My thoughts too. Have to wait until wife watches 2 eps of Prison Break. Thanks.

I did the lot after updating to the latest firmware, reset to factory and format hard drive, as this firmware was suppose to fix the Western Digital HDD and their old HDD format could have been the WD problem. So far, so good, knock on wood

I am loving the DS6200's resume play. My old Stong PVR reset recorded files to the beginning, when I put in into standby and you had to FF to where you were watching, as their was no support for time skipping.

BTW in the manual it says something about supporting Trick mode. What is Trick mode?

Was wondering that myself. Have asked sales staff about this feature on Toppies - but they didn't know.
Searching Topics I found it is simply:
The type of navigation (Fast-forward, Rewind, Pause, Jump, Forward Skip and Reverse Skip, chase play) when used while recording. The recording to which a Trick Mode is applied is not effected in any way.

Yes there is a great wiki on PVR that deals with 'trick' mode quite well , check out :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_video_recorder

Also a neat feature I have found is that you can create directories on the PVR using the USB file transfer software and
put your favorite programs/movies in there. The PVR recognises them as valid and you can easily navigate to and from
the directories. There doesn't seem to be any way of creating them stand alone on the PVR though.

Thanks for the info guys. Great stuff.

Just as a heads up, the commercial stations have finally seen the light and and activated the EPG guide. As of 19/11/07, Nine and Ten are streaming it, and Seven will be by Jan 2008. There's a news release here:
http://www.freetv.com.au/Content_Common/pg...ia-Releases.seo

A quick check on the PVR shows that all stations are transmitting it to a some degree, including the ABC stations and SBS. At this early stage Ten and ABC seem to have it most together, but I'm sure things will progress.

This is great news for PVR users.

Does any firmware version record subtitles?

I notice that the latest firmware only records ch 7 subtitles.

Good news about the commercial stations finally doing something about the EPG, but i believe this pvr cannot display a 7 day guide - or if so, it's buried as a menu item somewhere i cannot find. If it does exist, just 10 timers is NOWHERE near enough. Try 30 timers as a minimum. Would it be possible to hack a firmware to get that extra functionality?

The EPG scrolls left and right. Just checked, mine goes back to Thursday 8th of November and forward to Tuesday 27th of November.

Yes, what a laborious way to look through an EPG. Next to useless.

Well I've tried 3 of these pvr's now and have decided to take the latest one back and probably invest in a topfield. My experiences:

1. Had the freeze problem, didn't know about the hdd issue. Returned
2. Had the freeze problem, upgraded the firmware and problem solved. However this one had a bit of what looked like 50hz hum causing interference, a bit of banding, and a grainy appearance to the picture. Very slight but just enough to annoy me and spoil things. Returned.
3. Third time was lucky enough to get one with the Seagate drive, so no freeze problem, but still had the slight visual interference. Had I not previously been using a digital tuner, I probably wouldn't have noticed as the quality is still better than analogue, however I have grown accustomed to better. I tried it in different tv's, rooms, even opened it up and tried shielding the HDD and power supply, but couldn't get rid of it.

My old Wintal PVR X10 has been much loved, and it provides a clearer picture, and no interference whatsoever. I tried to live with the DSE model, and while I generally think it has some great features, the problems I've had are just too much for me. So in summary:

The Pros: Cheap, great GUI, dual record + play previously recording, renaming of files, downloading files via USB.
The Cons: Image quality/interference (in the ones I tried anyway), HDD doesn't power down when not recording/playing, bit noisier than my Wintal, Info page is limited, Having to press Exit all the time, get's a bit annoying. Inability to trim or split recordings.

Not griping, just sharing my experiences so other's can make an informed choice.

AmazingJas, what sort of setup do you have for connection between your antenna and a/v gear? I used quad shield coax with crimped F-type connectors all the way (including flyleads) with a 3 way splitter and never had any interference issues whatsoever. My analogue vcr/tv picks up all stations crystal clear, but the analoge tuner card in my pc is slightly grainy on 4 of 6 channels (getting a bit long in the tooth and i have to get a digital card).

You say the Wintal box doesn't get interference and you've tried shielding the HDD & power supply, but it sounds dodgy that you had a 2nd DSE pvr with the same problem. Could be the antenna signal may be getting near the "digital cliff" and the Wintal tuner might just be superior and copes better with it...

BTW, i have about 150m of quad shield coax left - any takers?

Also:
- Resume playback from last position
- Preview playback
- Simple back/forward skipping
- PVR itself is well built
- Easy setup/install
- Excellent blackout recovery
- EPG shows which programs have timers set



Also:
- Only 10 timers allowed
- Having to sort the file list every time
- Having to press exit all the time
- Childish GUI
- Cheap remote
- Ugly front fascia
- No component out (only RGB, S-Video & CVBS)
- Doesn't remember the last used channel in each favorite group
- Doesn't return to the previously used favorite group, or channel, when returning from Radio mode
- Unable to name timers
- Many recordings end up with the channel name instead of the program's title
- EPG changes channel as you scroll between channels to see what's on (many PVRs do this)
- Needing to confirm everything you set or change - except for deleting a timer (which can be done accidentally if the red button is pressed)
- Having to press exit all the time
- Having to enable subtitles in the menu each time you want to turn them on
- It doesn't record subtitles (except for ch7)
- Having to enter a PIN all the time
- Did I mention having to press exit all the time?
- What about having to sort the file list every time?


