Re: Maplin Bareback Twin Tuna PVR
Adrian C
International Megastar Keith G wrote:
>>
>> Meant to add the 49.99 price included shipping!
>>
>> (Can't be bad! :-)
<http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=221276&TabID=1&source=1&doy=16m11>
>
> OK, bottom line is - it isn't! Not at the price, if you have a spare
> (IDE) HDD kicking about - and less face it, who doesn't?
>
> Initial impression is that it's plenty OK appearancewise for the money
> and comes as a nice little bundle that even includes the screws to mount
> the HDD which you will have to provide for it to become anything other
> than a simple Digital STB. Fitting the HDD is a breeze but involves 10
> screws altogether - making quick drive-swapping impossible. In the
> unlikely event that someone would want to swap hard disks on a regular
> basis (they are not recognised by my PC, at least) it would pay to let
> the drive 'dangle' - possibly on extended leads.
>
> I was disappointed at first how the thing worked - it is nothing like as
> clever as the Tommy I had been used to using; the Nikkai is a simple
> twin tuner device with one dedicated to PVR work, while the other
> provides a TV signal. This means you can watch TV and 'pause/navigate'
> the programme or you can record a programme and 'chase play' it (watch
> while the prog is still recording) with full navigation options, but not
> both - if you are recording one channel and watching another, you will
> not really be able to do anything with the channel you are watching
> other than pause it and lose time.
>
> Once you (me) get into it a bit you find that it's not so bad - picture
> and sound are quite impressive (picture is excellent) and the
> menus/remote control pretty intuitive. The EPG is OK and onscreen info
> isn't at all bad, but one PITA is that you have name your recordings
> yourself (with a 'soft', onscreen keypad) otherwise it will only give
> you station, date and time info. One signal advantage that I haven't
> seen on another machine (or at least, have never yet discovered) is that
> a button on the remote will allow you to toggle between 'DTV' and 'VCR'
> which is effectively 'AV In' - this allows you to watch another source
> (DVD or Tape) *through* the Nikkai which has to be on but which can be
> doing other stuff like recording at the same time (I think) - very handy
> for people whose telly has only the one scart, like mine!
>
> Biggest pisser? - You can record/playback the radio stations just fine
> but you can only pause them - you can't run backwards or forwards
> (FF/REW) through the programme! Other niggles are minor (lurid,
> single-colour orange display for example) but the fatal flaw, for me, is
> that I can't pull the recordings off the HDD; that will have to continue
> to be done from the Toppy we have here - whether or not the Nikkai gets
> added to the heap of other Bright Ideas that I don't use after the
> 'honeymoon period' (and will eventually give away) remains to be seen!
>
> Inasmuch as the Triumph petrol tank pic is coming from a DVDR in the
> Pioneer, the whole story is pictographically depicted here, really - if
> anyone is interested:
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-01.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-02.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-03.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-04.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-05.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-06.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-07.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-08.JPG
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Nikkai-09.JPG
>
>
> Now, who do I see at Maplins for my commission?
>
[Post copied to uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.tech.tv.video.pvr]
Hi Keith,
Fine Post.
Thought I'd bring some collective minds to ponder over your discoveries ...
:-)
--
Adrian C
Mark Carver
Looks interesting. One of my teenage lads wants a PVR, this might be
an affordable solution.
Any screenshots of the menus etc ? I assume the valve amplifier in
jpg.09 is optional ? :-)
Keith G
"Adrian C" <em...@here.invalid> wrote in message
news:5q5nhdF...@mid.individual.net...
> [Post copied to uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.tech.tv.video.pvr]
>
> International Megastar Keith G wrote:
:-)
I can do signed photos (genuine signature - no facsimiles) for 2.50 each
(post paid), if anyone wants them...
> Hi Keith,
>
> Fine Post.
>
> Thought I'd bring some collective minds to ponder over your
> discoveries ...
