Coles TS-2080 MTV branded DVD recorder from Mizuda in 13/2/06 Brochure:
80 Gig HDD
Twin tuners (yeah, right) with Dual format + and - recording.
5.1 Audio
Full remote blah blah
Time shift
Component in (both RGB and YUV, also DV, Svideo etc) in

$349

Manual is available here: http://www.mizuda.com.cn/download.asp

Looks like a buy if any good at all. Interface looks not too awful.

Damien

Sounds like a good price and I heard Coles Warriewood only has 9 to sell.

Assuming the manual in the link is the correct one then it looks like this player uses a Zoran chipset, not the best out there but a reasonable performer.

The manual does not mention component video input either. I might get one and try it out as it would be a useful alternative to a Foxtel IQ.

Maybe component video in isn't active,because if you look carefully at the manual document it actualy shows the three as inputs,but dosn't make reference or number label it.

Those are the actual specs from the Coles brochure. If it's Coles, you know it is no hassles returns, so maybe worth a try. But...MTV as a brand -- I'd prefer a Mizuda branded player.

Cheers,

Damien

Exactly what I was thinking, it makes it really easy to return if it doesn't have component in or 2 tuners.

I just checked my local Coles and they have 6 to sell. They wouldn't give me one today so it looks like I'm up early tomorrow to get there at opening time.

Sounds like they are trying to copy and compete with ALDI.

.....If you cant beat them join them

Things are becoming more disturbing as I read through the manual:

No mention of component in (although it is pictured but not labeled)

No mention of being -R/W compatible (although the advert does)

No mention of twin tuners (although the advert does)

Also found another link to the Mizuda version: http://mizuda.manufacturer.globalsources.c...-GetProduct.htm

I wouldn't take what's in the manual as being 100% applicable, just because they may be the manufacturer does not mean that the Coles version is the same specification, the factory will supply in any configuration that the customer requests

Apologies to MTV, Coles, etc - It does state on page 26 under input sources: YUV: YPbPr/YCbCr (on the rear panel)

Well I got one and so far so good.

Yesterday I checked with my local Coles and they told me they had 6 units to sell. I turned up there at opening (6am) only to be told "I don't know where they are, come back at 7". I insisted he find them so off he goes and comes back 5 minutes later "Can't find them". I get him to take another look and 10 minutes later comes back with 3 units - all they had???

I got it home, unpacked it - everything was there. Did a basic hook up hit the remotes on button - nothing. Try it several times from different angles and distances - nothing. Replaced the supplied batteries and it worked.

This is what I found before heading to work.

The download manual above is quite different to the one supplied.

I scanned in the channels - it has a "single" analog tuner. Picture quality was acceptable with the tuner.

Set a timer record to HDD - worked fine. Note that clock does not have a battery backup.

Was all region from box.

Records to both + and - media and (according to the manual) DVD+R DL. Also would continue to record on a partially filled +R from my Kross DVD recorder.

It has a SP+ record mode of 2.5 hrs in addtion to the 1, 2, 4 & 6 hr modes.

Chapter breaks could be set to 5, 10, 20 & 30 minutes.

Records YUV to HDD.

Slight fan & HDD noise whilst operating - a little louder than a Toppy 5000PVR.

From what I could gather it only has one input on the back? Is that right?

And the front is composite only?

Hmmm still tempting at that price. I only want something basic for occasional use so this would probably do the job...

What's the ad edditing like? Can you accuarately find the edit points?

Thanks

Rob

It has 3 video inputs (cvbs, svhs, yuv) on the back but only 1 audio input so yes, it effectively has only one input.

Front input has both composite and s-video.

I didn't have a chance to edit a HDD recording but the manual lists edit functions of delete, split and segment. Unfortunately the manual does not specify what segment does.

Thanks for the info. Second s-video input on the front will do I guess.

Will go have a look at this thing tonight if there are any at my coles!

