off with SW version 1.02, and now has version 1.03.

To date from my experiences I am very happy with its, and Teac's performance.

Perhaps the problems people had previously are linked to the earlier (1.0) HW version, and this is something to look out for when buying one?

I am replying to my own post here because i believe i have found the culprit causing noise on my screen. POWER LINES.
I took the 500 to a friends place and simulated all conditions. PQ perfect.
Sorry TEAC . Lesson learnt : LOOK before you LEAP. Sometimes it takes me to write down the problem before I realise the obvious solution.

Remembered something about corona emissions from high tension (11,000V) powerlines.

My lounge is situated about 7M from the lines. I am at eye level with them and being on a corner block, have them on both sides. I rang an antenna installer who recognised the condition straight away. Being in an older suburb the power line's insulators have deteroiated over the years. This not only effects my RF reception but also my telephone line. I have rang the Power and Water authority who admit that it is a relativly common issue and that they are coming out to look at the lines tomorrow. . I will let you know when all the NOISE dies down. .

Despite what has been said, I had 2 of the units and both were utter rubbish (HW 1.01 SW 1.01).

perhaps if you had a proper antenna for DTV you may have not had all these problems!

The problems I mentioned are with the STBs hardware, I'll say them again:

1. emits lots of RF noise destroying your analogue signal
2. s-video is mis-wired
3. sound gets distorted if you use SCART + composite connections simultaneously
4. sound channels are reversed (easy to fix by swapping your audio cables around, but still unacceptable).

These have nothing to do with the antenna or reception, so please stop blaming the STBs faults on me for using an indoors antenna (as many other people have).

I had a Teac 420. Here are my experiences with it:

1. Poor picture quality - looked like the gamma was set too high and couldn't be changed.
2. Locked up frequently, needing to be turned off at the wall.
3. Very susceptible to electrical interference from light switches, etc
4. Randomly dropped channels from list
5. Awful squeaks and scratches when changing channels.
6. Never kept the time properly.
7. Ran extremely hot.
8. Sound and picture quality degraded on both outlets if scart and AV were connected simultaneously (eg one to TV, one to video).
9. After 2 months use, the unit developed the "screen-tearing" fault, making it unwatchable, so I took it back.

This was my introduction to DTV, and I was less than impressed. I have read many posts here about problems with nearly every brand of STB, and while most of the people in this NG might be classed as enthusiasts, the general public don't want to be mucked around like that!

Average people won't go over to digital TV unless it is as simple and trouble-free as analogue. That means stability, ease of setup, no lockups, no software upgrades by computer, no annoying screens that take up half the picture every time you change channels, the ability to customise channel numbering and sequence, and user-friendly multi-TV remotes like all VCRs have.

Whoever can produces such an STB will be on a winner.

Keith.

Amen to that! You've said everything I believe in when it comes to DTV. Took me 9 STB's and 3 months to find the right one for me, and naturally I doubted the whole system during the ordeal. All I can say about it now is recommend people try the STB I have now - the Topfield TF4000T of course

What STB do you have now?

Well, I swapped the Teac for a Panasonic, and, even though this box has had its fair share of criticism on this NG, I must say that I am reasonably happy with it.

Best points are:
1. Neat and compact, with an external power supply (reduces heat)
2. Superb picture quality (much better than Teac).
3. Reliable - never had a single lockup or interference from outside sources.
4. No scratching/chirping when channel changing.
5. Remote integrates well with my Panasonic TV.
6. Seems to have a good build quality - made in UK.
7. Simple to set up and use.

Worst points are:
1. No manual tuning.
2. Favourites system from Hell!
3. Limited feature set.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this box to anyone unless they had a Panasonic TV, no reception issues and no interest in tinkering. On the other hand, I think the simplistic approach of this box is appealing to the general public, who just want to turn on and watch DTV without hassles. It just needs some refinement and a better feature set.

Keith

I have had similar problems with a DVB420. Normal Ch 2 & partial CH7 are affected . I have 2 TV's in different parts of the house that show the same problems as you describe.

In fact the Set Top Box throws a signal into the antenna line affecting normal viewing on the other TV on the other side of the house.

At this stage TEAC say that they cannot simulate this problem.

I can fix it by returning the unit.

What can I say?

200809100417:42:50

Hello Folks. I purchased a TEAC DV-B420 during March of 2005 after getting really bad interference with analogue while recording using a DSE DVD recorder.

My initial setup involved the use of the SCART connection from the TEAC to my DSE DVD recorder. Edt 18:30:10 Soon after I got a switchbox, and with the use of a RF-Modulator was able to have various inputs to the television screen using it – including two A/V outputs from the TEAC (the composite as well as SCART) so it wouldn’t necessitate having to have my DVD recorder switched on to view the AV output from it.

Some time after, I hooked up the composite A/V to the A/V input of my VCR – after I’d bought a second STB (A DSE G1959).

*18:31:48. And another of the (various) arrangements involving multiple switchboxes and RCA splitters, was to have the DSE G1959 and the TEAC DV-B240 both connected to s-Video & SCART inputs respectively, so I would be able to choose between the two – having the TEAC setup most of the time as 4:3 P&S while having the other left on 4:3 Letterbox (as some programmes I regularly recorded were the 4:3 P&S). *18:35:14

A few months in, and I was having some hassles with the TEAC, notwithstanding I’d also bought a DSE STB. So I got it replaced under warranty.

By January of 2006, I’d paid the balance on a Topfield PVR, but still had the backup of the two STBs.

17:50:47 18:25:45. 18:25:47. I’d since taken both of those to my parents’ place so they have use of those with their media over there.

The DSE G1959 has always been the preferable unit, having better reception, however the TEAC has been useful from the point of view of being able to watch (and/or) record a separate programme to another that is being watched/recorded (on a separate digital free-to-air station).

Anyway, the TEAC DV-B420, as from few months ago, is not working – it won’t go out of standby, and when connected to power, both the red and the green light of the display are on. edt 19:19:04

Does anyone know of a hardware/software fix for this, please?

Melbourne GMT+10 200809100418:29:11, 18:35:45, 18:51:31, 19:17:20, 19:19:11

Have you tried disconnecting the teac from the power point for a minute and then re-connecting?

Holy crap this thread is old.

Same thing just happened to mine. I really like the EPG and programe information that is displayed, much better than the Strong I just bought.