>
> :-)
OK, but I should point out that I know squiddly-diddly about it really -
that was just an overview for the few on ukra who are mainly *audio
enthusiasts* but who also dabble in a little TV recording and like to
spend in Maplins! :-)
Key to the whole thing is if you have a spare HDD already, you don't end
up paying *stupid money* for one simply because it's already in the
PVR!! I ended up with only a 40 Gig disk in (I had already buggered up
my spare 300 Gig disk and another 80 Gig disk I was given simply didn't
work) but I suspect it will be ample for what I will use it for - mostly
a bit of chase play 'watch & blow' or to record the end of a proggie I'm
halfway through when summat else calls me away!!
Keith G
"Mark Carver" <markc...@onetel.com> wrote in message
news:2e1b7c18-385a-43be...@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 16, 2:24 pm, Adrian C <em...@here.invalid> wrote:
>> [Post copied to uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.tech.tv.video.pvr]
>>
>> International Megastar Keith G wrote:
>
>> Hi Keith,
>>
>> Fine Post.
>>
>> Thought I'd bring some collective minds to ponder over your
>> discoveries ...
>
> Looks interesting. One of my teenage lads wants a PVR, this might be
> an affordable solution.
>
> Any screenshots of the menus etc ?
Streuth, there's a lot of 'em! I'll see what I can do a bit later - only
cleaning a motorbike and cooking (preparing) a stew atm!
I assume the valve amplifier in
> jpg.09 is optional ? :-)
No to me it's not - I wouldn't be without it! ;-)
Ivan
"Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:n7ednS2KRv6LJqDa...@pipex.net...
I had an old Rogers valve amp which I was going to 'dispose' of, however my
daughter put it on ebay where it fetched £130, purchased by a very nice
gentleman in Japan, however it cost over £90.00 just to send it to him!
bugbear
>
> I had an old Rogers valve amp which I was going to 'dispose' of, however
> my daughter put it on ebay where it fetched £130, purchased by a very
> nice gentleman in Japan, however it cost over £90.00 just to send it to
> him!
>
The Far East has a number of hi-fi enthusiasts
who will pay big money for classic vintage valve
gear; a local guy used to have a business
buying in the UK, selling in the far East,
via a web site.
BugBear
Ivan
"bugbear" <bugbear@trim_papermule.co.uk_trim> wrote in message
news:13jrgk2...@corp.supernews.com...
In the 1960s my mate used to be a engineer for Radford electronics and owns
a very nice Radford 30/30 valved stereo amplifier complete with preamp from
the period.
I've been trying to get him to put it on ebay, as he might just as well make
a few bob whilst he still has the chance, especially as he hasn't used it in
recent times and probably never will.
> BugBear
Keith G
"Mark Carver" <markc...@onetel.com> wrote in message
news:2e1b7c18-385a-43be...@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>> [Post copied to uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.tech.tv.video.pvr]
>>
>> International Megastar Keith G wrote:
>
>> Hi Keith,
>>
>> Fine Post.
>>
>> Thought I'd bring some collective minds to ponder over your
>> discoveries ...
>
> Looks interesting. One of my teenage lads wants a PVR, this might be
> an affordable solution.
>
> Any screenshots of the menus etc ?
Here ya go - ignore all the pinky/purple (that doesn't happen - it's
just the camera and the crap pix) and for some reason everything is
shifted to the left a bit which wasn't happening yesterday but it's only
a 14" portable and I haven't a clue, so I wouldn't shoot the PVR.
Anyway, I'm sure this will all mean more to you than it does to me!
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010029.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010030.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010031.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010035.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010038.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010039.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010041.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010042.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010043.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010046.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010054.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010056.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010057.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010058.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010062.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010064.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010067.JPG
There's probably a load more, but I'm sure there's enough to give you an
idea...
Johnny B Good
port (no mention of such in the 'details' on Maplins' web page) which
would make it an even more tempting proposition.
--
Regards, John.
Please remove the "ohggcyht" before replying.
The address has been munged to reject Spam-bots.
Mark Carver
> "Mark Carver" <markc...@onetel.com> wrote in message
>> Looks interesting. One of my teenage lads wants a PVR, this might be
>> an affordable solution.
>>
>> Any screenshots of the menus etc ?
>
>
> Here ya go - ignore all the pinky/purple (that doesn't happen - it's
> just the camera and the crap pix) and for some reason everything is
> shifted to the left a bit which wasn't happening yesterday but it's only
> a 14" portable and I haven't a clue, so I wouldn't shoot the PVR.
