I've had a Teac DV-B420 for about two weeks now, and just yesterday transferred it into a cabinet along with DVD players etc.
However, the picture has suddenly started to go very bad (Both composite on the SCART and RCA plugs).
I'm not talking Mpeg artifacts, I'm talking any light coloured pictures (like even peoples faces) streaking badly right across the screen, and the picture glitches badly (again, not mpeg artifacts, the actual picture flickers and bends in parts across the screen on and off) and the brightness changes.
It is worse when it has warmed up for 15-30mins, and happens a lot faster when it is in the cabinet, than when I take it out. It feels warm, so I'm presuming it's because it heats up quicker inside the cabinet.
No problems on the DVD players, or normal TV.
It is even doing the strreaking and bendy flickering thing on the menus.
If I output in RGB (via the SCART), it doesn't do te streaking, but the flickering bending on and off still happens, and outputing to the VCR (via the composite rca plugs) means that the recorded picture is very bad.
I'm taking it back to Myer first thing in the morning, and hoping that they will swap it, and I won't have to wait for it to be fixed.
However, has anyone else had similar problems with their DV-B420's getting hot inside cabinets, and doing similar, or is this just a one off sick unit?

Myer swapped it over, no problems at all.
So far so good on the replacement.
So hopefully it was just a sick unit.

Now that you have a replacement which seems to be working there is something you need to look at ASAP.
Are all the units you have put in the cabinets well ventilated??
Heat is their worst enemy. They generate a lot of heat and need as much space around them as you can give them..
eg My STB is sitting on an open shelf in a low line cabinet, but I have left plenty of room around the unit to achieve as much airflow as possible. Put additional spacers underneath if necessary.

Grrrr, 2 months on into the replacement Teac DV-B420, and the replacement box is starting to do what the first one did.
Even if you have a menu up on the screen, the picture 'tears across the screen'.
Again, not mpeg artifacts, it is even doing it in it's own menus.
To me it seems like maybe a power related problem, but I'm only guessing.
I made sure that the replacement box is out in the open, and has been since I got it.
It was doing it last night, where it would happen for a few minutes, and then settle down again, then do it again for a while.
After about 1/2hr, it settled down again.
I was actually hoping it would stay, instead of coming and going, or die completely.
If it continues to happen, I won't be too impressed, and might see if I can get a different brand (although I like the RGB Scart output), as I am not too impressed with the amount of RF noise this box creates (which interfers with analog TV and other TV's in the house), and this is the second box starting to exhibit exactly the same symptoms.
If it is an overheating issue, I am a bit worried about heading into summer with it.

I have had exactly this problem too, after a couple of months with the DVB420. I plan to get a replacement unit next week. Mine started playing up soon after I updated the software to 1.01, so am wondering if that might have something to do with it?

I've got/had 1.01 on both of them.
The first one died about a week after the update, the second one has been running 1.01 for pretty much the entire time (2 months), without this problem appearing.
Sounds more like an overheating / faulty component type issue than the firmware.

Well, don't know if anyone is following this sad and sorry saga, but I finally got fed up with the DV-B420 and took it back.
I was going to get a refund and try somewhere else, but they offered me a different brand box to try first.
I agreed on the proviso that I could take it back if no good.
Never heard of the brand, but it is a Nordmende KM DG46.
So far not too bad.
I've only played with it for a couple of hours now, but here are the things I like better than the Teac DV-B420.

1. No Interference with other TV's in the house
2. Full proper EPG (only broadcast by 9 in Perth so far)
3. Timer for VCR recording, which integrates with the EPG, so you can find a programme days in advance and press one button for it to come on at that time. (still have to set your VCR obviously)
4. Closed Caption Subtitles don't stay on the screen for ages when people have finished talking. (also subtitle backgrounds are semi transparent, so you can see through them)
5. Turning lights on and off, opening and closing the fridge door etc does not seem to create a problem. The DV-B420 seemed to suffer badly from impulse noise.
6. Channel number on front panel. (no more guessing when recording)

Picture quality via RGB via SCART looks pretty much the same as the Teac to me.

Things I don't like.
1. Remote is a little spongy, and angle and range isn't fantastic. (not that the Teac one was that crash hot mind you)
2. Doesn't seem to remember to keep the closed caption subtitles on if you change channels, or when it switches on from a timer event. (so they don't get recorded).

Hi Andw,

My DVB420 is going back to myer tomorrow. I had it for a week and initially it could not even auto tune TEN. After manually tuning TEN the amount of crap that the box has sent to the tune is unbearable. I've had lock up, screeches, pixelation, artefact, moire the works.

Can the nordmende output component?

Dave

Unfortunatley (for you perhaps, but not for me) it doesn't seem to do component.
Does RGB via Scart, (has 2x scart, 1 x svhs, 1 x composite).
It looks like you can use the 2x scart and the composite all at the same time (at least with the 'tv' scart in rgb mode it worked).
I think the Good Guys had a cheap component out box advertised recently.
Impulse noise does still affect this box, but it is not as bad as on the Teac 420, the picture breaks slightly, but does not make that awful sound breaking up scratching noise.
Also, the Nordmende has composite style digital audio, not optical if that helps at all.

I also have one of these and have had the same problem, as soon as I find my reciept its going back. It does seem to get worse with heat.

Dudes,

Now you cant blame me if you get electrocuted & you do this TOTALLY at your own risk and I accept no liability whatsoever -

you could carefully ( after pulling the STB mains power lead pulled out the wall first) take the top off the unit so its open to the world and put a fan so it blows over the unit, thus cooling it. Then make sure its out of reach from people or children so they cant touch the unit.

If it still plays up with forced cooling running over it, its then obviously a bad design & just go get a different brand.

Cheers,
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