Thanks again

Robert

I'd like to check out the manual but I can only see it as an .rar file and I don't think I can read that. Is there a .pdf version?

rar is similar to zip, there will be something else inside that file, most likely a pdf, download a copy of winrar to view the file within

If you buy one keep your receipt, it says in add "Twin Tuner" it doesnt have it, have a play if it doesn't work to well you can take it back in a months time. As it does not deliver what was advertised ie Twin Tune then they have to refund.

You could change HDD to 250 Gb

I just tried it out, the "segment" option allows you to remove a selected area from the HDD recording. You just select the starting and finishing points for 1 or more sections of the recording then stop the playback. This does not delete these sections, the unit just ignores them during normal playback and file transfer. The cut is noticeable in that the image pauses for a second at the beginning of the cut.

It took about 10 minutes to transfer a 50 minute recording to a +RW. I don't know if disc speed will influence the transfer time. Also I did manage to lock the unit up during a transfer that required disconnecting the power. It did not seem to affect the disc or the HDD recording.

The manual supplied is substantially different to that available for download, so much so I would say that it isn't worthwhile downloading.

I also noticed in the manual that it can record dual layer DVDs! I think this officially makes it a bargin.

Picked one up this arvo. Played with it only a bit so far. Set up a timer recording and now it displays the timer record icon in the bottom the whole time!

Other than that seems ok. Good picture from the DVD player. Haven't got anything hooked up through the component in yet. S-video recording looked good.

Just need to get that timer icon off the damn screen!

Rob

I picked one up last night and tried it out. The fan is pretty noisy (too much so for the missus ). Is that normal for a hdd recorder or are there quieter ones out there? I also had trouble trying to work out how to wire it up with my foxtel and surround sound -- but that is a whole other issue!

Got my Foxtel hooked up fine, just using s-video and it looks good enough, for foxtel anyway

I had my Air con blasting so couldn't hear it. Might investigate that.

Oh and it didn't say anywhere on the box that it has two tuners! Actually I couldn't find it mention that it even had a tuner

Where did it say it had twin tuner?

Rob

It said so in the Coles brochure. Of course, I didn't believe it for a sec. Maybe they meant 1 tuner for DVD + and 1 tuner for DVD -

Damien

On the add in the cloes catalogue it was advertised as having 2 tuners. I believe though it only has one and can someone confirm that it is infact an analog tuner and not a digital tuner anyway?

Just by pure chance does it play any divx files? Im sure it wont but thought i would ask. I would love to get rid of my existing gear and replace it with one unit.

Thanks.

Which would mean what exactly???

That whoever wrote the brochure heard a buzzword, and didn't know what it meant. The twin tuner thing was written as "Twin tuner. Supports DVD+ and DVD-."

Damien

Looks like it would make an excellent replacement for the old VCR.

Has anyone succesfully archived a program from a PVR hard drive to a DVD yet?

And, with the audio input - is it 5.1 digital or just stereo?

Also, on the box is says that it's progressive scan - is this just for NTSC or PAL as well?

Already done on the previous page - a single analog tuner. I noticed that the tuner has 2 scan options 'air' and 'cable' - perhaps this has confused the ad men?

As stated previously the manual states that it can record to DVD-R DL dual layer discs but I have yet to confirm this (I don't have any of these).

Mungo Brush asked: "And, with the audio input - is it 5.1 digital or just stereo?" - answer: stereo (I don't think there are any DVD recorders that input 5.1 digital).

Just one more thing ..... (sorry about this)

I haven't watched analogue TV for a few years now.

Is it all still in 4:3?

If so, then using the inbuilt analogue tuner to record programs will be in 4:3?

So if you want to record widescreen programs - you will need a digital feed?

Saw these in Coles on Sunday, now I know why I couldnt find the price they'd put it out in advance of the catalogue lol

So if it only has an analogue tuner, I'm guessing no recording in widescreen, 1080i or even 576p?

What about if we hook it up via the component inputs ... more mucking around obviously and no timer record, but does it then allow recording?

Still sounds like too much hassle if it doesnt at least have a digital tuner built in.

It's the same as every other DVD recorder in our market in that respect, they all have analogue tuners.