> Anyway, I'm sure this will all mean more to you than it does to me!
[snip]
> There's probably a load more, but I'm sure there's enough to give you an
> idea...
Thanks for taking the trouble to do that Keith. Very interesting.
--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.
Keith G
"Spider Pig" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:oourj39ev397s4l47...@aol.com...
> On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:55:26 -0000, "Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Mark Carver" <markc...@onetel.com> wrote in message
>>news:2e1b7c18-385a-43be...@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>> On Nov 16, 2:24 pm, Adrian C <em...@here.invalid> wrote:
>>>> [Post copied to uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.tech.tv.video.pvr]
>>>>
>>>> International Megastar Keith G wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Keith,
>>>>
>>>> Fine Post.
>
>
> Does the EPG work fine? I'm interested to know, how the software
> updates. I currently have a sagem pvr but am still waiting for them to
> issue a software update they promised over a year ago. So for 50 quid
> and a hdd I was considering giving this one a go.
I consulted the expert in the family (#1 son) who says the Nikkai
appears OK for 'secondary use' (kids, fathers, people with learning
difficulties) but wouldn't do for a main PVR and recommends the new
Tommy:
....which is not a lot more money (atm) and has just had an update. (The
big thing is being able to record two different programmes while
watching a third, apparently!) But bearing in mind I've only had it one
day, I think the Nikkai works well and the EPG (though considered slow
and unappealing by the above expert) seems to work OK for me. No idea
how and when it could/would be updated, though - presumably by broadcast
transmission?
Once again, the key to this gadget is not having to buy/pay for an HDD
if you have already got a spare, or being able to throw in a humungeous
amount of storage (up to 500 Gig, at least) for a modest sum at todays
prices and getting a machine with more recording capacity (endless, if
you keep feeding it HDDs) than is currently available 'off the shelf'
with perfectly decent (if not excellent!) picture and sound quality.
The 'record one/watch one' restriction does not represent a problem to
me, only having to title the recordings by hand (if you want half an
idea what the prgramme is a day later) is a PITA, from what I can see of
it!
Ya pays ya money....
Keith G
"Mark Carver" <mark....@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:5q6693F...@mid.individual.net...
You're welcome, Mark - I'm only sorry the pix were so crap! (Ignore all
that pink shite - doesn't happen in real life; the colours are really
quite nice on the menus!!)
Gio
>
>
> Here ya go - ignore all the pinky/purple (that doesn't happen - it's just
> the camera and the crap pix) and for some reason everything is shifted to
> the left a bit which wasn't happening yesterday but it's only a 14"
> portable and I haven't a clue, so I wouldn't shoot the PVR. Anyway, I'm
> sure this will all mean more to you than it does to me!
>
> http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010029.JPG
snip
>
>
> There's probably a load more, but I'm sure there's enough to give you an
> idea...
Thank you for that info / screen shots Keith, as a result I have given it a
go and placed an order tonight. You should be on commission :-)
Gio
Graham.
"Spider Pig" <m...@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:oourj39ev397s4l47...@aol.com...
> On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:55:26 -0000, "Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>news:2e1b7c18-385a-43be...@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>> On Nov 16, 2:24 pm, Adrian C <em...@here.invalid> wrote:
>>>> [Post copied to uk.tech.digital-tv, uk.tech.tv.video.pvr]
>>>>
>>>> International Megastar Keith G wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Keith,
>>>>
>>>> Fine Post.
>
>
> Does the EPG work fine? I'm interested to know, how the software
> updates. I currently have a sagem pvr but am still waiting for them to
> issue a software update they promised over a year ago. So for 50 quid
> and a hdd I was considering giving this one a go.
Have a look at the offerings of an Ebay dealer called
soundandvisiondirect. I got an 80GB Techwood
(Vestel) PVR from him for GBP49 including postage
from him and I have been very pleased with it. (HDD included!)
--
Graham
%Profound_observation%
Keith G
"Gio" <x...@x.co.uk> wrote in message news:fhl4sd$4gc$1...@news.datemas.de...