Overall, IMHO, it's a very nice budget twin tuner PVR that has a number of annoying quirks that anyone who's never owned a better PVR may not even notice.
-

RE: Image quality/interference.
I have not had a problem with this PVR with interference. It is on par with my old Strong single tuner PVR for image quality. I use quad shield coax and a Kingray splitter/amp.

I think the tuners are more sensitive than the Strong. I get occasional drop outs with the Strong on SBS. The Strong has a 60% signal strength on SBS, while other channels are 70%. With the DSE PVR all channels are 99%, except for SBS which is 93% and no drop outs on SBS.

[quote name='One-zero-one' date='Nov 9 2007, 01:34 PM' post='835508']
Crikey, Aldi has a $179 PVR special: twin tuner, 250GB, etc. What next...

I just returned my ALDI. (Tevion 250Gb.) and got one of the last DSE 6200 in Canberra.
DSE Much easier to use, better remote, actually works, can playback while recording, etc, etc.

I opened the box and no manual.
Can't find one on the internet or through all 34 pages of this posting.
Any one have a scanned version?

I guess you missed my post #474.

Something weird has started happening with my unit.

All EPG times are an hour out (an hour behind)

Yes, I have the correct time set on the unit clock.

Hmm, very strange ..

I read that one and downloaded that manual and all the others on that website.
The buttons look different, but if I look closely most are similar to the DSe one. I hope.

Thanks.

I'll ring support and maybe they can send me a real one.

Had the same issue. Along with the clock setting there's the time offset - this sets the difference between GMT and the local time, and directly effects the EPG. It's probably set for something like +10 (for the EST GMT offset) but it needs to change to +11 to compensate for daylight savings, if it applies in your state.

Think I have this correct, but anyway, you can just adjust the offset either way until the EPG times are correct.

Would anyone be able to offer advice what the PQ of this box is like when hooked up to a reasonable size plasma/lcd?

I am thinking about taking the plunge on panasonic plasma 42PX7A (1024x768) and would like to hear from others on how this box looks on the bigger screens?

I currently have the 6200 hooked up to panasonic crt and am very happy with the PQ as it stands. I am aware that the best connection that could be achieved is svideo direct into tv or alternatively my yamaha receiver will upconvert from svideo to component if that would make any difference?

I bought a unit last week and am still playing around with it. Unfortunately, each time I play a recording, it keeps repeating the show i.e. where it should have stopped at the end of the recording, it starts from the beginning again.

Anyone with the same problem or am I doing something wrong?

I'm connecting to a Sharp LCD 37" 1366 x 768. PQ is great! Colours are sharp(!) and accurate.

I am using a Scart to CMY adapter though, well worth the $100 odd dollars it cost me imho.

The TV is "HD" with HD tuner (although not true HD resolution). I struggle to tell the difference in quality between the quality from the PVR and the quality from a HD channel (Via TV) - there certainly seems to be no difference between the PVR tuner and the TV digital tuner when viewing SD.

I dare say a true HD TV would show a bit of difference (When comparing TV HD Versus PVR SD) .

I think your choice of resolution for your TV is too low btw.

That's standard. it's a bit confusing isn't it.

Takes a while to get used to.

Thanks Beej. I will have to get used to that.
The unit is great otherwise.

I could not view half the pages with pdfreader 7.
Then found Foxit pdf reader; 100 times faster & more compatible. http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader_2/down_reader.htm

Cool.

Thanks for that, acrobat is nothing but bloatware and pdfreader is not much better IMO. BTW eventhough the T8000 manual is not exactly the same, for the most part, it’s all most astute users would need. As you correctly point out the main difference being the button positions of the remote, however the button symbols are almost all the same.

Thanks Beej, makes me feel more at ease.

Scart RGB is the best. I have tried mine via a hantrex Scart-RGB>Component convertor as my TV has no scart inputs and it looks great. In fact, surprisingly, the 6200's S-Video looks great too - but my LCD is only 80cm.

If your yamaha receiver supports input via RGB over component you could use any old scart>component cable.

I finally fully scanned my DS6200PVR manual and place it on my page for download

Nice one Techo!

I have read the manual kindly posted by techo and I have a question on this DSE unit. I am looking to replace FoxTelIQ with something more economical. IQ ease of use is great but as I'm watching > 90% FTA (mostly abc/sbs) its just too darned expensive. My TV takes RGB over scart. I'm considering grabbing one of these runout DSE's, but does it display weekly EPG info for those stations broadcasting it and can it record directly from the EPG? (like IQ, which lets you press "R" (record) on its EPG and the program will be automatically recorded -- its fantastic for ease of use). If answer for the DSE is yes, does that then take up a timer slot or not? If it does, then surely 10 timer limit is woefully inadequate?

