Hi All as a newby just wanted to share my experiences,

Firstly im not a techie just like to watch/ record with nice picture and sound.

Some months ago I bought the TEAC PVR 100T from JB HI FI at kedron in Brisbane for $599 and found it easy to install record etc, Teac released an upgraded firmare a while ago and i was able to upgrade the firmware in a matter of minutes painlessly. All channels found perfectly by the way. Im in Kelvin Grove in Brisbane

We gave this box to my Father recently so was time to go shopping last week. Found a DGtec 80GB standard definition box for $599 from a retailer. Get box home plug in set up channels not able to pick up at all Channel 7 or SBS, I start to ponder whats going on given that the TEAC picked up all channels.

Start to get irritated think this does not add up so pack box up back to retailer. Retailer says" we have a lot of people coming back saying the same thing, i.e not picking up all channels, we can tune it in and it might get them when you go back home and plug it in" I will leave you to draw your own conclusion.

By this stage I had decided money back please, and off I head home and on the spur of the moment drop in to JBC HI FI at Kedron on Brisbane northside. Wander around and spot the TEAC PVR 160T at $649. i thought ok will ask. Sales guy said its only Just come in and he would see what he could do price wise, came back and saiod will give it to you at $599 i.e price of the Teac PVR 100t.

I walked out with a 160GB unit for the price of the 120GB.

Get home unpack box plug in scan channels 2 minutes later all picked up including 7 and SBS and digital radio.

I plugged in the optical audio out to my LG home theatre system, im getting great audio on all channels and stunning picture.

I have found for me the TEAC is a great unit and recommended, its easy to record, lock regular programs in and delete stuff offthe Hard drive. The 160GB has MP3 capability as well.

hope this helps

Regards

John in Brisbane

I am considering buying this TEAC box to match my Sony KVHR32. Have you tried the TEAC over the component connection? Does the TEAC have EPG, have not be able to find much info on it

many thanks,
Michaelk

John,

I think that you've found out what a lot of people discover when buying a DGTEC, that they are complete rubbish! If you have an extremely good signal they might work for you, but the drop out rate that I got when I bought mine was just dreadful.

Cheers

Zed

There isn't any real EPG in Australia currently, so the Teac will have Now and Next info, and the video EPGs that you can't actually use to record stuff. The Topfiled 5000PVRT range seems to be the only ones that have a useable EPG, because the Toppy user community have developed this as an application for it. The only "legal" EPG you can use for programming is from IceTV.

Cheers

Zed

thanks for the info! Yep, from reading the forum over the past few months the Toppys seem just about to have it all. For me though the problem with a colour shift via component rules it out (and ofcourse the extra dollars).

Michaelk

We'll dollars you can't argue with. But the component 'issue' seems a silly reason not to buy. The s-video connection is 95%+ equal PQ and several believe actually better (due to it being a bit softer on the eyes). If component is critical then get the adapter ($140) but of cource that brings us back to sentance one.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Peter
Do you mean that the adapter will solve the colour shift problem with the Toppy outputing via component? What adapter is it?

From reading your other posts in the forum it sounds like you have a CRT TV. What inputs do you use on your telly for the Toppy?

thanks for the advice, I'm a newbie with all this digital & A/v stuff, having finally upgraded my Hi-Fi equipment after 15 years!

Michaelk

PS now you've got me reconsidering the Toppy, wonder what the price will be like in the January sales

The adapter he is talking about is a RGB to YUV (component) converter. The toppy outputs RGB correctly so this converter will give a good component picture. Apparently this conversion can be done virtually without loss in PQ.

Yep it solves the colour issue. and yep I have a 76cm HD CRT (Rank Arena). Since I'm using the Toppy I don't use the HD side of it yet. So its got a bunch of component, a composite, a SVideo and RF of course. I use the the adapter mentioned below for RGB over component. But as I said SVideo is 95%+ there anyway. If you get the adaptor you can try it out for yourself.

PS - If you don't watch many DVDs or your TV allows you to adjust the colour settings on individual inputs then you can usualyl adjust the TV to to compensate for the saturation from the Toppy over component. Just an option.

The adapter is here. The (14 day no questions return policy) only issue is the cost:

http://australiandigitaltv.com/accessories/rgbcomp.htm

Read the recent HUMAX thread for comments on there new PVR as we'll as some info on a sub $700 Toppy coming to stores around the end of month.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

[quote=pgdownload,Nov 10 2005, 08:15 AM]
Yep it solves the colour issue. and yep I have a 76cm HD CRT (Rank Arena). Since I'm using the Toppy I don't use the HD side of it yet. So its got a bunch of component, a composite, a SVideo and RF of course. I use the the adapter mentioned below for RGB over component. But as I said SVideo is 95%+ there anyway. If you get the adaptor you can try it out for yourself.

PS - If you don't watch many DVDs or your TV allows you to adjust the colour settings on individual inputs then you can usualyl adjust the TV to to compensate for the saturation from the Toppy over component. Just an option.

The adapter is here. The (14 day no questions return policy) only issue is the cost:

http://australiandigitaltv.com/accessories/rgbcomp.htm

Read the recent HUMAX thread for comments on there new PVR as we'll as some info on a sub $700 Toppy coming to stores around the end of month.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

thanks for all the info, read yor post about the sub $700 Toppy, sound like the one for me. Hoping the price will fall in the January sales

cheers
Michael

hi Michael

i am using the component output to a new LG 68CM TV it gives a really nice picture result

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hi Joggle

thanks for the info. Saw the TEAC today for $610, very tempting, think i'll hold off till the postXmas sales to see what's around.

BTW how do you find the remote, does it have a change aspect ratio button?

cheers

hi Michael

there is a button onthe remote fore changing the aspect ratio displays on screen, select what u want then press OK all done

regards

John in brisbane

As far as I am aware all new Topfields output YUV correctly from FTA material. The only possible problem with YUV on some displays is when using the pass-through with other sources.

hornblower

hi hormblower
good to know, though choice of a PVR unit is going to come down to the availability of the almighty $.

Earlier this year I replaced my ancient HiFi gear with a yammy AV reciever & a decent set of surrounds (Tannoy EFX 5.1) - was blown away by the results so decided to upgrade the telly. By chance picked up a Sony KVHR32 which lead me to wanting to find out more about this HDTV stuff.

Quickly found out there IS a huge ammount info to understand (or try) and thankful for the DBA forums which have been such a great help.

So I'm going to take Peter G advice, good HD CRT and decent SD PVR and that will see me thru the next few years (maybe upgrade the DVD player) while a lot of issues/technology for HD is sorted out

Woud love a Toppy but with the added expense of the adaptor, the TEAC will do. (original budget is totally blown)

Still, you never know maybe the new sub $700 Toppy will have a component input and make a lot of people very happy!

cheers
Michael

hi Jonh

so overall your happy with this unit. Is inital setting up & recording/playback straight forward?

any problems?

thanks
Michael

Hi Michael for me took about 10 mins from unpacking plugging in and setting up channels to perfect picture.

For me it works i find it easy to handle

the web site for it is http://stb.teac.com.au

you can get useful info and download a pdf users manual

hope this helps

regards

John