OK Gio, I hope you like it; if you post any observations on the groups,
please ensure to include ukra - I would be very interested to hear your
opinion. From viewing earlier this evening, I can confirm that DVDs
played through it ('AV in') suffer *no* loss of quality at all, from
what I can see! (Tested with Kill Bill Vol. 1 - the Okinawa sequence!)
One thing - hook it up and scan the stations in *before* you put an HDD
in it, or the machine will play dead!
Brian Gaff
Brian
--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email: bri...@blueyonder.co.uk
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Adrian C" <em...@here.invalid> wrote in message
news:5q5nhdF...@mid.individual.net...
JPG
Mark Carver
> Sounds very fishy to me.
You can tune a radio, but you can't tune a fish.
Gio
report for a bit. It seems a little strange that the machine plays dead when
a drive is fitted. I would have thought the machine would have set about
formatting the new drive on boot-up then would have been ready for tuning.
By the way what is ukra ? The only thing I know with those letters are The
United Kingdom Rocket Association (UKRA) as in www.ukra.org.uk/
If it means something else then you will have to let me know because my isp
does not list ukra on the newsgroup list.
Gio
Ian
> By the way what is ukra ? The only thing I know with those letters are The
> United Kingdom Rocket Association (UKRA) as in www.ukra.org.uk/
> If it means something else then you will have to let me know because my isp
> does not list ukra on the newsgroup list.
>
> Gio
>
>
Ian.
Gio
"Ian" <use...@TheObvious.myemailfilter.co.uk> wrote in message
news:13jujar...@corp.supernews.com...
Thanks Ian. :-)
Gio.
Keith G
"Spider Pig" <m...@privacy.net> wrote
> Well Keith,
>
> I must be a 'secondary user' ( fathers, people with learning
> difficulties) tell your #1 son. I been and bought one this afternoon.
Kills me the way he doesn't actually say 'it'll be plenty good enough
for you' but I can usually tell he's thinking it!! :-)
> Brought it home, set it up first (as you recommended)
Yes, the manual's a little vague on that - like it doesn't mention it at
all!!
then added hdd
> and formated it, and I have to say I'm impressed! It'll do for my
> needs I only need to view one channel and record from another.
Me also...
>
> Thanks again for all your info.
You're welcome and I hope it continues to do the trick - the only raised
eyebrow I've had is having hit the OTR button to finish a programme this
afternoon (default 2 hours), when I got in a little earlier this evening
the little bugger was beavering away some 5 and a half hours in and
still going like a good 'un! Not the end of the world, but I hope it
doesn't do it too often!!?? Anyway, I shall shortly hook the S-Video
output up to my digital PJ and check that out - if it's OK, it's going
to save the cost of a telly bigger than my 14" portable! (Bedroom
setup!)
Keith G
"Gio" <x...@x.co.uk> wrote in message news:fhnho8$rcd$1...@news.datemas.de...
>
> "Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote
>> One thing - hook it up and scan the stations in *before* you put an
>> HDD in it, or the machine will play dead!
>>
> Thanks for the tip Keith. With luck it will be delivered on Wed so no
> report for a bit. It seems a little strange that the machine plays
> dead when a drive is fitted.
I agree, but dead it was! I thought it might have been a knackered
on/off switch but I could hear/feel the HDD whirring when I put my ear
to it, so I took the HDD out and tried again and it lit up straight
away - I didn't even see the channels go in, it seems they were there by
the time I had got the telly on and toggled round to it!
I would have thought the machine would have set about
> formatting the new drive on boot-up then would have been ready for
> tuning.
Yep, but you know what these gadgets are like - they all got their funny
little ways!!
> By the way what is ukra ?
I see you got your answer!! ;-)
(I don't subscribe anywhere else - if you didn't include ukra I wouldn't
see your comments!)
Ashley Booth
>
> "Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
> news:tPadnUJiBsOD0qPa...@pipex.net...
> >
> >"Gio" <x...@x.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:fhl4sd$4gc$1...@news.datemas.de...
> > >
> >>"Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
> news:fNGdnZ1JzJPERKDa...@pipex.net...
> > > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Here ya go - ignore all the pinky/purple (that doesn't happen -
> > > > it's just the camera and the crap pix) and for some reason
> > > > everything is shifted to the left a bit which wasn't happening
> > > > yesterday but it's only a 14" portable and I haven't a clue,
> > > > so I wouldn't shoot the PVR. Anyway, I'm sure this will all
> > > > mean more to you than it does to me!
> > > >
> > > > http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/L1010029.JPG
> > >
> > > snip
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > There's probably a load more, but I'm sure there's enough to
> > > > give you an idea...
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you for that info / screen shots Keith, as a result I have
> > > given it a go and placed an order tonight. You should be on
> > > commission :-)
> >
> >
> > OK Gio, I hope you like it; if you post any observations on the
> > groups, please ensure to include ukra - I would be very interested
> > to hear your opinion. From viewing earlier this evening, I can
> > confirm that DVDs played through it ('AV in') suffer no loss of
> > quality at all, from what I can see! (Tested with Kill Bill Vol. 1
> > - the Okinawa sequence!)
> >
> > One thing - hook it up and scan the stations in before you put an
> > HDD in it, or the machine will play dead!
> >
> Thanks for the tip Keith. With luck it will be delivered on Wed so
> no report for a bit. It seems a little strange that the machine plays
> dead when a drive is fitted. I would have thought the machine would
> have set about formatting the new drive on boot-up then would have
> been ready for tuning. By the way what is ukra ? The only thing I
> know with those letters are The United Kingdom Rocket Association
> (UKRA) as in www.ukra.org.uk/ If it means something else then you
> will have to let me know because my isp does not list ukra on the
> newsgroup list.
>
> Gio
Just got one of these. The tuners are not very sensitive - I get
breakup on it but not on a BT Netgem on the same aerial and lead.
Biggest drawback found so far is NO subtitles!
--
Ashley
For Windsor Weather see www.snglinks.com/wx
Keith G
"Ashley Booth" <ne...@REMOVESNGLinks.com> wrote in message
news:RoudnYI1FLQ...@bt.com...
> Gio wrote:
>> Thanks for the tip Keith. With luck it will be delivered on Wed so
>> no report for a bit. It seems a little strange that the machine plays
>> dead when a drive is fitted. I would have thought the machine would
>> have set about formatting the new drive on boot-up then would have
>> been ready for tuning. By the way what is ukra ? The only thing I
>> know with those letters are The United Kingdom Rocket Association
>> (UKRA) as in www.ukra.org.uk/ If it means something else then you
>> will have to let me know because my isp does not list ukra on the
>> newsgroup list.
>>
>> Gio
>
> Just got one of these. The tuners are not very sensitive - I get
> breakup on it but not on a BT Netgem on the same aerial and lead.
Yep, I've discovered it needs a decent aerial then no problems!
>
> Biggest drawback found so far is
NO subtitles!
Must be the programme, Ashley - I've just checked BBC1 and subbies are
there (and off again) at the press of a button.
The one *quirk* I think I've found is if you hit the Record button
(effectively a One Touch Record button) to grab a programme it seems to
need 'confirming' (at the 2 hour default recording period) by the second
press of the button and then 'OK' - otherwise it can chunter on
recording to (presumably) the limit of the available disk space!
(It's no biggie - I can live with it, especially as I would probably
alter the recording period with a second press of the button as often as
not, in any case!)
Gio
Well the unit arrived today and after following your advice re tuning then
shut down and add an old HD followed by a reboot / format and things are
looking well. I had to adjust the colour and brightness but other than that
it records programs and after a bit of confusion over changing channels
while recording on the other tuner it worked well. Whether it will be like
that 12 months on is another thing but till then it will sit next to my
Humax unit.
It is a shame it does not put a title onto a 'booked' recording (from the
epg) and the full screen epg changes channel as you scan through the listing
for another program is a bit of a pain . I would have liked the original
channel to have remained in the preview window while I -or should I say the
other half- looks for something else to watch but that aside it appears good
value with A1 reception .
