I just purchased a Centrex CTPVR1602TT PVR for $99 from the local Harvey Norman and managed to get it up and running OK, although the rain is affecting SC 10 and Prime signals a bit (ABC is fine, Prime's goes in and out, and SC10 was only found with a manual tune)

I have an existing STB, a TEAC HDB840, and I was wondering if it was possible to link that to the PVR? The manual makes it look like you can with a SCART cable, I was wondering if it was possible.

Also, how many pieces of equipment should I to attach via connectors and extensions to the aerial cord before the signal suffers. I've got an inkling that could be behind the problems with Prime and SC10.

What are you trying to do? You can't record the signal from the STB to the PVR. You could 'pass it through' but you might as well plug the STB into the TV and the PVR into the Tv separately.

There's no hard rule on how much equipment you can hang of an aerial (dozens of variables involved). Plug in a single item and see if you get good reception. Then add other items until you start getting issues. You can buy a simple splitter/booster like the KingRay from Dick Smith for $50 and send the same signal to each bit of equipment.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Well, I was only going to do it if I can't get all the signals through the PVR itself. I've got it hooked up via my VHS/DVD-R's second AV outlet and it works fine.

I can get ABC and SBS fine. Prime and SC10 I cannot get at the moment, even though I have managed to get them at some stage with this PVR during the afternoon. Would the fact that we've had a downpour of heavy rain impact things?

At this stage, I'm looking at two things - the booster OR getting a separate indoor aerial just for the PVR. I'll try disconnecting the other outlets and seeing how I go.

Indoor aerials are pretty unlikely to help a dodgy reception issue. Try the Dick Smith option. If it doesn't work they have a 14 day money back guaranty.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Thanks for the tip. I will try Dick Smith, they're usually pretty good.

I've tried what you've done. It's picked up Prime but not SC10. Also, when the PVR is on, it's now affecting, believe it or not, SC10's reception on the TEAC.

The TEAC can receive signals perfectly.

OK, I did a rescan, and managed to get all the channels perfectly with the existing setup.

My next problem is that it will not record. I can setup what shows I want to record, but I get a "No Record" message on the screen, and when I go into the list of recorded programs, they won't play. What could be wrong here?

Full harddrive? Busted unit? What happens if you start a manual recording?

Sounds like your pushing your connections too far. Plugging on in elsewhere can effect existing units. Try the DS booster option.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

The hard drive wouldn't be full as I only got the unit yesterday. I do not have timeshift enabled.

When I start a manual connection, I get a banner message saying "No Record", and when I go into the list of recording, it won't play the selected program.

My PVR wouldn't record if the aerial signal was too weak. It would pick up a channel to watch perfectly no worries, but as soon as I hit record it'd pixilate or go black. Once I got my reception signal sorted (in my case a dodgy RF wall socket), my PVR records no problem now.
I did read somewhere why PVR's do this, something about the HDD and recording software being unable to handle weak signals. But once you get your signal fixed you should have no dramas.

That could be it. I'll move it to another room in the house (we have two antennas) and see if that makes a difference.

I'll still keep the booster on my shopping list though, not this week as I have two birthdays to buy for.

OK...I've tried it on the main antenna of our house, using both connectors and no connectors to set it up. It already has a booster attached to the aerial cord. And it still won't do it, even though signal strength and quality are at 85% and upwards. It still says "No Record" and still won't play anything that I've recorded.

It can timeshift a bit, and I can set up a recording but that's about it.

I'm stumped.

An update...

I managed to find out what was wrong. I lost the loop cable that goes from the master out to the slave in plugs. I found it doing a clean-up, and attached it to my small TV, fixed it up, and it works perfectly! It will record! The fact that that I needed the loop cable came to me when I installed my HD PVR.

I now have two PVRs, one on the big TV for HD stuff, the other on the small TV for SD stuff. Go figure!

Now to figure out how to improve the signal to get ABC, which on VHF. It seems to get the UHF channels OK.

I have this exact PVR and i was hoping i could tape my austar coming this wednesday to it but it dont say whether there an av in or out on the back it jsut says CVBS,, any thoughts?