No DVD recorder on the market has an inbuilt digital tuner.

With this unit, you can timer record onto a blank disc or the harddrive from any of the AV inputs as well as the tuner. I currently have it setup as a cheap Foxtel IQ (that I own). I have Foxtel running into it via component video cables (YUV for best quality) and have had 3 timer records onto the HDD last night. If I wish to archive to disc, I can edit the recordings (remove ads, etc) and transfer the file to DVD. Quite simple really.

Anyone have the 1300 number handy that's on the front of the manual?

I want to call them about Timer icon always being displayed when a timer is set to record at some stage...

thanks

Rob

Do you find the fan noisy? It's the first HDD recorder that I have bought and it seems pretty noisy to me -- louder than the PS2 as a DVD player (which was too much for the better half!). Is this pretty much standard or should I be hunting for a quieter model?

Its my first experience with a HDD recorder as well. I am going to put up with it because I will upgrade the HDD in 12 mths time and probably replace the fan as well. When you consider how much cheaper this is to brandname products (that don't have component input), it is quite a good product.

As for the AV icon, I noticed this as well but as I tend to use a Pioneer DVD player for viewing DVDs it isn't an issue. I will be using this for timeshifting Foxtel and archiving programs to disc.

I don't think that this is true ...

I've just been to HN and all the HD-DVD recorders must have had inbuilt (analogue) tuners, as they all support G-Code programming

And they all have ariel inputs.

I think if you read on through his post he acknowledged that they have tuners, I think he meant none have built in digital tuners

Yes. I think you're right.

What we really need is a PVR with a DVD burner.

If it were only that simple, it actually needs to be a DVD recorder with a digital tuner, adding a DVD burner to a PVR may allow you to archive data, but it is only data, there is no conversion to make it compatible to other DVD players, it still needs to be encoded first, file size would be another issue if it was just archiving transport streams.

Sorry guys - I have corrected the post.

I have also been wondering how an entirely digital signal (over one hour in length) could be made to fit onto a DVD without some additional conversion/compression process taking place.

DTV is compressed. It uses MPEG2.

With bitrates we get here in Oz we can fit about 90min on a DVD without re-compressing the video from the original DTV stream.

Rob

It will allow you to record from TV to the Hard Drive while you watch a DVD.

Thats not bad

The fan on my unit does not seem to make a lot of noise.

The Customer Helpline No is 1300 727 597 not the number on the manual. They do not know how to remove the timer icon either.

Bugger. I may ring anyway. Let them know it's not popular and maybe it can be removed in a firmware revision should there be one...

Thanks

Robert

It does play DIVX. I tried it tonight. No problems.

I have a question about the noisey fan too. Is it normal for a HDD recorder to be so noisey or is it just this model?

Thanks.

Most are very quiet

I just had a play with the USB port. It played an MP3 and an AVI video clip but would not play an mpeg video clip. I also connected it to a Topfield and Foxtel box via USB but as expected, neither were recognised.

Earlier today I edited a HDD recording I made this morning down to 20 min. (removing commercials and the excess at each end) then dumped it to DVD - the whole process took around 5 minutes.

Data throughput is not sufficient to play mpegs via USB, Foxtel USB is inactive and the Toppy USB is for data transfer which would do you no good anyway, no point transfering a transport stream to DVD or HDD, it wouldn't play anyway.

What would happen if you recorded a 2 hr movie with a digital tuner DVD/HDD recorder (so the whole thing remains in the digital domain). Could the files compression be altered to fit it onto a 4.7g DVD without converting it back to analog?



I know the limitations of the Foxtel and Toppy USB but I just wanted to make sure. With the regular firmware updates Foxtel have, whos to say that one day the USB port might actually be of use?

I was wrong about the fan being quiet.

When all is quiet with no background noise the fan is loud/noisy

Not uncommon for similar small fans used in printers and network hubs.


BigJohn

Can you provide any more info ie will it play packed bitstream no problem? Have you tried any Xvid files? Many thanks for the info.