Gio
Keith G
"Gio" <x...@x.co.uk> wrote
> Hi Keith,
> Well the unit arrived today and after following your advice re tuning
> then shut down and add an old HD followed by a reboot / format and
> things are looking well. I had to adjust the colour and brightness
> but other than that it records programs and after a bit of confusion
> over changing channels while recording on the other tuner it worked
> well. Whether it will be like that 12 months on is another thing but
> till then it will sit next to my Humax unit.
> It is a shame it does not put a title onto a 'booked' recording (from
> the epg) and the full screen epg changes channel as you scan through
> the listing for another program is a bit of a pain . I would have
> liked the original channel to have remained in the preview window
> while I -or should I say the other half- looks for something else to
> watch but that aside it appears good value with A1 reception .
Hi Gio,
Yes, the lack of a title from the EPG is a PITA - it leaves you no
choice but to title the recordings the hard way if you are going to
leave them on the machine for any length of time. (Imagine 3, 4 or even
500 Gig of recordings all named 'BBC One-1 to BBC One-328 &c. -
nightmare!)
I still say it's a doddle for 'watch & blow' and 'chase play' viewing,
though.
As it isn't going to be possible (?) to take movies off the HDD, I ran
the S-Video output round to my little cheap (but good) BenQ W100 digital
PJ and was quite impressed with the results which ranged from
'watchable' to really quite good, according to the broadcast and
original material. I haven't changed any settings at all and would say
the colours (and blacks in particular) were really very acceptable;
allowing for the digital camera, check these out:
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Image01.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Image02.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Image03.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Image04.JPG
http://www.apah69.dsl.pipex.com/show/Image05.JPG
Not bad for the price of a curry (and beers) for two, I'd say - given
the HDD has laid about unused for a couple of years!!
Gio
use my all in one remote to control the basic functions then I will be happy
because the supplied handset does seem -in my case- to be very directional.
Gio
Adrian C
> Just got one of these. The tuners are not very sensitive - I get
> breakup on it but not on a BT Netgem on the same aerial and lead.
On another dual tuner Freeview PVR (Tvonics DVR-FP150) some users
noticed an improvement with changing the supplied inter-tuner lead for
something a bit better. Maybe that might apply for yours?
--
Adrian C
Keith G
"Gio" <x...@x.co.uk> wrote in message news:fi1p0u$4tg$1...@news.datemas.de...
>
> "Keith G" <kei...@dsl.pipex.com> wrote
<snippage>
>> Not bad for the price of a curry (and beers) for two, I'd say - given
>> the
>> HDD has laid about unused for a couple of years!!
>>
>>
>>
> Not bad at all :-) and thanks for the posting. I just want to see if
> I can
> use my all in one remote to control the basic functions then I will be
> happy
> because the supplied handset does seem -in my case- to be very
> directional.
??
You had me checking - just now, mine worked pointed up at the ceiling,
standing virtually behind the telly and pointing to a door opposite the
telly, from outside the room out of sight of the telly and directly off
to one side of the telly (180 deg.) at about 2m distance!
It couldn't be *less* directional!!
Brian Gregory [UK]
The really interesting thing to test it weather a low noise pre-amp improves
the performance or not.
--
Brian Gregory. (In the UK)
n...@bgdsv.co.uk
To email me remove the letter vee.
David Looser
news:zt-dnRamw5Dyetja...@pipex.net...
> "Adrian C" <em...@here.invalid> wrote in message
> news:5qjf36F...@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> Just got one of these. The tuners are not very sensitive - I get
>>> breakup on it but not on a BT Netgem on the same aerial and lead.
>>
>> On another dual tuner Freeview PVR (Tvonics DVR-FP150) some users noticed
>> an improvement with changing the supplied inter-tuner lead for something
>> a bit better. Maybe that might apply for yours?
>
> The really interesting thing to test it weather a low noise pre-amp
> improves the performance or not.
>
With the analogue TV transmitters still in operation the chances are high
that a pre-amp will make matters worse. Of course you could employ
channel-specific pre-amps, but this would be expensive.
David.
Brian Gregory [UK]
news:5qnuh6F...@mid.individual.net...
> The problem with wide-band aerial pre-amps tends to be cross-modulation.