Also, does this unit show "programme search" info like IQ (all programmes for the week by genre, another great ease of use feature).

In brief, can anyone recommend a PVR with ease of use and reliability to match FoxtelIQ for FTA standard def viewing?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Cheers,
ess.

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Many thanks for that techo. With 24 programs waiting to be recorded on the foxtelIQ, looks like the 10 timer limit is the showstopper for me on this model. Too bad. Under $200 is great value. The Avion/Mediastar at about $400 might be the go. Much and all as I hate to admit it, from reading manuals and commentary of these other PVRs, the IQ is incredibly good from an ease of use perspective. What a pity about the shite programming (I mean how on earth do they justify screening The Sopranoes in 4:3!!), the ads, the poor PQ (relative to normal DTV) and the cost. Still, from a usage point of view, its proving to be VERY hard to replace -- I've been spoiled by its ease of use and its high quality remote. I'm sooooo looking forward to cancelling my Foxtel subscription if I can just find a true 2.0 PVR that works as smoothly as the IQ. Anyone have any nominations?

Probably worth checking the Topfield range. They are arguably the yardstick for PVRs and prices have dropped significantly in recent times as the local distribution ungoes a difficult rebirth.

Yep, only 10 timers is very limiting. Though for the market it was aimed at 10 timers is probably enough. The majority of 6200 owners seem to be retired people who mainly watch the ABC and even then only a few shows each week.

But for this demographic the 6200 has another issue: Recording Subtitles. IIRC it only records ch7 subtitles.

Is that so? Looks like an early trip to the retirement village for me then. Seriously Dave, what an absolutely ridiculous remark. Have you done a survey of DS6200 users? On what basis do you make that statement?

Gee, I must have missed the survey.

Inside knowledge of all of the support phone calls and emails from 6200 owners over the last 7 months.

You can't base anything on the handful of people who post here. Though by polls run on the toppy and beyonwiz forums the average age of PVR owners tends to be in the 40-50 age bracket (at least of the people who post in forums and answer polls).

It makes sense that older people would often buy this budget model rather than pay top-dollar for some brand they'd never heard of.

Note: I never said that ALL 6200 owners were retirees - just the majority.

Only 30 years to go for me then - and the retirement age will probably go up to 70...

Sorry? I didn't quite hear that. Can you speak up a bit?

Couldn't this be attributed to the older folk being more likely to need support? A bit of a skewed sample, perhaps.

Sure. It could for those who wanted to know why subtitles couldn't be recorded. But most 6200 support calls related to the playback freezing.

Hokay,

Quickly update here.

Installed Seagate 320GB drive. All seemed fine but.....................

Lately been having locking issues ( firmware 1042A ). Disk is now up around the 117GB full mark.

I've just gone back to 1040A.

Will let you know the outcome.

Zoonie, just out of interest was this the CE version of the seagate drive or standard version? Interested to see
outcome with 1040A.

I installed a Western Digital 2500AVJB 250GB. Nice drive. The humm of the original 160GB WD drive is now gone, this 250GB drive is very quiet. It has lower power consumption and more cache.

160GB original - 12volts .90 amp - cache memory 2MB
250GB AV - 12volts .65 amp - cache memory 8MB

http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/23279/

It's a ST3320620A so not CE just standard. I've only "downgraded" the software for about a week now, but so far things actually look good. Haven't had any lockups or anything.

I'll do some testing with record/play, record/record. These seemed to be the things that mucked it up , when there were two "hard drive" sessions going. When recording two channels and chaseplaying on one, I got a freeze, but if I pressed a series of buttons then eventually it would unfreeze and perform the functions. I'm talking about like 5 minutes......... weird.


More info as it comes to hand.............................

The link for the WD AV drive on the scorptec site lists the "loudness" of the drive in sone, which is a subjective measurement of which 1 sone approximately = 40 phon at any frequency. At 4kHz, 1 sone is about 32 dB.
I would imagine that the WD drive would be somewhere in the low 20's dB range.

Just saw a review in one the pc mags the other month that tested the SPL's of some non CE drives for use
in a PC and they were all sitting around the 22 - 27 dB range, with the Seagate drives being the quietest.
Would have been nice if they'd done a roundup of CE drives too, to compare the cost/amperage/loudness tho.
Less current hopefully = less heat output which is good for this pvr as it does get quite warm.

I've always been led to believe that the CE drives are supposed to have less cache than their pc equivilents
as it interferes with the proper recording from the AV gear. Someone correct me if i'm wrong...

Can anyone tell me if there is another way to download the remote codes from the Harmony site for this unit? I have the Harmony 525, and picked up one of these PVR's on Sat, but it has no remote (they are getting one in for me). I've set it up as the DSE G2083 which gave me 99% of the functionality through the Harmony, but it didn't contain the "A-B", "Bookmark", "Jump", and "Instant play" buttons available. I've tried loading the Homecast PVR8000 remote but with no luck.

Thanks

I didn't manage to download them, so used learning function and set it up that way, was pretty quick & straight forward.