> With the analogue TV transmitters still in operation the chances are high
> that a pre-amp will make matters worse. Of course you could employ
> channel-specific pre-amps, but this would be expensive.
Yes, if you have massively strong analogue signals while your digital
signals are weak you will have major problems.
What I'm saying is that a poorly performing freeview box might just seem
insensitive because it's front end has a poor noise figure or picks up noise
from its digital circuitry in which case its usually fixable by adding extra
low noise gain while another might be a poor performer for other reasons
where nothing at all can be done about it.
Ashley Booth
>
> "Ashley Booth" <ne...@REMOVESNGLinks.com> wrote in message
> news:RoudnYI1FLQ...@bt.com...
> > Gio wrote:
>
>
> > > Thanks for the tip Keith. With luck it will be delivered on Wed
> > > so no report for a bit. It seems a little strange that the
> > > machine plays dead when a drive is fitted. I would have thought
> > > the machine would have set about formatting the new drive on
> > > boot-up then would have been ready for tuning. By the way what
> > > is ukra ? The only thing I know with those letters are The
> > > United Kingdom Rocket Association (UKRA) as in www.ukra.org.uk/
> > > If it means something else then you will have to let me know
> > > because my isp does not list ukra on the newsgroup list.
> > >
> > > Gio
> >
> > Just got one of these. The tuners are not very sensitive - I get
> > breakup on it but not on a BT Netgem on the same aerial and lead.
>
>
> Yep, I've discovered it needs a decent aerial then no problems!
>
> >
> > Biggest drawback found so far is
> NO subtitles!
>
>
>
> Must be the programme, Ashley - I've just checked BBC1 and subbies
> are there (and off again) at the press of a button.
>
> The one quirk I think I've found is if you hit the Record button
> (effectively a One Touch Record button) to grab a programme it seems
> to need 'confirming' (at the 2 hour default recording period) by the
> second press of the button and then 'OK' - otherwise it can chunter
> on recording to (presumably) the limit of the available disk space!
>
> (It's no biggie - I can live with it, especially as I would probably
> alter the recording period with a second press of the button as often
> as not, in any case!)
Had a further play with it. Got the subtitles to work now.
Other comments.
Pressing MUTE 'mutes' the subtitles as well!
Very difficult to use the EPG more than a day or so in advance. You
right scroll thru the listings but after about a day or so in advance
the listings run out. You see them update but it then takes you back to
the present time. Very frustrating!
Selecting OK to record from the EPG is complicated as you are offered
the chance to alter the record time then you have to go into a little
sub-menu to activate the recording.
The item you are recording does not show up in the recordings list
until it has finished recording.
I guess I've been spoilt by having 3 TiVos. :)
Tried to give it to my mother(83) to use but she said it sounded too
complicated for her.
sonicwhirls
HDD from a Tivo.Its been way over an hour now...And is this likely the fault
of the Tuna or the disc ?TIA
"Brian Gregory [UK]" <n...@bgdsv.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Ba2dnVMqo-oT09ra...@pipex.net...
Gio
"sonicwhirls" <yhurryT...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O4ednVajbuF...@giganews.com...
> Anyone know how long it should take to format an old 40Gb quantum fireball
> HDD from a Tivo.Its been way over an hour now...And is this likely the
> fault of the Tuna or the disc ?TIA
>
>
>
just must have formatted the file allocation table.
Gio
Adrian C
> Anyone know how long it should take to format an old 40Gb quantum
> fireball HDD from a Tivo.Its been way over an hour now...And is this
> likely the fault of the Tuna or the disc ?TIA
That sounds wrong...
Err... you have qunlock'ed the ex-TiVo drive first? It will otherwise be
presenting itself as a 9 megabyte drive and probably freaking out the
new host hardware I'd think...
Also HDtune (http://www.hdtune.com) will tell you if the drive has any
issues by showing what's been logged internally to SMART counters.
:-)
--
Adrian C
Lord Turkey Cough
"Mark Carver" <mark....@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:5q8251F...@mid.individual.net...
> JPG wrote:
>> Sounds very fishy to me.
>
> You can tune a radio, but you can't tune a fish.
You can if it's a tuna fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
:O)